THIS week's theme/prompt is:  HEADS - "Bottle"  

I used to get sinus infections all the time.  Even when I was a kid.  Of course we didn't know it back then that they were infections.

I used to go through Afrin like it was going out of style.  I remember many sleepless nights because I couldn't breathe enough to go to sleep.

When I was in college I got bronchitis.  I felt so bad that I went to the emergency room.  They treated me and I remember one of the nurses telling me that I had chronic sinus problems and would have them for the rest of my life.

That's when I resolved to prove her wrong!!  Who was she to condemn me with that life long sentence?!

Yet, I still got sinus infections, sometimes twice a year

I got a sinus infection when I was pregnant with BG.  I was really reluctant to go on antibiotics, so I asked the doctor for alternative remedies.  I only half expected an answer since many doctors are more than willing to dole out drugs and ignore any type of "natural remedies."

Much to my surprise he had some great suggestions: 

He told me to take Mucinex (the regular stuff only).  Ok, it's drugs but it's not antibiotics...

He asked me if I had tried inhaling steam.  He asked if I was drinking fluids.

And finally, he asked if I had tried nose irrigation.

WHAT?!!

I had no idea what he was talking about.

Yes, I had inhaled steam.  I would run hot water in the bathroom and just sit in the room.  I had learned to do that with the kids when they got stuffy.  And I was drinking lots and lots of fluids.  But I never ever considered sticking any kind of fluids UP my NOSE!!

I bought some Mucinex and I tried the Vicks steam inhalation over a pot of water on the stove.  But I disregarded the nose irrigation; eeeeuuuw!


A short time later I was talking to a fellow mom at church.  She was saying she rarely had sinus infections because she used the nose irrigation stuff.  My ears perked up.  Really??!  Rarely?!  Now I was interested.

I asked her about it.  She told me they had them at the pharmacy.  They sold the bottles with liquid already in them but that I could make the liquid myself.

She spouted off a recipe.  4 cups warm water, 2-3 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. baking soda.

She told me to mix that up and put it in the bottle.  Then 2-3 times a day, blow my nose first, then spray the water up my nose.

Just like that, huh?!

I had started the antibiotic by this time but I needed some relief.  I still couldn't breathe.  So, one day, i went to the pharmacy looking for a nose irrigation bottle.

Wouldn't you know it, right on the end cap was a SaltAire bottle that had words on it like "Sinus Relief,"  "Drug Free," "Nasal Wash," and "washes away...  clears and moisturizes nasal passages."

I was desperate.  So I bought the bottle.  I went home and I put four cups of water into a large empty yogurt container.  I added the salt and the baking soda.  I stirred well.

Shooting water up my nose was the weirdest thing I've ever done!  I didn't think to "close" my nostrils the first time so it felt a lot like when you swallow water at the pool.  Instantly, my eyes began to water, I couldn't breathe, and my nose was leaking.  It was rough.

But, I had gotten this far, so, I blew my nose again and after catching my breath, I tried the other nostril.

With some practice I learned to " close" my nose while doing it.  Now, every time I feel dry, stuffy, congested or all of the above, I pull out my little bottle, mix in some water, salt, and baking soda, and I give my nose a spa treatment.

I can tell you the last time I had a sinus infection.  It was when I was pregnant with Buddy.  It caught me by surprise and before I knew it, it was full blown.  I don't remember if I beat it or not.  I know, I tried.

Shortly after that incident, I learned about the Neti Pot.


Then I found this great blog post.

After watching that video, I realize that I may be doing "it" wrong.  I've never had water come out the other nostril.  Which is why I haven't gotten up the nerve to try the Neti Pot.  But, even if it's wrong, I use my SaltAire Sinus Relief bottle regularly.  It's easy to clean and can go in the top rack of the dish washer.  I don't use "special" salt or water.  I just use warm tap water, table salt, and baking soda.  I've never had any side effects and I breathe better.  I also think it helps with my allergies.

If I could go back and tell my kid-self two things, they would be:  Yahoo! and nose irrigation!!

Think of how much better my life would have been with those two pieces of information!  Lol.

Anyway, I'd love to hear about any daring experiences you've had concerning your nose and a bottle.

For other bottle Heads or Tails entries, please click here.