Friday, March 27, 2009

Stick It! (Up your nose, that is.)

Like I said yesterday, I've got a sinus infection. I've been hacking and sneezing myself into oblivion. I refusing to cave to antibiotics because I prefer the more natural, tree hug, granola approach. Though I haven't tried shoving actual granola clusters into my nasal cavity I did decide to shove this up there to relieve the sinus pressure:
Meet Mr. SinuCleanse Squeeze. He's the cousin of the NetiPot. (To be clear, NetiPot is not real pot, so if you've been misunderstood and are thinking of piling on the eyeliner and having an emo moment this would not be the pot you're after.) The basic premise is to force saline into the sinus cavity thereby causing snot and grey matter to drain via your nose and relieve sinus pressure. The SinuCleanse Squeeze allows for a slightly forceful stream of saline, where as the NetiPot is more like taking a tea kettle and pouring it in. Yum, I know.

The picture shows the general idea. However, no where in the product description does it deny that after using this product I wouldn't end up looking like this guy. So though this is a 100% natural product, so is testosterone, a 5 o'clock shadow, and enlarged knuckles. (P.S. Mr. Roper from Threes Company Called. He wants his shirt back.) And is it just me or does it look like our friend here is about to take a swig out of the snot pot?

The bottle is a clear plastic sprayer. Add lukewarm water and a saline packet, lean over the sink and spray directly into the nasal cavity. Luckily there is an anti-backwash valve. (I'll leave you to insert a gross snot joke here.)

I used the product as recommended. Here are the random thoughts that passed through my mind:

This is like an enema for your brain.
When I'm done here I'll bet I could mix up a vinaigrette in the bottle and put it on tonight's salad.
I should have just used a pressure washer or Shop Vac.
Gross. Look at what's coming out my nose!
There's the remote!
My brain hurts.
If I filled this bottle with Clorox then sprayed it up my schnoz, would it kill the virus or just eliminate that hard to clean ring-around-the-septum?
It's good thing this idea is has a pending patten cause I think Summer's Eve stole their idea.

It's been about an hour since I SinuCleansed. I'm not stuffed up anymore, but my head still hurts, I'm coughing, and I'm no less obnoxious than before irrigating my frontal lobe. But at least I shared it with you cause we're tight like that.



So what about you? What have you been sticking up your nose today?

17 comments:

Beth E. said...

I've just been doin' the pot...Neti Pot, that is! :o) Hope you feel better, soon.

Vinagrette???? Ewwww.....

Helen said...

So far, I haven't gotten that spring cold. I am really tired for no reason, but I am hoping that if my body is fighting that infection, my body wins.
I have never tried the neti pot, but Katdish loves hers. She even wrote a song about it.

Ode to the Neti Pot.

Marni said...

Afrin No Drip...and it ain't workin. I think I'll head over to Walgreen's during lunchtime and make the purchase so I can SinuCleanse. I just can't work up the nerve to NetiPot.

Last night, I did this vertigo thing thanks to my blocked sinuses. I stood up and the room started swirling around. It was like being wicked car sick, even though I wasn't moving. I puked up dinner. Fun times. Oh wait, I should have said that on your other post, not this one. My bad.

Rebecca Jo said...

I totally have tears from laughing!!! The Mr. Roper comment totally got me too!!!

But holy cow - that thing doesnt just clean - it POWER WASHES - doesnt it???? looks like some force...

And yeah, that was disturbing to watch that guy JAM that up his nose...ewwww...

katdish said...

Oh, man! I was going to put my Ode to the neti pot here, but I see Helen has already done that (thanks, Helen).

Mr. Roper...(that was GOOD). You probably have a headache cuz you still got some stuff up there. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Kathy said...

After watching this and Katdish's video, I'll just stick to the DayQuil. Oh, and Nyquil at night. I'll sleep through anything with that stuff.

Stacy from Louisville said...

It's 5:30 eastern. I've cleansed my sinuses 3 times. Guess what?

Still.

Feel.

Like.

CCCCRRRRRAAAAPPPPP!

Unknown said...

I wish I hadn't watched ol' baldie blast snot out of his face... shoulda heeded the warning.

Have to say that I regularily use a neti pot though and it's made a huge positive difference with my allergies and headaches. It was a strange feeling to use it at first, but not at all painful nor uncomfortable, just strange.

Taking vitamin D has changed my life -- haven't had a cold nor flu in over 2 years since I started that, and I used to be always sick. Lots of research about vitamin D and great results for health out there, if you're interested.

Still can't get the image of the video out of my wounded mind. :P

Candy said...

I seriously should have taken a video of the first time I did my "nose hosing" (I used an ear syringe) and I could have starred in your blog. I had water and snot coming out of every imaginable orifice in my head, including my tear ducts and my mouth. When I get an itsy bitsy idea that there's a cold coming on, I hose it out and hence I'm not a human petrie dish. Key: squeeze like hell. It's the force and friction that does the trick. And don't buy any salt mixture - I use baking soda and kosher salt. Cheep cheep. The Neti Pot just wouldn't give me the power-wash force needed. If hosin' isn't working so well, just remember to start before it gets too bad next time. Check your email - I'm sending professional instructions.

Thanks for the FB shout out. Keep on hosin', Stacy.

sara said...

Can't say I have been sticking anything up my nose lately. However, as a long-time sinus sufferrerrerr (I can't figure out how to spell it, and my theory is when you don't know, just make it ridiculous) and victim of allergies, I would be willing to try ANYTHING to unstuff my nose. I will have to keep these things in mind...

Raw Faith Real World said...

Oh the humanity!!!!!!!!!

Beth E. said...

After reading Candy's post (Candace Jean July16), I'm wondering if a garden hose would have the same effect???? I think I'll stick with the Neti Pot. I use kosher salt in mine, too. I don't buy the pre-packaged stuff. AND, Candy's right about using it regularly, before you get a full-blown infection. Hope you are feeling better today. I've got the crud, myself. Not fun...not fun at all.

Alison said...

I've been allergic to Texas my whole life, and yet I still live here. After 30 years, and about 20 on allergy shots, none of it even phases me anymore. I don't think I've had a day in my entire life without a stopped up nose or a headache. I don't use any of that junk because the effects wouldn't last 5 minutes in my body. Don't worry....you get used to feeling that way! :)

Mandy Leech said...

We have one of those. Seems to work pretty well. Hurts though.

BeckeyZ said...

...just one of the many things I ♥ about Stacy: There is nothing to gross to share with her adoring readers.

BTW...my brain could use an enema - I suppose I should go buy one too.

mchersh said...

love it Stacy - I laughed myself silly!

wv: blevildl - what your brain was saying when you were powerwashing it...

Nick the Geek said...

You've heard of the netti pot right? Yeah same basic concept. I have been battling a sinus thing for months. I just can't bring myself to do this. one of these days I'll recover without it. I just can't do it.