Quick! Symptom relief for the (un)common cold?

[blastoff99]

I, who just said in another recent thread that I never get sick, am sick. I had my first cold in about a decade three weeks ago, and it took a long time to run its course. In fact, I'm not completely sure I was ever over it when it came back last night.

Since I'm not employed at the moment, I'm basically able to stay home and wait this out while pushing fluids and resting. This weekend, however, is a different story. I've got a long rehearsal and two services at church on Saturday, and two more services on Sunday.

Symptoms: severe nasal congestion alternating with a very runny nose; general malaise; random big sneezes; stuffed ears.

This would be bad if I were playing bass. But I'm doing FOH, so it's arguably worse that I can't hear.

Any suggestions for getting through the weekend? I've been doing fluids, rest, and utterly disgusting snorting of salt water. I have no real hope for getting my ears to unstuff, but any suggestions for how to be less miserable would be certainly appreciated. As I said, I haven't had one of these for a very long time, and don't know if they've invented some new planets since then.

Thanks.

[Ziltoid]

I just drink buckleys until I'm drunk. I feel better after.

[electracoyote]

This works for me. I'm not a doctor and I make no gaurantees how this will affect you, so proceed at your own risk:

It used to be called Sudaphed, but now one of the active ingredients is also used to make crystal meth, so you have to show your ID and sign for it at the pharmacy counter, and I hope you're not a convicted felon. 60mg pseudoephedrine and 4mg chlorpheniramine every 4 to 6 hours. Relieves the pressure symptoms on your sinuses, watery eyes, etc.

Then I take two Airborne tablets in water (the recommended dose is one, but this is all natural stuff that can't really hurt you). It provides an immune system boost that lasts a little while anyway.

There are some really good zinc lozenges out there. Don't O.D. as zinc can be hard on you in large doses. Follow the recommended dosage.

Lots of water. Avoid processed sugars and alcohol, they seem to only make things worse with me when I have a cold and things I still need to get done.

Good luck.

[blastoff99]

Recovering drunk here. Nyquil is therefore not a great option, either.

Oh, I've also eaten Mrs. Renfro's Ghost Pepper Salsa. It does help clear one out.

[Ziltoid]

Sorry, didn't know. but they do make buckleys without alcohol.

[blastoff99]

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

Sorry, didn't know. but they do make buckleys without alcohol.

No problem. At this point, there are no bad suggestions, just suggestions I may not take.

[carlos840]

I don't like drugs (at least the non natural ones) so i stay away from pills and sirups.

What i usually do is tea tree oil inhalations/gargling.

Just dump a kettle of boiling water in your sink, put a few drops of oil in it, put your face over it under a towel and breath in and out for 10 15 minutes.

If you have a sore throat, just put a few drops of oil in a glass of water and gargle a few times a day without swallowing.

It really kills all the bad stuff and helps you heal faster.

Tea tree oil is easy to find, cheap and works for pretty much anything.

[blastoff99]

Thanks, everybody.

Airborne and sudafed down the hatch. Don't have tea tree oil, so am hoping eucalyptus oil steaming will help. It smells like it ought to.

[UncleFluffy]

A few drops of eucalyptus on your pillow will help you get through the night.

Afrin works wonders if you need clear pipes for a few hours, but it's not exactly gentle. I wouldn't recommend it except when you *really* need it.

[carlos840]

Originally Posted by blastoff99

Thanks, everybody.

Airborne and sudafed down the hatch. Don't have tea tree oil, so am hoping eucalyptus oil steaming will help. It smells like it ought to.

Eucalyptus will probably unclog you but that's it.

Tea tree oil is antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal, it will really help get rid of whatever it is you have.

It's really worth having around the house, it pretty much cures everything, from yeast infection, to ringworm, to a cold.

http://www.homeremediesweb.com/tea_t...h_benefits.php

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Oils you inhale are pretty useful, was huffing Olbus oil (a branded mixture), taking pain killers, vitamins and plenty of fluids.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are useful, your body will be burning through its nutrients quicker and we rarely eat properly when we're under the weather. Particularly if its something you've been dealing with over a longer period.

[agent77]

http://www.food.com/recipe/hot-totty-272914

Hot Totties will clear me up for a couple hours.

[uOpt]

If you have the flu that is going around you are ****ed.

This one is nasty.