I just wanna see how many ppl are sick, seems like its that time of year again!

Im sick, what about you?!
btw, how'd you get sick?
everyone i know been coughing all over the place...

Mine started out as a sinus infection and strep from allergies.

Then I got sickier due to female problems and i think the sinus infection just got worse....I"m pretty sure I hve bronchitis now (i've had it enough times to know what it feels like). We'll know for certain after my appt.

I've been sick on and off for the past few weeks, I woke up today, and it was like I was just kicked in the head by a mule.

Couldnt sleep last night, found out this morning that may have been because my thorat was full of "sludge"
Took a pill but this is what i got

Heavy chest, (prob broncitis)
Nasal congestion (no longer jsut sinusis)
and constant flem.





Tea. Pillz. and rest/liquids.
its sad but i know the drill. i get this every year bout 3 times a year..

I usually catch a small cold every year about this time, but I rarely get seriously sick anymore.
I think it's a combination of not living with a smoker anymore, getting more exercise through my job, and eating better.

Of course, now that I've said that, I'll probably catch the plague...

I'm not sick with the seasonal stuff, but i dont wanna tak about it...

Upper Respiratory Infection for the win.

They're putting me on meds so it doesnt get worse.

oh were not talking about mental stuff


oh then nevermind... i'm fine....

Hon, we're all mental here. Various levels of severity, but we're all nuts.
You're in good company, trust me.

*sighs*

Oh, and for those folks who have sore throats and plugged up noses and sinuses, if you like hot cinnamon, try an Atomic Fireball jawbreaker as a cough drop. Works better than Halls cough drops for me.

you also want to know what really the sinues and noses and stuff. whiskey, rum, Russia on ice.... I could suggest more

There wasn't an option of, "I've already been sick but I didn't go to a doctor and as far as I know I'm over it."

That option would have been what I checked. Don't know what I had, but it wasn't very fun. I also don't have insurance, so I'm glad it wasn't anything serious. At least, I hope it wasn't anything serious. Maybe its waiting to strike back!

*hides*

<-------------- In Absentia

I've had a really nasty cold for the past month, my doctor is not in town and has not been for god only knows how long, so I'm stuck taking a cheap generic version of Mucinex DM that I have to take every 4 hours or it will seriously not work.

I'm trying to convince Mom to buy that Zicam medicine that you can mix with your drink, but she doesn't want to spend a crapload of money on something "so tiny." Well guess what, the tiny little spoons that have the medicine that comes in the box REALLY WORKS MOM! DX

I've used it before, so I know it works.

the zicam stuff does work

-Raises Hand-

Ok, so i am taking Chloraseptic for my sore throat and i can no longer feel my tongue or the top of my mouth...

^ rum does that too, I feel ahhhmazing.

You're only supposed to use that like every 2 hours...not until you can't feel it anymore

Mah throat still hurts, i take more medicine, that is my dosage procedure.....

Devins right... trust me we all got our issues
if you got pills that just means ur one of the lucky ones


I will add it just for you.. although it might be to late to vote for it.. lol.
however, yes most shit strikes u back when its almost gone
theres a medical way of explaining it.. but im sick i have the right not to make sense



I did that when i had strep =/ nasty stuff
I had the spray-walgreens brand.. yuck!
in order to eat i sprayed my mouth each time i took a bite out of something.. >,< needless to say.. i didnt each much for days




Edit: Opps somehow changing the poll questions reset it lol.

I had that two years ago, was not any fun. I had to use an inhaler and take pills and drink fluids. Crew was a bitch that year because my lungs were still raw when the season started.

Not sick yet, but it cant be far off...

[See the condensed version in my other post]

I recommend Belladonna for when your friends and family are being disagreeable

HOLY! did u just write that.. or google it?
i have no idea where to even start readin that...

Being in the medical field has its perks.

Good nutrition is essential for resisting and recovering from a cold.

Take plenty of fluids to flush toxic by-products out of the body as quickly and efficiently as possible. The ideal liquids are water and fresh fruit juice. Avoid drinks that have diuretic (fluid-eliminating) properties, such as tea and coffee.

Avoid milk and other dairy products. At least one study has shown that a compound in milk triggers the release of histamine, a chemical that contributes to runny nose and nasal congestion which can make chest, sinus, and nasal congestion worse.

Avoid alcoholic drinks, as these are dehydrating. It depletes the body of vitamin C, and puts extra strain on the liver, which has to work extra hard to detoxify the body during illness.

If your appetite is reduced don't feel obliged to eat, as long as you drink plenty. Foods should be as light and easily digestible as possible, with a strong emphasis on vegetable soups, broths, salads and lightly cooked fish or chicken.

Avoid high-fat, indigestible foods such as cheese, red meat and pastries.

Eat a balanced diet. Take supplements as needed to ensure you are receiving the recommended dietary allowances for vitamin A, the vitamin B complex (vitamins Bl, B2, Bs, B6, folic acid), and vitamin C, as well as the minerals zinc and copper.

Grapefruit is a great food for fighting a cold. It is high in vitamin C. It also helps detoxify the liver. The liver is your front line to the immune system, and when immunity is impaired, you need something that’s alkaline and not acidic to detoxify it. All citrus fruits become alkaline when metabolized in the body. But oranges and other citrus fruits are too sweet to promote proper liver drainage, so you get much better detoxification from grapefruit. Experts recommend eating one or more grapefruit and their white bitter pulp each day to prevent colds and to build immunity.

Caution: Grapefruit may interact with several prescription medications such as cholesterol lowering drugs, psychiatric medications, antihistamines, etc. (eg., lipitor). Consult your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that it is ok to take grape fruit if you are taking any prescription medications. Read more about grapefruit interaction here.

Vitamin C

There is controversy as to whether Vitamin C helps prevent cold. Nobel laureate Linus Pauling supported Vitamin C for the Common Cold in 1970. Some studies have since shown that the nutrient helps. Others have concluded that vitamin C doesn't help fight colds at all.

There are some reasons to believe that some of these studies were seriously flawed. To be beneficial, it is important that a minimum dosage of Vitamin C be used. Many of the studies that showed no benefits for Vitamin C may have used too little vitamin C for too short a time.

In the studies that showed benefits, the participants took at least 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C a day from the first time symptoms of cold appeared until the cold completely cleared up. Proponents of Vitamin C recommends a dose of 5,000 milligrams or more a day. One of the major problems when you use this mega vitamin doses is that you may suffer from diarrhea. To avoid diarrhea, use calcium ascorbate powder. Calcium ascorbate is the form of vitamin C that's least irritating to the digestive tract and least likely to cause diarrhea. Commercially, it is available as Ester C. Take 1 teaspoon, mixed in juice, four times a day.

Anyone who suffers from kidney stones should avoid using vitamin C supplements for extended periods. Most kidney stones are made of calcium salts, but anyone who suffers from rarer oxalic acid-type kidney stones should be extremely cautious in their use of vitamin C.

If your diet is deficient in zinc, your body could be low in neutrophils, and you're susceptible contract all types of infections, including colds. In a research study to test the effectiveness of zinc lozenges in treating cold, the researchers found that cold-infected volunteers who schewed on a 23-milligram zinc gluconate lozenge every 2 hours had significantly shorter colds than cold-infected volunteers who sucked on a placebo. Other research has shown that lozenges made only with either zinc gluconate-glycine or zinc acetate shorten the duration of cold symptoms.

Zinc works best if you start sucking on lozenges at the first sign of a tickle in your throat. Take one lozenge every 2 hours until your symptoms subside, unless the lozenges give you an upset stomach. In that case, use them as often as you comfortably can. Don't use the lozenges longer than one week. Zinc can suppress the immune system is used for an extended period of time. There is also some studies that show that zinc may be a contributor of Alzheimer's disease.

Chicken Soup

Chicken soup, also known as "Jewish penicillin," has been a mainstay of folk medicine for 800 years, ever since the Egyptian physician Moses Maimonides recommended it as a cold remedy: And it really works, as many modern studies have shown. Researchers suspect that the soup's cold-fighting powers come not from the chicken but from the vegetables that are usually part of the stock. Soup is found to reduce cold symptoms, especially congestion.

Incorporate more mushrooms into your diet

Oriental mushrooms such as shiitake, maitake, and reishi contain compounds that bolster your immune system. So by eating these types of mushrooms, you're better able to fight off a cold.

Spicy Food

Any food spicy enough to make your eyes watery will have the same effect on your nose, promoting drainage. If you feel like eating, a hot, spicy choice will help your body fight your cold. Break up congestion with a bowl of chili or other spicy foods containing horseradish, hot pepper sauce, hot mustard or curry. Hot Mexican or Indian foods are good congestion busters.

Drink lots of hot fluids

Cold viruses grow and multiply fast when the temperature around them is around 90°F. However, they are far less comfortable-and less likely to replicate so quickly-when their environment heats up. Drink some hot fluids. This will warm your throat. That should impair viral replication. As a bonus, hot fluids have a mild decongestant effect, which helps relieve nasal stuffiness. Taking herbal drink such as ginger tea is doubly helpful because of their heating effect as well as the antiviral effect.

Avoid sweets

Neutrophils are a special type of white blood cell that engulf and destroy cold viruses and other foreign invaders. Neutrophils become lethargic when you eat sweets. So, it is a good idea to stay away from sweets when you have cold as well as as a preventive strategy during the cold season.

In one study, researchers had volunteers consume 100 grams of sugar, the equivalent of two cans of soda. Then they took blood samples from the volunteers. They found that neutrophil activity in the volunteers had plummeted by 50 percent after consuming the sugar. Five hours later, neutrophil activity still remained substantially below normal.

Anything that contains any form of sugar-including sucrose, fructose, and corn syrup -- can impair neutrophil activity: The worst offenders are candy and sweets, which are almost pure sugar and have virtually no nutritional value.

Other Nutritional Supplements for Cold

Vitamin A is a nutrient vital to the mucous membranes throughout the respiratory system during a cold or flu. It can be taken in the form of beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in higher dosages.

The amino acid lysine has antiviral properties. Take 500 milligrams of L-lysine three to four times daily for up to one week.

Pantothenic acid supports adrenal function, which is often compromised when you have a cold. It also helps to minimize nasal congestion and fatigue. Take 250 milligrams three times daily for up to one week.

Bioflavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties and help to ease the course of a cold. Take 500 to 1,000 milligrams every hour for up to eight hours at the first sign of a cold.

Recommended Supplements and Dosage

A person with a cold may want to use the following vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements to help shorten the duration of the cold and reduce the severity of symptoms:

• Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 1,000 mg every few hours throughout the day, up to bowel tolerance.

• Zinc lozenges, with 3 mg copper, every few hours, up to 70 mg daily during a cold and 30 mg daily as a preventive.

• Garlic, 2 capsules three times daily

• Vitamin A, 25,000 IU daily ( up to 50,000 international units of vitamin A three times a day for no more than five days. )(avoid taking Vita in A supplements during pregnancy)

• 2 capsules of echinacea three times a day (or, as a tincture, 15 drops four times a day)

• 15 drops of lomatium tincture three times a day.

For a sore throat, take one zinc lozenge dissolved in the mouth every two to three hours or as needed.

To clear up nasal congestion, use steam inhalation adding eucalyptus oil to the water.

Can you just put together a care package for me so i dont have to read a wall of text?

Well it turns out what I feared could be a stroke was really a migrane warning. I wish it was a stroke. The light from the comp is making me irritable and enraged so ttfn.

Well, still sick, started Zicam. It tastes terrible (it's the kind you mix with drinks), plus because this one is specifically nighttime due to the daytime not having antihistamines in it, I completely zonked earlier - and I took HALF the suggested dose of 2 tablespoons. -__-

I get like 3-4 colds back to back ranging from mild to unpleasant for about a month divided between September and October. Every year without fail.

What, the Chloraseptic, or the rum?



Got a flu shot today.

Hey, I'd rather read a wall of text and get better than skip it, be lazy, and stay sick.

You people and your sicknesses. I haven't been sick since I had Mono about 3 years ago, before that was a cold followed by a flu about 8 years ago. I haven't suffered from allergies in god knows how long. Positive thinking, half your sicknesses ARE in you mind (Believe me, from how I live any doctor would tell you I should be getting sick a lot more often than I do and yet I'm perfectly healthy)

How about sending a care package to your man?

Went to doctor today finally, found out I have bronchitis of some kind. Now on Zpac (or some variant of it) and waiting for it to kick in.

HA! Take THAT, secretary at school! I really AM sick!

(Looong story, secretaries at my school think I'm one of those fakers. I'm not. -__-)

Just so you know, Nilly, they shouldn't be prescribing Z-Pack for bronchitis. (It's usually viral and not treatable by anti-biotics) You'd be just as well off taking vitamin C according to the following study.

I don't take anti-biotics. I think they're prescribed far too readily. I follow the advice so kindly posted by Lisa, and I also take pro-biotics. Good bacteria to fight the bad! Sure beats wiping them all out and leaving yourself open for the next bug that comes along.

No worries, David. When you're here, I'll personally hand you my care package.

I love how you can make that sound dirty.

Or wait, was that my mind?

bow chicka bow *cough*

Yes I'm Sick [ 2 ] ** [22.22%]
Nope not yet [ 3 ] ** [33.33%]
No. [ 2 ] ** [22.22%]
Cut out the random posting... [ 0 ] ** [0.00%]
"I've already been sick but I didn't go to a doctor and as far as I know I'm over it." [ 2 ] ** [22.22%]
Total Votes: 22



I really like how it says total votes 22
although if u count them up.. its only 9 lol >,< dam edits messed it up srry

Im being healthy and eating grapefruit, though I kinda cancelled it out with half a cup of brown sugar...

Eugh, I was sick about three or four weeks ago, and it was quite bad then. I was weak more than anything else, and just generally crappy, but like the nerd that I am, I went to school despite feeling like I was going to vomit all over my textbook. My nose has never been that runny before. Being sick is just plain disgusting.

I'm sick again now. Not as bad, but, boy, can one person ever produce a lot of phlegm.
I cough like a smoker.
Sound like one too.

Doctor Lisa is always available for holistic remedy advice. Remember: my holistic medicine advice does not equal the same medical advice you would get from a good doctor's visit. Sometimes antibiotics are needed to fight off infections that can cause fatalities. Understanding your diet and your allergies can also benefit you. Pro-biotics are beneficial only if you are no suceptible to getting yeast infections.

Simply add me to your MSN, during the flu season and ask me anything you'd like.

I'm going to minor in Nutrition so I could probably learn a lot from you...

Yup, it's flu season and ppl are getting their jabs.

My husband got sick last week and is just now over it. Of course.... he didn't look bad, and he wasn't sniffling that much but he acted like the world was ending.
But that's why they call it manflu right? It's not really the flu, but men want to be cuddled and looked after so much they act like the devil himself must have given them this sickness it's so bad.

Hit the nail on the head, Emi.

Well, had to go to the hospital at three this morning, I kept coughing and coughing and I seriously almost threw up and none of my cough medicine was working anymore. We waited in the ER behind the triage - I've never seen the ER so QUIET. It's so weird. O_o I felt really bad for the one other person in the ER, it was a little girl and she was really sick or something because I could hear her screaming for her mom. I felt bad for her. - and the doc who came in listened to my lungs and said my lungs are clear, which makes me happier than anything but confuses me too because I felt like something was in my lungs because I felt something was in my lungs when I was coughing. He had me take this cough suppressant, hydrasomethingorother (if anybody knows, please tell me as Mom wanted to know what it was), and it made me real sleepy REAL fast. O_o But yeah, he's having me put on prescription Zyrtec and Zantac for possible acid reflux (which doesn't surprise me, with my stomach problem history. -.-).

Runny noses, coghing, puffy eyes and lack of apetite. You guessed it! It's cold season in my domicile. The girlfriend and I spent the whole of the weekend on the couch playing videogames and watching Heroes season 2. It was quite pathetic.

Sounds like a rather enjoyable weekend to me. I mean apart from the sick thing, and when you say puffy eyes, im sorry, but all i can picture is that scene from total recall where they are expose on the martian surface and their eyes start popping out of their heads. Funny picture

Heah... yeah, not THAT fun unfortunately. Red, watery eyes with the surounding skin enflamed, red and ... puffy. It is not a pretty sight.