OT: Need Help with Allergies/Cold

Hi guys. I haven't been here in a few days because I've been miserable. I at first thought it was my allergies acting up since we have A LOT of pollen in the air. Now I'm not sure if I have a cold. Either way, I've been medicated to inth degree and nothing is helping. My poor nose looks like Rudolf's and the skin is coming off the end because of the tissues.

I've been taking 4 benedryl every 3-4 hours, three different allergy meds from the doctor, DayQuil, NighQuil, penicillin for my ear infection, and ibuprofen for the sinus headaches. My nose is congested, my throat is very sore, my ears are clogged, I'm hot all the time (which is not normal), my eyes are watering, and I'm a big baby at day six of this!

I need help to see if I can do anything different. I did notice when I take a hot shower or hot bath that I can breath easier so I hooked up the vaporizer. Is there anything else anyone can think of? I'm using too much nose spray and I have an addiction to that. I don't want to go that route again.

Please, any help is greatly appreciated.

Starlia

Reply to
starlia
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Well, combining OTC remedies (benadryl, the 'quils, etc.) with prescription allergy meds could make things worse, not better. I'd ask your doctor which of the prescription drugs should work the best (many shouldn't be used in combination with other similar drugs). I'm kind of a KISS rule when it comes to meds...one med per symptom. Ibuprofen for the headache, 1 prescription allergy med for the itching/sneezing, and the antibiotic.

That said - if you have an ear infection and the penicillin hasn't cleared it up in a couple of days, to the point where you feel better, it's entirely possible you have a sinus infection or a penicillin resistent ear/sinus infection. Only a doctor can make that determination.

Push fluids - water, hot tea (not chamomile), soups, etc. to help your body flush out the histamines that are causing problems. A little Vics vapo-rub under the nose helps, or a mentholated throat lozenge (dont' use a 'cough drop' unless you really are coughing). I like the Ricola echinacea/lemon honey lozenges, personally. They taste good, aren't mentholated to extreme and have some beneficial herbals.

Reply to
Barbara Forbes-Lyons

I'm amazed you're conscious.

The benedryl is an antihistamine. The Dayquil is essentially acetaminophen (tylenol), cough suppressant, and a decongestant. Nyquil doubles the acetaminophen and adds an antihistamine. If you're taking prescription allergy medication, it may well contain antihistamines and/or decongestants.

Does your doctor know what all you're taking? I'd be a little worried about OD'ing on either the antihistamines or the decongestants ...

But you appear to have hit on a great remedy on your own -- frequent hot baths, alternated with hot wet towels on your face.

Hope you're better soon ... Elise

Reply to
EL

Reply to
Beth

Don't know if this will help or not but I'm suffering now with a constant drip down the back of my throat (allergies) which causes it to be sore and makes me constantly clear my throat. I sometimes get laringitis which is also an allergic reaction. I take Robotussin Expectorant which looses the drainage and relieves my throat. This works really good for laringitis. It won't do anything for your runny nose though. Hope you feel better soon. Gennie

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Reply to
Gennie

I cannot believe you are taking so much OTC medicine along with the penicillin!! If you like Chinese food, hot n sour soup works onders, especially if your infection/cold/silnus/whatever it is has reached your throat. Of course, there is always wonton soup or good old fashioned chicken soup - inhaling the steam helps (just like the shoewr). I hope you have called your doctor and discontinued some of that OTC medicine. Eat a light diet, maybe turkey, cottage cheese, jurices, etc. Bananas are good, too. I disagree about the sugar products since sugar a NATURAL product, unlike nutrasweet, etc.which were originally invented only for diabetics. I don't understand what the big deal is since sugar has only 16 calories and ns. has 1 or 2 or whattever it is. The other thing I always do is to drink a caffeine beverage (i like Pepsi). Caffeine opens up the lipid part of the blood cells which are those which help you to breathe. But, since a lot of OTC medicines also contain caffeine, you should contact your doctor first. Hope you feel better soon. Patti

Reply to
Beadseeker

I see you have been given a lot of good advice, Starlia. I hate to hear you so down and out so I'm serving you up some of my dandy anti-cold and allergy vibes. Here they come!

Reply to
MargieK

If you take too many things, they cancel each other out. For example, anything with aspirin/ibuprofen will cancel out tylenol/acetaminaphin. 4 benedryls at one time is WAY too many period. I had a neighbor who was ALLERGIC to benedryl... 3 different allergy meds? If one isn't working by itself, I don't think more than one is gonna do anything! And if you're pretty sure it's a virus or infection, you don't need an anti-histamine anyhow.

Take Vitamin C - builds up your immune system. Up to 2-3 grams a day (usually comes in 250 or 500 mg tabs).

Hot tea with lemon and honey as needed.

Lots of REST... you can't rest if you've got all those meds duking it out.

Ask your dr for Azthromycin... Z-pack... it's the only think that got rid of my infection last year.

You didn't say if you were taking a decongestant. The best one I've found is Robitussin I think it's the CF one - read the ingredients.

Also after you get well you may want to try a steroid nasal spray (not like the OTC ones) such as Nasonyx for allergy symptoms, and the OTC Nasacrom to prevent nasal allergy symptoms. HTH

Reply to
Karleen/Vibrant Jewels

Have someone make you some chicken soup. It's proven to help in reducing cold syptems, but the scientists can't find the secret ingredient that does the job!

Reply to
melinda

Starlia, MSM crystals are good for allergies and colds too--mostly helps the inflammation. We drink a 1/4 tsp. dose in water, juice or coffee several times a day, also mix it in water and spray/drop some up your nose.

Also, Alacer makes a product called Emergen-C with a whole gram of vit. C, a days dose or more of the B vits, and minerals. Two or three of those a day mixed in water or juice is also VERY good for colds. They also make Vitastic Throat spray, which has good stuff in it including MSM, teatree oil, and other stuff, makes it so we can breath at night to sleep and also sooths the sorest of throats--I have been able to do classes and speak in public when so sore I probably shoudn't have...

There's a recipe for 3Mothers Chicken Soup I posted here too---its very strong. Google for the recipe, or I'll find and repost if its not there...hot and spicy, lots of onions, garlic, and lime or lemon. Szechuan chicken soup from your local chinese takeout will do too, if you ask for extra hot.

If you have elderberries, a spoonfull in hot water cuts the duration of viruses Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

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Reply to
Sjpolyclay

Patti, sugar is natural but so are bacteria and viruses. This grow excelently when fed sugar in a petri dish...and in the human body. Sometimes we just don't want the bacteria and viruses to get so well fed. Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

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Reply to
Sjpolyclay

Thats because scientists cant quanitify it. The secret ingredient is love. Over and over again in this group, and others, the power of freely given love has been demonstrated, but there are no calipers to measure it. It doesnt weigh anything or have an odor or taste, so it stumps those who want logical reasons for everything. Diana

Reply to
Diana Curtis

I had a killer cold once and my nose got *so* chapped. I used Carmex on it...it should clear your nasal passages up some too since mentholated. Carmex smells and tastes like shit, but it does it's job! Anytime anything gets chapped, I slap some Carmex on it, and it helps.

Valerie Website:

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Reply to
Valerie

Thanks. I'll ask DH to stop by Walgreens and get some on his way home. I can't believe how dang raw it is. I don't want to even get water on it because it hurts.

Reply to
starlia

Thanks everyone for the help. I have contacted an allergist and they are getting me in STAT. I am guessing that the pollen in the trees is the major cause. We didn't have them where we were living and now they are in the backyard. Could be the problem.

Reply to
starlia

Carmex doesnt help my nose, it hurts! One of the nice things in it, maybe the menthol? burns on raw nose tissues. ...Ooooowie!! Vasaline is nastier but works to protect the nose.. or unmedicated chapstick. At least thats my preference now if I dont have those nice lotion paper tissues. Diana

Reply to
Diana Curtis

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "CLP" :

]I guess none of you animal lovers were back-to-the-landers, Mother Earth ]types in the 70s. Have you never heard of Udder Balm? Amazing stuff, it will ]soothe any kind of chapped, chafed, noseblown, owie skin ailment. Seriously. ]It's miraculous. It was great for the goats and now it's at a veterinarian ]in your neighborhood! Call today!

seconded. actually, Walgreens sells it, as well as some other drug stores now.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

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(Jewelry)
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----------- It's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis

Reply to
vj

Chapstick chaps my lips. Vaseline works best for me. Nothing added. Cheap. I've tried the vegetable variation but it just doesn't work as well for me.

Tina

Reply to
Christina Peterson

I like pure lanolin... you can get it from your pharmacist, not very expensive. It's really sticky, a little goes a long way. I take a dab and warm it in my hand before using. I used to have a terrible time with cracked skin around my nose, it was the only thing that helped. Come to think of it, I need to get some now to help heal my cuticles...

Reply to
Karleen/Vibrant Jewels

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Karleen/Vibrant Jewels" :

]I used to have a terrible time with cracked ]skin around my nose, it was the only thing that helped. Come to think of it, ]I need to get some now to help heal my cuticles...

i always have problems with my hands after i've been beading. it's really frustrating.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

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(Jewelry)
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----------- It's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis

Reply to
vj

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