8 replies to this topic

[Diverbrian]

I have had recent occassion to wonder what are the preferred ways to wait out (because we know that we can't kill it) the common cold when you have it.

After a week with the uninivited virus in my body, I am about ready to make a voodoo doll of a cold germ and punch it with needles.

One bright point... the boss told me no way, no how am I to work this weekend. I believe that his words were that "you look like crap and need rest to recharge your batteries". So, I am actually only going to work my forty hours this week .

Anyways, what do you all tend to do when you are under the weather?

[intotheblue]

I have had recent occassion to wonder what are the preferred ways to wait out (because we know that we can't kill it) the common cold when you have it.

After a week with the uninivited virus in my body, I am about ready to make a voodoo doll of a cold germ and punch it with needles.

One bright point... the boss told me no way, no how am I to work this weekend. I believe that his words were that "you look like crap and need rest to recharge your batteries". So, I am actually only going to work my forty hours this week .

Anyways, what do you all tend to do when you are under the weather?

Take "Airborne" at first sign of a cold or other sickness and thereafter... then take regular vitamin/supplement regimen, including at that time... echinacea, Lysine, Garlic and lots of Vitamin C. Also have started B-complex and like the way I feel since then. I usually get my "C" and other vits from a good "multi". The Echinacea/Lysine/Garlic and "Airborne" seem to shorten the recovery time, and boost the resistence.

Good luck... I feel for ya (but as we used to say in the 60's... "I can't reach ya")!

[nextariel]

I second "Airbourne". I'm seen it fight off a cold and have used it before getting on planes and cruises and not gotten sick. Typically after a flight around the holidays I always end up with a cold. Not this year.

[Desert_Diver]

I haven't had the symptoms of a cold in ~5 years. Being a 'professional' sinus sufferer in Phoenix, I can spot the signs in the first few hours of a cold, as I'm attuned to the area. I start dropping zinc lozenges (have 'em at home, work and in the car) immediately, and the symptoms never appear. I can *tell* that I still have the cold 'cos my face feels odd, but none of the nasty drippy stuff. The weird face feelings go away after about 2 or 3 days, and nobody but me can tell I have a cold, nowadays. It's not a cure-all, but it works for me.

The best I can tell from researching it on the 'net is that it severely limits the early 'macrophage attack' part of the cold. Macrophages are kinda like a blind man with a shotgun. They blow away cells at random, hoping to hit a few that have the virus in 'em, releasing the viral fragments into the bloodstream so the t-cells can recognize, go hog wild reproducing, then mobilize and target the infected cells. All of the ugly symptoms from a cold are from the first stage of defense. The drippy nose & sore throat are from YOUR defense mechanisms trying to alert the rest of the immune system. They blow away so many good cells in the process that you get the drippy stuff from all of the damage to nose & throat linings. Yucchh.

From practical experimentation when I first tried the zinc, it's totally worthless if you wait a day after the earliest onset of symptoms. The quicker you start, the better. Also, it doesn't do any good after about the third day, so it's a good idea to quit and stop flooding your system with zinc. If you follow the directions, you're pretty well saturated after the first day, and you can *taste* it 24/7. It's foul, but better than the drips.

The manufacturer's webpage used to says it "supercharges your immune system", which is bubble-head nonsense. Your immune system is the PROBLEM, since it goes into overdrive with a cold. Many of the 'alternate' medical cures are described similarly by their proponents, which makes me distrust 'em. There's no excuse for fuzzy thinking. I don't try any cures that include magic rattles, unless there's solid proof that it helps.

BTW, I'm an engineer, not a virologist. I may have screwed up the names of the macrophages and t-cells, or got 'em confused with other parts of the immune system, but the basic concept is right. I had to do a *lot* of research to find out how things really worked in lay terms.

The zinc I use is Cold-Eeze 'tropical fruit', 'cos it's a little less disgusting tasting than the other flavors & vendors.

[Twinklez]

I have had recent occassion to wonder what are the preferred ways to wait out (because we know that we can't kill it) the common cold when you have it.

After a week with the uninivited virus in my body, I am about ready to make a voodoo doll of a cold germ and punch it with needles.

One bright point... the boss told me no way, no how am I to work this weekend. I believe that his words were that "you look like crap and need rest to recharge your batteries". So, I am actually only going to work my forty hours this week .

Anyways, what do you all tend to do when you are under the weather?

The old standard first: Get lots of rest, drink plenty of water.

Then it depends on the symptoms.

If I'm congested really bad I'll take the generic equivalent of Nyquill and DayQuill gel caps - the green ones at night and the orange ones in the day.

If I have a sore throat I live on hot lemon water with honey (and maybe even a tad of whiskey to numb the throat). I use half a lemon for each cup and anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon of honey.

I make sure that I eat properly avoiding all dairy foods as they tend to enhance the congestion.

[Bubble2Bubble]

I cant prove it but it has worked for years for millions of people

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ya cant fool Granies white magic


B2B

[Colorado Shark Guy]

I have had recent occassion to wonder what are the preferred ways to wait out (because we know that we can't kill it) the common cold when you have it.

After a week with the uninivited virus in my body, I am about ready to make a voodoo doll of a cold germ and punch it with needles.

One bright point... the boss told me no way, no how am I to work this weekend. I believe that his words were that "you look like crap and need rest to recharge your batteries". So, I am actually only going to work my forty hours this week .

Anyways, what do you all tend to do when you are under the weather?

Step 1: Find the clicker for the t.v.
Step 2: Find the big lobster pot
Step 3: Fill with boiling water/or chicken soup.... whichever you prefer
Step 4: Place near t.v.
Step 5: Get towel and place over head
Step 6: Comandere the couch (or chair)
Step 7: Place head over lobster pot
Step 8: Don't move

Oh, Step 6a: Turn on tv with confiscated clicker!

Alternative to steps 1 through 8.... find a nice, pretty woman to take care of you! Who are we kidding - all men are wimps when we get sick!

[blondie bluefin]

I had a terrible ear infection in Bocas del Toro.  I now use ear drops (95% alcohol and 5% anhydrous glycerine)...just alcohol seems to work just as well.  Anyway, that is what is in the over the counter ear drops for swimmer's ear. Use it before and after each dive.  Compression causes the ear canal to contract on the way down then expand on the way up.  That can bring bacteria into the capillaries and cause a miserable infection when the ear canal expands again. I also have prescription antibiotic ear drops and oral antibiotics as well in the event of another infection. I have been lucky so far! 

[ScubaTex]

I had a terrible ear infection in Bocas del Toro.  I now use ear drops (95% alcohol and 5% anhydrous glycerine)...just alcohol seems to work just as well.  Anyway, that is what is in the over the counter ear drops for swimmer's ear. Use it before and after each dive.  Compression causes the ear canal to contract on the way down then expand on the way up.  That can bring bacteria into the capillaries and cause a miserable infection when the ear canal expands again. I also have prescription antibiotic ear drops and oral antibiotics as well in the event of another infection. I have been lucky so far! 

 

I tend to extend my dive trips to beyond the usual one week. I have been using a 50-50 combination of alcohol & distilled white vinegar [to eliminate the possibility of fungus]. I start the process 3 days prior to beginning my trip & upon returning to my room after diving. So far, it's worked for me.

 

Bill