Sinuses

[radegund]

First, a rather icky question for anyone with experience of sinusitis:

Is it normal that my nose has been streaming pinkish (i.e. bloody) gunk for the last 24 hours? Or is that possibly Something More Serious?

Second, what can anyone tell me about sloshing saline up one's nose as a strategy? Would now be a bad time to try it, or might it help? And how, precisely, does one go about it? Do I need to get hold of one-o'-them neti pots (and if so, where in Dublin?), or can I do it with a homemade device cunningly fashioned from pipecleaners and the inside of a toilet roll?

Help me, interbets, you're one of my only hopes.

Comments

[leedy.livejournal.com]

Eek, poor you. I've definitely had blood in the general horrifying gunk that's come out from a bad sinus infection - OTOH, if you've been blowing your nose a lot you could have just burst one/more of the little blood vessels in your nose. Possibly go to the doc just in case?

I don't think saline washing would do any harm (I've done it when I've had an infection), and my GP is a fan of it for clearing gunky sinuses - though if your head is very badly gunged it might take a few goes before it starts to clear it. Neti pot is definitely the easiest way - you can get neti pots in Melt in Temple Bar, just pour the solution in one nostril with your head tilted so it drains out the other. Steam is also your friend.

[sshi.livejournal.com]

I tend to also, although it's more congealed gunk than streaming in my case (yesyes, TMI, etc). It usually coincides with over-vigorous blowing, as Lisa says, and in my case, over-vigorous squirting of nasal remedies. I haven't ventured into neti pot land yet, though, but it doesn't seem to happen with the saline washing, mind you, presumably because I've been sniffing, rather than squirting. Or possibly snortling, actually.

[helixaspersa.livejournal.com]

I've never had a lot of pink, but it makes sense that you've burst a little capillary or two. I do remember that once it starts to clear you get a truly revolting taste at the back of your mouth (it has some vile term like 'post-nasal drip' or something). On the plus side, once that begins the end is in sight ime. I've only had a couple though.

[ailbhe]

I used a baby dropper but would love to obtain a neti pot. A baby first aid kit came with a green squeezy bulb.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Neti pot or sinus rinse bottle (which is just an updated version really) FTW.

[ainetl.livejournal.com]

e has terrible sinus problems and swears by his neti-pot. he did say that it feels really weird at first, but after a few days it REALLY works. he no longer takes any other sort of sinus medication. he said the only other thing that seems to help him is living along the coast in mexico with the warm, humid & salty air. i'm assuming that isn't a possiblity for you atm.

hope you feel better soon.

[dreamvirus.livejournal.com]

Tiger balm rocks my world...

[kasku.livejournal.com]

Poor you! I've read everyone else's advice and can't really tell you anything new. I've been an on/off sinusitis sufferer for years and it is ick! Remember though that if your scalp becomes a bit painful to the touch then you do need to go to the doctor for sure.

[stephencass.livejournal.com]

Whatever you use to shoot it up there, make sure everything is sterile! Annie used to use a neti on and off until a friend of her's picked up a really bad (bad in terms of months of illness, and walking around with a port in her arm for the administration of antibiotics) infection that was traced back to her neti.