Writer seeks windsurfers for story on "River Nose"

Writer · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

I'm researching a story about the so-called "River Nose" ailment that has affected people on the Columbia.

I'd like to interview people who spend a lot of time on the water and have had health complaints, especially this past summer.

I'd also be interested in talking to frequent users of the river who never have health problems.

Let me know if you are interested.

Thanks!

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

You DO know this has been done, by the press, right?

Bottom line: if the problem crops up, irrigate the sinuses with a $10 kit from the drugstore and fuhgheddaboutit.

\m/

WMP · Joined: 30 May 2000 Posts: 671

mrbreeze · Joined: 12 May 1998 Posts: 2

Come on now...DID the press ever come to any conclusions? I sure do not remember the mystery being solved, just a filler. Am I wrong?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

My conclusion, with concurrence from many friends and posts, is that it's a nuisance quickly solvable by nasal irrigation after sailing and if my sinuses act up.

Where's the mystery? Pollution, bacteria, small sinus drain holes (fixable, but not easily), allergies ... probably all of those and more. It's just part of the cost of having fun in unbottled water.

\m/

WMP · Joined: 30 May 2000 Posts: 671

My concluson.... it's all about the jibe. If ya can jibe, no need to worry 'bout NO water... nope, not to worry about river nose neither.

It's all 'bout the jibe!! Question is.... can ya jibe Laughing

?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Even when I could and did make almost all of 'em, my REAL faceplants were/are in the reaches, whenever I poke a hole in my sailing skills envelope. It gets boring inside that envelope.

\m/

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

I forgot to add an often-important adjunct to sinus flushing (which is now shown by research to be much more effective than saline nose sprays). When my sinus infection splooge starts dripping into my throat and lungs to produce coughs, I add cough suppressant/expectorant to the treatment, at least at bedtime. Any brand of "Tussin DM", such as Wal-Tussin DM, should do. The key ingredients are dextromethorphan and guaifenesin.

\m/

wsmike · Joined: 07 Jun 2003 Posts: 412

My question is why is this topic cropping up now, months after the end of the season for "normal" sailors? I can't remember much about the cold I had a month ago, much less details regarding "river nose" symptoms. Classic press-gets-it-wrong-AGAIN-but-then-writes-it-anyway syndrome.

Want a meaningfull analysis of what's going on in the river with windsurfers? maybe try getting a few words from sailors while they are actually sailing.

...and just for the record, I don't mean to be a total jerk...probably just months of no sailing built up. And as for river nose, I have chronic stuffy nose, have had it since I lived in the valley of death, or "Willamette" as the indians called it so I'm not much help in your control group.

..and as for the sailing fix, I've got something in line for that too...heading down under for a month after the 1st of the year Wink

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

My present case of river nose began shortly after my last big sesh around Thanksgiving. It used to last all winter before I learned how to treat it, as sinus infections often do. When this happens, it carries the infection into the lungs, where it becomes bronchitis, a common wintertime problem that can lead to far worse misery. It's important to stop the snowball early in its tracks, which may take weeks.

\m/