| After two painful sinus operations, I was still coming | | | | program: pulsating nasal irrigation with a saline solution. |
| down with infections. I had to find some real remedy to | | | | Use a WaterPik and Adaptor |
| my sinusitis problem, as I was tired of taking antibiotics | | | | When I first started following Dr. Grossan's advice he |
| and especially tired of the dull, deep headaches every | | | | suggested using a WaterPik machine, and these have |
| time I had an attack. | | | | been sold for years as devices to improve gum and |
| Sinus Operations- Try to Avoid | | | | dental health. Dr. Grossan simply sold an adaptor and a |
| The operations were no fun. After the first one my | | | | saline solution, although one can use table salt. Although |
| nose was "packed". This means that in order to stop | | | | much more expensive than salt, I find that this saline |
| the bleeding, the ENT specialist/surgeon put a large | | | | solution is convenient, works well, and has no |
| amount of gauze in my nose, which means that one | | | | preservatives. I usually purchase a dozen containers at |
| can only breathe through the mouth for the week or | | | | a time, and these will last up to a year with one |
| so of recovery time. In other words, swallowing and | | | | application per day. One simply puts a spoonful of |
| breathing cannot occur at the same time. This is a | | | | saline solution into the WaterPik tank and then about 16 |
| good way to lose weight, as one cannot eat much, but | | | | oz. of warm water to dissolve the powder. Then the |
| it is not a great way to live. At the end of this period, | | | | nasal adaptor is put into one nostril and the machine will |
| before pulling out the gauze, the doctor said "this will | | | | gently propel half the liquid through one's nasal canal, |
| feel like I'm pulling your brains out through your nose". | | | | and it will drain out the other side. One then puts the |
| This was the most accurate statement he ever made | | | | adaptor in the other nostril and repeats the procedure |
| to me. Pulling what seemed like 6 feet of moist, sticky | | | | on that side. This procedure is done while leaning over |
| gauze out of my nose was an almost surrealistically | | | | a sink. I then normally put more water into the tank and |
| painful sensation. But I thought, "if my deviated septum | | | | use the WaterPik on my teeth as it was originally |
| is now fixed, at least I can look forward to no sinus | | | | intended, and I've helped my gum and dental health as |
| infections in the future, or at least a lot fewer of them. I | | | | well. My dental hygienist has made several comments |
| was wrong again, as they started coming back after a | | | | about how much better my gums and teeth are when |
| few months. I changed ENT specialists since the first | | | | I go in for cleanings. The whole effort only takes about |
| one put me through tons of pain for no gain. After a | | | | 5 minutes or so, including wiping everything dry. I |
| couple of years of treatment with this new doctor, I | | | | normally do the irrigation once a day about an hour |
| decided to take his advice and try another operation. | | | | before bed, but if I happen to wake up with more than |
| Among other therapies, I had allergy shots during that | | | | the usual congestion in the morning, I'll do it then as well. |
| time, even though I only tested positive for minor | | | | The Easiest Way to Start |
| allergies to a couple of things. My nose was not | | | | In the past couple of years Dr. Grossan has come up |
| "packed" this time, but there was still plenty of pain. | | | | with his own machine for nasal irrigation. It is called the |
| Again my hopes for an infection-free future were | | | | Hydro Pulse(R) Nasal Irrigation System. For about $89 |
| dashed when they started up again after a few | | | | plus shipping one receives the Hydro Pulse Nasal/Sinus |
| months. So after two operations by two different ENT | | | | Irrigator(R), 2 Original Sinus Irrigator Tips (R), 2 Original |
| specialists, I said "enough is enough". For those | | | | Throat Irrigator Tips(R), Breathe-ease(R) XL Nasal |
| considering sinus operations to fix things like a deviated | | | | Moisturizer (this is the saline solution), and excerpts |
| septum, here's my considered advice: don't do it. At | | | | from,"The Sinus Cure" by Dr. Grossan. |
| least try the nasal irrigation recommended by Dr. | | | | This is the easiest way to start, as you have |
| Murray Grossan which is explained below before you | | | | everything needed. If the system works well and you |
| do. One hears about people who have had 5 or 6 | | | | want to continue to do nasal irrigation on a daily basis, I |
| sinus operations, and these either don't work, or if they | | | | would suggest purchase of a pack of one dozen |
| do cause improvement, it doesn't last very long. Some | | | | saline solution boxes, as the price is lower per box and |
| people have told me that a sinus operation "fixed" their | | | | there is only one shipping charge to pay. Of course |
| problems, but I am skeptical. | | | | one could still purchase a WaterPik at a retail store |
| Tried Various Approaches for Years | | | | and buy the Dr. Grossan's adaptor and saline solution |
| Throughout my years with significant sinus problems, I | | | | to work with it. For information about how to purchase |
| had read a number of books and tried different | | | | these items, and also how to download a free ebook |
| products and approaches. One author I read early-on | | | | written by Dr. Grossan, follow the links at the end of |
| was not very encouraging. He said that certain things | | | | this article.. |
| aggravated sinus problems, and one should simply stop | | | | Other Medications |
| eating chocolate, cheese and other dairy products. | | | | For many people the nasal irrigation system will be |
| Also, he said that in order to be cured there could | | | | enough to control your sinus problems. Those of us |
| simply be no drinking of alcoholic beverages either. | | | | with particularly significant sinusitis may need to |
| Sorry, he said, but that's the way it has to be. For a | | | | supplement this with medications, and I use Flonase |
| person who lived in France and who has come to | | | | before going to bed each night as well. If I feel like I'm |
| enjoy the excellent wine and numerous cheese | | | | on the verge of a sinus infection I might take some |
| varieties, this was awful. What kind of a life would I | | | | zyrtec (an antihistimine) or if an infection seems |
| have without drinking wine and eating cheese? At that | | | | imminent, I have my silver bullet, which is prednisone. I |
| point I did have to stop drinking, as even one glass of | | | | don't use much of the latter, however, as there can be |
| wine could be enough to trigger an infection almost | | | | side affects with this steroid. My doctor usually |
| every time. After six months of this I got sick of | | | | prescribes 10 pills of 20 mg each, and these last for |
| drinking soda and non-alcoholic beer, which tastes | | | | about a year. I never take a whole pill and usually take |
| pretty bad. In fact I was ridiculed in a restaurant in | | | | 5 mg or 10 mg maximum at a time for a day or two. |
| France when I ordered a Buckler's , which is | | | | I'm told this is a reasonable amount and nothing to |
| Heineken's nonalcoholic beer. The French owner asked | | | | worry about. Speaking of bad side effects, prior to |
| my why I would order such a ridiculous beverage with | | | | discovering Dr. Grossan's system, sometimes |
| his excellent meal, and I explained I had sinus problems. | | | | desperate for relief, I used an over-the-counter spray |
| He replied that he bad sinus problems too, and he got | | | | called afrin. The warnings on the label say to use this |
| headaches every day, but nothing would stop him | | | | product for only 4 days or less. This medication can |
| from drinking red wine! I actually admired his attitude, | | | | damage the cilia in one's sinuses and cause permanent |
| but the headaches were too painful, and I felt like I was | | | | damage if used too much. As frequent users know, |
| on the search for "Lorenzo's oil", like the father in the | | | | there is also an effect called rebound congestion, so |
| movie of the same title that needed a certain rare oil | | | | after using it you might end up just as congested as |
| to cure his son. It was also through this author, an ENT | | | | when you started. Thus, people are tempted to |
| specialist, that I first heard about nasal irrigation, but the | | | | continue using it, and it is said to become addictive. Dr. |
| system suggested did not work well. He sold a saline | | | | Grossan simply recommends that you throw your afrin |
| solution, but it was too strong and caused a burning | | | | into the garbage and stay away from it. I have not |
| sensation in my nose. He suggested a sort of | | | | used it for years now and am glad to be rid of it. |
| long-nosed pot called a Neti pot to use to pour the | | | | I haven't eliminated sinus infections entirely, and I might |
| solution into each nostril. This approach did not work | | | | come down with perhaps one per year. I'm more |
| nearly as well as the system suggested by Dr. | | | | susceptible when very tired, or after long flights, as we |
| Grossan (see below), and I was wrongly convinced | | | | often go back and forth to Europe for our tour |
| that nasal irrigation was not effective. It makes a big | | | | business. When flying anywhere I make sure to take |
| difference how the irrigation is done and with what | | | | some kind of decongestant, normally the Flonase. I can |
| kind of equipment and saline solution. | | | | enjoy wine, cheese, chocolate, and I really don't need |
| Dr. Murray Grossan to the Rescue | | | | to avoid any particular foods. Dr. Grossan's system |
| I thus started doing more research on other books and | | | | has worked for me, and I certainly don't miss the deep, |
| approaches, and in the course of this I came across a | | | | painful sinus infection headaches that used to be all too |
| book by Dr. Murray Grossan called "The Sinus Cure- 7 | | | | familiar. Dr. Grossan has lots of other advice in his |
| Simple Steps". In a nutshell, Dr. Grossan's system | | | | book as well, and I definitely recommend that anyone |
| worked. His book contains many technical explanations | | | | with sinusitis read it. |
| about sinusitis and how to deal with it. He clearly | | | | Best of luck to all sinusitis sufferers. I hope this |
| explains the reasons for the problem and suggests | | | | information will help improve your lives as much as it |
| numerous remedies including diet considerations, home | | | | has helped me. Please don't hesitate to forward this |
| environmental improvements like duct cleaning and | | | | article to friends and family who suffer from sinusitis. |
| humidity control, and the most important aspect of the | | | | |