How do you deal with your cold?

Padstow

ali-t wrote: »

As soon as I feel something coming on I get on the first defence spray. It is vile but seems to kill the cold before it takes hold. http://www.vicks.co.uk/first-defence/nasal-spray/

If I don't get to it in time I take loads of vit c and feel sorry for myself snottering all over the place. I take nytol at night as it is works as an anti-hystamine so as well as knocking me out it dries up the snot.

Great minds and all that ali-t. First Defence is great.
Remember everyone that lots of cold remedies contain paracetamol so be careful!!

onthebreadline

A Lemsip for me and hate to say it, but just have to add loads and loads of sugar in it (about 4-5 teaspoons), drys up my cold.

4-5 drops of Olbas Oil on a hanky and sleep with it between your pillow and pillowcase (stinks but really helps you breathe)

Add an early night, and wake up in the morning feeling you have had the best nights sleep in ages.

Then in the morning, you can add a couple of drop of Olbas Oil into a bowl with boiling hot water, cover your head, and breathe deeply. Ahhhhhh ........ thats better!!!!!

Badger_Lady

sharalee99 wrote: »

And just on a side note, if you do have a bad cold, do you stay off work or do you think a cold is not a reason to stay off?

With regards to this, it depends what work I'm doing. The last time I was really ill, I was in the USA for a week doing a project for a client on my own. If I hadn't forced myself into the office each morning, the work wouldn't have been done, simple as. It would have cost my employer thousands of pounds, probably the client's future business and would have been massively embarassing all round. It was thoroughly horrific though, I was in Hell

However, if I'm in the normal UK office doing every day work that can always be caught up on or covered then damn right I'll phone in sick! It's much more important to protect your own health and that of your colleagues than 'make an appearance'.

dorsetlady

Badger_Lady wrote: »

However, if I'm in the normal UK office doing every day work that can always be caught up on or covered then damn right I'll phone in sick! It's much more important to protect your own health and that of your colleagues than 'make an appearance'.

That's all very well if you get paid for being off sick! Many people can't afford to take time off work.

Badger_Lady

dorsetlady wrote: »

That's all very well if you get paid for being off sick! Many people can't afford to take time off work.

Very true indeed - I only get 5 days a year in my current job so I'm feelin' that one The above post is really more to do with 'obligation to work', as in obligation to the employer / colleagues.

fannyanna

OP I can sympathise as I too have a cold at the moment and it seems to be quite a rotten one - it's gone to my chest already :-(

I think night nurse is brilliant. Ok, I probably take double the dose and have a few night caps too but it sends me off to cuckoo land which is very much welcomed lol.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Roughly £1 for generic pseudoephedrine from the chemist. 29p for paracetamol/ibuprofen. 50p for basics orange juice and a lemon/lime. 2 minute chat with the pharmacist so they know exactly what I intend to do.

Heat orange juice in saucepan, add some lemon/lime slices, drink whilst warm, take 1 decongestant and 2 paracetamol or 2 ibuprofen up to the amounts given as safe over 24 hours.

Safer (because I can control the paracetamol dose and no chance of making a mistake and taking something else with paracetamol in it), cheaper (oh my, how much cheaper than 8 sachets of Lemsip), tastes better - and when you feel better, you've still got some orange juice to drink.

Dizzy_Ditzy

Mrs_P_Pincher wrote: »

Sambucal - b

just drop the "L" off the above word!

as soon as I get even a hint of sore throat, i get on the curry or chilli. I have chilli vodka which will kill any known throat germs dead in their path!!!

Too much use of things like Vicks Sinex will rot away the lining of your nose. You can get sinus rinses which are pretty useful for the after effects of a cold.

guineapig

My husband is a GP and is in the front line for getting everyone's germs (and he thoughtfully shares them with me!)

We are both impressed with "First Defence" and use it if we have been around/in the vicinity of anyone who has been/ is coughing/sneezing etc.

This is what we use if we are " not at home" ( ie on the move)

We use ( and LOVE) the Netti Pot! Much loved and used by our American Cousins ( who don't forget have to take great care with their health needs as they have to pay!)

They are now available in the UK and you can google how to use them ( the technique, though it is so simple).

This has prevented many a cold, in fact since we have had ours I have only had 2 colds in the last 14 months and as I said hubby does like to share what he get's at work!

Though Hubby said, there are times when WHATEVER precautions you take, you will succumb to a cold.

This is when using the Netti pot reduces the painful sinus symptoms and the cold will feel less invasive than usual. ( Of the two colds I had since I started using the Netti Pot, the first one was reduced in length by 3 or 4 days).

Carry the "First Defence" with you during "Cold season" and use it! ( it does sting and makes you feel like you "have" a cold, for the first 30 minutes or so) but it is very good.

I take Zinc tablets too, again during "cold season".

Wash hands FREQUENTLY, especially when you have been on public transport/shops etc.

Sometimes the cold symptom will present as a "sore throat" rather than the "nose tickle" this is harder to prevent taking hold, BUT you can try and gargle with strong Listerine, use the First defence and hope you caught it in time.

I wish people on Buses would open the windows in Winter, to allow the (fresher)air to circulate, yes, I know it's cold, but everyone has their coats on!

FWIW colds do NOT respond to antibiotics, those are for if you get a chest infection, you will know the difference!

This does not constitute Medical advice it is just what we do in our house

ada1988

I deal with cold with cola and ginger.
cook them together to get hot then drink it,it can be helpful to feel much better.