What do you do when you have a cold?

I am sick...well, sicker than usual I have a cold. Wondering what everyone does when they get sick. Home remedies, meds, comforting rituals?? I need ideas.

I think it will be interesting to see what people in other countries than the one I am in do. Please everyone share their favorite ideas.

Or what did your parents do growing up? My Mom was great for making lemon tea and toast with butter. Than I would snuggle on the sofa with my baby blanket.

I usually take over the counter meds, drink lots of orange juice and try to stay warm, which isn't always easy to do in MN.

I don't know what your equivelant is, but here in the UK i take these

http://www.superliving.co.uk/pharmac...caplets-p.html

Then no one speak to me, just leave me alone on the sofa with the t.v. low with the kids as company and juice by my side

I love TheraFlu. They have lots of different formulas (cold, severe cold, cold and cough, etc.). I like the liquid kind because it tastes pretty good and the warmth is soothing. Also I use a sinus rinse system called NediMed. It really helps clear nasal congestion.

Non medicinally, there's always steamy showers. Lots and lots of rest (try propping up on pillows so all the sinusy gunk doesn't settle while you sleep). Lots and lots of fluids. Drinking water is the last thing I want to do when I'm sick, but it really does speed up recovery time. And nothing beats some tasty chicken and dumplings when I'm sick.

I take OTC medication and laze around on the couch.

They also say that misery loves company so I mope and moan to anyone who will listen.

Bourbon or brandy in a cup of hot coffee. Repeat until very sleepy.

Originally Posted by Nekomania

I take OTC medication and laze around on the couch.

They also say that misery loves company so I mope and moan to anyone who will listen.

Click to expand...

I've been crying to anyone that will listen also. I spent the whole weekend on the couch. It was soooo boring. I had plans both days I had to cancel and STILL don't feel well. I just find being sick so tedious. I deal with chronic pain and am a trooper when it comes to that, but I get the sniffles and I am so whiny.

Tonite I will go and get some OTC meds and some more OJ w/extra vits added in it. My humidifier I ordered won't come till the end of the week though. Probably not in time for this illness but I need it anyway for Fiona.

Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom

Bourbon or brandy in a cup of hot coffee. Repeat until very sleepy.

Click to expand...

My stepfather calls them a "hot toddy" He likes doing lemon, honey and some whisky.

I came down with a nasty head cold a few weeks ago, the first day I pretty much slept off and on, drank lots of water, took my zinc supplement and just parked it on my couch or in bed (cuddled with the kitties).

When I went back to work, I took Dayquil to help me breath easier and then Nyquil at night. my cold was gone within a few days.

Pretty much what everyone else seems to do.

But first, I shut myself down. I cancel everything and stay in and stay in bed. And I dose myself with everything mentioned here. Warm liquids, chicken soup is actually great, and cold meds that I usually use are TheraFlu or Nyquil. Or, a hot toddy is definitely in order. If I do that, I have one (or two) before I go to bed, and skip the Nyquil and sleep like a baby.

A friend of mine in Scotland makes fantastic hot toddies. Our whole company, staying in one big apartment during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival several years in a row, would pass colds around. But at the first sign, James would make his hot toddies, and we'd all be in the kitchen, gathered around the table, sucking them up. Ahhh....good times.

I don't usually get colds, but I had a doozie not long ago.

I was taking Cold FX, Echinachea, Zinc, Vitamin C, Royal Jelly, Garlic, Benylin Cold & Sinus, Otrivin Nasal Spray, and loads of Orange Juice.

Nothing really worked. I've been fighting this thing since September 21st. Just when I'm starting to feel well, it starts back up again with the scratchy throat, sneezes and runny/stuffy nose.

Make sure that you keep up on your symptoms. The H1N1 flu is running rampant, so if you have a temperature and body aches, that is NOT a cold!

Originally Posted by Lorie D.

I usually take over the counter meds, drink lots of orange juice and try to stay warm, which isn't always easy to do in MN.

Click to expand...

Me too..I eat soup too!

Typically, I'll buy the good tissues with lotion in them (so my nose doesn't fall off) and suffer through it. I get so many colds every year that, unless it's an especially bad one, I'm pretty used to the feeling.

I will sometimes take night time cold medication and have recently found that nasal spray seems to help during the day. I don't take daytime cold medicine at all...I'm not sure what it is in it, but it makes me feel horrible!

I'm disgusting when I have a cold. I'm a snot factory and blow my nose about 200 times a day!

If it is a really bad cold, the most I will do is take an expectorant, otherwise I just suffer through and keep lots of tissues on hand. You cough for a reason and your nose runs for a reason, so I try not to get rid of the cough and snot. I just use the expectorant to break everything up faster. I do like this nasal saline mist/spray stuff that I found, to give my poor sinuses and nose a break every once in a while. I can't use it too much otherwise makes my nose bleed.

I have three children one of which is two. I take over the counter medicine and do my best to function as normal.

I usually can't take any OTC medicine for longer than one day ,besides ibuprofen, because it severely upsets my stomach to a point where I am in pain all night and can't sleep.
But- for the first day when my cold is the worst I take nyquil..I think it gives me a hangover though?? I'm not so sure about that but last time I had it I got a headache the next morning

My grandparents in Bulgaria made me herbal teas when I was a kid, a compress on my throat and chest with rubbing alcohol, ohh and the most ridiculous one- they made me put alcohol soaked cotton balls inside my nostrils for a minutes- It makes you sneeze like crazy but decongests somewhat...
I felt like I was tortured But I was a very sick kid, always caught the flu, had bronchitis all the time, etc..strange how a change of climate strengthened my immune system, ever since I moved to the US I haven't had anything other than the occasional colds..it's also probably because my immune system became fully developed as I became an adult..

Whine, cry, lay on the couch and drink rum shots with orange juice. Chicken soup is also helpful to cushion the rum. Mucinex is wonderful if I have a stuffy nose.

I went to the store and got this herbal tea that is pharmacy grade herbs. Specifically for colds. You let it steep for 15 minutes while covered. Add honey if you live in a dry climate. You drink two cups than 1 cup every three hours. I had 4 cups last night. I swear I feel better this morning. My head is clearer for sure. It didn't taste gross either.

My weapons of choice are tissues w/ lotion, nasal spray, cough drops and any kind of juice I can get my hands on.

I don't typically take OTC meds besides the spray, unless I have to. Theraflu works wonders in a pinch, though.

Hmmmmm. I try to avoid over the counter meds actually. I'm on enough other meds, I'd rather fight it naturally if I can.... but the odd time I have to take a sinus med when I get clogged sinuses that I can't clear on my own and they give me headaches.

For nasal congestion I eat spicier food. (throw some cayenne pepper in scrambled eggs, chili powder in soup, eat chili) I also take in more liquids to flush the system and thin mucous.

Cough: steamy showers, cough drops, honey.

Aches n' pains: baths.... (I'm on prescription painkillers...things like tylenol/advil don't work on me...) Hottub..... but baths with epsom salts work wonders as long as you use enough salts.... for the longest time I didn't use enough salt and saw no difference, then I asked my RMT who gave me the correct info on how much.

I take a multivitamin + extra vit C (1500mg) + oil of oregano. I find the OoO works wonderful for infections.... it does have antiviral properties, and it does decrease the length of time of my cold, but on me it works best for strep throat, bronchitis and the like as opposed to the common cold.