First cold I've had in AGES,

[elleng]

picked up from weekend visit to grands. Taking sudafed since yesterday, but remind me what else to do, please!

NEW grand due to arrive July 4, likely come early and lives near me, so want to be well to see her, her big brother, and my burdened daughter!

[Arkansas Granny]

1. I generally take Nyquil (or store brand equivalent) and sleep through it. Drink lots of fluids.

[DonaldsRump]

2. Rest! Sleep! n/t

[underpants]

3. Zinc

Load up on zinc. Turmeric is good for everything as well.

[left-of-center2012]

4. I had a bad cold earlier this year

Because of heart problems (aFib) I had to be careful of over the counter drugs.
Pretty much just took acetaminophen and lots of liquids.

[solara]

5. Sleep, lots of water and

massive doses of vitamin C , Like a couple of Emergen-C packets at once in water, every couple of hours or so. If you take too much Vitamin C you will know because your body will reject it, but it's not bad, then wait a few hours and begin again. Also, Zinc lozenges are excellent and almost a miracle drug with colds. But you have to start taking them as soon as you begin to feel the onset of a cold. Also, a dropper full of Oil of Oregano in tea or under your tongue is a natural anti-biotic. Echinacea is pretty good but you need to start taking it before the cold is full blown. Sleep is really important too and Cold Care herbal tea helps a lot after you get the cold. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after a trip to anywhere public.

Enjoy your new grand baby.

[lillypaddle]

6. Rest & plenty of fluids

The sudafed will dehydrate you even more, so compensate with LOT of fluids.

And chicken soup, of course.

Feel better soon.

[Lulu KC]

7. kombucha

It was recommended to my by my eye doctor, of all people. I started drinking a small glass daily about 1.5 years ago and have not had one sniffle. Not one! Had to try a bunch of kinds to find the one I like but well worth it.
In the meantime, take care! Water and hot baths/showers. Put your head over a pot of hot water right off the stove with a towel over your head. These are the ways my mother handled them.

[3Hotdogs]

8. If you have high blood pressure, be careful of what you injest.

[elleng]

9. Thanks for the warning! JUST saw doc, and pressure is 'great.'

I never remember the numbers, but it's in 'very good' range.

[elleng]

10. THANKS, guys!

Just picked up V. C AND a big fruit drink (and 'sudafed,') have already had one V. C, will continue with it often AND drinking (water, juice, tea,) and may try to swallow an echinacea which I found in cabinet; daughter had recommended it years ago, but it's 'gag' size.


SO I'm OFF, hoping I can recover in time to see Baby (and daughter whom I'd promised I'd see today) soon, but whatever happens, I will NOT contaminate them!

[No Vested Interest]

11. Get and use a new toothbrush; dispose of the old one.

Gargle frequently; I use Cepacol liquid for gargling. You will want to keep the cold and inflammation away from the throat & chest.

Vicks Vaporub inside nostrils, or inhale Vicks mentholetum in any way that's convenient for you. They have smaller inhalers now, also a steam pot for menthol such as in Vicks.

[dawg day]

12. Take zinc lozenges.

Cuts the severity.

[trof]

13. Hot Toddy!

Works for me.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. There are a limited number of cold viruses out there.

I've seen various numbers, but a quick Google search told me 200. And here's what you need to understand. You get a cold. You recover. You are now permanently immune to that specific virus. 199 left. You get another cold. You recover. You are now permanently immune to that specific virus. 198 left.

Get the pattern?

In youth, it is common to get a cold two or four times a year, sometimes more if you're unlucky. That usually lasts into your thirties. Eventually, you are exposed to all or nearly all of the 200 cold viruses. Eventually, you stop getting colds.

Speaking from personal experience, I got my share of colds from childhood and through my 30s. Since then, I've rarely gotten a cold, and in the last two decades (I'm now 71) I get less than one cold a year. Hooray for getting old!

Oh, and in a related comment, I don't get the flu. Nor do I bother with the flu shot. I got flu several times in my childhood, including the Asian flu in 1957. I figure my flu immunity is as strong as it can get.