Congestion relief?

[Granny square]

I will usually try a Benedryl or Claritin with my kids on the off chance that it is allergy related. Otherwise, I agree. But we tend towards stupid seasonal allergies.

 

[pixiewings71]

Mucinex D, my neti pot and a hot toddy are my go to remedies.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I agree with trying to get it to drain out and then be gone. Hot, steamy shower. Eat spicy mustard or very strong mints.
Boil water and pour in a bowl with salt. Stir to dissolve and then put your head over the bowl with a towel over it all to trap in the steam.

Sleep propped upright to help things drain.

 

[Shmily1]

I went to the doctor yesterday for congestion from allergies. He said take Claritin D (or generic), along with either Robitussin DM Max (or generic) or Mucinex D (they are the same thing). Right now, I have the Claritin D 12 hour because it works better than the 24 hr kind, and the Robitussin DM Max. It's a pretty good combination!

 

[goofy4tink]

What you want to do is get the crud OUT, not dry it up and keep it in there, which is what Benedryl will do.

You need pseudoephedrine, and guaiafenesin will help to thin out the mucus so that it can drain. The combination pill with these two ingredients is the aforementioned Mucinex-D. In most places, you now have to go to the pharmacy counter to buy this; it is not stocked on open shelves because pseudoephedrine is now something that you have to sign for in most places because it can be used to make meth. (Although I have it on good authority from a pharma chemist friend that pills that combine pseudoephedrine with guiaifenesin can't be used to cook meth -- go figure.)

Note that the decongestant ingredient that is now usually the only one stocked on open shelving is Phenylephrine HCl; don't waste any money on that stuff, because it is worse than useless.

Until you can get to the store, go for the hot stuff: hot peppers, preferably cayenne or habanero; jalapeno doesn't work as well. If you have any spicy food in the house, eat it, or order the spiciest Chinese food you can find. If you don't have anything else available, make yourself a cup of hot water and stir in as much hot sauce as you can tolerate, and drink that; it will help your nose run and get some of that gunk out of there.

Hope you feel better soon.

Have to agree. I have drawers full of the decongestants that are out on the open shelves. They don't touch the congestion. I have to go to the pharmacy and sign for the good stuff. Mucinex-D works great. Or just get a good decongestant...from the pharmacist. And drink a ton of water!!!

 

[bedogged]

Anyone have advice on what to take for congestion/inflammation from a sinus infection? I took some Benadryl because that's all we had in the house but I can't breathe out of my nose and it's driving me nuts.

You need to take Sudafed or the generic of it. It is located behind the counter at drug stores. You may have to sign for it. In Colorado you do, but it is not a prescription drug. It is the only thing that really works. Some of the other medications that people have recommended have Sudafed in them. I prefer to take it without other things that I do not need. Also, buy a NeilMed sinus rinse kit. That is a plastic squeeze bottle that you put a special packet of salt in and rinse. It contains no drugs and really helps to clear out the blockage that you are feeling. Trust me on this. I am a constant sinus sufferer.

 

[IheartMickey]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I took a regular Advil and I feel much better. I think it was more swelling than actual congestion.

 

[bedogged]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I took a regular Advil and I feel much better. I think it was more swelling than actual congestion.

Just a FYI, incase the pain returns, Sudafed reduces swelling and inflammation. That is how it works. I had to take it this morning because the weather here is changing and that will sometimes bring it on.

 

[cepmom]

just had to take DD to the Dr's for what I thought might be a sinus infection. Dr said it was viral, so no antibiotics, but recommended Sudafed 12 hour and Afrin (for 3 days only) DD is already feeling better after taking both of those.

 

[dakcp2001]

You need something from behind the pharmacy counter. Mucinex "D" or Claritin "D". I also recommend a neti pot (with sterile water) and drinking lots of fluids! Hope you feel better.


How is the new job going? What part of the park did you end up in? I want to come work at Disney again! EVen with all the germs you come in contact with, those were some of the best days I remember! Carry lots of purell! I like Bath & Body works ones.

 

[Imzadi]

What you want to do is get the crud OUT, not dry it up and keep it in there, which is what Benedryl will do.

You need pseudoephedrine, and guaiafenesin will help to thin out the mucus so that it can drain. The combination pill with these two ingredients is the aforementioned Mucinex-D. In most places, you now have to go to the pharmacy counter to buy this; it is not stocked on open shelves because pseudoephedrine is now something that you have to sign for in most places because it can be used to make meth. (Although I have it on good authority from a pharma chemist friend that pills that combine pseudoephedrine with guiaifenesin can't be used to cook meth -- go figure.)

Note that the decongestant ingredient that is now usually the only one stocked on open shelving is Phenylephrine HCl; don't waste any money on that stuff, because it is worse than useless.

Ah, so this is why when I bought some decongestant on the shelf several weeks ago, it didn't work. And I went back and checked all the ingredients to buy something different, they pretty much ALL only had Phenylephrine HCl in them. PLUS, many of them have warnings not to use if one has thyroid problems.

But, I get congested for WEEKS at a time. My inability to breathe is so bad that I'm sure I have sleep apnea from it. (I'm not a mouth sleeper.) Just as I'm about to see a nose & throat specialist, my nose totally clears up for close to a week and I am able to breathe again. Then it gets stuffed up all over again for another few weeks.

If it is an environmental allergy, I don't know what is different that it clears up for one week. It's not like my environment is any different during that one week. If it was seasonal allergies, it would last or go away for much longer. I eat pretty much the same foods throughout.

During regular hay fever season, I swear by Zyrtec. (Claritin does nothing for me.) But they are antihistamines which work during hay fever season when I have a runny nose not a stuffed up one. But, neither drug or the OTC decongestants I've tried has helped this chronic congestion. I want to breathe again.

Off to get the Mucinex-D.