I'm sick -- have a remedy?

I guess I should have seen this coming.  I've always had a pathetic immune system.  Someone sneezes around me and next thing you know I have a cold.  (Unlike Pete -- thank goodness Maddie has his genes when it comes to this!)

So anyway, I guess having surgery probably weakened it a bit more. . . then the freezing cold weather arrived. . . and the busyness of the holiday season. . . and now I have a nasty little cold.  We are planning to go to Marshall Field's to eat by the big tree in the Walnut Room tomorrow and I feel like, well you know what I feel like.

So tell me your remedies!  Your quick fixes!  What you do to get you through when you have the sniffles, a sore throat and are oh so tired.  I need help here people!  I have a 5 year old that I do not want to disappoint! 

Comments

[claudia]

Go talk to Norma...she'll fix you up.

[Strikkelise]

Garlic. Vitamin C. Echinacea. Some British powder remedy from Boots called "Cold&Flu max relief" containing paracetamol and phenylephrine(tastes lemon in a yucky way, but effective). We usually hoard it when in Britain.
Between these garlic is my favourite, but the British powder is good for when you feel crap and need to perform. Like survive until the kids go to bed ;)
Btw thanks for visiting.

[Michelle]

My immune system sucks too, so I feel ya! When I feel something coming, I take a theraflu before bed and often that stops it, leaving me a bit tired the next day, but not sick. I also take Immune building pills daily that helps alot. Plus, I'm big on healthy eating. (Took me years to admit to that...hehe).
I hope you get well quickly. Movies often allowed me to get a quick nap in at our house on those sick days.

[caitlyn]

For the sore throat -- try garling warm salt water. I know it's disgusting, but it works for me. Hope you feel better soon!

[Kat]

Lots of hot fluids and regular rinsing with a Neti Pot. Back when I took drugs, three doses* of Alka-Selzer Plus Cold Medicine usually did the trick.

*three doses taken at the recommended interval, not all at once.

[Ann]

Theraflu today, as often as you can. It will make you sleepy, but you'll feel better tomorrow.

[Kristi]

Ooo, no fun! I'm sorry.

I take hot steamy baths with lots of Epsom salt in it. Then follow that with some Emergen'C (a powdered vitamin suppliment that contains much vitamin C plus other things depending on which formula you get, it fizzes and taste okay) and lots of hot tea, often herbal but also regular black with honey and lemon. Really, lots, and lots of fluids until you feel like you're going to float away. Mucinex (recommended by my doctor) can also help get everything out of your system a bit faster.

[Anita]

Whenever I was sick, my dad would bring me this concoction before I went to bed and I remember waking up feeling better....I asked him what it was years later.

He said he would freshly squeeze two lemons, add a tablespoon of sugar, and fill the cup (probably an 8oz cup) and heat it up. I remeber the temperature was hot enough for the first two sips, I would whine it was too hot and he would urge me to drink it...hot enough that it did nto burn, but definatley warmed you going down.

Then I would fall asleep all warm inside, fall asleep hard. When I woke up, I'd feel ready to get up take a shower and get around.

[j.]

Echinacea = placebo. I believe there was a study released on the subject earlier this year. But if you believe in it, go ahead.

Personally, I prefer gin, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and honey, mixed with hot water using a cinnamon stick. (I suspect that Anita's dad spiked her drink!) And Indian food, or barring that, hot and sour soup. Hot enough to clear out your sinuses.

[Theresa]

Sleep -- as much of it as you can give yourself and some good anti-oxidants, like Vitamin C. But rest is the most important thing.

[Michelle]

I drink as much Chammomile Tea with Honey and Lemon as I can stand, plus lots and lots of water. Also Chicken Broth (if you eat meat) gives a wonderful all over warm and fuzzy feeling. I've used Mucinex before and it does help clear the sinuses, but it seems like every OTC cold medicine causes drowsiness. I hope you are feeling better soon!

[Dianna]

Try this stuff -
http://www.airborne-cold-remedy-formula-medicine.com/

A co-worker of mine who used to always be sick every fall has become a believer in it! I agree also with the chamomile tea, and I love Aleve as a pain reliever (2 tablets every 4-6 hours approximates the prescription dose, but only use it for a few days at a time at that level, and be certain to take in plenty of fluids!)

[Norma]

Echinacea is NOT a placebo (the tests that try to prove it's a placebo are placebos, because they give it at the wrong damn time, because they're biased and they want to "prove" it doesn't work), but it will do you no good now that you already have a cold. It's useful for prevention.

Elderberry syrup - STAT! It will shorten the lifespan of a cold or flu. Lots of research to prove it. Makes the virus unable to puncture the cell walls, and it fizzles out, unable to replicate. 2 teaspoons four or five times a day during the cold.

Also, some wonderful pills called Wellness Formula. They're huge and they smell pretty awful, but they're fabulous.

Both of these items are at health food stores, vitamin stores, and even some drugstores now.

[Heather]

I swear by Emergen-C packs that you can buy at Walgreens. I take 2 a day when my body even thinks of getting a cold. I hope you feel better by tomorrow. Get lots of sleep!

[jillian]

It's won't really help you get better faster, but my favorite remedy for temporarily relieving a sore throat or cough is spoonfuls of honey. Feel better soon!!

[Christie]

Right as it's coming on take some Airborne. Once it's on you, Hot Toddys work. Nothing like hot water, whisky, lemon and honey. Also Vicks and Nyquil work wonders.

[susan]

Zi-cam nasal swabs. Zinc you don't have to swallow.

[freecia]

I just went the Zicam and Cold-eeze route which worked for me. Also fire up the kettle and pull out your hot water bottle. I'm perpetually cold and sleep a lot better if I go to bed with a hot water bottle. Better rest since my body isn't taking energy trying to produce more heat. :)

[Nicole]

I swear this works - roast elephant garlic in your oven and spread it on some thin toast with salt. It's yummy and a bit sweet and you will reek of garlic for a week - but no germ will abide by the smell and every nasty will run fleeing from your body. :)

[Deanna]

I second the neti pot. Cleans out all of the sinus garbage so they drain better.

[Jen S]

Take a warm bath and go to bed early. It won't cure you, but you'll feel much better. Maybe well enough to go to the Walnut Room.

Another little steam trick is to warm up your crock pot and put a damp towel in until warm. Take out the towel and put it over your face...it feels heavenly.

[Lynne]

Aw, so sorry....I completely understand...I had some major surgery and then my version of an intestinal flu that has lasted for days and days and days.
Hope you are feeling better...I saw the bio on the New York Knits site...that's right up in my neck of the woods!

[Scout]

I immediately take Airborne and Emergen-C.

Feel better!

[katie]

I know this is a day late and you're feeling better, but I use something similar to the aforementioned neti pot, called SinusRinse. I got mine from my allergist. You basically flush this salt and soda solution through your sinuses, in one nostril and out the other. It's a weird sensation, but it rinses all of the crud out. I'm glad you're feeling better now! Oh, and also, I'm envious of your Walnut Room trip. I went to Chicago on a business trip a few years ago, when I was still working, and my friend and I ate there. It was the end of November so we got to see the tree. The chicken pot pie was to die for. I loved the window displays downstairs, too. Lucky you to live in Chicago at Christmastime!

[antique auto glass]

Help the homeless down the street and persuade them to look for work