Saronne Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Anyone out there suffering with a nasty cold over Christmas/New Year? I'm normally resistant to coughs and colds, but I caught this one and it is a real bummer. All I do is cough, cough, cough, day and night. My throat hurts, my muscles ache from coughing and I am getting very little sleep. I've tried Night Nurse - didn't do the job. Any suggestions out there!? Paris Nicole Dorothy Germaine Jordan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Pholcodeine is the only thing that has stopped my cough. You can buy it from Boots. I have been bad since mid December. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 My sympathies, I am suffering also. I am sick of coughing, I've had this for nearly 3 weeks now Hope our medical members can come up with a remedy, Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Gargling with soluble asprin works for me! Hope it clears soon for you, there's nothing more draining than a cough at night - unless it's a constant clearing of the throat all day (that'll be me in the queue behind you, who you think is getting impatient!!!! I'm not honest !) Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 Cough, cough, cough....Thank you for such quick replies! I will try the s. aspirin as I've got some, then it's off to boots (they're doing well out of my misery!) tomorrow. Someone said this particular strain can last up to 5 weeks?! Hope not Saronne x Paris Nicole Dorothy Germaine Jordan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I don't want to worry you but five weeks sounds about right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Poor you. Sorry but research has shown cough mixtures don't work so try what you like or lemon and honey. But suggest you try sleeping a bit propped up so stuff in your nose doesn't run down your airways in night or try sleeping on your side so you don't wake up coughing. Take a month off work and sit by a nice log fire with a glass of brandy and a chook on your feet and one under your arm and you'll feel better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I've got it too. My christmas dinner was a roast potato and a bowl of icecream. I've never had such a soe throat. Buttercup Syrup is helpful I find. I'm on my 3rd bottle. Everyone I've met who had had it has muttered baout 5 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Oh joy - I'm coming to the end of the second week of mine and am not relishing the thought of another three weeks! Have been doing some reading on the net about it and found out a few things: 1. Most of the over the counter remedies may have little more than a placebo effect (however, if it works because it's a placebo then it still works, eh!) 2. Pholcodeine is a cough suppressant so can help to stop the coughing 3. You should drink plenty of liquids 4. Sometimes a humidifier can help as it keeps your throat moist. Someone suggested putting a wet towel over the radiator when you go to bed. However, we turn our heating off at night so all we'd end up with is a cold wet towel in the morning - eurgh! 5. Buttercup syrup and simple linctus can help relieve the soreness which may help break the cycle 6. I find supping hot blackcurrant also seems to help and there's new research to support this http://www.thefamilygp.com/common-cold-and-hot-drinks.htm TTFN Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Good to read that I am on the right tack with the Buttercup Syrup! I have had an unexplained passion for hot Vimto too. Perhaps I should change it for Ribena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I am steering clear of this thread then as I do not want to catch it Hope you all manage to shake it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 I like Plum's advice re: month off work, brandy and log fire . It seems so unfair that I've managed to keep it at bay until my annual leave for Christmas! Egluntine, you're right, my throat has NEVER felt so sore. I've been gargling with diluted hydrogen peroxide (3% solution). The guy at my local Chemist's said it was quite safe to do so and it seems to have calmed some of the soreness and inflammation. Thanks everyone for all your sympathy and advice. Saronne x Paris Nicole Dorothy Germaine Jordan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 one advantage of being a brittle asthmatic is that the Docs WANT to treat me when i have a cough i had escaped this bug even though I'm faced with a procession of people coughing & spluttering all day every day that was, until New Years eve sore throat cough and sinusitis Luckily I have an emergency supply of medication at home, steroids and domestos strength antibiotics. But for those who aren't so lucky inhaling steam really helps, with tea tree oil eucalyptus and lavender, ibuprofen if you are ok to take it and paracetamol. there is some evidence that hot drinks do help soothe sore throats, so the hot honey and lemon your gran swore by has some basis in truth, echinnea for no more than a week. Do try to drink more (no not the whole bottle ) try to rest and take time off work if you can - not for those of us in healthcare I'm afraid you have to be near death to warra nt time off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 one advantage of being a brittle asthmatic is that the Docs WANT to treat me when i have a cough i had escaped this bug even though I'm faced with a procession of people coughing & spluttering all day every day that was, until New Years eve sore throat cough and sinusitis Luckily I have an emergency supply of medication at home, steroids and domestos strength antibiotics. But for those who aren't so lucky inhaling steam really helps, with tea tree oil eucalyptus and lavender, ibuprofen if you are ok to take it and paracetamol. there is some evidence that hot drinks do help soothe sore throats, so the hot honey and lemon your gran swore by has some basis in truth, echinnea for no more than a week. Do try to drink more (no not the whole bottle ) try to rest and take time off work if you can - not for those of us in healthcare I'm afraid you have to be near death to warrant time off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Oh no, you pooor thing....I'm worried I'm starting with something as my throat and neck are burning, and I have a thumping headache...I always panic at this time of year as I'm on medication which reduces my immune system so don't want to get anything. I got a chest infection last year which lasted 4 months! Hope you're better soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 Wow, thank you again for all those replies... Although I'm still suffering, here's what I've found so far that has helped; 1. Lots of water at hand to sip - especially when one of those dreaded cough attacks start 2. Alternating between Ibuprofen and paracetemal - Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory (helps to reduce any swelling in throat or aches and pains in muscles), paracetemal is good for pain relief but not anti-inflammatory - and, like ibuprofen, you have to limit how often you take it. 3. Home-made hot toddies; Juice of a lemon, couple of spoons of honey, swig of brandy all topped up with hottish water (not boiling, coz you don't want to kill the vit C in the lemon). 4. Gargling with diluted hydrogen peroxide solution , e.g. 1 part h.p. to 3 parts warm water. This is good as it actually kills bacteria that may be brewing on your tonsils, etc. 5. Satsumas, grapes or anything cool and juicy 6. Sleeping with a bobble hat on your head - looks stupid, but seems to help especially if you have sinus or earache, as well. 7. Watching lots of telly in your softest fleeciest pyjamas under a duvet, with a cat to snuggle up to - plus full control of the remote... We should keep this list going - gargling with soluble asprin was mentioned earlier - that sounds good as it's an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. Saronne x Paris Nicole Dorothy Germaine Jordan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 I hope you feel better soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistachio Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 I've had this one too I'm on about week 6 and I think it's beginning to wane. However, cold air seems to make it worse as does Ukadex and conifer trees. It's brought back a bit of asthma that I haven't had for about 20 years I find keeping my temperature as constant as possible helps as does antihistamines because it wards off the allergies that I get more of with a cough. Might try the cough supressant for the few hours in the week when i really must not have a coughing fit. thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Cold air definitely aggravates it. I practically went into Status Asthmaticus yesterday when I went out to the hens. Had to use my inhaler! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Poor Little Miss Webmuppet is coughing worse than ever..........she is off to the doctors later to be checked out, just in case. She was awake half the night coughing. It's back to school Tuesday and she had the bug since before they finished for Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 Yes, cold air certainly aggravates my cough which is why I'm now going around with a bobble hat day and niight. I look silly, but who cares. Saronne x Paris Nicole Dorothy Germaine Jordan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I can't source Buttercup Syrup anwhere...have tried 3 supermarkets and 2 chemists! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I've always found these to relieve horrible persistant coughs. I sent Leann (chickenlass) some when she had a terrible cough and she thought they were a huge relief too. You can get them in Asda, not sure about supermarkets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 From a very generalised perspective Belladonna as a homeopathic remedy has helped a lot of these coughs over Christmas. It does depend on the individual symptoms of the cough as to which remedy is most appropriate, but Belladonna does seem to be shifting a lot of them (genus epidemicus for this particular bug). Worth a try to see if it helps, you should be able to get it in 30c from Boots or Holland and Barrett. My family have definately had this cough a lot less than 5 weeks - my son probably about a week, daughter 2 weeks and she is the one who always gets the lingering coughs! I would take one dose in water and repeat again the next day; see what happens, homeopathy can work wonders if it is the right remedy. If Belladonna doesn't work then it could be you just need a different remedy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Cold air definitely aggravates it. I practically went into Status Asthmaticus yesterday when I went out to the hens. Had to use my inhaler! status eh nasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
