flu remedies?

[Dalya]

I don't know if I have the cold or flu or what. So it started Tuesday evening with a sore throat & I thought it was tonsilitis. But it moved up into my nose, which is now running like crazy. And I have one of those deep rattling coughs that make me sound like a veteran smoker. This morning my throat isn't really sore at all. And I slept 14 hours last night (I normally sleep 6 - 9 max, even when I'm sick). But I'm not achy or feverish or anything...

So anyway I take NyQuil at night, but I'm always apprehensive about taking decongestants or something to make the running stop or cough suppressants. I feel like it will somehow prolong the illness by not letting all the "stuff" out. So I've gargled with salt water, had soup, and all that.

Does anyone know of anything to help with the nose running? My nose is now bright red and dry/raw as hell so I'm pretty tired of blowing it. Should I just suck it up and take DayQuil or something?

[squeezle]

sounds like a good ol' case of allergies! soar throat, runny nose, tight chest, no fever. allergies have given me soar throats so bad i could hardly swallow. the storms form the south have been pushing in a lot of pollen and stuff we aren't used to up here, making the allergies even worse. i would suggest taking some antihistamines (claritin or similar) and keep up with the gargling, fluids, and other healthy things - at least that is what i would do.

[Sybil]

Sounds like a cold to me - at least the kind I get.

One word - ZICAM. That stuff is a miracle drug, but it only works for the common cold, not if it's something else, like flu or allergy.

Sybil

[mere1975]

Water, water, water. That's the best thing (other than drugs) to thin your mucus and help stop the sore throats (caused by postnasal drip, usually! Are they worst when you just wake up? Then yeah.)

And saline water nasal spray helps a lot, too.

Sorry. I hate allergies and feel your pain.

- Mere "you could always get a Neti pot at Whole Foods too" 1975

[Dalya]

It's not allergies because my snot is neon green. which means infection (i think). i also know it's more than allergies bc of the tired thing. i never never never sleep that much unless my body is working its ass off to kill some germs. i'll try ziacam. i'll try antihistamines if that doesn't work. i guess they cant hurt, only make me sleepy.

[mere1975]

Green/yellow snot means you are getting rid of a lot of dead cells, again according to my P.A.

- Mere "sometimes infection; often just because you are draining so much snot" 1975

[katie]

drink some beer, smoke a bowl, take some muscle relaxers, and sleep for two days. works like a charm.

[roach]

I like the quils. night and day. i have to take half doses of the day stuff at first so i don't feel like a speed freak. but once my body gets used to the speed of the dayquil i can take the full dose. and take a little more than recommended of the nyquil. always.

[Dalya]

and take a little more than recommended of the nyquil. always.

done and done. i always do.

[Dalya]

the quils and 32 hours of sleep over a 2 day period worked well in combination and i'm all better (and feeling slightly more positive about school). thanks for the advice, yous guys.