sinus hell

I seem to do more or less what you do @Croatial I don't think I have serious sinus problems (although the optometrist has said I have blepharitis which might be connected) but I thought I would give it a try and see if it would help the headaches I get .

Instead of the cupped hand I just fill a (sterilized) cup with well boiled and cooled water and basically sniff the water out of the top of the cup with one nostril at a time.

Also ,after the water inside the nose has transited to the back of the throat and the mouth I give it an extra swirl by blowing my nose (just one nostril) with the intention of making my ears pop.

I don't think this is dangerous but I am no expert and maybe it could be harmful to delicate ear drums(?)

But the breathing feels better immediately and I get the impression that it does help the headaches although I am only 2 or3 weeks in and so can't be definitive.

My mother always used to gargle every day with salt water and claimed it kept colds away ..

Bumping this up

We use sea salt , but tablet salt will do .
If it burns or is uncomfortable - use less .

got the pot to rinse out my nose with, can you use normal salt in the water to rinse the nose or is sea saltbetter, thank you

Sasta that's great advice if you can take both paracetamol and ibuprofen definitely do that. Unfortunately I can't take ibuprofen myself due to kidney issues

I’m glad you’ve improved keepingquiet. I’ll try that too, can’t travel too far I guess if not using an implement.

Let us know how you get on OP, you have our sympathy though that doesn’t help much! On the worst days, I take 2 ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol an hour later. Kills the pain for me, now I see you can buy it combined called Nuromol I think.

Grammargran, yes I get a vertigo kind of feeling at times too!
The reason I first went to a ENT doctor was that I was going to fly and was worried about the pressure on landing.
I did buy some ear plugs called earplanes (I think). This has gone on for around 20 years now. Debilitating at times I wish I could be like other people and a runny nose and sneezing for a few days, but nope.
Best wishes all. Saluting all soldiers.

Thanks, Croatia1. I will try this later this week andd I will let you know how it goes.

Goodness, what an interesting thread! So much to relate to, but in particular Ellylanesl. I’ve got every single symptom, Elly. Didn’t we used to call it catarrh years ago? I can also add pressure in my ears which I’ve had for years, plus a muffled sort of whoosh. And then, on top of everything, a balance problem when the crystals in my inner ear become disturbed. Poor old soul! But seriously, lots of helpful hints here that I’ve never heard of, I’ve just been soldiering on …

Hi Rambling rose I used about three quarters of a teaspoon of salt with full cup of boiled water and then let it cool (if you can use it while it's tepid that's great). I then block one nostril pour some salty water into the other cupped hand and take a large sniff in. Use same side cupped hand as nostril. It's best to do this over the sink and have a tissue ready to gently blow your nose after each nostril is done. Repeat with other nostril. The salt water solution should be enough to do several times a day, add a tiny bit of freshly boiled water if it's too cold. I think there are instructions on the NHS website (although I think from memory they also add bicarb? not sure why, the method I use my grandfather used to use, he lived till 96 and went over 85 years without seeing a doctor so didn't do him any harm!). It just feels a bit like when you go swimming and get water up your nose. Let me know how it goes.

I have had post-nasal drip for the last two or more years. I have just started taking an anti-histamine to see if that helps as my blocked nose affects my sleep and makes me keep waking up.

Croatia1 - what as the proportion of salt to water when you did the salt water sniffing and did you use distilled water or boiled water that had cooled, please?

Can you describe how the salt sniffing works as I would like to try it? Otherwise I shall have to try I am also going to try the NeilMed sinus rinses but am worried about them as I hate the sensation of water in my nose and I am prone to nosebleeds because of having to take blood thinners.

Many thanks.

Ellylanes I too had slightly blocked ears and loss of smell for a while though fully back to normal now. I have to admit I did do the salt water sniffing 5-7 times a day far more than recommended but the stuff that came out made it worth it. My husband ended up going to the doctor's and was prescribed a steroid spray, he had slightly different symptoms than me though and a very bad cough (he still has a lingering cough). Weirdly he said I developed a snore too ( not something I've had before!)

Floz,
How interesting, I do suffer from acid reflux, so I will follow your lead and fingers crossed. Thankyou

Croatia, oh yes the florescent horrible snot! I could hardly believe the colour.
Interesting my father (who suffered with sinus problems) years ago bent down from the waist and when straightening up again had a real gush of totally clear water/liquid from his nose. The odd thing was it was icy cold, how can that be when it's inside your body?? I remember it happening vividly. Very strange.
Yes I have the sore gums too.

Sympathies with everyone suffering. I had this last month. It started with what I can only describe as sensitive teeth. I wasn't sure what it was until a week later when it became apparent it was sinusitis. I found salt water sniffs, gargling with salt water, drinking lemon and honey drinks and paracetamol helped. It was horrendous though and seemed to go on and on with what I can only describe as nuclear reactive fluorescent snot towards the end which did strangely bring relief! I am still weirdly experiencing sensitive gums (but not teeth) I'm not sure if this is related or not. Has anyone else experienced this?( It may not be connected ) I'm lucky at my age (late 50s) I still haven't lost any teeth or had a filling, although I shall be sure to mention this to my dentist if it persists as I have a check up early July

Sinuses washout only lasts years. Try rubbing Vicks Vaporub behind your ears and pulse points, and on the soles of your feet, then wear socks before you lie down. Too early to go swimming, but that helps, I find. If you make a saturated solution of kitchen salt, and gargle, it might help, especially of you learn how to expel the liquid through your nose.

I know this is an odd question but .....'Does the clear fluid coming from your nose taste of salt water?'

I used the kit Welshy mentioned but after a while the mixture burned when I used it so just went with sea salt instead,you can get those kits at Costco,but honestly I don’t think that would help as yours sounds so awful.I read the other day chewing gum helps to clear sinuses but again I don’t think that will help you——— the whole thing sounds horrible I really hope you get to see a Specialist that can sort it out

Sasta

PS, I was also told by a subsequent doctor never to use a nasal rinse aid as I have tinnitus and it would, or could, make it much worse. Anybody with tinnitus found that?

I only used a simple nasal wash once. No fancy stuff- just some salt water in the palm of my hand. It was messy but it worked.
I also have tinnitus and suffer with eye and ear problems. No issues this winter though, as I have kept my house warm whereas previously I was trying to save money and I had terrible tinnitus, sinusitis and impacted ear wax.

It has cost more, but kept me well!

This is an interesting thread - thanks for starting OP, although I’m sorry you’re suffering. I’ve been through similar experience, but after a year long wait to see ENT the young whippersnapper of a consultant who saw me gave me a leaflet on SILENT REFLUX. He said the camera showed little and sent me away with a squirty salt water thing for up my nose (no use for me sadly) and my leaflet. Silent reflux is when stomach acid leaks out at night and travels up to the pharynx and can set up irritation in throat, nasal passages and ultimately sinuses.
I’ve been treating myself for that (two pillows, no large meals at night etc etc) and its helped no end. Just a thought.

Ellylanes1

Very interesting,I have slightly different symptoms, nasal passages always feel very dry and one side is usually blocked especially when lying down. On turning over blocked side changes.
When I do have a cold no runny nose, never have to use tissues but sinus headaches, toothache lasts for weeks. Very little sense of smell and a problem with one ear which won't pop so slightly muffled permanently .
I saw an ENT consultant years ago who said could see scarring of the tubes and the ears do take time to clear, but no treatment or other recommendations.
If I have a cold I use a decongestant spray only a few times as not sure if I could be making things worse.
I can live with it, but it's awful, dry eyes(snoring too!)
NHS has worse to deal with, so many desperate and in pain.

My symptoms exactly - at night one side blocked, turn over and I can feel the blockage sliding to the other side, but blowing my nose has no effect, really frustrating. I know that there any many worse off but it doesn’t help when your sleep is interrupted several times each night. I have tried everything mentioned here, as well as cranial osteopathy, this did help for a while, but the symptoms have returned and I can’t afford to go back for another course of treatment. My GP told me to take an anti histamine before bed, that works most nights, but not all.

I feel your pain, I have perennial rhinitis, had allergy tests, steroid nasal sprays, even had my sinuses washed out under anaesthetic and the inside of my nose trimmed to no avail. I used to get recurrent infections but now I have one every couple of years if that. I use Sterimar, it's a natural saltwater spray, no steroids which you can buy online or from most chemists, I also use a facial steamer with a nose attachment and use just water to steam with. That has made mine so much better and without any side-effects. I hope you find relief soon.

PS, I was also told by a subsequent doctor never to use a nasal rinse aid as I have tinnitus and it would, or could, make it much worse. Anybody with tinnitus found that?

That’s horrible for you busybee6969. It’s a vile thing. I’ve had sinus problems since having my first child in my 20s. My then GP prescribed Otrivine nasal drops. He told me to continue using them but to buy them myself which I did for three years, (I asked him if this was safe and he said no problem). Otrivine ruined my nose lining. Beware of these, although I’d hope the ingredients would be better now, but using them constantly for three years resulted in a huge and very unpleasant operation and 8 days in hospital away from my 3 year old. It’s awful when you can’t breathe through your nose. One consultant said ‘just breathe through your mouth at night then’ as if that’s going to be any help 🙄. Some good suggestions on this thread though.

Very interesting,I have slightly different symptoms, nasal passages always feel very dry and one side is usually blocked especially when lying down. On turning over blocked side changes.
When I do have a cold no runny nose, never have to use tissues but sinus headaches, toothache lasts for weeks. Very little sense of smell and a problem with one ear which won't pop so slightly muffled permanently .
I saw an ENT consultant years ago who said could see scarring of the tubes and the ears do take time to clear, but no treatment or other recommendations.
If I have a cold I use a decongestant spray only a few times as not sure if I could be making things worse.
I can live with it, but it's awful, dry eyes(snoring too!)
NHS has worse to deal with, so many desperate and in pain.