Getting through a cold

[Judie P]

Any suggestions for a person who is self-employed and has acid reflux, IBS (constipation), and a hacking cough, along with a self-employed husband who can't work right now?

My husband came home with a cold and guess who got it?  I just got over a bout of IBS from anxiety and trying to eat less to lose weight. The sore, itchy, scratchy throat is just about gone now.  I thought I would try Cold Eeze as it is homeopathic.  It helps with post nasal drip, which I have a lot of (due to my dry Sjogren's nose).  That gave me severe indigestion and started the IBS again.  I took one of my Famotidine pills and that seemed to help and expelled a lot of gas from my stomach and intestines. I am not coughing with a lot of mucus, just the stuff that collects in my throat from post nasal drip.  My husband's is like Niagara Falls. he coughs and all this stuff comes up.  My ears get clogged after I eat certain things (like oatmeal), but it disappears after a short time.

Of course, I have no energy.  And I don't seem to be sneezing much.  No fever either.  Husband got to 99.5.  We took COVID-19 tests and we are negative.  Don't think it is the flu, either.  I am spending a lot of money on OTC products and our business account is taking a hit.

Any suggestions?  My sneezing husband and I would appreciate it.

[meirish]

Sorry that you are both having these colds. Sometimes there are cold viruses that just hang on, especially if there is a cough involved. One thing you can do is just keep the treatments simple. Sometimes drinking hot tea or hot lemonade or apple cider can help with the throat and nasal symptoms. The heat plus the increased liquids are very helpful when there is a cough and runny nose.

It is best to avoid any more complicated cold medications even if they say they are "natural" etc. Just then plain simple antihistamines can help the most. This will usually help the coughing and help dry up some of the nasal issues. I have found that I like an antihistamine that my doctor suggested many years ago.

I buy the Walmart brand called Allergy Relief in a box that is white and orange. This OTC medication is more expensive lately as all then prices have gone up but it comes in 35 pills per bottle and only need one tab a day. It is spelled Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride and says 24 hours, 5 mgm and 35 tablets on the front of the box. The best thing about this med is that it doesn't make a person sleepy which is why my doctor suggested it years ago when I could only get it by prescription at the time. Much cheaper now over the counter.

Also, if you are burning any candles or have any other items in your home that could aggravate colds or allergies you might want to put them aside for now til you recover from this. Some of these items can irritate the mucus membranes in our lungs and sinuses when we have colds. I use this med also when I get a rash or itchy area that hangs in there and threatens to not go away. It helps the rashes/itchy areas also. Any area that gives issues for long periods of time usually warrant a visit to the doctor.

Zyrtec and Clariten are other over the counter antihistamines that could help and probably are cheaper. I just found the Levons...drug I mentioned at one pill a day and not sleepiness worked better for me. Good luck and try the hot beverages. Avoiding milk products can help also as the dairy seems to aggravate mucus. meirish

[araminta]

The best help I've found for a cold is Fisherman's Friends!   We can get them in shops in the UK, not sure about the US, but available on Amazon.   They're the only things I've ever tried that really help with a cough.

Otherwise, drink a lot of hot drinks, not milky ones.   And onions are good - try onion soup.   

[Linda196]

I swear by Thyme tea with honey and cinnamon. First sign of scratchy throat, congestion or cough I brew some, and sometimes that's all it takes, but if the symptoms continue I keep it up, probably mostly for comfort but you hear great things about the medicinal properties of all three ingredients, and I rarely have a cold (or whatever) that lasts longer than 24 hours

[meirish]

Thanks for the tip on the tea Linda. I had never heard of that and it is a safe trio of things one has on the shelf. meirish

[Judie P]

Thanks to all of you for your very helpful ideas.  I will put them to use.  We have gotten so stuffy in the head and coughing that we actually went to make sure we did not have COVID.  California state allows you to get the rapid and PCR tests done for free.  Well, all of our tests came back negative (but we are very happy about that).  My Sjogren's symptoms have kicked in now and I have no energy with a very dry mouth.  IBS is slowing down a bit now.

I think I have to be kind to myself and be patient.  I worry too much about finances (being self employed) and if I will be good enough by December to do this cervical surgery.

Thanks again everyone.

[meirish]

Julie, I can feel for you as you await this surgery. It is always miserable trying to stay calm when one has a surgery coming up that is "big league". I had the spinal fusion with a depression of the cord and possibility of death and paralysis. Scary...but I hardly had time to work myself up. In two weeks I was in the neurosurgeon office and 4 days later had the surgery. Found out then how bad off I was. Just glad I was only 74 when I had that surgery. Five years later I am not a good surgical risk so hope the spine stay in place.

All I can say is to do the best you can one day at a time and know that there have been a lot of surgeries like that done in this day and age. The gal I know had similar to your and about 5 other vertebral disc fused in her lower back and she is still perking along. Amazing what great surgeries can be done these days. Get enough rest also (from one sjoggie to another) as the dark fatigue and stress is our enemy as we all know. Try some meditation with some tapes....does help. I used to enjoy the gentle rains and the waves. Good luck now. meirish