[jules17]

All right, most of you have heard me complaining this week - I am SO sick. Major head congestion, sore throat, no voice, dry cough...blah.

The Dr. said it is an upper respiratory infection - fine.

I am not able to take decongestants (make me feel cuh-razy!) - do you all have some good home remedies? Or even not so home remedies? DH is a pharmacist, so we're pretty well covered on the meds front - UNLESS there is something that worked wonders for you!

I am usually pretty tough healthwise, but this is killing me. Right now, I have on old sweatpants, frizzy bedhead hair and a Breathe Right strip across my nose. I am the hotness.

Cough-cough, sneeze and thank you- Jules

[CashCrew]

What does your dh think about Zycam? I've never tried it but friends of mine all swear by it. I'm planning to try it with my next URI to see if it helps. I'm sorry you are sick. I like to put the Vicks thingies in the shower and take a really hot steamy shower when I'm sick. This makes me feel so much better. I used to use the baby wash that contained Vicks (in the shower on ME). I haven't been able to find that in a long time though, so I think they've stopped making it. They have other things like it though.

[sadams]

I am sorry to hear you're not feeling well! I only have two thoughts the first I am sure you have probably heard... Take a hot shower, or just let the shower run while you sit in the bathroom the steam should help temporarily with the congestion...

The second is a little less conventional.... You may want to do the shower thing first! Shot of JD with lemon juice and sugar. It should help the soar throat. If not you still might feel a little better.....

Suzanne

[Mindybeth6]

I second the Vicks in the showers. I thinks someone besides Vicks actually makes them though. THey are a like a circle and you throw them in and then STAND there forever....I do until the water gets cold. They help clear me out and make me feel better. I get this kind of stuff ALL the time. ALso.....this is a home remedy. Boil a pot of water, like you were going to make tea. Put it in a pan after it is done boiling and then put Vicks liquid in the water (like the lind you put in the vaporizer). Cover your head with a towel and lean over the pan and inhale that stuff. All the steam, all of it. Yes, it's a little warm but it WILL clear you out and you will be able to blow out all kinds of nastiness. Have Keenex ready. It sounds like a pain and kind of gross but it works. I swear.

Anyway...FEEL BETTER SOON. I get this sooooo much and I know how HORRIBLE it is. Hang in there.

[Disneycrazed]

Sorry to hear you are so sick.

I also love those vicks things you put in the shower.
I also swear by hot tea with honey!!
Sleep sleep sleep and liquids liquids liquids

[JPDakota]

I feel for you. Sometimes you feel like maybe you'd feel better if someone would just shoot you, huh? I have similar maladies on occasion and my normal meds preclude me from taking any of the normal over the counter stuff. I have found Cayenne pepper (tsp) in hot green tea with a little honey effective. Sounds nasty, but whatever works, right? Sometimes I even add a little Black Velvet. The other thing that works for me is VERY hot spicy Chinese or Mexican food. Usually can't taste it so much, but it seems to melt everything. And, of course, my old standby is good old fashioned chicken soup. My husband makes it from scratch.
DD and I both have nasty fevers today, so soup is on the menu. Good luck.

[judymend]

So sorry to hear that you're not feeling better

The Showers Soothers that Mindy recommended are actually very, very good! I work for the Company that makes them, Pfizer, and I've used them before, they truly are a wonderful innovation!! The Plug-Ins are great too! I hope you feel better, take good care of yourself too, lots and lots of rest. So sorry.

Judy

[cmfayz]

I'm sick as a dog too so thanks for the suggestions. I just called DH, who's on his way to the store, to ask him to get the shower things.

[Julaine]

Sorry you are so sick ! I agree with the vicks shower things and hot tea with lemon and honey ! Also my hubby use to have us sniff up some salt water ! Sounds gross but salt is a natural antiboditic or something and it really helps ! Get well soon !

[jules17]

Oh my gosh, you guys are awesome! So, get this, DH just got home from a whole day at the pharmacy. He went and picked up spicy Chinese food for me. Then I posted, so now he's back at the pharmacy getting me shower Vicks and Vicks liquid. He is so sweet - OR - maybe this is it - he wants to get AWAY from his scary-looking and sounding wife. Ooooh, I think I get it now.

A lot of you have mentioned rest, too. I have a feeling that will come after the congestion gets sorted - I have been too congested/coughing to even sleep - which really bugs.

Thanks much - keep 'em coming - I will try anything!

[Mindybeth6]

I also wanted to say that I am one that CANNOT sleep no matter how sick I am if I can't breathe. I use saline nose drops or Afrin to clear my nasal passages and help me sleep at night. If I can just BREATHE I feel so much better. So many people FREAK OUT at the thought of snorting something up your nose but trust me...it WORKS and to breathe again in and of itself makes life sooo much easier when you are under the weather.
Hugs

[jules17]

MindyBeth - I tried the breathing treatment - it sure helped! How long do you breathe the fumes? I wasn't sure.

It felt so good! I even asked DH (who has also had some congestion) if he "wanted a puff." (Where in the world did that vocabulary come from?? Ack!)

From all of the steamy fumes, now I am literally a hot mess!

[Mindybeth6]

HAH...it is a great facial....isn't it!? But it DOES make you feel better. I do it for as long as I can stand it. And when I feel it coming on again bad...I boil more water and do it again. I think with the strong vapors RIGHT there it helps relieve the congestion. I have no idea where my mom got that from...but it works and it's a cheap way to feel better quickly...even if it is temporary. Hugs to you and feel better soon!

[Ms.Judi]

Hey Julie,

Sorry you are still feeling soooooo bad. I guess this means you haven't worked on Sam's room yet. The shower soothers work great. I hope you feel better soon.

Hugs,

Judi

[jules17]

Hey, Judi! You can attest to my frog croaky voice!

We are going to work on Sam's room tomorrow with my parents and Tony's parents (who all bought the furniture), so I am trying to get better by then.

MindyBeth, I am so going to spread the word about the breathing treatments - genius!

Hope you're having a good day, Judi!