<p>cartera45, were the cases of loss of smell after (allegedly) use of the Zicam swab? FWIW, Zicam also comes in a dissolving lozenge, for those who don't love sticking something in their nose or throat ...</p>
<p>It was several years ago and involved the spray. Perhaps the swab is safer since they specifically say not to put the swab very far into the nostril. My D uses the lozenges and the swabs. She just used the sinus rinse for the first time - very easy and she said it feels great.</p>
<p>I have exactly what my parents had while we visited them for the holiday - terrible laryngitis, coughing, runny nose. I'm sure it's a virus, and of course, I'm not at all concerned about myself but about D getting it. I am hiding in my room and walk around with a bottle of clorox spray - I feel like a freakish germphobe. </p>
<p>Can someone explain to me if viruses are specific enough to attack a particular area. Is there a specific laryngitis bug or is it a coincidence that it attacked my throat - just as it did with my mom?</p>
<p>cartera45, I hope you feel better!</p>
<p>Thanks NMR - I think I'm better - at least not worse. I feel like we're waiting for the other shoe to drop with my D - she's got the "tickle" in her throat and that nagging little cough. I'm trying something different with this cold - we're both taking Umcka Cold Formula so we'll see if that either shortens mine or keeps her going.</p>
<p>My D had a voice teacher from NYC that was an opera singer. He had her gargle with a concoction of apple cider vinegar, honey and warm water (don't remember the ratios) whenever she had mucus problems. Also she was to eat a green apple everyday and eat licorice (anise had to be the first ingredient). She had to cut back on her sugar intake so we found an herbal tea with licorice as one of the main ingredients. Throat Coat meets the requirements as does another brand called Egyptian tea.</p>
<p>Me D finally got "it." I figured it was inevitable. So now she can't sing. She usually sings every day - at least vocalizing. Her next audition is the 12th so she may see if she can move it. Her voice may be back, but her breath support won't be back up to par. She is awash in herbal tea, zinc, sinus washing, and Mucinex. My parents feel terrible that they sent us home with colds.</p>
<p>I'm telling you...Organic Throat Coat Lemon Echinacea will do the trick. Builds up the immune system and prevents colds, etc. I drink at least two cups a day and when i'm feeling less than 100% vocally i'll drink three cups. I haven't lost my voice yet or gotten sick. It REALLY helps!</p>
<p>That's the one my D drinks the most too - but no tea will keep you from getting everything - especially when you're in a closed environment with 2 sick people and one of them is cooking Christmas dinner for you. Now I'm hoping these things will decrease the duration. Along with the Throat Coat/Echinacea she likes the Breathe Easy and the Gypsy Cold and the regular Echinacea. I'm drinking a mixture of two of them now.</p>
<p>I have to buy a humidifier - for my dog! He has aspirational pneumonia in both lungs and I have to put him a room with a humidifier every 6-8 hours. If not, I have to put him in the bathroom and leave the shower running. For now, my D is holding him over a tea kettle and they're both steaming. I haven't tried to get his little face into her personal steamer yet.</p>
<p>for anyone that has really bad allergies and/or post nasal drip, TRY the neti pot. i'm allergic to about 40 things (all air born) and on 4 meds. This really hasn't helped in my nasal passages clearing, just less of a runny nose, itchy nose/eyes, sneezing. BUT one day on oprah, dr. oz was there with a neti pot. My mom bought one recently and my life has changed dramatically. i haven't been able to breath so well in YEARS. i highly recommend this for anyone with allergies, it will change your life!</p>
<p>Where can one get a neti pot? I have been looking at Walgreens, Eckerd and Rite Aid and cannot find one for love or money ....</p>
<p>cartera45, I love the image of your little dog's face over the steamer. :)</p>
<p>I also like the image of the little dog over the steamer! Try looking for a Neti pot at Whole Foods or other health food store or grocery. You could also order in online. Or you can get the Neilmed kit at most drugstores, basically the same thing.</p>
<p>i got mine at walmart!</p>
<p>NMR - I got the Neilmed sinus rinse kit for my D - accomplishes the same thing and some people think it works a little better than the pot because you are using some pressure rather than just gravity. I got it at the CVS in the cold care aisle. The Neilmed kit has really good instructions and little packets of the salt and baking soda mixture. If the Whole Foods is closer to you, they probably have them too.</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about turbinate cauterization? My D saw and ENT yesterday who suggested this for her bc she has chronic nasal congestion that blowing does not alleviate--- I read a little about it online and it sounds like it could do more harm than good... any advice?</p>
<p>I'd contact CoachC and ask her opinion.....</p>
<p>I'll ask the docs at work - my coaching partner, a UMich grad, actually had this surgery the summer before his freshman year in college and it definitely helped him - but I'll check the general outcomes with the doctors and report back.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help--- The medical jargon was confusing, but I did get crusting, repeat debridement, packing, and chronic dryness from what I read... There were several different "methods" described- some involved cutting or burning away tissue, while others involved breaking bones, etc. I will be interested in what your partner has to say...</p>
<p>mesmom - </p>
<p>I have/had chronic sleep apnea and have had two procedures on my nose in the past two years. This sounds like part of both of the procedures I have had (though I'm not 100% positive - the medical jargon is confusing).</p>
<p>For my procedures, they stuck needles in my mucus membranes (which I think is another word for turbinates/turbines) and sent microwaves through them. This caused the membrane to swell immensely (for two-ish weeks) as they scarred and then shrink up.</p>
<p>My first procedure was just the shrinking - it was BRILLIANT for a couple months and then gradually slipped back to its original point. (I might add that according to my ENT, in some people the effects only last 10-12 months and so people will have it done annually) I had a different surgery last summer that involved (among other things) the shinking and has been much more successful in the long run. I can breath much clearer through my nose and have noticed a big difference in my singing - this could be due to other components of the surgery, however. </p>
<p>Not saying or implying that this will have the same effect for anyone else, but for me I've found a big difference post-surgery. Based on how it feels (I'm by no means an expert so this is just a hypothesis), there is more room for resonance in my nose. This has cleared up my belt voce - I've found it easier to maintain the forward focus of the belt sound while still creating enough space in the soft palate/back of mouth to incorporate more head voice into it - making it both safer and sound better. It's also done wonders for my mix and the navigation between my chest, mix, and head voices. Once again, I'm not trying to sell this on anyone else or say that you will have the same results - this has just been my body's response.</p>
<p>Hope that's helpful!</p>