Sickly. But Now With Handy Advice

060402_neti.jpgI’ve got one of the worst colds of my life. Likely brought upon by Leta having a cold and the SXSW comedown. Matched with chaotic weather: cold/warm/cold/warm. Normally, I’m a big believer in the Zicam swabs, but I just couldn’t be bothered this time. I’ve learned my lesson. Also, I’ve been thinking about the Neti pot (see image of woman on left) or as doctors like to call it, that crazy thing that you pour salt water through your nose with. It’s pretty dry here, and I’m wondering if a daily shot of saline through the nasal passages would avoid the problems I’ve been having. Plus, the shock value of walking around the house with a blue piece of plastic rammed up my left nostril and water pouring out my right nostril is near priceless.

And now, Handy Advice Corner™!

If you live in an older home where the construction isn’t drywall and studs, but lathe and plaster over studs, you can’t go wrong with the duct tape of screws, the drywall “grabber” screw that is 2 or more inches long. Drill a pilot hole that is one-quarter the diameter of the grabber (one of the smallest bits in a drill bit kit, like 1/32 or so) and you’re set. I hung pictures using toggle bolts and/or nails and it sucked. Had to drill massive holes and then the toggle hangs out at a crazy angle. With nails, the sumbitches cause cracking and chipping.

When we installed curtains in the front room and in Leta’s room, I used 2.5 inch grabbers, with starter holes and it was like butter. On the outer walls, we have bricks, so I had to fight a few of them, but they go in smoother than anything else I’ve tried. On the inner walls, it makes for less of a headache when trying to hang pictures, and less damage to patch if you change your mind about where you want to hang what.

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  • leslie ann

    I just used the neti pot for the first time over the weekend. I never would have tried it but it was my boyfriend’s birthday and he insisted. I have to say I wasn’t that impressed. The salt solution burned for about 5 minutes after I used it and after only 10 minutes I couldn’t breathe again and my cold isn’t even that bad.

  • akessle2

    Re: the Handy Advice tip.…

    Are you referring to the Grabber “Wall Dog” screws? From Grabber’s website, the “Wall Dog” line seems to best match your description. Did you order the screws from the company or find them at a hardware store?

    Inquiring minds that have gouged enormous holes in weak drywall apartment walls in DC, NYC, and now Boston want to know!

  • http://www.blurbomat.com blurb

    Dunno, I just by the boxes at the hardware store.

  • http://www.spaces.msn.com/go2grrl Jezzie

    Wrong solution strength can turn an otherwise positive experience unpleasant quickly…Breathe Right makes a good saline solution, no neti weirdness, but oh, how it ushers in memories of the ’80’s when u get the bitter throat drip. Ah, good times.
    Here’s what I like: plug the tub, turn the shower on full blast hot, sit in the bottom and pour bottle of childrens vapor bath all around you, all over you, breath it in! the bathtub ALWAYS makes everything better, anyway:) hope u feel better soon.

  • bellis2651

    WHo needs a neti pot when a straw works just as well! My girlfriend introduced me to this and I thought It was some old mexican thing but then it worked.

  • http://badgermeetsworld.blogspot.com ThatBadgerChick

    The neti pot is indeed awesome. I have a ceramic one because I fear that with a rubber one I’d squeeze it too hard and what little grey matter I have left would come shooting out my left ear or something. (Do lean forward. And use non-iodized salt. I don’t know why. You’re just supposed to.)

    The Airborne that Liz mentioned is also VERY awesome. But don’t put it in the neti pot. That would be wrong.

    Oscillococcinum is great if you’re achey and flu-like. Coffea Cruda is awesome for that kind of insomnia where your mind is racing and won’t shut up.

    Okay. That’s the extent of my hippie medicine fu.

  • http://thomnottom.com Thom

    My fiancee has a neti pot (she’s into yoga and all of that hippie stuff ;) ), and has suggested it to me once or twice. Now that we’re heading into allergy season, I’m afraid to deal with another horrid couple of months like last year. So it looks like I’ll finally try that sucker out.

    Of course I’m very thankful to have an experienced hand guide me — trying to do it on my own would probably end up with snotty water shooting out my ears!

  • claroux

    I’m nine weeks pregnant and allergy season in NJ is gearing up. I have been MISERABLE without my allergy meds. My Mom recommended a neti pot and I laughed at her and told her she was crazy. After three days of sinus hell I broke down and bought one. It is the most disgusting thing I have ever done but it works like a CHARM. My sinuses were clear in ten minutes FLAT. Good luck!

  • http://Http://www.monkeydojo.net Miko Monkey

    I have a personal fear of drowning, so water up my nose = primal fear. But I had a nasty-ass cold recently & was convinced to try this. I lean over the bathroom sink while my husband pours warm water mixed with table salt from a one-cup pyrex measuring cup into one nostril at a time until I can’t stand it (which doesn’t take long). It works remarkably well remarkably fast; possibly simply for the psycho-somatic reason of I-don’t-want-to-be-drowned-again-tonight. So, I recommend it; but don’t by the fancy-schmancy pot until you’ve decided you like the method…

  • Pants

    I don’t know about the Neti pot… looks like it requires some gymnastics, but the saline trick seems to work in my Midwestern dry-fest.

    I just squirt a little contact solution up my nostrils and the snot mercifully flows :)

  • http://dailypiglet.blogspot.com Piglet

    Sweet Holy Mother of God! That pot works! I posted about it here: [link removed because commenter didn’t follow comment policy.]

    You are correct in the shock value being totally priceless. I made my husband watch me do it so he could see how much fun it is.

    It totally works.

  • http://www.kadavy.net kadavy

    You should try SinusRinse. I did, and I love it!

  • e-man

    Another bit of handy advice, for those who have read this far into the comments:

    You know how your nose gets all red and sore from blowing it when you have a cold? Apply a mixture of Vaseline and Vicks Vapor-Rub to the sore spots. They will heal almost overnight, no lie!

  • http://rhythmicinterchange.blogspot.com sravana

    Neti pots rule. Period. It’s a great solution (saline, that is), and something that’s made dealing with my many allergies easier. Not easy, just easier.

  • http://thomnottom.com Thom

    I just wanted to report back because I actually tried the neti pot last night. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I was expecting — but I also didn’t use it as long as I should. It did completely clear my right nostril, and a little more effort probably would have gotten the left.

  • nikki c

    I like OceanSpray nose spray– looks a lot less weird than the Netti Pot.

  • http://www.nortonink.com/weblog kerewin

    If you want to see if a saline solution would work well for you, you might just head to your nearest drugstore and look for a little bottle of something called “Ocean.” A handy saline solution that you can just breath into your nose in small doses. It has a nice floral scent to it that the generic versions don’t have. I usually lean my head back and put a couple of drops in my nose and breath in.

    I am prone to chronic sinus infection and a little of this everyday when I start to feel plugged up has me feeling right in no time. Plus you don’t have water dripping out your nose.

  • http://www.kimblahg.com Darlin’

    dude, who knew neti pots were so freakin popular. i’m holding out for a yeti pot. abominable snowmen have freakishly clean sinuses.

  • TNW

    Hope you’re feeling better. I am also experiencing one of the worst colds of my life. I am a fan of the neti pot, but last night I discovered a product that has worked miracles. It is calle AYR Saline Nasal Gel. You put a small amount in your nostrils and around your nose and suddenly you can breathe again. It is a must have for anyone in a dry climate. It is a little weird to have gel in your nose at first but is well worth it. Hope this helps. Good luck!

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