The air in my house has been tainted for a few days. Not only did Michael’s seasonal allergies hit him like a ton of bricks, but he developed a head cold on top of it (“Swine Flu! I must have Swine Flu!” — Typical male sick overreacting drama).
Determined not to catch whatever was oozing out of his nose, I’ve been washing my hands like crazy and chugging Airborne like it’s going out of style. But there’s that pesky fact that he’s my husband and I sleep next to him and all that jazz.
I woke up this morning and my throat hurts.
I refuse to allow this cold to win so I’m upping the fight with Vitamin C and tea and more Airborne and whatever else I can get my hands on. Anyone got any fail-proof cold remedies?
Will. Not. Get. Sick.
Also, Mr. Kodiak has been not himself the last couple days. He’s become a little lethargic and his shaky on the leg he had surgery on. He’s going to the vet for some blood work this afternoon and my motherly instincts are kicked into high gear. I was almost in tears looking into his big brown eyes last night, wishing he could just tell me what hurts. My first guess is that he has another flair-up of Lymes Disease, which is unfortunately really common here in the Northeast.
Stupid ticks.
We should know by 5 o’clock what’s wrong so cross your fingers it’s an easy fix!
Alright, I’m off to take care of my sick boys. Let’s hope there’s someone healthy left to take care of me! (Sister — you might want to get a Swine Flu mask. Just saying.)
29 comments
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May 6, 2009 at 8:53 am
each
Zicam.
No joke, prevents colds when used right as symptoms come on and shortens length of cold when used during.
I like the nose swab (no flavor, just wet nose, if you can handle it).
and I SWEAR by it!
Also I drink loads of Emergen-C, but you seem to be stocked up on vitamins.
Oh, and X-fingers crossed-X
May 6, 2009 at 8:56 am
Kaley
Sorry you feel crummy! My dad swears by echinacea, some herbal thing. I think you can get it in pill form or in tea. Seems a little voodoo-ish to me, but I guess it really works. And I promise, it’s legal. Heh.
Hope your doggy’s okay, too…keep us posted.
May 6, 2009 at 8:59 am
Megan
I hope you don’t get sick, and I hope that Michael and Kodiak feel better soon!
May 6, 2009 at 9:14 am
Becky
My mom swears by Zicam too – the chewy ones taste like chalk, so I would recommend the nose swabs too (I’ve only tried the chewy ones, and I couldn’t bring myself to eat them). She swears that she hasn’t been really sick since she discovered that stuff a couple years ago, even when everyone around her is. I don’t usually get sick *knock on wood* so I haven’t had a chance to try it out.
May 6, 2009 at 9:19 am
prinny
I swear by Umckaloabo (some African herbal stuff, comes in drops) and fresh ginger tea (just cut a piece of fresh ginger in tiny pieces and boild for 15 minutes, then add fresh lemon juice and honey).
Good luck! And I hope Kodiak feels better soon!
May 6, 2009 at 9:22 am
Elle
Rob had a cold a few days after we got back from NYC, and did the same thing…oooh I have swine flu..and then would oink at me. They are all babies! I hope you don’t get sickies!!
May 6, 2009 at 9:22 am
Sunshowers
I swear by a cocktail of Zicam, Vitamin C, and Coldeeze cough drops…and then Nyquil at night. I started to get sick a few days before I was set to leave for Mexico this past December (stupid bf getting me sick!) and i hardcore medicated with the above for 3 days. I felt totally back to normal by the time I got down there. Hope you feel better!
May 6, 2009 at 9:36 am
La Petite Belle
aww I hope you feel better soon!
May 6, 2009 at 9:36 am
Mrs. Smith
Oh no! I hope your boys feel better soon. My failproof cold remedy is to drink lots and lots of TEA! I seriously chug it by the gallon when I’m starting to feel ick. It comes through for me ALMOST every time!
May 6, 2009 at 10:43 am
verybadcat
First things first- watch yourself with the echinacea- if you are allergic to ragweed, it can cause you problems.
Zinc (which is what is in Zicam) really helps, and damn, I wish they had the nose swabs when I was little, cause Daddy used to give me zinc lozenges, and it was like sucking on an old penny.
Your workout should help. A lot of times, if I’m starting to feel sick, and I get a little sweaty, do something to get my heart rate up, it works wonders.
Fingers crossed for the pup.
May 6, 2009 at 10:48 am
Roselia
I am also in the Zicam fan club. If you follow the directions, it halts/stifles the cold incredibly well!
May 6, 2009 at 11:01 am
spamwarrior
Get well soon!
May 6, 2009 at 11:04 am
Nina
Tea, Zicam and a nice spicy, brothy concoction are all good methods. (Never tried echinacea, so I don’t know.) Boil a cup of water, mix in some bouillon, and add a few dashes of all the hot spices you can find — hot pepper, cayenne, etc. Does wonders for a sore throat and blocked nasal passages.
May 6, 2009 at 11:21 am
Peter DeWolf
Typical male overreacting what now?? If my seasonal allergies weren’t making my noggin so owies, we’d totally have words.
(Hope Kodiak feels better!)
May 6, 2009 at 11:23 am
DevilsHeaven
Zicam rocks. I’d buy it in bulk if I could. It’s the only thing F will use.
And I feel Michael on the allergies. Holy crap.
May 6, 2009 at 11:25 am
stealthnerd
Elderberry is like a miracle herb! I took 2 a day all winter (1 in the morning, 1 at night) and I never got sick once. My roommate (who scoffed at my funny named pills) had a cold on and off the entire winter.
You can get them at any GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. Just take 2 every couple of hours and I can guarantee you’ll avoid this cold.
Wow…I sound super sales-personny there. Sorry! But I swear they work wonders!
May 6, 2009 at 11:43 am
Nowak
I thought the Airbone stuff doesn’t work. Didn’t they have that big recall a few years back where you could get your money back?
May 6, 2009 at 12:03 pm
A
Ahh poor thing, Mr. Kodak! I hope he is ok! And Michael, too!
May 6, 2009 at 12:43 pm
andhari
Ouch, I hope everyone’s okay. Drink tons of hot tea and water, they help
May 6, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Rachel
Zicam swabs. Really. But not the nose spray, something about how far in the spray goes can cause you to lose some of your sense of smell (no joke!) but the swabs are safe.
Tea, crackers, chicken noodle soup (Bear Creek chicken noodle soup mix + 1 bag off no yolk egg noodles + 3 cans of chicken and some water = yummy and quick fix). It’ll get you the sodium you need and it’s delivious, preps and cooks in 20 min, and is easy on your stomach.
May 6, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Jenna
I’m sorry to inform you that Airborne is a crock: http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/04/fake-cold-remedy-air.html
You are paying for something developed in some guys basement.
Apparently Zicam is the way to go!
May 6, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Barb
Hope Kodiak feels better! fingers are crossed!
May 6, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Jeni
Zicam! I don’t know about you, but Costco sells it here and I stock up! I only buy the up-the-nose kind, too, because It just works faster.
May 6, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Liz
I don’t know about where you’re from but over here in California they recalled all airborne products because they were proven to be ineffective. Trust me, I was crushed because I too, was an Airborne chugger.
But a friend of mine who’s a nurse told me the #1 cold remedy is to drown it out, and by that meaning drink TONSSSSSSS of water. It makes sense if you think about it; you’re flushing out all the toxins in your body.
Good luck!
May 6, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Sass
Ha, my father in law has been sick and said the same thing – HAS TO BE SWINE FLU. Yeah, sure.
Hope your boys feel better and you don’t get sick!
May 7, 2009 at 9:46 am
Christy
Get lots of rest, drink fluids – water and tea – and take vitamin C. Take Echinacea and Goldenseal in the beginning to prevent the cold from settling in. You could also make a hot lemon drink (lemon, honey, fresh ginger, cayenne, water) – this works really well.
May 7, 2009 at 3:34 pm
fromasesameseed
Good luck with Kodiak! Nothing is more sad to me than a dog in distress! He can’t tell you what he needs and it’s awful.
May 7, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Babycakes
Raw garlic!
Once worked for me, when I absolutely could not afford to have a cold – had a job interview coming up.
Ate parsley to counteract garlic smells.
May 13, 2009 at 3:34 am
gelinlik modelleri
I started to get sick a few days before I was set to leave for Mexico this past December (stupid bf getting me sick!) and i hardcore medicated with the above for 3 days. I felt totally back to normal by the time I got down there. Hope you feel better!