Experiences with saline nasal spray, neti pot, etc.

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Steve Freides - 09 Jun 2008 16:15 GMT

I recently came down with a recurrence of a sinus infection - I had it
for a few months over the winter, finally got antibiotics and although I
was on them for 14 days instead of the usual 10, I think it wasn't
enough. I came down with the same thing a few weeks ago.

In my desire not to go the antibiotic route, I tried a pressurized nasal
spray called Simply Saline - been doing it 2-4 times per day, thinking
that it's basically along the same lines as a Neti pot. So far, so
good - no antibiotics, no sinus infection, either, and I'm keeping up
the saline treatments at least 2x/day and plan not to stop.

Any comments, war stories, etc., welcomed.

-S-

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aroberts - 10 Jun 2008 03:40 GMT

>I recently came down with a recurrence of a sinus infection - I had it for
>a few months over the winter, finally got antibiotics and although I was on
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> -S-

I've used it, and like it up pretty well. It's a relatively high pressure
stream and consequently, low volume. It's good for moisturizing and
clearing some minor congestion from the passages, but a neti pot (or neilmed
bottle) works better for thorough rinsing of the accumulated gunk. As the
name says, it's "simply" saline--without the preservatives--and for that
reason I prefer it to other products in this category.

I'm curious: Was the antibiotic that you were on a macrolide (Biaxin,
Zithromax, etc.)? They seem to work better than just Augmentin/penicillin
because they are known to break down the biofilms that bacteria produce.

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Steve Freides - 10 Jun 2008 13:46 GMT

>>I recently came down with a recurrence of a sinus infection - I had it
>>for a few months over the winter, finally got antibiotics and although
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> Augmentin/penicillin because they are known to break down the biofilms
> that bacteria produce.

Sorry, I don't remember which antibiotic it was, and the bottle is long
gone. I'm allergic to penicillin so it wouldn't have been that.

I guess I should break down and try a neti pot - just can't quite make
myself do that yet.

-S-

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aroberts - 11 Jun 2008 04:17 GMT

>>>I recently came down with a recurrence of a sinus infection - I had it
>>>for a few months over the winter, finally got antibiotics and although I
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>
> -S-

Yeah, I went through that as well. It took about 30 seconds to get used to
it, and now it's quite easy (and even refreshing). It's a bit more of a
process than just grabbing an aerosol, to be sure, but much more thorough...

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