You know those little blue bulbs that parents use to get the boogies out of their baby’s nose? I forget the exact name, but they do a great job of sucking the mucus right out.
My question: Would a larger version of these things work on adults? I’ve been wishing for one for years now, and haven’t seen one on the market. Can you imagine having a cold, and instead of blowing your nose, you could just suck all the gunk out, and clear your sinuses? Would something like this be dangerous?
Someone with medical knowledge on the subject would be appreciated.
Well, my husband got curious and tried it on himself, and said it was not pleasant. He says he can now understand why Chris yells so much when I use it on him.
As much as I hate doing it to him, getting a big booger out of your sniffling sweetie’s nose so he can breathe better is nice.
Prairie Rose
If you’re not part of the solution you’re just scumming up the bottom of the beaker.
Speaking from experience, those things don’t suck all the gunk out, they just clear the baby’s nose in the same way that blowing it would–and, of course, babys’ sinuses are very small. So, I don’t think a similar doohickey for adults would work any better than the good old-fashioned Kleenex method.
I used that item. My kids are Asian, and have very narrow nasal turbinates. It was helpful, but I was always worried I would suck their brains out. Go figure.
You can just buy one made for babies,and cut the most narrow end off, and use it.
Cartooniverse
" If you want to kiss the sky, you’d better learn how to kneel. "
So is that the technical name? A snot sucker-upper?
Me: “I’d like to purchase a snot sucker-upper please.”
Cute Salesgirl: “Do you want the Acme Snot Sucker-Upper or is the store brand okay?”
I think it’s really called a mucous suctation device.
Me: “I’d like to purchase a mucous suctation device please.”
Cute Salesgirl: “Are you married? Cuz my shift ends in twenty minutes!”
See the difference?
“To do her justice, I can’t see that she could have found anything nastier to say if she’d thought it out with both hands for a fortnight.”
Dorothy L. Sayers Busman’s Honeymoon
They ones they sell for babies really aren’t powerful enough for adults. Babies can’t blow their noses as needed and that’s why they were invented. I bet you could get a turkey baster pretty far up your nose for the desired test but I’m NOT coming over to your house for Thanksgiving.
Adam: My doctor refers to the thing as a bulb syringe. However, I’ve never heard him recommend it for that purpose.
Guys: Thank you very very much. I really needed the laugh.
I need to go pick my kids up from school, but I have to get up from the floor first.
My SO got a ceramic thingy from his doctor that is shaped sort of like an oil lamp. You put saltwater in it, and pour it in your nose. It apparantly goes into your sinuses, and clears out a ton of gunk. He swears it works great. I’ve yet to be sick enough to try it, but I’ve heard from other sources that it’s good, too. Sounds like something that might work better than the sucker you describe.
I have a strong stomach. I can eat and drink most nearly anything without becoming the least bit queasy. I can inspect a freshly smooshed squirrel or still-quivering roadkill without the slightest twinge of nausea.
But those bulb things gross me out! Just the sklorgle sound they made when I was cleaning out my son’s nose got me to heaving.
Nasal aspirators are wonderful! I don’t care how gross–if you have allergies or stuffed up sinuses you can avoid a lot of sinus infections.
Take a baby nasal aspirator and a cup of warm salt water (1/2 tsp salt, pinch of baking soda, 1 cup warm water). Squirt the solution up your nose while you breathe in. Don’t worry, it won’t go in your lungs–just in your mouth. Spit in the sink or toilet, blow your nose. Repeat until you can breathe easy through both sinuses.
My doctor told me I could do this several times a day if I needed to. My testimonial–one winter I had so many sinus infections I had about 8 courses of antibiotics. I started using the nasal aspirator when I needed it and havn’t had one in three years.
Also, if I start having an allergy attach, I can wash out my sinuses and stop the attack sometimes without resorting to drugs.
Arnold: After using it–I wash it in hot, soapy water and rinse well.
I saw the perfect thing while wandering around in Lowes the other day. They had reducers and small attachments for a Shop Vac for cleaning in small places. Just think of the power. Who wants to try for the 2000 Darwin award…