Brewing Master

Question:

All, Last year I had a bad sinus infection that took 9 months, 4 different antibiotics and 3 doctors to clear.  During that process I started to use the Grossan HydroPulse irrigator (thanks doc!) since I found it was the only thing that kept my sinus headaches away.  I now use the HP maybe once per month, if that (I service PCs and have to open up older PCs on occasion that are filled with dust so I irrigate when I get home as a precaution).  So my question is about how should I clean and sterilize my HP if its going to sit in my cupboard for a month or two?   Previously, when I was wrestling with the sinus infection I was irrigation 2-4 times per day and running diluted bleach through it once per week. Since I was using it so often I wasn’t too worried about bacterial growth while it was sitting between usage. But now that it sits for weeks I am leery of some nasty bug making a home inside and then being deposited in my nose on the next use. So here’s the steps I’ve been using and was hoping others could comment and advise. Before Use: I run a full tank of very hot tap water through the machine to clear it out. Then I run another 3/4ths tank with hot tap water and a splash of bleach and run that through with a ten minute pause in the middle. Then I flush with a full tank of distilled water. Use: I use distilled water with Breathease powder, heated in the microwave. After Use:  I run a full tank of hot tap water through the machine then I run a tank of distilled water and run it down until its about 1/2 way and I splash in some Hyrdrogen Peroxide and let it finish.  I wipe everying down and use a can of "Dust Off" to blow water out of any difficult to reach areas such as the tip, wand, and the valve at the bottom of the tank and on the machine. I cover it with a towel and put it in the cupboard. So is that adequate? Overkill?  Is there a better way? One final questions;  when I was irrigating daily I was using up the 2.5 gal. container of distilled water pretty quickly.  But now that I am not using it every day the distilled water is sitting around. So I was wonder if there is a chance that my distilled water is harboring any bacteria?  To make it flow during use I have to punch a small hole in the top so air can get in and water can get out.  Is this a risk?  (Can you tell I am paranoid of getting another sinus infection Regards, David

Response:

In news:ec6dnTOM9Zh3NxLfRVn-jw@inreach.com, DMF <m…@sans.spam.com> typed: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> All, > Last year I had a bad sinus infection that took 9 months, 4 different > antibiotics and 3 doctors to clear.  During that process I started to > use the Grossan HydroPulse irrigator (thanks doc!) since I found it > was the only thing that kept my sinus headaches away.  I now use > the HP maybe once per month, if that (I service PCs and have to > open up older PCs on occasion that are filled with dust so I irrigate > when I get home as a precaution).  So my question is about how > should I clean and sterilize my HP if its going to sit in my cupboard > for a month or two?   Previously, when I was wrestling with the sinus > infection I was irrigation 2-4 times per day and running diluted > bleach through it once per week. Since I was using it so often I > wasn’t too worried about bacterial growth while it was sitting > between usage. But now that it sits for weeks I am leery of some > nasty bug making a home inside and then being deposited in my nose on > the next use. So here’s the steps I’ve been using and was hoping > others could comment and advise. > Before Use: I run a full tank of very hot tap water through the > machine to clear it out. Then I run another 3/4ths tank with hot tap > water and a splash of bleach and run that through with a ten minute > pause in the middle. Then I flush with a full tank of distilled water. > Use: I use distilled water with Breathease powder, heated in the > microwave. > After Use:  I run a full tank of hot tap water through the machine > then I run a tank of distilled water and run it down until its about > 1/2 way and I splash in some Hyrdrogen Peroxide and let it finish.  I > wipe everying down and use a can of "Dust Off" to blow water out of > any difficult to reach areas such as the tip, wand, and the valve at > the bottom of the tank and on the machine. I cover it with a towel > and put it in the cupboard. > So is that adequate? Overkill?  Is there a better way? > One final questions;  when I was irrigating daily I was using up the > 2.5 gal. container of distilled water pretty quickly.  But now that I > am not using it every day the distilled water is sitting around. So I > was wonder if there is a chance that my distilled water is harboring > any bacteria?  To make it flow during use I have to punch a small > hole in the top so air can get in and water can get out.  Is this a > risk?  (Can you tell I am paranoid of getting another sinus infection > > Regards, > David

You’ll be the first to wear out an irrigator with over-cleaning!! I run about 1/2 a tank of tap water through mine after irrigation and all seems well. …Allen

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -DMF wrote: > All, > Last year I had a bad sinus infection that took 9 months, 4 different > antibiotics and 3 doctors to clear.  During that process I started to > use the Grossan HydroPulse irrigator (thanks doc!) since I found it > was the only thing that kept my sinus headaches away.  I now use > the HP maybe once per month, if that (I service PCs and have to > open up older PCs on occasion that are filled with dust so I irrigate > when I get home as a precaution).  So my question is about how > should I clean and sterilize my HP if its going to sit in my cupboard > for a month or two?   Previously, when I was wrestling with the sinus > infection I was irrigation 2-4 times per day and running diluted bleach > through it once per week. Since I was using it so often I wasn’t too > worried about bacterial growth while it was sitting between usage. > But now that it sits for weeks I am leery of some nasty bug making > a home inside and then being deposited in my nose on the next use. > So here’s the steps I’ve been using and was hoping others could > comment and advise. > Before Use: I run a full tank of very hot tap water through the machine > to clear it out. Then I run another 3/4ths tank with hot tap water and a > splash of bleach and run that through with a ten minute pause in the > middle. Then I flush with a full tank of distilled water. > Use: I use distilled water with Breathease powder, heated in the > microwave. > After Use:  I run a full tank of hot tap water through the machine then > I run a tank of distilled water and run it down until its about 1/2 way > and I splash in some Hyrdrogen Peroxide and let it finish.  I wipe > everying down and use a can of "Dust Off" to blow water out of > any difficult to reach areas such as the tip, wand, and the valve at > the bottom of the tank and on the machine. I cover it with a towel > and put it in the cupboard. > So is that adequate? Overkill?  Is there a better way?

If I ever stop irrigating with my HydroPulse for more than a couple of weeks (as I did after sinus surgery when I found it to be a bit too rough for my nosebleeds), I just throw it out and buy a brand new one. $80 is a small price to pay to avoid a nasty sinus infection.  Bugs that multiply in stagnant water inside uncleaned irrigators include Pseudomonas.  Believe me, you do NOT want to get a Pseudomonas infection. — Steven D. Litvintchouk Email:  sdlit…@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me.

Response:

Allen L. wrote > You’ll be the first to wear out an irrigator with over-cleaning!!

The cleaning procedure is only 6 tanks worth of wear every 1-2 months or more — when I had the sinus infection I was using it 2-4 times per DAY plus flush before and after each use and a flush with bleach on the weekend. In fact, I wore out my first HP in about 6 months. The company graciously provided me with a new one, since it was still under warranty. > I run about 1/2 a tank of tap water through mine after irrigation > and all seems well.

I don’t mean to be snide, but this is like saying you’ve been playing Russian Roulette for years and never had a problem   It doesn’t actually compare to Russian Roulette because I don’t know what my risk is regarding bacteria growth in a stored Hydro Pulse. I was hoping to get a better understanding about the storage risk. If some one convinces me that its a fairly high risk then I will probably stop using it and resort to those sealed sterile saline spray bottles to clean out nose dust after servicing the inside of a PC. Regards, David

Response:

Steven L. wrote… > If I ever stop irrigating with my HydroPulse for more than a couple of > weeks (as I did after sinus surgery when I found it to be a bit too rough > for my nosebleeds), I just throw it out and buy a brand new one. $80 is > a small price to pay to avoid a nasty sinus infection.

For your situation, I agree. However, buying a new HP is not a practical solution since I would need a new one every 1-2 months. I was hoping I could find out what the risks are and/or what the best way is to clean it for storage. If storage is inherently risky then I will probably resort to using those sealed, sterilized bottles of saline for cleaning my nose after I service a PC.  I’ll miss using my HP though. > Bugs that multiply in stagnant water inside uncleaned irrigators include > Pseudomonas. Believe me, you do NOT want to get a Pseudomonas > infection.

I dread getting ANY sinus infections, worst-of-class or not.  Last year was a nightmare and I didn’t have it nearly as bad as many on this newsgroup. My heart goes out to sinus sufferers — I’m fortunate that mine did not morph into a chronic condition. Regards, David

Response:

On 5/21/05 2:41 PM, in article ec6dnTOM9Zh3NxLfRVn…@inreach.com, "DMF" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<m…@sans.spam.com> wrote: > All, > Last year I had a bad sinus infection that took 9 months, 4 different > antibiotics and 3 doctors to clear.  During that process I started to > use the Grossan HydroPulse irrigator (thanks doc!) since I found it > was the only thing that kept my sinus headaches away.  I now use > the HP maybe once per month, if that (I service PCs and have to > open up older PCs on occasion that are filled with dust so I irrigate > when I get home as a precaution).  So my question is about how > should I clean and sterilize my HP if its going to sit in my cupboard > for a month or two?   Previously, when I was wrestling with the sinus > infection I was irrigation 2-4 times per day and running diluted bleach > through it once per week. Since I was using it so often I wasn’t too > worried about bacterial growth while it was sitting between usage. > But now that it sits for weeks I am leery of some nasty bug making > a home inside and then being deposited in my nose on the next use. > So here’s the steps I’ve been using and was hoping others could > comment and advise. > Before Use: I run a full tank of very hot tap water through the machine > to clear it out. Then I run another 3/4ths tank with hot tap water and a > splash of bleach and run that through with a ten minute pause in the > middle. Then I flush with a full tank of distilled water. > Use: I use distilled water with Breathease powder, heated in the > microwave. > After Use:  I run a full tank of hot tap water through the machine then > I run a tank of distilled water and run it down until its about 1/2 way > and I splash in some Hyrdrogen Peroxide and let it finish.  I wipe > everying down and use a can of "Dust Off" to blow water out of > any difficult to reach areas such as the tip, wand, and the valve at > the bottom of the tank and on the machine. I cover it with a towel > and put it in the cupboard. > So is that adequate? Overkill?  Is there a better way? > One final questions;  when I was irrigating daily I was using up the > 2.5 gal. container of distilled water pretty quickly.  But now that I > am not using it every day the distilled water is sitting around. So I > was wonder if there is a chance that my distilled water is harboring > any bacteria?  To make it flow during use I have to punch a small > hole in the top so air can get in and water can get out.  Is this a > risk?  (Can you tell I am paranoid of getting another sinus infection > Regards, > David

If it is sitting there for a month, should be covered. Then run 200 cc of 3% hydrogen peroxide through the machine – tip in the basin so it recirculates. Then let it stand for several hours or overnight. Then rinse with clean water.

Response:

DMF wrote: > Steven L. wrote… >>If I ever stop irrigating with my HydroPulse for more than a couple of >>weeks (as I did after sinus surgery when I found it to be a bit too rough >>for my nosebleeds), I just throw it out and buy a brand new one. $80 is >>a small price to pay to avoid a nasty sinus infection. > For your situation, I agree. However, buying a new HP is not a practical > solution since I would need a new one every 1-2 months. I was hoping I > could find out what the risks are and/or what the best way is to clean it > for storage.

Why store it away for long periods?  Just take it out every week and run the Clorox bleach solution thru it just as if you were irrigating with it. — Steven D. Litvintchouk Email:  sdlit…@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me.

Response:

Steven L wrote… > Why store it away for long periods?  Just take it out every week > and run the Clorox bleach solution thru it just as if you were > irrigating with it.

That’s one possible solution… but I have decided I will only use the Hydro Pulse if I get a cold or if my allergies act up. I will just use the saline sprays to clear out nose dust from when I service PCs. (See my reply to Dr. Grossan’s post). Regards, David

Response:

Murray Grossan wrote… > If it is sitting there for a month, should be covered. Then run > 200cc of  3% hydrogen peroxide through the machine – tip in > the basin so it recirculates. Then let it stand for several hours > or overnight. Then rinse with clean water.

Based on Dr. Grossan’s reply and a little research on the web regarding the difficulty in sterilizing and disinfecting various items (medical equipment, beer brewing equipment, canning and jarring supplies,etc)  I’ve come to the conclusion that occasionally using the Hydro-Pulse is probably not a good idea.  I’m going to switch over to using saline to clean my nose of dust when working on PCs. I’ll keep the Hydro Pulse on standby if my allergies act up or if I get a head cold and use Dr. Grossan’s procedure to clean it out before use. Thanks to all who replied to my post. Regards, David

Response:

On 5/23/05 5:52 PM, in article CJSdnSfX67VA5w_fRVn…@inreach.com, "DMF" <m…@sans.spam.com> wrote: > Steven L wrote… >> Why store it away for long periods?  Just take it out every week >> and run the Clorox bleach solution thru it just as if you were >> irrigating with it. > That’s one possible solution… but I have decided I will only use the > Hydro Pulse if I get a cold or if my allergies act up. I will just use > the saline sprays to clear out nose dust from when I service PCs. > (See my reply to Dr. Grossan’s post). > Regards, > David

That is what I recommend. Once your nose is normal, it doesn’t have to be made more normal. We have patients who used the Hydro Pulse two weeks and didn’t need it any more too.

Response: