SinuPulse Elite

[Tigers Fan]

After months of prevaricating - expensive and only one nostril blocks regularly/every night - I took the plunge and it arrived between shower and shave this morning.

The immediate problem became apparent whilst shaving - where to put it? Plan A went straight out of the window because I don't have a 240V socket in my bathroom. Plan B favours the kitchen sink but we'll see about siting it later.

It's a good looking little gizmo, all white and clear plastic, very medical - or perhaps dental as it reminds me of an old fashioned electric toothbrush a bit.

Charge it, wash it, all is ready. One use and I'm utterly convinced and delighted! It's as if my nose has had a re-bore! Air sucks in freely and blows out effortlessly - great, sucky, deep lungfuls of it!!

As a child I was required to sniff salt water up my nose when I caught a cold. That hurt a lot!! and was part of my indecision about buying a SinuPulse - but no worries! I was using it at full pressure just a few seconds after starting. With my head at 90 degrees to usual, the saline was pumped into one nostril and drained from the other - not a drop down my throat.

I've not had a go with the throat nozzles yet but will no doubt have a play sooner or later.

Another sinus wash before bed tonight - and I'm looking forward to no more mouth breathing. I'll let you know the result with APAP - but right now, well, it's like having a young nose again!!

Tigers Fan

[Tigers Fan]

Is post irrigation drainage normal?

Lower sinus cavities? Cilia? It is not unusual to experience drainage up to 20 minutes or more after irrigation?

Hah! Did you know you have a large capacity storage tank up your nose?

I irrigated. Drained a bit. Blew my nose and drained a bit more. Job done! Hah!

An hour of more later I bent down to pick up something from the floor and ...... Niagara erupted from my nose! How much can be up there? Oh! and some more!! It's like pee-ing yourself in public only funny! Uncontrolable flow of water from my nose - standing straight only got me a wet shirt!Ah! well - fore-warned is fore-armed from now on!

Got home very late from Giselle (Acosta/Nunez - sublime) determined to irrigate and see what happened during the APAP night. Irrigated, gave it a few minutes whilst collecting a wad of tissues, bent over, the second coming of Niagara from my nose, and feeling very cute, went to bed.

Blew my nose for luck - not needed as it was wide open, fully operational for a change - went through my routine of Pur-Sleep, straps, heated hose 'on', mask fitting, press the button, seal OK, press 'Ramp', lay down for sleep, and .... Reverse Rain-Out!!! Not Niagara again, but an angry mountain stream in Spring! Complications of laughter, not being able to find the tissues and being on a leash (mask, hose). Fore-armed my backside!!

A very good sleep followed. I vaguely remember having a dry mouth but woke this morning with a wet one and breathing through my nose. That is all but un-heard of! Till SinuPulse, anyway.

Now for Day 2 - doubly fore-armed!

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

Great to hear you too get excellent results.

As you're a stats-obsessed-super-CPAP-user perhaps you can keep track of whether your 90th% pressure will drop since using this. In theory with wider nasal passages the CPAP can deliver more easily, perhaps reducing the average pressure from your APAP.

Like how OSA people have forgotten how it is to feel awake and energized, many blocked-nosed-people have forgotten how it is to be able to breathe through their nose in an onubstructed fashion. Breathing, sleeping, smelling and even hearing can be improved sometimes radically. It's powerful stuff, not to be underestimated.

It requires 240V indeed so most people have it in a kitchen cupboard so you can use it over the kitchen sink and then stow it away.

For long-term problem-free operation, try and use purest possible water, like the humidifier and don't use salts with additives, certainly not table salt. Ideally the SinuAir that comes with it (not least to pay for my holidays ) but health shops will have good sinus irrigation salts too. Just make sure it's all natural, no chemicals, irritants or preservatives you don't need.

The SinuAir tub comes with a spray bottle which is handy for a quick squirt middle-of-the-night or when out and about.

[Tigers Fan]

Wilco.

Hi James

The SinuPulse has indeed found a home in a kitchen cupboard, but only after Breville was evicted (he's re-homed on top of the freezer under the stairs, where he will probably reside undisturbed for another seventeen years).

I reckon I have as much more energy from my nose working properly now as I got from APAP in the first place. I could breath for England now!

I shall inverstigate health shops for salts - thanks for the tip.

Like you, I'm most interested to see what effect SinuPulse usage has had on my stats - I'll find out this evening (have League games all day). Wanted to give it enough time for a trend to be apparent.

Now then! A "stats-obsessed-super-CPAP-user" huh? I think of myself more as a stats-interested-regular-APAP-user but I don't want to be pedantic.

Even more Pur-Sleep freebies would grace my collection nicely, thank you. Are you trying to get us all addicted before you start selling them? Rosa, Calm, Clear, Peace are my favourites, in descending order.

Oh! and thanks for the extra sachets!

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

Oh no, you discovered our secret addiction plot. - Evil Laugh Here -

Fill the SinuPulse with Rosa and have a 500ml shot of it before bed time for extra special, hallucinative results (disclaimer: just kidding, don't do it! Not medical advice!)

OK maybe not obsessed but indeed a healthy interest which enables one to proactively be involved with one's therapy and overall health. And such detailed interests make for great forum posts too.

[Tigers Fan]

But not this one, I'm afraid!

Hi James

The stats are very disappointing! All they show is what I knew already - I've had a few disturbed night's sleep. Nothing to indicate that I can now breath easily through my nose all night long! Disturbed nights at AHI less than 5 over a week, mind!

Interestingly - piqued my curiosity - is the Compliance Report. Till a week ago, I had green bars broken by white spaces when the machine was switched off. Time was reported as, say, 7.36/7.36 - always 100%. Now, I still have the green bars broken by white but additionally have black bars breaking the green. Time is reported as, say, 6.56/7.36 - never 100%. The sleep report shows the total green time with the total black time sitting atop the green.

Do you know what the black time is, James? My guess is time above 90%.

I guess this is a result of pressing buttons to see what they did but I cannot figure which button might be causing the new measurement to be recorded.

I like the new description, by the by, and would love some more Rosa - a little less than 500 ml would be good, mind!

Tigers Fan

[Tigers Fan]

Salt

I've come up against a brick wall in looking for alternatives to SinuAir salt - well, money saving alternatives, anyway. The others I have found are half-ish the price but require twice as much = square one.

A complete blank on non-iodized salt except that sales are banned.

Any other SinuPulse users - help!!??!

Is the only solution (ho ho!) to buy a case of 300g tubs in the US and ship them over? (18 USD for 300g there or £18 for 200g here.)

I've asked the question of an ebay seller in the US.

Tigers Fan

[Tigers Fan]

Cheapest salt so far

To maximise the weight of salt for a postal charge band, I worked on 3 x 300g tubs of SinuAir and came up with £9.07 per 200g (for comparison with UK suppliers). That's a total cost of £40.84 for 900g.

We know the UK import code for medical equipement and supplies, so it should come in VAT and Duty free.

I await a reply from the eBay seller, who may beat the salt price I have so far.

Tigers Fan

[Floatyboaty]

A bit of history, December 2007 I was being tested for lung cancer, rushed to xray, wait over Christmas as almost all staff off sick, CT scan, broncoscopoy, ecg more xrays later, no diagnosis. Still continually coughing up blood and rough croaky voice but gp and consultants could find no cause but definitely not lung cancer.
November 2008 went to doctor, collapsed into chair and said 'I can't go on' Sent for sleep study just before Christmas, diagnosed and given cpap not long after.

In January while waiting for results I started suffering chronic toothache although I was not convinced it was toothache as it would just disappear which a normal chronis toothache does not!

The dentist took xrays (I must be radioactive by now!) but said that there was nothing wrong with my tooth or teeth!

Trots off back to gp who was informed that the antibiotics that he had refused me but given by the dentist had actually cured the 18 month cough I had suffered!

Anyway, I now appear to be suffering from sinusitis which seems to be aggravated by the mask sitting under my nose and up to my cheek bones. The left nostril bleeds and the teeth and gums are sensitive which disappears after a while.

It is also thought that this is where the blood was coming from in the past that I was coughing up as my lungs appear to be fine.

What I am getting at here in a long winded round about way is, do you think a nasal / sinus wash would help?

The gp has given me flixonase which does help but not improve.

Your thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated although I do not own a Breville I am sure I can evict something from my kitchen cupboards if necessary!
More info on Sinu Pulse would be gratefully received

[Lillie]

Can I add my interest too?

I really think I need to try nasal cleansing so i have read this thread with interest. But I am rather taken aback by the cost a SinuPulse and similar devices.

I am on a very limited income these days and buying one would be quite a considerable outlay. I can't see if they come with a money back guarantee if they don't do the job. Does anyone who has one know if they do, please?

Lil

[Tigers Fan]

Well! I never!

Hi Floatyboaty

Since your beginning on the forum, I've pictured you as a fella. The other day you were walking around in a purple and blue something but you've been a fella for so long I can't shift you to being a woman! I'll get there!

All I know about SinuPulse Elite is that they are very good with healthy noses and blocked sinus' (sini?) and take the mickey mercilessly with 'post irrigation drainage'. They come with health warnings about ear infections (don't use when).

To my mind, you most definately need to discuss using a SinuPulse with your GP.

The machine has a variable output so you can go from very gentle to quite strong. The pumped solution does not hurt - I'm about to experiment with warming it a little to 'improve comfort'. Good looking little thing. The only annoyance I have is that the on/off botton is front mounted so you need either two hands or one very large one to shut it off - not so easy when water is pouring from your nose over the sink and the machine is behind you on the work-top. I absolutely swear by mine already. My use of Olbas Oil and 'sniffers' like Vics has fallen to nothing wihin a few days whilst my ability to breathe easily is through the roof.

Tigers Fan

[Tigers Fan]

If only!

Hi Lillie

I love the world you seem to inhabit! I'm afraid the only guarantee is that they work and do the job they are designed to do - to pump salt water up your nose. If by so doing one would achieve what you want from it, so much the better.

Based on my experience, I'm sure that if you have blocked sinus' (do you know the correct plural?) a SinuPulse will clear them.

I have PM'd you.

Tigers Fan

[Tigers Fan]

Way to go!

Warming the water is definately the way to go! Heated hoses on your CPAP and warm solution in your SinuPulse - definately. Even given that I'm a big wus (remind me how to spell again, please, James) a slightly warm solution seems to do a better job as well as being pleasant. Please note: slightly warm.

Taking off your spectacles is a good idea - I always manage to spray mine to one extent or a soaking.

A box of tissues handily placed is a must! I like 'originals', without balsam, for drying/cleaning the machine after use (and drying my specs).

GSH essential.

Tigers Fan

[Floatyboaty]

Hi Tigers,
How did I give myself away? Was it the Pink and purple hose cover and coordinating jumpers? LOL

I will definitely see the doctor about this as I had a dreadful night last night. Although I wear the mask loose just the slightest pressure last night andf I was in agony, ended up overdosing on painkillers, ho hum never rains but it pours! Will let you know how I get on!

[James @ Intus]

Sinus irrigation / wash is primarily intended for sinusitis so that answers your question, Floaty. Definitely suitable for you situation.

In response to TF, as sinusitis has been confirmed to be a sufficiently disabling condition, the SinuPulse has indeed been cleared for 0% VAT. However, the salts aren't necessarily used for this only so we decided to play save and hand 15% to our beloved government. I'd be surprised if you can get it through at 0% all the time.

The 300gm tub is most economical indeed and we are planning to add that one so hopefully we can help you out with that. In the meanwhile, we do offer bulk discount on multi-packs. And as always, we're happy to take that further if people are willing to help us promote this genuinely.

Other salts we've sold before and still think are good include Breathe-Ease XL, Emcur and Nacur. Not sure what prices are these days for those.

For those who are entertaining the idea of sinus irrigation but are not yet convinced, despite the reviews here and the information here, that it is a sound investment, you can go the cheaper route first with Jala Neti and a Neti Pot as made famous by Opera Winfrey. It's a gravity feed pot that costs just a tenner or so. It's no where near as powerful as pulsating irrigation but it'll help to a degree and give you an impression of what can be achieved. There's a thread about it here on the forums which you'll most likely find when searching for jala neti or neti pot or netipot.

There's no money back guarantee, mainly because of hygiene reasons. Also because someone's issues can be down to a myriad of things so it'd be too big a gamble. We're very confident though that it'll help anyone with any sort of nasal discomfort. If with salts it costs you £250 over two years, it's less than 50p a day, making it cheaper than those nose wing strips and other fancy things that don't tackle the cause deeply. You'll be surprised how much you've missed breathing through your nose properly.

PS the plural for sinus is sinuses. An apostrophy only comes into play when you indicate it is possessive or it's replacing a letter. Never with plural as far as I know.

Many people say "I have sinuses" when they mean "I have sinus problems". Everybody has paransal sinuses, a group of different cavities which can become infected or blocked. Sinusitis is the inflamed state of these, causing terrible grief. An effective nasal cavity rinse can help all this.

Thanks to Wikipedia I now know there are also anal sinuses. Not sure the SinuPulse is good for those!