Ick and yuck. Just what I needed...

[lupo pazzesco]

So, apparently the stress and everything has finally finally caught up with me. I have a bug or a virus or something and I feel quite crappy. Throat is scratchy, nose alternates between being runny and stuffed up, and just a general all around worn down feeling. Ugh. So much for thinking it was my sinuses... I know exactly who gave it to me, too. Yippee yahoo, right?

I've decided that yes, I'm going to go to school. I kind of have to, because I have a homework assignment due in one class, but after that I'm forgoing my other classes, and coming straight back home to spend most of the day in bed, resting and taking care of myself. I can't forgo work because I desperately need the money, but if I can take it easy today, that should help.

I figure one solid day of being lazy, resting, and stocking up on lots of teas and soups and stuff should help boost my immune system and help fight off whatever this is before it gets too bad. Lupo really can't afford a visit to the doctor on top of everything else going on. Really. It sucks because right when I think I'm pulling myself out of the hole I've been stuck in for the last month, I get hit and feel like I'm being dragged right back in.

Don't mind me, folks. I tend to get cranky and whiny when I'm sick.

Crap, must stop at a store to get some soups, but that shouldn't take too long. Off to shower and drink tea, and then head off to campus. Maybe if I can catch my prof before class, I can give her my homework and then head straight home. Hmm...ideas.

[persephone]

If you can find them, get some eucalyptus tablets at the store. Put them in a bowl of very hot water and put them on the edge of your bath tub when you are taking a very hot shower or bath. The eucalyptus, combined with the steam, will usually help clear up the congestion and problems you are having with your sinuses. If you can't find eucalyptus, you could take some of your lavender (I think you said you had some?) and steep it in hot water and do the same thing, but eucalyptus works better.

Also, as always, drink tea (honey helps with sore throats too), eat soup, keep yourself warm and rest. It could just be your body's way of telling you to *STOP* for a few minutes! Hope you feel better honey!

[MannersMakethMan]

Sounds like you've got most of the good advice sorted, namely tea, soup, and as much sleep as you can steal. Give your body anything it needs to fight this infection off, and it'll thank you for it later.

It's far better to be sensible and take a day to help yourself now than try to struggle on. If you only do it when it gets worse, then you end up being run down for longer overall. Here speaks the bitter voice of experience from when I didn't have a day.

Hope it clears up soon for you.

[Buglady]

Chinese Hot and Sour soup is wonderful for stuffy noses and scratchy throats :)

The other thing I always do is take grated ginger root (about 1 Tbsp), half a lemon sliced up, and a smooshed garlic clove (!) - simmer that in water for 20 minutes, then add lots of honey & drink. Feels like the top of your head is going to come off but it's amazingly effective.

Also, if your college has one of those juice/smoothie bars (they're everywhere here) you could try one of those for a major Vitamin C/antioxidant hit. Sometimes you can get extras put in the smoothie like ginseng, echinacea, vitamins, etc. For $6 it's a good way to get a big whack of yummy fruit and the frozen part is nice on your throat.

There's a horrendous cold/flu/creeping crud going round here that I've been holding off for several weeks now :(

[SG15Z]

<.< >.>
:ashamed: You don't mean me right? I mean that was like weeks ago and I'm pretty sure I did a good job of covering my mouth when I couphed.... Cause those symptoms are exactly what I went through. If it was me well :sorry: Here have some nice warm soup.

[lupo pazzesco]

<.< >.>
:ashamed: You don't mean me right? I mean that was like weeks ago and I'm pretty sure I did a good job of covering my mouth when I couphed.... Cause those symptoms are exactly what I went through. If it was me well :sorry: Here have some nice warm soup.

No, sweetie, it wasn't you. It'd've had to have had one hell of an incubation period for that!

No, it's one of my bosses, D. she came in sick, coughed, sneezed, sniffled all over the place, complained about feeling like crap...and then insisted I work in close quarters with her on Sunday... >.< <shudder>

[wagegoth]

Chinese Hot and Sour soup is wonderful for stuffy noses and scratchy throats :)

I ate that while I was sick with a cold when I was pregnant. It is the best. I tend to crave spicy foods when I'm sick anyway.


Lupo, be sure to take your vitamins. You're probably not eating properly, especially when you're sick, so your body needs all the fuel it can get.

[Evil Queen]

Do I need to bring you soup again?

[lupo pazzesco]

Do I need to bring you soup again?

Hmmm...I wouldn't complain...

But if you could bring something that'll let me breathe through my nose easier I'd wuvoo forever...I don't even have any of those Breathe Right strips, and they'd be very welcome... :( Stupid stuffy nose...

[fireheart]

If they have them in the US (not sure), there are these things you can get...can't remember the name, but you stick them up your nose and inhale them. It clears your nose right up :D
Very strong though.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

If they have them in the US (not sure), there are these things you can get...can't remember the name, but you stick them up your nose and inhale them. It clears your nose right up :D
Very strong though.

Vicks inhalers? I'm pretty sure they still sell those here, although I haven't gone out specifically looking for them lately.

There are Vicks scented Puffs, which I buy whenever I have a cold. Puffs are softer on my nose than Kleenex and the Vicks scent helps to clear my nose at least a little.

[fireheart]

Something like that Irv. It looks like a lip balm, but instead of applying it across your mouth it goes up your nose and you inhale. It clears your nose right out, but then again I've also found anything peppermint works wonders :D

[Rapscallion]

There are sprays for that - they contain an astringent that shrinks the turbinoids (large blood vessels that warm the air before it hits your lungs - they swell during an infection). Problem is, if used too much they cease to work or work to swell them more. Good for temporary relief, though.

Rapscallion

[SG15Z]

No, sweetie, it wasn't you. It'd've had to have had one hell of an incubation period for that!

No, it's one of my bosses, D. she came in sick, coughed, sneezed, sniffled all over the place, complained about feeling like crap...and then insisted I work in close quarters with her on Sunday... >.< <shudder>

phew! Good to know! Yay it wasn't my fault! :party:

Hope you get better. Try to get some rest!

[lupo pazzesco]

Urg...not ready to be up this early. got a little worse last night, and now the throat is really scratchy, and my head's all full of pressure.

Work will be absolute FUN today...really...

[lupo pazzesco]

So, I get to work this morning and tell the store manager that I think I caught the bug that assistant manager had, lucky me. At which point, SM informs me that AM has bronchitis!!

I'm ordered to leave the store and go get checked out, and not to come back without a doctor's note, saying I'm not contagious and cleared to work.

Bye-bye hours!!

I do behave and go to the doctor like a good girl, and am told that the sinus problems I had a few weeks ago and ignored after taking some sudafed had instead bloomed into a wondrous sinus infection. She gave me some antibiotics, etc, etc, and I then explained the need for a note. She did, in fact write me one, but insisted that I needed rest. Therefore, I'm not allowed back at work until Sunday.

I'm a little sulky over this because that's another day's worth of hours, gone. I grumbled a bit about her sneakily wording the note. Instead of saying I went to the doctor and may return to work, she wrote that I needed to be excused for the next 3 days from date of visit. so, hey, 3 day weekend. I guess. But I had partly been hoping she'd write I could return to work, and then just go...

and then I made the mistake of mentioning this to a friend, who proceeded to bite my head off and lecture me about taking care of myself and obeying doctor's orders.

So here I am. Lying down on the couch with my laptop, a mug of tea and a mug of soup nearby. I freely admit I'm a horrible patient. But at least I'm not contagious...

[RetailSlave]

The Vicks inhalers are good, but if you can find Benzedrex inhalers they are even better and the effects last longer since they have medication and not just the vapor action.

[wagegoth]

In desperate times, you can put a pot of water on the stove and let it boil. Makes a simple humidifier. If you're really having problems, cover your eyes to protect them from the heat and lean near the pot, inhaling the rising steam.

A hot, steamy shower will do the same thing and ease any achy muscles.

[AdminAssistant]

I like Mucinex for clearing the sinuses - inhaling steam and using nasal bidets has never worked for me. :shrug:

[lupo pazzesco]

I've never used one of the inhalers, personally, so I wouldn't know what works and what doesn't.

I've been informed that breathe right strips won't do anything given the congestion is caused by the infection, and even though I get cleared up when I'm showering, I can't stay in a shower until I'm well again (all the hot water would run out!!). II bought a small pack of breathe rights anyway while filling my prescription today, and they truly arent' working, but they're nice to have around those nights when sleeping is troublesome because of breathing issues. (yes, I snore...) may have to look into said inhalers.

Of course, that would involve leaving the house, and I'm not all too sure I wants to do that right now. I'm too tired and icky feeling to even contemplate it...