Grr. Today is the one-month anniversary of the cold I can't get rid of.

[WilliamPitt]

Felt better yesterday. Woke up this morning totally stuffed up...again. It's been a month. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Systematic Chaos]

1. You sure you don't have a sinus infection?

If you haven't been to the doctor yet, maybe you should go.

[commander bunnypants]

2. Sure it is not bad allergies

It is moldy as hell on the East Coast this year

DDQM

[chefgirl]

3. UMM.....

Sinus Infection? :shrug:

-chef-

[VelmaD]

4. Go to see a doctor

if you haven't already. This is hanging on too long and you need to get it taken care of.

Please take care of yourself.

[La_Serpiente]

5. Just blow your nose like this

*HAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa..............HAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa........CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Feel better? :bounce: :freak:

[Howardx]

6. maybe its this

"Government Flu"

We got a drug
We're gonna try it out on you
Won't make you die
It'll getcha just a little bit sick


Got a head cold
Got a chest cold
And it's three days old
(Goin' on forever)
Make you hazy
Make you lazy
Drive you crazy
For days and days and days and days and days
And years

Barely got the time now
To stay on the job
Double up the dosage in your water supply
Make you even sicker 'til you're slippin' away

Getting all depressed
It's getting all your friends
You can't get it up
For nothing that'll rock the boat

The government flu
The government flu
The government flu

Slip it abroad
Keep a-slowin' down the USSR
But meanwhile
We'll keep an eye
On what it's doin' to you


Got a head cold
Got a chest cold
And it's three days old
(Goin' on forever)
Make you hazy
Make you lazy
Drive you crazy
For days and days and days and days and days
And days and days and days and days and days
And days and days and days and days and days
And years

The government flu
The government flu
The government flu
Flew
Through
You

[PVnRT]

7. That nasal spray stuff

works great - clears the sinuses right out. Of course, it doesn't last more than a few hours, but it's still pretty nice.

I suggest medicating the hell out of it and sucking down a lot water.

[Avalux]

8. Are you taking anything right now?

Do you also have drainage and a productive cough? A fever? headache? Pain or pressure under eyes?

Could be allergies, viral, or bacterial infection. I'd suggest this:

Get some Claritin (it's OTC now) and some sudafed - an antihistamine and a decongestant. Try taking them for a few days and if no improvement, see a doctor. You may need antibiotics.

[Mel]

9. sounds like allergies

and how much if any Vitamin C are you taking?

[SOteric]

10. I still have the cough

from a bout with pneumonia I was hosptialised for a few weeks ago.

Lydia Leftcoast recommended Zinc lozenges, and but for this nagging cough, they were remarkably effective at clearing up the symptoms.

But the favourite home-remedy of me, personally, is hot lemonade with honey in it. The lemon does remarkable things for clearing one's pipes.

Or Wasabi.

Feel better. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. I didn't know you were sick SO. Sure do hope you are feeling

much better. Robitussin is my friend right now. :hug:

[ZenLefty]

11. Getting rid of a cold

Relax a bit, don't be too stressed out, get good sleep, take plenty of vitamin C, and eat well. Stress and burn-out weaken your immune system. Hint, hint.

[terrya]

12. Tetracycline.

I had one of those month long colds one time. I finally went to see the doctor, after taking practically every OTC cold medication there was. The doctor gave me a prescription for tetracycline, an antibiotic. The cold was gone soon after.

I hope you feel better soon.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. We have had the cold that never ends here for about 8 weeks. It

started about September, and all of us are still coughing like mad. I took the kids to the doctor. They said it was a bad year for it and people are having a tough time getting rid of this one. I thought I was better too...then woke up a few days ago with a crashing headache and stuffiness. Hang in there. My doctor did put me on steroids to boost the immune system...no effect yet.

Chicken noodle soup and rest Will.

[UrbScotty]

25. This seems weird.

Bush, solar flares, long illnesses...

Okay, I'll stop it.

[prolesunited]

15. I agree with allergies or sinus infection

With a sinus infection, you usually have headaches, low-grade temps, facial pain and/or swelling. Definitely need antibiotics and decongestants to clear those up. I know from experience, usually get three or four a year.

Allergies, even if you didn't have them as a child, can creep up later in life. A cold doesn't last a month. The fact that you feel better one day and worse the next would be attributable to varying pollen or mold counts. I would try Claritin. It's a little expensive but you don't have the side effects of other OTC meds. If you're bad off, it will take about three days before you'll feel yourself clearing out. Also, know this from experience.

BTW, untreated or uncontrolled allergies often lead to sinus infections.

I also concur that seeing a doctor is probably your best course of action. Hope you feel better soon.

[HEyHEY]

16. Too much flying

All that recylced air will give you all kinds of nasty stuff

[radwriter0555]

17. That was the FLU, dear.

n/t

[SOteric]

18. Wait! - I've rethought this -

Didn't you just tell us you hadn't slept in 4 days, you'd been drinking and smoking more than you should, and you were still jet-lagged from your whirlwind European tour? Wasn't there something in a recent post about extraordinary work-related stress?

What part of 'get plenty of rest..' don't you understand?

Don't make me kick your ass.

[VelmaD]

19. I'll round up Skittles...

and we'll be right over to help. We could sell the video of the subsequent ass-kickage and donate the money to DU. :-)

[proud patriot]

20. Ginger and Garlic

Raw Ginger will heat you at your core and push out your
illness .

Raw Garlic is Nature's antibiotic .

When you live w/o health insurance you find ways
to avoid going to the doctor .

For decongestion I suggest Zicam w/ cooling
menthol and eucalyptus.

[MissMillie]

21. Oh Man... don't tell me that

I've had it for 11 days.... and I can't shake it.

[_Wayne_]

22. A month-long virus is a sign of stress or some type of infection

Steps to feeling better-

1.) Rid your house/apt of any questionable allergy-causing agents (Chemicals, down pillows, plants)

2.) Have your doctor prescribe a nasal sprayer decongestant and antibiotics (The over-the-counter nasal sprays actually cause congestion after three days)

3.) Eliminate alcohol and sugar from your diet. Both lower the immune system, and lower energy levels.

4.) Buy a bottle of over-the-counter multivitamins (GNC mega-men, Source of Life-anything with all the Vitamins, and lots of minerals, nutrients)

5.) Eat one smoothie a day, with immune builder, protein ingredients-I'd go with strawberry and banana, with added immune builder, bee pollen, protein. If you can find wheat grass, buy an ounce and drink it.

6.) Get lots of rest. Get a full-body massage, which will help you rest. Some massage schools have one hour massages for $25.

7.) Drink two liters of water each day.


And finally, watch something funny on television and/or movie. Laughter is a great way to release stress and build your immune system.

[populistmom]

23. Again- relax and detoxify

Seriously think about trying to quit smoking. The older you get, the worse the colds get from it. I know it's hard, I quit for 8 years at one point, then started again. Then quit for over a year, then started again. I haven't had any in months and really lost the desire, but I have to watch myself too.

[Nlighten1]

28. Indeed...

Relaxation and detoxification are the keys to good physical and mental health.

[TXlib]

24. Hot whiskey toddy

I make these for KCDem all the time:

Boil 1 cup of water with a stick of cinnamon, some fresh, shaved ginger, and a couple of cloves; make a strong spice tea.

add to it 1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup lemon juice, and 1/3 cup whiskey. (I think Jack Daniels is best in this capacity).

Sip slowly.

After a couple of these babies, if you don't feel better, at least you won't care.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

26. What have you tried thus far?

Have you been to a doctor?

Is the mucous clear, or is it that yellow/green stuff? (Pardon my grossness) If it's the latter, you probably have an infection.

[Cleita]

27. Several years ago I had a cold that had morphed into

a really nasty bronchitis or walking pneumonia. Periodically I was given antibiotics, but they couldn't kill it. This went on for a couple of years. In desparation, at the suggestion of one of my backwood's friends, I took 1,000 milligrams of echinacea a day for about two months. That worked. Everytime I get a cold now I take echinacea for about two weeks. Not only does it clear up the infection but it seems to innoculate me for a period of time from any new infestations.

I don't know if it will work for you, but it works for me.