Survey: What do you do when you start to feel a cold coming on?

[pammy]

Hello all,

I am becoming braver, this is my first topic post on the Healthy Living Forum. I have really enjoyed reading through some of the discussion threads, and it seems that you are all a pretty knowledgable bunch! So what do you do when you feel that tickle in the back of your throat that signals that you are in for a cold? Do you cut back on your exercise, eat/drink certain things, just dive under the covers and hide until you feel better?

I may sound crazy, but I started feeling yucky on Thursday and meditating on the idea of the cold germs leaving my body. I kept on thinking, with every breath, these little buggers are getting out of here! And I slept extra. So, today I feel great. That mind-body connection has got to be working for me.

[kwormann]

I frequently dont get colds I feel coming on if I get one good night of sleep. However, if that doesnt work, I talk echinacia and zinc oxide with lots of water and OJ!

Kim

[This message has been edited by kwormann (edited 01-28-2001).]

[Natasha]

Fluids, fluids, fluids, and sleep, sleep, sleep. Those are my main weapons when I feel a cold coming on. Also this is when I usually remember that I ve been lax about taking my vitamins and I start taking them again (though it s probably too late to do any good, it could help psychologically) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

Glad to know you scared those evil little germs away http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Whatever works for you!

[Lynn B]

I totally believe in pampering yourself when you feel like that! Put on your softest and most comfy PJs and slippers, sip hot tea, and read magazines or a book in front of the fire! No kidding -- it works every time!

[claire]

I take vitamin C with a small glass of orange juice every 4 hours or so. And, I do try to go to bed earlier a night.

[SusieO]

Take echinacea and drink lots and lots of water and hot herbal tea. If you start taking echinacea soon enough it really does work. And don't forget the best virus prevention is frequent hand washing. Glad that little bug didn't get you down!

[BevP]

Add me to the echinacea bunch. Also, and I know this sounds wierd but, I have psyched myself out of colds before. You know, tell yourself you really don't have time for this right now. Of course, often that just delays it a few days or a week. That's why I have a cold right now and not last week while I was driving.

[Vanessa]

HI. Usually when I start feeling tired etc a cold is coming. I try to drink vit c plenty of liquids, dress warmly and go early to bed. But...sometimes even with the best of intentions it fails. This is cold # 2. Everyone seems to have a cold, luckily cold # 2 seems to be on its way out http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lorilei]

The moment I feel the hint of a cold coming on (which for me is usually fatigue and/or a slightly scratchy throat), I always reach for the vitamin C. Echinacea is also a good bet, as well as beta-carotene.

I drink lots of tea (habiscus with rosehips is one of my favs) and try to get plenty of rest. Often I'll make a pot of homeade soup -- if the cold isn't frightened away by the idea of that old remedy, at least my tummy is full and I'm toasty warm http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Natasha]

On the flipside, something I can't tolerate when I'm sick is the aroma or taste of coffee, though at any other time I adore it. Does anyone else feel like this when they're sick?

[hhcowgirl]

Natasha--
That's weird, I feel the same way about coffee when I'm sick (although usually I am an ADDICT). Also, the smell of anything with mayonnaise makes me want to hurl http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif when I'm feeling under the weather.

As for what to do when a cold is coming on, for some reason echinacea has never worked for me at all. However, I am a firm believer in zinc drops--I swear by them. I think I have averted just about all my colds this winter with the stuff. I have even gitten my very cynical BF addicted to them!

[SusanD]

I'm allergic to echinacea so that's not an option for me, but my mom & sister swear by it. I'm a fanatic about my vitamins and I think that may be one reason that I rarely get sick. When I do start feeling under the weather, usually a little extra rest & vitamin c help.

[pammy]

Bev, Good to hear that someone else has experienced the "psyching out" phenomenon.
Do most of you skip your workout, or do you cut back?

[Natasha]

I know we've had threads about what you eat when you feel sick, but my question is kind of specific: what do you recommend eating when you are starving but so nauseous that the thought of eating is hard to take? (This is me right now!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif

Thanks sooo much.

[Meg O'C]

I echo Natasha-- sleep and fluids. As soon as I feel a cold coming on I make every effort I can to get home at a reasonable hour and get to bed. I try to drink as much juice and tea with honey as I can and just kind of take it easy! The quicker I do all that, the better I start to feel. Cold medicines do nothing for except mess up my attempts to sleep (whether they are drowsy or non-drowsy) I don't like how they make me feel.

[SusieO]

Natasha:
Sorry you're not feeling well. If anything at all appeals to you, eat that, even if it would normally seem strange. For me that would probably be something like ice cream or a Hershey bar. As a matter of fact, Hershey chocolate, as strange as it sounds, actually makes me feel better when I'm nauseous.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Laura]

I use the zinc drops, and add extra vitamin C, and echinacea but the real trick is Progresso chicken soup with wild rice with a couple cloves of garlic, chopped jalapenos and cayenne pepper until I can barely stand it. I eat it for lunch and dinner. Add a good night's sleep and I usually have scared off what ever was trying to ail me.

[Natasha]

Thanks, Susie! I was embarrassed to ask the question but I was desperate. I couldn t even have old standbys like soup and crackers. Anyway, your tastebuds must be like mine, because I was able to eat some milk chocolate, and frozen yogurt (lovely on my so-sore throat) too! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif BTW, I hope your running has been going well.

Also BTW, anyone reading this board must think I m always sick or ailing, but normally I haven t been. It s just been a bit of a bad month for me as far as minor health problems are concerned! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif So hopefully once Feb. rolls in you won t have to hear me whine anymore http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif


[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 01-31-2001).]