River nose

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

Hey all!
I get River Nose this time of year almost every time I kite. It usually lasts one to two days. since I kite every one two two days, I might only get a couple of hours without having a stuffy or runny nose.
I found kiting at the coast clears it up. It's like pounding salt water up my nose washes out the Columbia water.
Anyhow, I'm wondering does anyone else get it this bad? And, Does anyone have a (preferably natural)remedy that works?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Get saline nose spray, its like the ocean in a bottle.

consumer · Since 28 Nov 2010 406 Posts banned Obsessed

i've been getting this pretty bad too. I was wondering about using antihistamines, like claritin to prevent this from happening. Anyone try that?

Natural remedies?: I believe Chamomile tea can be antihistamine. Never tried it.

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

I have not kited in 2 weeks and my river nose only cleared up a couple days ago. Trying to sleep sucks when you have to breath through your mouth.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2086 Posts PNW Bigfoot

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4909 Posts Portland Unstrapped

The water bottle design works better then the tea pot

Mist isn't going to do much - need to crank some volume to change the ph in your head to kill that shit - twice a day

Also eat a lot of goose poo

Pepi · Sat Jun 29, 13 11:20 am

Neti Pot - anytime i get off the river w a slight feeling of river water in my sinus i use the neti pot - works 100% of the time and no drugs or crap to inhale

royce · Since 16 Apr 2013 49 Posts

neti pot!!

macgruber · Since 06 Dec 2011 490 Posts SE PDX volcano Obsessed

I get hay fever a bit during May and river nose during May and June but not the rest of the year. I'm convinced the Columbia is lousy with pollen. I take Loratadine (Claritin) before and use the Neti squirt bottle twice when I get home. Works great!

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor

I second the pollen and allergy cause of rivernose. Why is it that I can spend the same amount of time crashing in the river this week as I did last week and not get river nose this week? Pollen sits righ on the surface, so dillution isn't really the solution.

flipper · Since 17 Oct 2011 320 Posts Obsessed

I get the river nose and middle ear infections when I kite, but not windsurf, probably because my kite crashes are more gnarly. The neti pot sounds nice - i'm gonna try that - right now I just tilt my head back in the shower until the water squirts up my nose. It makes me gag and yack a bit. I do that about 3 times and it works sometimes.

wylieflyote · Sun Jun 30, 13 6:21 am

[quote="Sasquatch"]

dcfordo · Since 19 May 2011 60 Posts The Dalles

I get river nose that I would describe exactly as in the OP. And it only takes two or three head dunks.

I have completely eliminated the problem naturally with a kayaking nose clip.

If I don't wear it I don't sleep that night, so it is an easy choice. It is amusing that nose clips are so uncool that no one has mentioned them yet on this thread.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2086 Posts PNW Bigfoot

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

http://www.ewg.org/research/dishonorable-discharge/50-most-polluted-rivers-country

dcfordo · Since 19 May 2011 60 Posts The Dalles

Sorry Sasquatch. I missed that at the end of your post.

I only have trouble on the Columbia. I also kayak and I don't need the nose clip on those rivers. So ironically I use it for kiting, but not kayaking.

I doubt it is bacteria. The symptoms never last more than two days, which would be unusual for a bacterial infection. Although I don't have any allergies that I know of, this explanation seems the most plausible. Or maybe there is some chemical irritant in the water. But I would expect everyone to have trouble then.

I'll have to try that Neti Pot because I really don't like wearing the clip.

Nak · Sun Jun 30, 13 5:18 pm