hypertonic saline?

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stnick1spamless@cox.net - 23 Mar 2006 02:43 GMT

Please share your experiences with hypertonic saline. I never heard of
it before today.

I'm trying to hold out until June for surgery, have been infected for
months this time, round after round of antibiotics, etc. Today the
ENT nurse asked me if I'd like to try this stuff.

She cautioned me that it would have a very strong effect at first,
almost like turning my head inside-out as it tried to expel all the
crud.

My first reaction was, "Why hasn't anyone told me about this
before?!?"

I dashed to Walgreens and got some, in one of those spritzer spray
thingies. They didn't have the ENT-sol (spelling?) but told me the
Zicam was the same.

It pulls some crud down each time I use it, but no way is it getting
through in a big way.

ENT-sol is supposed to make a powder that you mix with water to
rinse, but Walgreens said it's been recalled? Rats. I wanted to try
it with my Waterpik.

I do a saline/vinegar flush with the Waterpik twice a day when having
trouble. The nurse may not have known I do that. The pharmacist
didn't think I'd have much more luck with the hypertonic saline.

I wish I could flood my head with it. Feels like it would really help
if it could get in there!

Thanks for your feedback--

Rhonda

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Murray Grossan - 23 Mar 2006 07:02 GMT

On 3/22/06 5:43 PM, in article 4421f9ab.171862001@news.central.cox.net,

> Please share your experiences with hypertonic saline. I never heard of
> it before today.
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>
> Rhonda

There is nothing mysterious about hypertonic.
One teaspoon salt to 500 cc is isotonic
Two teaspoons salt to 500 cc is hypertonic
Three teaspoons salt to 500 cc is much more hypertonic.

Any powder / salt made for nasal irrigation can be made hypertonic by just
increasing the amount of salt.
BUT you need to be careful to go slow. 3x hypertonic may be too much so
suggest you start just adding a bit each day to see how it feels.
If you use Breathe.ease XL it comes with directions to slowly increase to
find the ideal level.

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tyshock - 23 Mar 2006 18:57 GMT

What is the max ratio you would recommend?

I know that comfort level will vary from person to person. I imagine
too much salt will lead to irritation/swelling which would potentially
offset the benefits. I am curious as to the concentration level that
provides the most benefit toward mucociliary clearance.

Another query: Would hypertonic solution in a vaporizer potentially be
a good therapy? Since FESS, my sinus ostia are wide open, and my main
problems are dry nose, thick/clear PND, and turbinate swelling. Would
a vaporizor running during sleep potentially benefit me?

Thanks.

Tyler

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Steven L. - 24 Mar 2006 02:42 GMT

> Another query: Would hypertonic solution in a vaporizer potentially be
> a good therapy? Since FESS, my sinus ostia are wide open, and my main
> problems are dry nose, thick/clear PND, and turbinate swelling. Would
> a vaporizor running during sleep potentially benefit me?

A vaporizer just vaporizes the water into steam. The salt will be left
behind in the machine--and may end up ruining it. Salt is not volatile,
unlike some other substances like eucalyptus or camphor which can give
off vapors of their own.

Try adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your vaporizer.
(DISCLAIMER: if this ruins your machine, don't blame me!)

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Steven D. Litvintchouk
Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net

Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me.

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stnick1spamless@cox.net - 24 Mar 2006 03:18 GMT

>One teaspoon salt to 500 cc is isotonic
>Two teaspoons salt to 500 cc is hypertonic
>Three teaspoons salt to 500 cc is much more hypertonic.
>
>Any powder / salt made for nasal irrigation can be made hypertonic by just
>increasing the amount of salt.

My next question was going to be, can I make it myself?

>BUT you need to be careful to go slow. 3x hypertonic may be too much

Today I got the Entsol, in a spray instead of the spritz. It did have
a major effect, though not as dramatic as the nurse predicted. Then
for a while it felt like my nose was real dry and less open. That
passed, though.

so

>suggest you start just adding a bit each day to see how it feels.
>If you use Breathe.ease XL it comes with directions to slowly increase to
>find the ideal level.

Thank you--advice taken, a little after the fact!

Rhonda

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