HELP I used Neti Pot with tap water

Posted , 4 users are following.

About a week ago, we had a really bad cold and my husband got us a neti pot. He prepared it with cold tap water that then he warmed it in the microwave, then we both used it once.

Afterwards while researching I found out about the brain eating amoebas and now I'm beyond terrified. I can't even sleep and I am constantly worried. I can't find a lot of people who has done the same thing and I need help,i can't stop panicking.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    I did some quick research because your post was really interesting. Seems like it's incredibly rare for that to happen, so o wouldn't let your anxiety drive your fears for this one. There's been 3 cases of brain amoebas due to tap water in a Neti Pot in the past like 9 years and I'm sure a ton of Americans don't follow the directions with using specific water sources. Also they are mostly found in southern states so that might be reassuring if you live in another part of the US. I use the NeilMed sinus bottle and fill it with bottled water, but i thought it was just because of mineral irritation. Now I know!

    • Posted

      Thank you! I am from Ohio, and as far as I know, there hasn't been a neti pot case here. Just a girl that got it in a water park off state.

      Yep, scary stuff isn't it?

  • Posted

    ive used a nettipot several times with regular tap water. im thinking the cases had to have used some pretty sketchy water for that to happen. this is a worry that you can just mark off and put it behind you. i literally do that sometimes, ill start to fixate on an issue and then i say to myself, nope, im letting this one go and i allow myself to free it from my mind. it takes determination but you can do it. this is sooo rare dont need to worry about it.

  • Posted

    ive used a nettipot several times with regular tap water. im thinking the cases had to have used some pretty sketchy water for that to happen. this is a worry that you can just mark off and put it behind you. i literally do that sometimes, ill start to fixate on an issue and then i say to myself, nope, im letting this one go and i allow myself to free it from my mind. it takes determination but you can do it. this is sooo rare dont need to worry about it.

    • Posted

      Thanks! That does reassure me some. There's one lady in Seattle who got it and she said that she filtered the water, hence my freaking out! I will try to relax though, now that I now more people have used it with tap water and have been fine.

  • Posted

    ive used a nettipot several times with regular tap water. im thinking the cases had to have used some pretty sketchy water for that to happen. this is a worry that you can just mark off and put it behind you. i literally do that sometimes, ill start to fixate on an issue and then i say to myself, nope, im letting this one go and i allow myself to free it from my mind. it takes determination but you can do it. this is sooo rare dont need to worry about it.

    • Posted

      Also I was wondering, did you boil the water? Because now that I'm looking at my original post it looks like we boiled it in the microwave, but we didn't... Thanks, and sorry to bother you!

  • Posted

    how are you doing ?

    • Posted

      Not great. My anxiety is still up the roof. Have been taking our temperature every day. Thanks for asking though.

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