Could we discuss spring allergies.

Could you try some saline spray instead of the total sinus rinse you’d get with a neti pot? We use Arm & Hammer Simply Saline spray that comes in a can instead of in a plastic bottle for DD because she has trouble with a neti pot. I have a can that I use sometimes too when my sinuses get bad and it does help some.

I only need to do it once a day. You will get used to it.  

Also, beware of a condition called the Rebound Effect that is related to nasal sprays.  Here is information about it.


Rebound effect 

There is a mucinex with pseudoephedrine in it. You have to sign for it since it is behind a pharmacy counter. That helps me with head congestion/pressure. Not recommended if you have high blood pressure though. It may upset your stomach so best taken with food.

I get them also. My symptoms are sore throat with any weather change (and the weather changes a lot here), productive cough, lots of sneezing, sinus headaches. Claritin helps a tiny bit. Everything else causes drowsiness.

I love this stuff and use it several times a week. I’m at an age where everything is dry, and the A&H saline spray helps both my sinuses and my throat if it’s scratchy as well.

I only worry about rebound effect when I use a medicated product like Afrin, which I occasionally do as well but only if my congestion is so severe I can’t sleep, and only for three days. I’ve never had a problem with the saline spray.

I’ve used a neti pot before but for me the spray is easier and cleaner (wash the tip well after use), and gives me about the same results.

That rebound only happens with sprays like Afrin. The stuff I was talking about is a non medicated saline solution exactly like you would use in a neti pot, only it’s in a pressurized can so it can sort of shoot up into your nose. The saline just goes up in your sinuses to help you rinse them out without using a neti pot, which works so much better for me.

What I like about the Simply Saline is that the can is pressurized so it sprays the saline out of the can. I’ve used other saline sprays but the plastic bottle has to be squeezed to spray it which means when you let go, the bottle sucks in air and it has the possibility of sucking the fluid out of your nose and back into the bottle in the process which is not only gross but then it contaminates the rest of the stuff in the bottle. The pressured can prevents that and is so much easier to use. Even my 9yo can do it herself.

My eyes have been itchy for weeks, I suspect something is blooming.

I never had any problem when I was younger.

I find I have to drink more than my normal, so if you can convince yourself to drink more during this time, I would.

I take Zyrtec twice a day and that helps

MichyM   How are you doing with your social distancing?  

For any of the saline rinses, I’d use them after I came in from being outside for any real leangth of time like after your walk. Otherwise I’d use it at night, but start at least an hour before bed because you may need to blow your nose a bit. Also, something I learned from the peas, make sure and use distilled water due to brain eating amoebas. Not kidding 

Merge Does the xyzal help a lot with the mountain cedar? Notice if it works better for ragweed? I alternate monthly between certrizine and loratadine and it’s not enough.