Neti pot and brain eating parasite, a cause for alarm?

No worries, you poured boiling through it first and you probably used the saline packet. Those amoebas can’t survive in salt water. I think you were as thorough as could be here. The exceedingly rare infections of this are from susceptible people rinsing with straight tap water.

I use a neti pot (actually the squeeze bottle) daily when my sinuses get loaded.
I have 2 bottles and alternate use so they have plenty of time to dry. I wash them before an after use.
I make a change to the mix too. I use 2 packets in 350–400 ml of water instead of the recommended 1 packet in 250. That gives me more fluid to use and it tastes more like my own mucus.
When I make the mix I put the water into a measuring cup and pop it in the microwave for 3 minutes so it starts to boil. I then dump in the powder, stir it, and let it side with a dish on top for 35 minutes. By that time the mix has reached usable temperature and I do what needs to be done.
If I forget about it. I just rewarm it for a few seconds in the microwave.

No worries. You used soapy water and you used boiled water afterwards. You are fine. Nothing will happen.

Using the microwave like @LuckyGuy suggested might help you feel safer. Is the pot made out of material that can be microwaved? Maybe you could put it in with the water in it and then the whole thing will be sterilized? I don’t have any experience with the netti pot.

At the very least you should have let the netti pot air dry completely before using.
I don’t know how a brain eating parasite could materialize out of thin air in a netti pot. A flesh eating bacteria, maybe…

I think you’re being a little paranoid. You cleaned it as instructed. You even used boiling water which should have killed any parasite that might be there. Due to my disability & my inability to use my left arm, I don’t use the Neti Pot. I can clean the right nostril with the Neti with NO problem; however, with the way I have to cross my arm over my body to cleanse the left nostril, I end up with nasty water running down my arm or sleeve of whatever I’m wearing. In looking for a better option, I discovered a pre-canned product called Simply Saline. It’s sterilized before the saline solution is added & is sealed so nothing can get in.

The only brain eating parasites that I’ve heard about all seemed to come from public water parks. Don’t think I’ve heard of one coming from cleaning the sinuses. The other thing that I’ve recently started using is a Himalayan Pink Salt Therapy Inhaler for Asthma, Colds, Flu, & Allergies. This has helped to clear up my lungs & has definitely been helping my sinuses. I have problems with Bronchitis most winters & it helped to clear that up twice as fast as what the doctors recommend.

I think that it is highly unlikely that you’ve got a brain eating parasite; but since you’re worried, I’d change my cleaning of the Neti from here on out!!!

Thanks guys! I’m going stop using the Neti pot and use pre made solutions!!

I use these and like them. NeilMed Sinus Rinse – An my b rain is still okkkkkaaaayyy.

They cost about $15 for 100 packets.

I used to use what @LuckyGuy posted but recently changed to This for when I’m actually sick. If I feel a sinus infection brewing sometimes this stops it dead in its tracks. You can add a little to the sinus rinse bottle or use the included rinse applicator. I still use the other rinse when I have been in dusty environments like mulching the leaves in my yard.

oh I like the sound of that! Its Day 4 today so I’ve got around 7 more days to worry, but I think I will be ok, I mean I should be right!

You’re going to be just fine!!!

I prefer the4 squeeze bottle to the Neti pot because I can really shoot the mix up there and flush out a lot of gunk. – along with 4 years of high school Spanish and my accordion playing ability.

This question, or one very similar, has been asked before.

In case anybody is curious where this comes from, here is the original article.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/rare-brain-eating-amoebas-kill-seattle-woman-leave-doctors-bracing-for-possible-repeats/

@MrGrimm888 I have to admit, I think that was me then as well…...

^ Link Yes, it was only about 2 years ago.

I remembered the poster. I didn’t want to be rude.

The OP might recall that I mentioned that I and thousands of other people constantly swim in the Edisto River. A blackwater, swampy, but beautiful place. There have been cases reported from there. I’ve been frequenting the river for many years. I know that they say that if it goes up your nose that’s how to contract it, but I don’t think it’s that easy. I’ve had that water up my nose 1,000 times. I’ve swallowed it, and had it everywhere. It’s harder to get than one would think.

Now I’m super paranoid as for two days I’ve had chronic headaches, like tension headaches!
Trying to convince myself it’s not that but they are really bad! :(

Are you well hydrated? Do you regularly drink caffeinated coffee and have recently stopped?

A tension headache would be a body’s normal reaction to being bombarded with thoughts of a brain eating parasite. Your thoughts are creating the symptoms!!!

I have stopped yes! And I use too drink coffee yes! And I agree in the morning the headache is gone and then by the afternoon it’s come back full force! Omg – I’m driving myself crazy

@tan253 Been there myself and I know how much you are suffering. Your headaches are probably stress. If you get really bad take a Benadryl. That always broke the thought cycle for me. Not something to do every day but will help you feel better without resorting to anti-anxiety meds or just suffering through it.

Thank you – yes I’ve been looking for something to stop the rumination. I figured if I did have it, three days of headaches would have me much worse by now – so obviously just stress related. Argh I’m so over it to be honest but won’t take antis… maybe just avoid that that triggers it like NETI POTS!!

Why not take a benadryl? To be honest I feel like my hypochondria was allergy related, benadryl stopped it dead in its tracks. Not trying to convince you but just sharing the information.

I don’t know if we have it in NZ? I don’t have a headache today or so far so can’t be brain eating amoeba but I’m sitting here waiting for it like I do waiting for turbulence on a plane!!!

With all due respect, you have much worse things to worry about.

Now I have a petechia rash on my butt! Omg am I doing all this to myself! I sat on gravel yesterday – they are two little spots of it – I know it well as my daughter had some from a fall… now I have it! What’s going on!!! No headaches so I don’t think I have brain eating parasite but I have parasite with my own mind that’s for sure! I’m not stuck on a train for 12 hours! I feel fine within myself but really!

@mrgrimm888 what other things? Like my mental state of mind?

@tan253 as you know already you’re a hypochondriac. It takes one to know one. When I worried like you do I knew I was as well. To an outsider it’s impossible for them to understand how the worry gets disconnected and is just as real as having the actual issue. It’s worse really, you never get to the acceptance part, you are trapped in the worse part of it, terror. Insidious, all consuming and completely destroying any daily pleasure of any kind. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.
You have to break out of the rumination cycles. The more you worry, the more out of balance your brain chemistry gets and the anxiety increases further.
Most docs and psychologists are clueless how to treat it.
What you have to do is find a mental activity that does not allow this rumination in any way. Once you stop your chemistry should return to normal. I know it’s hard to do but you need to try. Alternate nostril breathing I found is a quick help to take the edge off. Again benadryl for when it gets really bad, aerobic exercise every day you can and activities that keep your brain focused elsewhere. Games, doing math in your head anything that works. Good luck, I’m here if you need anything!

I think you should be more worried about a piano falling on your head…~