I’m not a great believer in ‘cold-prevention’ potions like Emergen-C and Airborne, but what could I lose? I wrapped my throat in elegant-looking Bengay pain patch bandage, took the Emergen-C and dosed myself with sake, and the sore throat has retreated. I would be so glad to skip what Jane’s got. I hope she’s better this morning. She hasn’t reported in yet, but I hear life from her room.
Doing somewhat better than expected
by CJ | Jun 6, 2010 | Journal | 19 comments
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Jane is much worse. Nose raw and swelling, throat sore, hoarseness…she came out to say I really, really, really don’t want this stuff. I fear the next stage will be a sinus infection, chasing it. Glug.
I take Emergen-C regularly as well as 8k IU/day of vitamin D3. I have not been sick at all this past flu season, and I got no flu shot. Vitamin C is important for collagen synthesis, and primates and guinea pigs are about the only animals that can’t synthesize it. Limited trials have also show vitamin C (albeit in relatively high doses) to reverse atherosclerosis – an eye doctor looking for something else noticed this but it hasn’t been well followed up on. I’ll see if I can find the references.
D3 can be synthesized through sun exposure, though some argue that after 40 this isn’t effective. I’m taking no chances and supplementing with a gel cap/oil suspension formula – D3 being fat soluble. The Heart Scan Blog guy finds his patients heal from fractures or bone breaks much more quickly than expected, he has them ALL on D3 supplements – it makes sense, calcium and all that. But D3 is extremely immune boosting and anti-carcinogenic.
As for the cold. My sensei swears that Umcka really works to shorten the duration. I don’t know, I’m lousy about taking medicines and haven’t had a cold to test it on – just the occasional allergies bout.
Give my regards to Jane. Haven’t had anything more serious than a sniffle or squirt in over a decade myself. Peppermint tea with honey always helped me out. And if you are feeling brave, try sniffing some horseradish or wasabi. Though most wasabi in this country is just horseradish with some green dye. These will open you up and let nature take it’s course. Warm salt water through the sinuses or gargled will help kill the rest. Most people run to the medicine cabinet too soon, by treating the symptoms you only prolong the illness.
Still awake…
Are you able to get the flu shots? I never had them until a few years ago, but I have been surprisingly free of crud like this since I started taking them, whereas I used to get at leat one terrible cold/sore throat a year. Our whole family was flu/sorethroat free this winter, knock on wood.
In my young and childless days I used to make hot rum toddies – cinnamon stick, hot water, honey, fresh squeezed lemon and LOTS of hot rum – it really did help a sore throat and it also prevented any sensation of pain anywhere, at least until the next am 🙂
We take them every year, and got the swine flu shot as well. But we have worked so hard, especially Jane, and she went into that convention exhausted. I think I’m going to skin by with less trouble. But I’m so sad to see her so miserable.
CJ, both you and Jane are either of an age or getting close to it where you need to get the “Shingles Shot”. Tres expensive and requires a prescription for possibly the only pharmacy in town that carries it. DH had shingles a number of years back and he still has flare-ups of the post-herpetic neuralgia which can lay you low and there is very little in the way of analgesics that will touch it. The exception is Lidoderm, a Lidocain patch for the affected area. If either of you has had chicken pox you already are a carrier for the virus (a herpes one) which can be triggered unexpectedly. The vaccine does not actually stop shingles but severely reduces the severity if you should come down with it. You really DON’T want to come down with this. As soon as I read about it I arranged to get it and that was at least 4-5 years ago. I’ll need another one in about 5 years.
Not a bad notion. I don’t know about Jane, but I had a spectacular incidence of chickenpox…came down with it at age 8 at a birthday party, have NEVER liked candy-canes since, am iffy about ice cream, and was out of it for 3 days. My poor mother sat by me for hours preventing me scratching my face into scars (I have a tiny one near one eye) and sponging the fever down in a non-airconditioned house in an Oklahoma summer.
Probably both your immune systems are somewhat compromised due to the near-starvation diet you seemed to be on. Keeping my fingers crossed for both of you!
Hmm, that came across a little differently than I heard it in my head! I didn’t mean it accusingly, just a little worried.
Stupidity deserves its accusation! I’m sure it didn’t help! 😆
Don’t throw things at me. Apple Cider Vinegar. You mix it with water and gargle. I don’t have the portions with me. It’s from an old book, DR. JARVIS VERMONT FOLK REMEDIES. It will cut through the crud in your throat so fast! White vinegar will not work. It has to be apple cider vinegar.
Saline nasal spray will also help clear the head.
Drink more water! That’s not enough. Drink some more.
Vinegar will work. It was a staple in the Roman Army for illness and cleaning wounds. I suggested salt water, because it had the same effect, but is a little more pleasant to take. Try putting vinegar up your nose, you won’t do it again.
Mix apple cider vinegar (or balsamic – much more palatable) with water, as strong as you can take it, and sip until gone. If your throat is raw you’ll feel a burn, but it works. It dulls the pain within minutes and it’s gone some time after.
I swear by zinc and vitamin C. Since my asthma medication tends to degrade my immune system, I’m paranoid about colds.
Everyone will be delighted to know she is some better this morning…she just woke up and she’s in there playing the guitar. This is good.
Glad to hear Jane is improving…perhaps discourage her from doing anything too strenuous? I *so* agree with you herwin, plus lots more vitamin D than is currently recommended…..My doc likes about 1000i.u per day…..I think OSG has some pretty strong opinions about vitamin D! 😉
A beautiful day after 5 days of off and on rain…..out to play in the sun! 😆
We’re off to the chiropractor this afternoon, to get Jane’s neck put back to rights. Her back is now recovered. But the neck and shoulder are going to need some traction, likely. The infection is giving up. We have a few hours of blue sky. Then more rain!
I take apple cider vinegar – a tablespoon or so – with 12 oz of seltzer for, in theory, hot flashes. Not sure it works, but not interested in finding out how much worse they’d be without it. There is no reason to think it doesn’t also help the crud.
Hope the improvement is continuing.
I like a splash of apple cider vinegar in water, especially in summer. The water here is very hard and it tastes less than wonderful, so the vinegar is a refreshing improvement.
And I agree, when there’s crud in your throat, the water/vinegar mix is better than plain water. The flavor, for one, will overpower that of the crud… always a good thing!