Woman dies from rare brain-eating disease after using neti pot

Meltdown99

Woman dies from rare brain-eating disease after using neti pot

https://globalnews.ca/news/4739754/rare-brain-eating-disease-neti-pot/?utm_medium=Facebook&utm_source=GlobalNational&fbclid=IwAR1Z3dRXFIU_41-6qlKQLzVUerGKewKD38f-oT6vbdBgvjSEAW_9KdwWIqM

brianlux

That's sad.  All neti pot/ nasal flush kits say right in the instructions, USE DISTILLED WATER ONLY. 

Don't let this article dissuade you from using one.  They are really helpful for those of us with allergies or sinus issues. 

I use this kind:

oftenreading

Me too, Brian. I think we’ve spoken about this before?

And yes, using contaminated water is never a good idea for anything. 

Hi!

I wanted to share this article and wasnt really sure where to post it. I hope you all dont mind if i share it in here. Im sure most have seen this article, its been headline news all day today. I think its pretty wild and wouldnt want anyone to miss seeing it.

https://m-huffpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c0aad2de4b0ab8cf69306c3/amp?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHCAFYAYABAQ==#referrer=https://www.google.com&amp_tf=From %1$s

brianlux

Hi! said:

I wanted to share this article and wasnt really sure where to post it. I hope you all dont mind if i share it in here. Im sure most have seen this article, its been headline news all day today. I think its pretty wild and wouldnt want anyone to miss seeing it.

https://m-huffpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c0aad2de4b0ab8cf69306c3/amp?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHCAFYAYABAQ==#referrer=https://www.google.com&amp_tf=From %1$s

Whoa! 

File under, "Performance Art"?

The Juggler

brianlux said:

That's sad.  All neti pot/ nasal flush kits say right in the instructions, USE DISTILLED WATER ONLY. 

Don't let this article dissuade you from using one.  They are really helpful for those of us with allergies or sinus issues. 

I use this kind:

@brianlux I've got sinus issues too. Actually having surgery next week to clean up a deviated septum and remove polyps.

Just started using a netipot along with a spray. I'm using the distilled water but I guess I have not been cleaning it correctly as I've just been running scolding hot water through it for a few minutes when I'm done. I've only been using it a week though.

I'm curious what your routine is. Do you use this every day? If so, how do you clean and how often do you clean it? Seems like a pretty tedious cleaning process to use on a daily basis to me. 

brianlux

The Juggler said:

brianlux said:

That's sad.  All neti pot/ nasal flush kits say right in the instructions, USE DISTILLED WATER ONLY. 

Don't let this article dissuade you from using one.  They are really helpful for those of us with allergies or sinus issues. 

I use this kind:

@brianlux I've got sinus issues too. Actually having surgery next week to clean up a deviated septum and remove polyps.

Just started using a netipot along with a spray. I'm using the distilled water but I guess I have not been cleaning it correctly as I've just been running scolding hot water through it for a few minutes when I'm done. I've only been using it a week though.

I'm curious what your routine is. Do you use this every day? If so, how do you clean and how often do you clean it? Seems like a pretty tedious cleaning process to use on a daily basis to me. 

I use the sinus rinse pretty much as needed, which varies a lot through the seasons.  When I'm feeling more congested than usual, I use it almost every day.  This time of year, not very often at all.

As for cleaning, I figure the bottle only needs a rinse in lukewarm water with the squeeze bulb removed.  Then I run the same through the bulb tube and bulb.  It doesn't seem to need more cleaning than that.

I hope your sinus situation improves, Juggler!

The Juggler

brianlux said:

The Juggler said:

brianlux said:

That's sad.  All neti pot/ nasal flush kits say right in the instructions, USE DISTILLED WATER ONLY. 

Don't let this article dissuade you from using one.  They are really helpful for those of us with allergies or sinus issues. 

I use this kind:

@brianlux I've got sinus issues too. Actually having surgery next week to clean up a deviated septum and remove polyps.

Just started using a netipot along with a spray. I'm using the distilled water but I guess I have not been cleaning it correctly as I've just been running scolding hot water through it for a few minutes when I'm done. I've only been using it a week though.

I'm curious what your routine is. Do you use this every day? If so, how do you clean and how often do you clean it? Seems like a pretty tedious cleaning process to use on a daily basis to me. 

I use the sinus rinse pretty much as needed, which varies a lot through the seasons.  When I'm feeling more congested than usual, I use it almost every day.  This time of year, not very often at all.

As for cleaning, I figure the bottle only needs a rinse in lukewarm water with the squeeze bulb removed.  Then I run the same through the bulb tube and bulb.  It doesn't seem to need more cleaning than that.

I hope your sinus situation improves, Juggler!

Thanks Brian!

When you're rinsing yours out, are you using distilled water for that too or just tap? I googled cleaning it today and I was seeing stuff about using dish detergent and scrubbing it thoroughly and then rinsing it with distilled water to get the soap out. Also saw that some people put it in the dishwasher after every use. Seems like a lot to me......but then again, I'd rather not contract a brain eating disease!

what dreams

I think about this thread every time I use my Neil Med!  Hahaha
I boil any water that I use, whether distilled or bottled spring water, then let it cool in a disinfected measuring cup that I cover with a paper towel. Sometimes I'm lazy and just microwave the water for two minutes in the same measuring cup. I do this about 30 minutes before I plan to rinse, usually at bed time, because it takes that long to cool before I pour it into the bottle. I disinfect everything in the microwave before each use. I just rinse the bottle and the cap with tap water and zap it for 30 seconds. I worry more about injecting melted plastic up my nose than brain eating amoebas.  When I'm done, I don't do any more than rinse everything with hot tap water. 
I also really hope I don't get a brain eating disease!!

brianlux

The Juggler said:

brianlux said:

The Juggler said:

brianlux said:

That's sad.  All neti pot/ nasal flush kits say right in the instructions, USE DISTILLED WATER ONLY. 

Don't let this article dissuade you from using one.  They are really helpful for those of us with allergies or sinus issues. 

I use this kind:

@brianlux I've got sinus issues too. Actually having surgery next week to clean up a deviated septum and remove polyps.

Just started using a netipot along with a spray. I'm using the distilled water but I guess I have not been cleaning it correctly as I've just been running scolding hot water through it for a few minutes when I'm done. I've only been using it a week though.

I'm curious what your routine is. Do you use this every day? If so, how do you clean and how often do you clean it? Seems like a pretty tedious cleaning process to use on a daily basis to me. 

I use the sinus rinse pretty much as needed, which varies a lot through the seasons.  When I'm feeling more congested than usual, I use it almost every day.  This time of year, not very often at all.

As for cleaning, I figure the bottle only needs a rinse in lukewarm water with the squeeze bulb removed.  Then I run the same through the bulb tube and bulb.  It doesn't seem to need more cleaning than that.

I hope your sinus situation improves, Juggler!

Thanks Brian!

When you're rinsing yours out, are you using distilled water for that too or just tap? I googled cleaning it today and I was seeing stuff about using dish detergent and scrubbing it thoroughly and then rinsing it with distilled water to get the soap out. Also saw that some people put it in the dishwasher after every use. Seems like a lot to me......but then again, I'd rather not contract a brain eating disease!

No. I just rinse with tap water, but we've had our water tested and it's good.  We used bottled water because our water is very hard and we have a water softener which helps save the plumbing, but it's clean water otherwise so I just rinse the nasal components with tap water and let them dry.

I'm guessing the brain eating disease thing is rare but if you have any doubts about your water quality, maybe get it tested.  These days, that's probably a good idea anyway.  Let me know how it goes.

HughFreakingDillon

my wife does this with tap water and ever since I saw this article I've been terrified and she just shrugs it off. 

brianlux

HughFreakingDillon said:

my wife does this with tap water and ever since I saw this article I've been terrified and she just shrugs it off. 

Maybe buy her a few gallons of distilled water for Valentines day.  What could be more romantic than a gift of distilled water that say, "I love you do"?  Seriously though, it's inexpensive and maybe if you bought some for her she would use it.  Maybe also get your water tested for bacteria and other pollutants- probably not a bad idea anyway these days!