How do you deal with a REALLY rotten cold at an important time?

[Sillyminny40]

My ds16 is in the thick of basketball season and is SO sick he cannot play. We have tried every remedy possible but the best is rest and stay home in bed. we have humidifier, nose spray, cold capsule, bronchial stuff, etc and the doctor even put him on an antibiotic (he has only had that 2 x in his whole life) just in case he had bronchitis or strep (came back neg)... we go to WDW in a month and maybe better (oh not bb though I am not sure) but this happens there to.
Anyway this thread is HOW do you deal with it? (not the situation) thanks so much!

But how do you relieve the total stuffiness and red, raw nose?
Product names and natural suggestions are welcome!

 

[mickeywho?]

try this for a stuffed-up nose

vicks rub on the bottom of bare feet - cover with socks and head to bed. Should be nice and clear by the morning!

HTH!

 

[summermac]

Ah, story of my life. I was using Zyrtec for seasonal allergies but had to quit b/c it made my food taste tinny. It worked great though.

I use saline spray, just good old saline and that really helps. The other nasal sprays (nasonex, et al) never helped me.

For the red, raw nose get some Puffs Plus or some similar tissue.

Others I know swear by neti pots.

In terms of cold capsules are you going to the pharmacy section and asking for Sudafed there? If you are getting it in the aisle that stuff is worthless. You must ask for the good old Sudafed. Thanks to it being used to make Meth, it's not available in the aisles any longer. Oh and you can only get one box at a time too.

 

[Sillyminny40]

try this for a stuffed-up nose

vicks rub on the bottom of bare feet - cover with socks and head to bed. Should be nice and clear by the morning!

HTH!

Awesome! We have a big jar of that! He will love it! Doing it right now!

 

[Sillyminny40]

Ah, story of my life. I was using Zyrtec for seasonal allergies but had to quit b/c it made my food taste tinny. It worked great though.

I use saline spray, just good old saline and that really helps. The other nasal sprays (nasonex, et al) never helped me.

For the red, raw nose get some Puffs Plus or some similar tissue.

Others I know swear by neti pots.

In terms of cold capsules are you going to the pharmacy section and asking for Sudafed there? If you are getting it in the aisle that stuff is worthless. You must ask for the good old Sudafed. Thanks to it being used to make Meth, it's not available in the aisles any longer. Oh and you can only get one box at a time too.

Oh you mean ask the pharmacist? We are in Canada and it might be different but I will ask about that for sure in the morning, thanks!

 

[dis75ney]

Rest, rest, rest...

Fluids, fluids, fluids...

Rest, rest, rest...

Those are my tried-and-true tricks. However, if I need to get rid of a cold quickly, I take Zicam AS SOON AS I feel the symptoms starting. My colds are fairly predictable...sore throat that gets gradually worse throughout the day, then halfway to heck then next, and deluxe accomodations in he** for the next three days. If I take Zicam as soon as I feel that sore throat coming on, my cold symptoms are gone by day three.

Also, I take vitamin C 500mg on the hour every hour during the day when I feel the cold starting. Vitamin C is water-soluble, so anything my body doesn't need gets flushed out when I use the potty.

I agree 100% on the real-vs-fake Sudafed (the real stuff is pseudoephedrine). The fake stuff tends to make me feel worse. And the Vicks on the feet is a good trick, too...

Hope your son feels better soon!

 

[disneymoon95]

I second the zicam. I use the nasal swabs and melt away tablets.

We also use Walgreens brand nasal spray. The label reads Anefrin Nasal Spray no drip. It contains Oxymetazoline HCI .05% nasal decongenstant. This stuff is awesome. It will taste a little nasty in the back of the throat so have some juice to drink with it. Clears up breathing for a better night sleep!

 

[sndfan]

I third Zicam! As SOON as we think we MIGHT get a cold, we start with the swabbing and it totally shortens the length of the cold...sometimes eliminates it all together.

We're going to try swabbing our noses before we get on the plane on Friday for Disney...maybe all the germs will turn and run in the other direction!

Hope your son feels better...it's hard to watch sweeties of every age when they are sick...

 

[bumbershoot]

Rest, rest, rest...

Fluids, fluids, fluids...

Rest, rest, rest...

Ayep.

We've found that when we try to get better sooner, we just get sicker again, shortly after, and it's worse. Let the gunk OUT, let him rest, let his body work.


I'm having a huge problem with his doctor giving him abx when the tests came back negative. Way to make a problem worse! If he's been taking the antibiotics, grab some acidophilus from the health food store to give him back his healthy bacterial flora, which will also help him heal up. grumble grumble russa frussa doctors KNOW better than to give just in case abx, they know this, it's in all of their medical journals russa frussa.....

 

[bjscheel]

I use Zicam in the nose, might not help at this point. ON the nose I use Mary Kay night cream or Vaseline before bed, when you won't be blowing your nose for a while.

I also take odorless garlic every night, 1 capsule usually, and 2 when I have a cold.

 

[Kae]

Ok I'm from the land of Alka-seltzer so we take Alka Seltzer Plus nasty stuff I tell ya. the one you mix with water & drink.

But if not go with store/genric pseudoephedrine & Advil or Tylenol. I just saw a report that 7 to 8 hours sleep is the best thing you can do.

Kae

 

[Sillyminny40]

Son just had a better day after solid sleep last night. NO BASKETBALL at all! The team can survive! LOL!..

I gave him sudafed, advil, throat spray, salt water gargle, otrivin, plastered vic's on feet and chest and put elec blankie on him.
I pretty well had to go last night with what I had on hand as we are on a farm one hour from the city!
Oh I also put vics in a bowl of hot water and steamed the heck out of him.l
Thanks, he is getting better. So grateful this is not one month from now!

 

[pixiewings71]

Sounds like you are on the right track. I'd like to second the Neti Pot suggestion. I have been using one for a couple of years now, last year I was really sick (pnuemonia and out of work for over a week) and I started using my Neti Pot then, I really think it helped clear me out and I've used it since and I haven't been sick....quick find me some wood! LOL I don't use mine daily, nor do I add salt to my water but I do use it every 2 or 3 days with nice warm water. I use mine in the shower.

 

[ardig123]

Sounds like he is getting better...I just had a very nasty sinus infection/double ear infection and the doctor strongly recommended getting Mucinex DM. In the USA you have to go to the pharmacist and get it because they do not sell it on the shelves (no prescription needed though)...it worked so well at clearing up all of the stuffiness in my head, face, ears, neck, and chest. I was using Sudafed which did not do a thing...I used to think Mucinex was only for chest congestion but apparently I was wrong...I swear by the Mucinex DM now.

 

[Sillyminny40]

Mucinex and Neti Pot are two things I have never heard of. Probably not in Canada yet.

 

[perkinsrose]

Mucinex and Neti Pot are two things I have never heard of. Probably not in Canada yet.

You may be surprised to find the Neti Pot anyway. When I got mine 15 yrs ago in USA, I'd never heard of it. I believe the concept is VERY old--from the far east maybe? Mine is china/porcelen though I think plastic ones are easy to find. You make a warm water salt mix (NON-iodized Salt).

My ds16 is in the thick of basketball season and is SO sick he cannot play. We have tried every remedy possible but the best is rest and stay home in bed. we have humidifier, nose spray, cold capsule, bronchial stuff, etc and the doctor even put him on an antibiotic (he has only had that 2 x in his whole life) just in case he had bronchitis or strep (came back neg)... we go to WDW in a month and maybe better (oh not bb though I am not sure) but this happens there to.
Anyway this thread is HOW do you deal with it? (not the situation) thanks so much!

But how do you relieve the total stuffiness and red, raw nose?
Product names and natural suggestions are welcome!

I tend to stick with Sudafed/pseudoephedrine that works for me for sinus infections and allergies. I use the regular formula--the one that was taken off the shelves in US and you have to show your license at the pharmacy counter to buy (due to theft & misuse in manufact. street drugs)

For raw skin, I highly recommend Eucerin "original" cream. There are many variations now with lotions, etc. but the cream is what i use. THe larger tubs are very expensive but because its like a paste/very thick, it lasts a LONG time. I think you can order it online though where I live, its not hard to find.

http://www.eucerinus.com/products/hb_original.html


I mostly use Eucerin for severely chapped lips in winter but its made for body/skin. I've had good results with it using on eczema flare-ups in winter too.


Fluids, vitamin C (I use only 100mg chewables 2-3 times a day) and plenty of rest. If trip is 1 month away--I think you'll be fine

 

[Sillyminny40]

Thanks Perkinsrose! Good comment there about plenty of fluids! We have been giving him lots of orange juice and he adds a bit of ginger ale for excitement! We also have a pitcher of water and lemon slices by his bed.

He was feeling 50% better last night in just 24 hours. I totally recommend doing everything listed here especially Vick's Vapor rub on feet covered with socks. Our house smells great!

 

[Mickey'n'Me]

I am a big fan of Airborne!! Also a big fan of the VICKs and neti pot!!

 

[astine75]

Neti pots work great if you can get past the idea of pouring water through one side of your nose and letting it come out the other. You can find how to videos on YouTube. I use one in the summer for my seasonal allergies and usually only have to take half my regular RX to beat my symptoms.

 

[Sillyminny40]

I know many people who would use it now that I heard of it.