Cold/Virus/Flu Question

[SandyM]

I went to the doctor yesterday - a new doctor. I asked for a recommendation for a new doctor, closer to my home.

Wednesday afternoon it started - scratchy throat. I lost dinner Wednesday night. Thursday I couldn't go to work, my throat hurt so bad. I was concerned it was strep, and the soonest I could see this new doctor was Friday afternoon. I stayed home from work on Friday, not wanting to infect my fellow workers.

The doctor looked at my throat and said "Yep, it's pretty red and raw down there." She took a throat culture, and said it showed negative for strep, but they were sending it to the lab and I should call back Monday. She said it was likely a virus, and there was absolutely nothing she could do for me - antibiotics won't touch a virus. Rest, lots of fluids, Cepacol spray to numb my throat.

All I know is, right now, it's killing me. I coughed all night, and my throat is so bad, the only thing I can get down without extreme pain is hot liquids.

I took 2 Tylenol Cold pills before bed last night, but it didn't seem to help.

Please forgive the whine sessions. Any suggestions?

[Mamasue]

Oh, Sandy....if I lived by I would certainly make you a nice bowl of chicken soup and come and check on you and make you comfortable. I know how awful it is to be sick. The only thing I can tell you is drink lots of fluids and try some over the counter meds like Nyquil. Sarah Moultan had recommended on one of her shows that a tea made of fresh ginger is a comforting drink. I believe she just took fresh ginger sliced and boiled in water; added sugar for taste. I usually make a cup of regular tea and add honey and lemon but I never really had such a bad sore throat as you describe.

Tucking you in now and kissing you on the forehead to get some rest.......Sue :)

[beccathebaker]

The first thing that I do when I feel like a cold or flu is coming on is eat a TON of garlic. Usually I try to eat it in almost raw form-you get the most antibacterial benefit that way- so I put it in dips or on salads. I also roast an entire head and eat it up, or make a heavily garlicked dish like broccoli with garlic sauce.

I also agree with the chicken soup thing. I add lots of hot sauce to it because that helps open my nasal passages and also releases good endorphins.


The other very helpful thing to do is to drink TONS of fluids. I try to drink one glass of fluid an hour when I am sick and I believe that this helps to flush everything through. Especially helpful are herbal teas with honey, lemon and ginger; and water.

I hope that you feel better soon. Get lots of rest.

-Becca

[SandyM]

Thank you both for your kind words and suggestions. Is it any wonder why I love this place, and the people here?? :)

Becca - you intrigue me with your "broccoli with garlic sauce" suggestion. I really have absolutely no appetite whatsoever, but this one has me going....is it just a regular stir-fry?

[wallycat]

SandyM, I hope you feel better soon....
do call on monday to ensure your throat culture comes back negative. The swab they do is a quick culture at the office and then often it is sent off for a more detailed culture...swab tests can test falsly (though not sure how often)...

if it's any consolation, there's a nasty bug going around...lots of my friends have had it and it knocks you for a loop....
stay warm; rest...do the fluids...sleep and let your body's immune system attack this nasty thing....

nows the time to watch all those movies you've wanted to!!

:D

[MKSquared]

If you're looking into the whole home-remedies route, may a singer suggest the following?

1) Throat Coat tea. Sure, it won't cure you, but it will make you more comfortable. Since your throat hurts so much, just take little baby sips and you'll open up in no time. If you can't find a box of it, try lemon in warm-hot water with a touch of honey.

2) Gargle with lukewarm salt water. If you're at all congested, this will help break up any phlegm that's in your throat. If it hurts when you do this, though - I'd stop. There's nothing like rubbing salt into irritated skin.

3) Listen to your body. If your throat really hurst that bad, it's quite possible that your doctor missed something. Go back if you truly know that something's up. (Are your tonsils out?)

4) Make sure you stay hydrated. Now that you're sick, your body needs even more fluids (water!) than you're used to.

5) Rest - and don't talk. :D

Feel better soon!

[JHaris]

Be careful in taking the Nyquil. If you do, note down when and how much you take. I was in the hospital with a severe asthmatic bronchitis attack a few years ago and they brought down a girl from ICU. Her brother who visited her was part of the staff for the drug rehab section of Paoli Hospital and he told me that she had forgotten how much she had taken and so took more, and then more getting disoriented from the medication. Then he proceded to tell me not to take more than the dosage noted on the bottle of Xstrength Tylenol. That can have serious side effects. Now that I have vented my cautions, just worried that you can take too much. This is from someone who has to take a lot of medications over my lifetime and so I am super cautious. I am considered an annoying patient because I question every medication, whether it's my primary care, specialist, or hospital nurse.

You could get some N'ICE cough drops in the citrus flavors...they really help . DH is very prone to sore and then strep throats. I agree hot chicken soup and tea with honey and lemon....and plenty of fluids!!!!

Hope you feel better soon

Joan

[beccathebaker]

Broccoli with Garlic Sauce

1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. minced fresh ginger
2-3 large cloves of garlic ( I recommend 4 :))
1 pound broccoli florets, rinsed
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
1/3 cup water
2 tb. reduced sodium soy
2. tb. red-wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. hot chili paste
1/2 tsp. sesame oil


Heat a heavy skillet over high heat until hot. Add oil, swirl to coat pan and heat for five seconds. Add ginger and garlic; cook, stirring a few seconds. Add broccoli with water still clinging to it, the carrots and the water. Cover and cook over high heat for two minutes.

Uncover pan, stir and cook to reduce liquid, about 30 seconds. If too much liquid remains, pour out excess. When all of the moisture has evaporated, add soy, vinegar, sugar and chili sauce and stir to season well. Drizzle sesame oil and transfer to a serving dish!!!

Yum

this is wonderful!! I am sure that you could use it for any vegetable- aparagus, cauliflower, even green beans.

-Becca

[JHolcomb]

Yum, Becca-I don't have a cold (actually got the crud around new years, it's been over) but I'll make that anyway!

Sandy, I feel for you. I'd rather have any other kind of sickness than a sore throat. Personally, what I do when I have one because I abhor them so much, is take NyQuil or Tylenol PM so that I can sleep through it until it's over. Probably not the healthiest or safest option, but oh my gosh I hate sore throats. Also, I just read something on CNN about how a one time steroid can make a sore throat a ton better really fast because it reduces inflammation. I think that treatment is still in the experimental phases, though, so it's not widely avaliable.

I would sleep it out but go back to the doc if it gets worse or doesn't go away or if you have a high fever.

[Grace]

Sandy!! All the stuff people have mentioned are great recommendations, but I want to add that you HAVE to get yourself to the store and get some SUCRETS!!! And ONLY the wild cherry ones....(the others taste absolutely gross)

These suckers numb your throat so well, you'll at least feel a lot better while you're healing! Last nasty sore throat I had I was unable to sleep because the pain was so bad. But those sucrets did the job in no time, and I was able to sleep great. I now keep them in my travel bag and medicine cabinet at all times, as I hate to "suffer", and really, you'll feel a LOT less pain. Although by now, you could already be starting to feel better.

Anyhow, I DO hope you're feeling better soon!! Rest and eat that chicken soup!! (Oh, and BTW, the sucrets make everything you eat after you suck on one taste really wierd - they also numb your tastebuds - so that's a downside to them, but I'd rather not be in pain, so it doesn't bother me too much).

[Wendy w]

Sandy,

I don't have anything else to add as all of the recommendations here are great. I just want to say get well soon.

PS It's a shame that we don't live closer to our Mamasue. She takes such good care of us.;)

[SandyM]

Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts, well wishes, and ideas. I will pull through this, guess I'm just feeling a little useless and whiney today. I hate hate hate being sick! And it's beautiful out here today, there's so much I could be doing, but I need to relax.

And Miss Wendy - you are so right - Mamasue is a gem, and I treasure her! :)

[Mamasue]

Aw Shucks! :D :D

[cookinator]

Hi Sandy, just want to wish you better...Keep warm and rest...

[BosunsWife]

Sorry you are feeling bad. Last winter I had a horrible cold (and wouldn't you know it DH was out of town for six weeks, leaving me with a 1 1/2 year old). I wasn't being able to sleep at night due to coughing attacks. He gave me a prescription med to take at night and it worked like a charm. The name is Benzonatate - 100 mg caplets. I don't know if that is a generic or not. They were a lifesaver for me and got me a good nights sleep.

[JHaris]

Originally posted by BosunsWife
Sorry you are feeling bad. Last winter I had a horrible cold (and wouldn't you know it DH was out of town for six weeks, leaving me with a 1 1/2 year old). I wasn't being able to sleep at night due to coughing attacks. He gave me a prescription med to take at night and it worked like a charm. The name is Benzonatate - 100 mg caplets. I don't know if that is a generic or not. They were a lifesaver for me and got me a good nights sleep.

I know them as Tessalon Perles 10 at least that's what I ask for when I call the Dr. to get a refill. Been using them for years for caughing attacks whether because of a upper respiratory infection or calming down the throat area after asthma hits me. I wouldn't be without them. They are truly a lifesaver.

Joan

[tracey67]

Hi Sandy!

It's now Sunday morning and I certainly hope you're feeling a little better. Maybe you've been catching up on movies or great books? ....hopefully while stretched out on the couch with a big blanket, letting hubby take care of you :)

If your throat is still feeling yucky, here's a home remedy that has served me well since I was a child. I think my mom got it from our family doctor.

Take 1 part water, 1 part mouthwash, and 1 part hydrogen peroxide. I usually use the cap of the mouthwash bottle and fill it up 3 times -- once with each ingredient. Mix together in a cup and then gargle with this mixture (spit it out when finished gargling, don't swallow this). For the first few years of our relationship, DH thought I was trying to kill him by recommending this concoction (the peroxide part), but a few years and several sore throats later he finally tried it and now uses it whenever his throat hurts.

Take care!
tracey

[pammy]

Ugh, Sandy. I think I'm about to join you. One side of my throat started hurting last night, and I woke up sore and achy all over. What makes it suck even more is that it is 50 degrees and beautiful outside. Whaaaah! I'm going to go gargle with some hot salt water now. Thanks for indulging me in my whining.

[SandyM]

Hi everyone,

No change on the home front. I'm calling the doctor first thing tomorrow to get a real read on the throat culture.

The nights are the worst. I cough all night - I've moved myself to the spare bedroom so at least DH and the dogs can get some sleep.

I made it out to the store yesterday to pick up a few things (I love my DH more than life, but I can't trust him shopping - am I the only one? ;) ). I found a tea in the store the other day that called to me - Cellestial Seasoning's Throat Soothers Tea. Yup, I'm a marketer's dream. Any tea is a great soother, really, but this is also quite tasty.

Between that, the Tylenol Cold and the Robitussin, I'm plodding along.

And yes, Tracey, I've spent much of the last 4 days on the couch with my favorite blanket, knitted 20 years ago for my high school graduation by my now-deceased aunt. It's a great comfort.

Thanks, everyone.

[funnybone]

I hope you feel better soon! If the night cough persists, you should call the Dr and ask for some cough syrup to help sleep at night. I Know in the past, I have been prescribed some GREAT cough medicine. I don't know the name, but it would allow me sleep, as well as my DH. Nothing is worse than night coughing, and the over the counter stuff just does not cut it.

[tracey67]

Well, I'm glad to hear that you're - at least - getting a fair amount of rest (except for that shopping trip, of course). Let us know how the results on the throat culture turn out.

Tracey

[SandyM]

I still feel as bad, if not worse, as I did on Thursday. So I took things into my own hands and went to my "old" doctor.

He looked down my throat and suspected strep. He checked my ears, nose, and listened to my breathing, and pronounced:

• Likely strep throat (even though the original doctor's culture came out negative, he thinks it's there, and came on this weekend - whatever)
• Ear infection
• Severe sinus inflammation
• Chest congestion

Needless to say, germs, viruses, bacteria, etc., are all throwing a party in my body, having a good old time. The doctor sent me packing with a prescription for Zithromax (I believe that's the spelling - the wonder antibiotic) and cough medicine with Codine in it. I hope I can handle that one okay, because I have trouble taking other narcotics (Demerol, Vicodan, etc.).

Thanks again, everyone. I'm going back to bed.

[LaraW]

I have tried sucking on a zinc cough drop before bed when I have had a sore throat/cough. The taste is not too good, but they really work!

Hope you're feeling better!

[RebeccaT]

Feeling your pain...

Coughing up a storm...

Can't breathe through the right side of my nose...

I'm leaving work early. Might even skip yoga (which I NEVER do.)

Everyone take your vitamin C!! You do NOT want this bug!!

[Mamasue]

Sandy....glad to hear you have drugs. Now would you pass them around and share! :D

Rebecca......get yourself in bed take care of yourself. Here comes the motherly lecture........drink plenty of fluids.....take tyonol if needed......grab your favorite blanky and get ready for a tucking in with kiss on forehead to make your boo boo go away. :D

[RebeccaT]

Thanks Mamasue! My mom is 1000 miles away, so your lecture actually makes me feel better!

((((((Mamasue))))))

[wallycat]

did other doc ever call back with final results??
I know there was a nasty sinus infection going around in the midwest....
hope you get better soon!!