I Love My Neti-Pot

I first heard of Neti Pots in one of Rachel Wilkerson's posts.  I thought it sounded interesting, but didn't think about them again for a few years until the Nose Buddy came to my attention, a few weeks ago.  I can't remember quite how, now.

For those of you who are as unfamiliar with the process as I am, neti pots are used to aid in nasal irrigation.  Basically, you pour a saline solution through one nostril and out the other side, in order to clear out your sinuses.  Apparently, it can be helpful for those with pollen allergies, as it helps to wash out any remaining bits of pollen.  I don't suffer with hayfever, but I do know that I snore, and that I often wake up with a slightly blocked nose.  I hoped it would help with that.

So, on a whim, I got myself a neti pot.  A bright green one.  And for the past two weeks, I've been pouring water through my nose.  I really like it, and that surprised me.

I thought it would feel like when you get water in your nose in a swimming pool.  It doesn't.  You feel a little pressure, and then it starts pouring out of your other nostril, and you don't really feel anything.  I also thought it would be hard to remember to breathe through my mouth and that I'd end up choking, but I didn't.

I normally read my kindle while cleaning my teeth - I just prop it up against the window.  That's not really plausible with the neti pot, so I typically just listen to an audio book for a few minutes, while using my phone's camera as a mirror.  I find the process is easier if I can see myself.  Plus, that way, I can gauge when I've used half and switch sides.

I normally use coarse sea salt, measured out with the spoon that comes with it.  I'll use either a full pot per side, or half, depending on how my nose feels that day.  I think I had a cold last week, but since I combined my neti pot use with being really hydrated - like, 6l of water per day hydrated - I couldn't really feel it.  I didn't sniffle, my throat didn't hurt, it was great.

I also recommended a neti pot to my friend who constantly complains of his allergies and sniffles.  In his own words;

"I think I'm a fan of neti pots now.  Doesn't hurt at all anymore.  I can breathe freely.  The worst things about colds was always my nose running like mad and getting backed up at the same time.
Which then leads to headaches, raw skin, and this constant discomfort inside my head.  Right now I have a very light throat ache, some slight discomfort in my ears... well plus a fever and exhaustion... but that's nothing in comparison."

"I can't believe how freely I can breathe through my nose.  It's unprecedented :D"

I just wish I could find some proper studies on nasal irrigation.  Not even on the neti pot specifically, just on any measurable benefits for cleaning out your nasal passages in this way.  There's a nice article here and another here. For now, it feels good, so I'm going to carry on.

Time for a girly chat

I should probably apologise to those of you who got the impression that this was a gaming blog. It isn't. This is my personal blog, where I type up whatever I feel like. Normally, that does happen to be gaming notes. Right now it's menstruation.

No one here who doesn't want to be?

Kay.

So, I used to assume that the amount of blood I lost was average (average being 30ml to 80ml per month). I'd complain about cramps for four days, and be annoyed messing about with stupid sanitary things. Then I got a menstrual cup, which is freaking awesome (just saying). It also had the side effect of letting me know exactly how much blood I lost each month.

It averaged out to 20ml, which is very much below average.

I felt a little bit ashamed of myself for complaining. In my defence, I've never been anyone else, so I assumed everyone was about the same as me.

I asked a couple of people on an LJ comm how much they lost, and that was generally around the 110-130ml mark. And I felt both embarrassed and incredibly lucky.

Three months ago, I was fitted with an IUD. Since this was a flexi-T 3000, it had the effect of making my periods heavier. I knew that it would, but I figured, since I was so far below average, I'd take that rather than the hormones in the mirena.

So now I'm losing 40ml a month. I'm just about average, if on the low side.

It's not fun.:(

Mooncup

An email inquiry I sent to the Mooncup company through their website;


A few days ago, I had an appointment at the Brook, and the nurse and I began talking about my use of the Mooncup. Although she had heard of them before, the information had consisted of a ten minute talk during her training, and she'd never actually met a cup user before. On hearing my positive reaction, she wondered if perhaps cups were something that the Brook could learn more about, and suggest to girls.

I think this would be a wonderful idea. My knowledge of menstrual cups came solely from a livejournal group on the subject ( http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/ ), and when I went to buy mine from Boots, the sale assistant was initially confused as to what I was looking for (she did eventually figure out what I meant and was able to locate them, but it clearly wasn't a well known product).

So, my query is, would it not be possible to offer more information about the Mooncup or menstrual cups in general through health services such as the Brook? Even something so simple as leaflets in the waiting room, or nurses or gynacologists with more information would make a difference. I feel that it would also be helpful is Mooncups were discussed in schools, as part of sex education, or PSME lessons. Even if people don't act upon the idea right away, at least they're aware of it, and may check out more information online, or be more open towards the idea the next time it comes up.

Are there any leaflets or any other information easily available which I can carry around with me to show to people when the subject comes up?

Thank you for your time.

Just by the way, I find your reaction to the Keeper Company's unethical business practices very classy.

I sent it under "all other enquiries".

The Brook is a charity which provides free confidential advice and contraception to young people under the age of 25, and PSME was, in my school anyway, Personal, Social, Moral Education. We did two years of it in secondary and had a few odd lessons in primary school. In primary school it was all about people with disabilities, and racial issues, while in secondary it was mostly about sex, and growing up.

Jimmy Carr

So, I met Jimmy Carr the other week. He did a show at symphony hall, and afterwards, the boy and I queued up to get the programme autographed. I also asked if he could do a Brummie accent. He can't, it comes out Scouse.

Bella Italia

I love Italian food, and I've been to the Bella Italia on New Street (in Birmingham) a couple of times. It's nice there. They have candles (some tea-lights, some the drippy kind in wine bottles).

It was a fairly busy Saturday night this weekend, although the wait time was still under ten minutes (maybe under five, I didn't time). That was handy, since the weather outside was frightful. The rain was pelting down, and most of the stores that were still open had taken in their plants and things, for fear of them being blown over. Most of the signs had been, even the one that some forward-thinking person had chained to a fence.

So, Bella Italia. A few minutes wait for menus, drinks orders taken promptly. In fact, very little waiting in general. Starter came out quickly (unlike in the Pizza Hut down the road, where it was completely forgotten, and then, after reminding, was non-cheesy garlic bread, instead of as requested. Fortunately, that was only one waitress, who I wouldn't recognise, since we saw her for less than thirty seconds), and was yummy. Garlic grossini with cheese, for one. The three pieces were quite generous enough to share, considering the size of the actual meals. A margherita pizza was £6.10, and was about the size of a Pizza Hut medium, so pretty good value. My spaghetti napoli was good, as always. Deserts were yummy, although they were out of cheesecake, which the nice Polish waitress informed us of as she handed over the menus. Although this meant I missed the chance to persuade the boy to try the banoffi cheesecake (heaven), we did get to try the chocolate mousse thing (I forget the name, unfortunately, but, luckily, remember the taste) and The Godfather, which was, basically, hot fudge brownies, chopped up in a giant wineglass with ice cream on top, cream on top of that, chocolate bits and amaretto sticks. Calorie hell, taste heaven. The boy insisted on ordering the version for two, despite me reminding him that the garlic grossini was for one, and was quite enough for both of us. I was right - we couldn't finish it, and I wish I had the rest now. Anyway, we made up for the calories by walking six miles today. It was so worth it.

The total bill came to something like £38, and we left around a 12% tip (please remember, Americans, that in England, waiters and waitresses are paid the same minimum wage as everyone else, so that is quite generous). We weren't entirely sure which member of staff would get it - while they were busy, various other workers helped, although it was always clear who our waitress was - but we didn't really mind. They all deserved it.

Sushi

So, I tried sushi for the first ever time this weekend. I'd heard that it's best when from a restaurant, as the warmth of the chef's hands improves the taste - as opposed to say, it chilling in a freezer. But needs must. I went for a little £2 lunchpack thing from Tesco. I'd never noticed that they sold them before. It looked quite cute.

Since my packet contained tuna, which I don't like, I found that smell a little overpowering. The chewy, tail-end of the salmon-y looking fish was a little too chewy for my liking, too. However, the soft salmon-y bit was much nicer - if slightly flavoured with tuna.

The rice was a little too sweet for my liking, but this was set off nicely by the soy sauce, which came in the most adorable, dinky little fish-shaped bottle. All in all, I think my first foray into the world of raw fish was a success.

My boyfriend conceded to trying the soy sauce, on a single chip. He says it wasn't entirely horrible, which is quite a success for him.