So, I think I've come down with the plague...

[manderz]

Well, obviously exaggerating, but FI and I are feeling pretty rough. We both have a really dry cough, and aches and pains, and a runny nose but no gross mucus.

Any fancy tricks/tips you have to make a cold more manageable? We're currently loading up on Advil, robutussin, cough drops, and vitamin c. We're also running the humidifier.

 

[Circe]

DayQuil. DayQuil and brandy.

Well ... more seriously, I actually swear by the Emergen-C stuff. My husband insists it's a placebo, but I know I'm prone to looooooooong colds, and if I take that stuff at the outset, they don't linger nearly as long. Taking a multivitamin every day has cut down on the frequency with which I catch them, too. I've also heard good things about Neti Pots, even if I have been too creeped out to try one myself ....

 

[manderz]

Hahaha, I love the brandy idea, I may just have a drink or two before bed. I had kind of forgotten about this, but once when I had a really bad cold in high school, my mom made me sip on a double shot of disaronno over ice, and it made me feel WONDERFUL. Thanks for reminding me of that!!

 

[packrat]

My husband has a neti pot and loves it. I notice that when he does it regularly he doesn't get sick and if he does feel it coming on and uses the pot a few times it seems to get rid of it. I'd like to use one but..I'm just so freaked out by it I haven't been able to yet.

I got some Delsum cough syrup a couple weeks ago when I was coughing so hard-only had to use it once. Mom's take on it is that it tastes so god awful you're just too scared to cough anymore for fear you'll have to take more of it. She might be on to something there! Tastes horrible, but one dose was all I needed.

 

[manderz]

I think neti pots look very cool, and it seems like a great idea in theory, but I can't even use nose spray without getting that burning "I'm about to drown!" feeling, so I'm really hesitant to try it.

Thanks for the tip on Delsum, I will try it out.

 

[Autumnovember]

Neti pot, lots of tea with lemon and honey in it!

 

[ksinger]

DayQuil. DayQuil and brandy.

Well ... more seriously, I actually swear by the Emergen-C stuff. My husband insists it's a placebo, but I know I'm prone to looooooooong colds, and if I take that stuff at the outset, they don't linger nearly as long. Taking a multivitamin every day has cut down on the frequency with which I catch them, too. I've also heard good things about Neti Pots, even if I have been too creeped out to try one myself ....

And what, exactly, is not serious about DayQuil and brandy?? Ahhh....how I mourned when they took the alcohol out of NyQuil! It used to be 25% by volume, and would knock out a horse. But by gawd, you felt AWESOME the next morning. Then, in order to keep winos or kids from abusing it, they took out the alcohol. It never worked quite as well again. So now, if I need the NyQuil, I take a shot of ...something along with it. Works much like "the old days" then...

 

[Miss Sparkly]

If you have a Walgreens they are the only ones that I've found carry their brand of Nyquil with sudafed in it. That stuff worked magic when I got "the plague" which then turned into bronchitis. Also, keep a good eye on any changes you're having. Numerous people that caught what was floating around here ended up with secondary issues - bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infections etc. It really is the plague!

 

[Circe]

DayQuil. DayQuil and brandy.

Well ... more seriously, I actually swear by the Emergen-C stuff. My husband insists it's a placebo, but I know I'm prone to looooooooong colds, and if I take that stuff at the outset, they don't linger nearly as long. Taking a multivitamin every day has cut down on the frequency with which I catch them, too. I've also heard good things about Neti Pots, even if I have been too creeped out to try one myself ....

And what, exactly, is not serious about DayQuil and brandy?? Ahhh....how I mourned when they took the alcohol out of NyQuil! It used to be 25% by volume, and would knock out a horse. But by gawd, you felt AWESOME the next morning. Then, in order to keep winos or kids from abusing it, they took out the alcohol. It never worked quite as well again. So now, if I need the NyQuil, I take a shot of ...something along with it. Works much like "the old days" then...

Sadly, now they've taken the pseudephedrine out of the DayQuil so it's not nearly as effective as it used to be, because apparently, buy enough DayQuil, and you can use it to make meth. Trufax.

I have to admit, at moments like that, I think "Darwinism. Let the meth-lab owners blow themselves up: I just want to be able to survive my stupid cold!"

On the other hand, we can self-correct with the brandy, so ....

Oh, and Manderz: in my neighborhood, I notice they've taken the Tylenol Cold off the shelves (... I don't know, because you can huff it like paint?), but that's usually my go-to night-time remedy. I do hope you feel better soon!

 

[ksinger]

DayQuil. DayQuil and brandy.

Well ... more seriously, I actually swear by the Emergen-C stuff. My husband insists it's a placebo, but I know I'm prone to looooooooong colds, and if I take that stuff at the outset, they don't linger nearly as long. Taking a multivitamin every day has cut down on the frequency with which I catch them, too. I've also heard good things about Neti Pots, even if I have been too creeped out to try one myself ....

And what, exactly, is not serious about DayQuil and brandy?? Ahhh....how I mourned when they took the alcohol out of NyQuil! It used to be 25% by volume, and would knock out a horse. But by gawd, you felt AWESOME the next morning. Then, in order to keep winos or kids from abusing it, they took out the alcohol. It never worked quite as well again. So now, if I need the NyQuil, I take a shot of ...something along with it. Works much like "the old days" then...

Sadly, now they've taken the pseudephedrine out of the DayQuil so it's not nearly as effective as it used to be, because apparently, buy enough DayQuil, and you can use it to make meth. Trufax.

I have to admit, at moments like that, I think "Darwinism. Let the meth-lab owners blow themselves up: I just want to be able to survive my stupid cold!"

On the other hand, we can self-correct with the brandy, so ....

Oh, and Manderz: in my neighborhood, I notice they've taken the Tylenol Cold off the shelves (... I don't know, because you can huff it like paint?), but that's usually my go-to night-time remedy. I do hope you feel better soon!

Yes, little-known Oklahoma fact. Oklahoma, you may not know, used to be the meth capital of the US. I'm not kidding. We have much to recommend us here you know - mainly center of the country and the state is the crossing of 2 major interstates - I-35 N/S and I-40 E/W. A drug trafficker's dream. Anyway, we had so many meth houses here, that in desperation, they took EVERY pseudoephedrine product off the shelf, and now you have to go TO the pharmacist, request Tylenol Sinus with "the good stuff", and sign in BLOOD, AT the pharmacist window. All a bit furtive and hard to take when you're ready to drop from "the plague" right there in line. But on a more serious note, our meth production went into the dirt. The other states around us were actually not amused, since the roaches just moved next door to the states that hadn't done it yet. Don't know if they have yet followed suit, but it really was an effective solution, even if it did result in lots of drooping, bleary-eyed, snotty people waiting in a long line during flu and cold season....

 

[yssie]

DayQuil. DayQuil and brandy.

Well ... more seriously, I actually swear by the Emergen-C stuff. My husband insists it's a placebo, but I know I'm prone to looooooooong colds, and if I take that stuff at the outset, they don't linger nearly as long. Taking a multivitamin every day has cut down on the frequency with which I catch them, too. I've also heard good things about Neti Pots, even if I have been too creeped out to try one myself ....

Me too. It's beyond revolting, but I *swear* I get better faster. Could be all in my head but like Circe - my colds are happy to last two weeks each, and they do seem to have drastically shortened since I started drinking the stuff.

Hope you and FI feel better soon manderz!

 

[packrat]

Ksinger, you have to do that here in IA too..sucks. Lots of meth here..I remember mom calling me once from Colorado and saying she was bringing home a newspaper from out there that had an article in it about this huge meth metropolis-nobody was surprised to learn it was 20 miles from here.

 

[ksinger]

DayQuil. DayQuil and brandy.

Well ... more seriously, I actually swear by the Emergen-C stuff. My husband insists it's a placebo, but I know I'm prone to looooooooong colds, and if I take that stuff at the outset, they don't linger nearly as long. Taking a multivitamin every day has cut down on the frequency with which I catch them, too. I've also heard good things about Neti Pots, even if I have been too creeped out to try one myself ....

Me too. It's beyond revolting, but I *swear* I get better faster. Could be all in my head but like Circe - my colds are happy to last two weeks each, and they do seem to have drastically shortened since I started drinking the stuff.

Hope you and FI feel better soon manderz!

Try the cranberry flavor. It's better, IMO.

 

[Matata]

I spent the last week surviving such a thing. Used Zicam for the first time -- convinced myself that I felt better while using it. The ick lasted 1 week rather than the usual 3 but I'm still dealing with gobs of mucus. It is truly amazing how much of that stuff a body can produce.

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[ksinger]

Ksinger, you have to do that here in IA too..sucks. Lots of meth here..I remember mom calling me once from Colorado and saying she was bringing home a newspaper from out there that had an article in it about this huge meth metropolis-nobody was surprised to learn it was 20 miles from here.

Yeah, Oklahoma did it first apparently, back in 2004. Our firsts are usually not too good, but this one was pretty decent. I'll take it. Although, with our usual overkill, the Tulsa DA is now proposing further restrictions, that you have to have an actual script from a doctor. Now THAT IS overboard, IMO.

Regulating sales really does reduce the meth problem though....

 

[Tuckins1]

Hot water with a drop of honey and lemon juice. I swear it helps!! I'm pregnant and had the flu- I couldn't take anything. It did help make me feel better, plus if you drink it continuously it helps to hydrate you which is what your body needs anyways. Give it a try.

 

[JewelFreak]

Sounds kind of yummy, Tuckins. We use Theraflu -- the nighttime version. Works great! The trick is that you have to get in bed & drink it straight down, as hot as you can stand it. Next day.....Shazam! Health!

--- Laurie

 

[soocool]

Neti pot, lots of tea with lemon and honey in it!

Definitely tea with honey. Honey must have some magical powers. My mom used it all the time! That plus HOT CHICKEN SOUP!!!!!... I also add something spicy to it (really clears up a stuffy nose and chest for hours).


Plus my own personal secret...... Vicks Vapo Rub on my chest and feet (it just makes my feet feel good when I am sick and when my feet are happy, I am happy. Ah, do this only at bedtime or people will give you strange looks all day.

 

[manderz]

I LOVE vicks vapo rub! So soothing I'm also obsessed with keeping hydrated anyway, so that's already taken care of. And the pseudophedrine, so sad that it's behind the pharmacy counter now

Very interesting to hear all the positive reviews of Emergen C. I will have to try it.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

DayQuil. DayQuil and brandy.

Well ... more seriously, I actually swear by the Emergen-C stuff. My husband insists it's a placebo, but I know I'm prone to looooooooong colds, and if I take that stuff at the outset, they don't linger nearly as long. Taking a multivitamin every day has cut down on the frequency with which I catch them, too. I've also heard good things about Neti Pots, even if I have been too creeped out to try one myself ....

And what, exactly, is not serious about DayQuil and brandy?? Ahhh....how I mourned when they took the alcohol out of NyQuil! It used to be 25% by volume, and would knock out a horse. But by gawd, you felt AWESOME the next morning. Then, in order to keep winos or kids from abusing it, they took out the alcohol. It never worked quite as well again. So now, if I need the NyQuil, I take a shot of ...something along with it. Works much like "the old days" then...

Nyquil still has alcohol in it! Or at least in the US it does. It's 10%. Generic brands have it.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

DayQuil. DayQuil and brandy.

Well ... more seriously, I actually swear by the Emergen-C stuff. My husband insists it's a placebo, but I know I'm prone to looooooooong colds, and if I take that stuff at the outset, they don't linger nearly as long. Taking a multivitamin every day has cut down on the frequency with which I catch them, too. I've also heard good things about Neti Pots, even if I have been too creeped out to try one myself ....

And what, exactly, is not serious about DayQuil and brandy?? Ahhh....how I mourned when they took the alcohol out of NyQuil! It used to be 25% by volume, and would knock out a horse. But by gawd, you felt AWESOME the next morning. Then, in order to keep winos or kids from abusing it, they took out the alcohol. It never worked quite as well again. So now, if I need the NyQuil, I take a shot of ...something along with it. Works much like "the old days" then...

Sadly, now they've taken the pseudephedrine out of the DayQuil so it's not nearly as effective as it used to be, because apparently, buy enough DayQuil, and you can use it to make meth. Trufax.

I have to admit, at moments like that, I think "Darwinism. Let the meth-lab owners blow themselves up: I just want to be able to survive my stupid cold!"

On the other hand, we can self-correct with the brandy, so ....

Oh, and Manderz: in my neighborhood, I notice they've taken the Tylenol Cold off the shelves (... I don't know, because you can huff it like paint?), but that's usually my go-to night-time remedy. I do hope you feel better soon!

Yes, little-known Oklahoma fact. Oklahoma, you may not know, used to be the meth capital of the US. I'm not kidding. We have much to recommend us here you know - mainly center of the country and the state is the crossing of 2 major interstates - I-35 N/S and I-40 E/W. A drug trafficker's dream. Anyway, we had so many meth houses here, that in desperation, they took EVERY pseudoephedrine product off the shelf, and now you have to go TO the pharmacist, request Tylenol Sinus with "the good stuff", and sign in BLOOD, AT the pharmacist window. All a bit furtive and hard to take when you're ready to drop from "the plague" right there in line. But on a more serious note, our meth production went into the dirt. The other states around us were actually not amused, since the roaches just moved next door to the states that hadn't done it yet. Don't know if they have yet followed suit, but it really was an effective solution, even if it did result in lots of drooping, bleary-eyed, snotty people waiting in a long line during flu and cold season....

One time at Target, I bought *regular* Nyquil and the guy at check out asked for ID and scanned the back of my license. The next time I went there, instead I went to the pharmacy counter and again they asked for ID and I accused them of being Big Brother and stormed out of there. Yeah, a bit dramatic, but I was reading a book about social control at the time. lol!!!

 

[TooPatient]

FI & I are still trying to recover from "the plague".

neti pot. (I have that awful burning too -- if you just tip your head slightly and go REALLY slow and NOT let it run all the way through it helps keep the burning from happening. Not as effective, but still helps me feel better)

lemon tea with honey. (warning -- eating 3 pounds of honey in a week can help other things... move faster.... unless that's part of "the )

soup. (I don't believe that "chicken soup cures everything", but we made a couple of big pots of chicken soup (sad sight to see 2 plague victims trying to cook ) and it really did help. I think it had more to do with the fact that it was packed with healthy stuff (chicken, carrots, onions, garlic, celery, peas, green beans) )

icecream. (Nice thick, rich, creamy, super smooth icecream. NOT a light/airy thing. Helped to coat our throats so we coughed less and the cold soothed the hurtiness caused by coughing.)

SLEEP!!! (as much as you can manage)


I came home sick on Friday. FI took care of me until he got sick on Sunday. We were both out of work the whole next week & still in bed sick all weekend. Managed to work 1/2 day on that next Monday. Now ( 1 1/2 weeks after going back to work), we're both still coughing, achy, exhausted, headachy.

 

[Andelain]

If it's any consolation I have a friend who actually did get the plague a few years back.

But seriously, I hope you all kick the crud soon. I just had a minor bout with it myself, but was lucky it was minor this year.

 

[Hera]

I would get the nyquil that is behind the pharmacy counter.

If you are stuffed up, I would run and get Afrin. Seriously, you can thank me later.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I would get the nyquil that is behind the pharmacy counter.

If you are stuffed up, I would run and get Afrin. Seriously, you can thank me later.

NO NO NO. Never take Afrin. I was an Afrin addict, seriously. Four years and at the end one bottle every two days. It took major steroids for a month and a half to get me off of it. The rebound congestion it can cause is terrible and occurs quickly with use. It can take days to get to the point where your nose can't unstuff itself because of Afrin. It can also cause serious high blood pressure and broken vessels in your nose. BAD stuff all the way around.

 

[ksinger]

If it's any consolation I have a friend who actually did get the plague a few years back.

But seriously, I hope you all kick the crud soon. I just had a minor bout with it myself, but was lucky it was minor this year.

Now THAT'S a trick. Where on earth did said friend pick that up?

 

[Hera]

I would get the nyquil that is behind the pharmacy counter.

If you are stuffed up, I would run and get Afrin. Seriously, you can thank me later.

NO NO NO. Never take Afrin. I was an Afrin addict, seriously. Four years and at the end one bottle every two days. It took major steroids for a month and a half to get me off of it. The rebound congestion it can cause is terrible and occurs quickly with use. It can take days to get to the point where your nose can't unstuff itself because of Afrin. It can also cause serious high blood pressure and broken vessels in your nose. BAD stuff all the way around.

It says specifically on the bottle to not take for more than three days at the risk of rebound congestion. There's also a dosage instruction to not exceed two doses in 24 hours. I'm not sure what you were expecting when you don't follow the directions on the bottle!

 

[Haven]

Rest. Don't leave the house. Curl up in bed and RELAX. Do not go to work.

Hot tea with lemon and honey really helps me.

When my throat hurts, I gargle water with cayenne pepper in it.

And, drink lots of water.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[bebe]

Ugh I'm on the end cycle of the local plague !!

I watched my husband get really sick so I went to the Dr. when the first signs of stuffiness and ear aches started.
Had a round of antibiotics along with a new allergy tab " D Allergy PE" (prescription). Two days later I thought I was dying!
Awful sore throat, coughing, sneezing. Horrible. Thought I was getting better, but it turned around and now I'm starting another round of
antibiotics. Heavy duty cough meds. I hate taking antibiotics, but I'm hoping they work. This stuff is plain mean and it's going around -
so many friends have had it. Did all the things that are supposed to help but, nadda, nothing budged this crud !!!

 

[LGK]

I would get the nyquil that is behind the pharmacy counter.

If you are stuffed up, I would run and get Afrin. Seriously, you can thank me later.

NO NO NO. Never take Afrin. I was an Afrin addict, seriously. Four years and at the end one bottle every two days. It took major steroids for a month and a half to get me off of it. The rebound congestion it can cause is terrible and occurs quickly with use. It can take days to get to the point where your nose can't unstuff itself because of Afrin. It can also cause serious high blood pressure and broken vessels in your nose. BAD stuff all the way around.

It says specifically on the bottle to not take for more than three days at the risk of rebound congestion. There's also a dosage instruction to not exceed two doses in 24 hours. I'm not sure what you were expecting when you don't follow the directions on the bottle!

Afrin is a serious godsend; I do get the rebound congestion after ONE dose though. But if I use it for three days in a row then the third day the rebound congestion sets in really quick, but is gone by bedtime and voila! No stuffier than usual. If I can't breathe at night Afrin is a freaking *miracle*. You just have to be careful with it and not OD on it. I do use it when I have a cold usually.