Turkeygirl Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 You know...one thing I hate about colds is when you have those colds that everything drains back into your throat then you do like I did this morning and cough up some nasty stuff.... This isn't even too bad of a cold, amazingly....my voice has kind of gone hoarse a few times, but my nose isn't as stuffy like some of those colds can be. I bet I got it at the hospital,lol. My RN I was with was getting over one and well you know what people go to the hospital for,lol:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrswtnhunt Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 You need to load up on Vitamin C. If you just caught the cold the boost to your immune system might help you fight it. Also make sure to drink plenty of fluids. If you can keep the stuff thin and watery it will decrease the chances that it will set up in your sinuses. I have heard that ZiCam works, have never tried it myself but it might be worth a shot to knock it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 zicam is the stuff, ruth. better taken at the onset, but still the best to use even when the cold is in full swing. i hope you get to feeling well real soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shorty785 Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 i agree zicam is the stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted January 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Well I pretty much didn't do much today other than take my vitamins, drink juice, and work on my write up for the preceptorship...1 week left of break....guess I'd rather have a cold now than next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladybird Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 I hope you feel better soon,and I agree with the others,drink orange juice,get plenty of rest when you can and take zicam it dose work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 You know...one thing I hate about colds is when you have those colds that everything drains back into your throat then you do like I did this morning and bring up a ball of disgusting, gross stuff.... I stopped reading right there, a little "TMI" Ruth...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 For those of you who are firm believers in Zicam (the formulation with zinc) might be running the risk of anosmia. Here is some interresting reading from the Pharmacist's Letter. Anosmia (Smell Loss) from Zinc Nasal Spray Lead author: Gayle Nicholas Scott, Pharm.D., BCPS, ELS Assistant Editor Zinc and the Common Cold Zinc is nearly as controversial as vitamin C for the common cold. Research is divided on the effect of zinc on colds. A lot of research suggests that zinc lozenges begun within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of cold symptoms reduce the severity and duration of the cold.1-7 But other research shows no effect.8-12 Studies using higher zinc doses tended to show more favorable results. The only two published studies using zinc lozenges in children reached opposite conclusions.13,14 Conducting clinical studies on oral zinc is difficult. Zinc salts have a distinctive unpleasant taste that makes it easy to distinguish from placebos. For zinc to be active against cold viruses, zinc must be sufficiently ionized. Zinc ion availability that is high enough to possibly shorten the duration and severity of common colds will produce a dry or astringent feeling in the mouth. Pleasant tasting zinc lozenges are unlikely to have much antiviral activity. Flavoring agents such as citric acid, mannitol, or sorbitol decrease the extent of zinc ionization.15,30 Zinc Nasal Spray - Another Set of Problems In theory, putting zinc at an important portal of cold virus entry and proliferation, the nose, should increase its effectiveness. Also, oral zinc is unacceptable to many people in terms of taste and convenience (it must be taken every two to three hours). Zinc in nasal spray form might increase efficacy while avoiding the problems of oral zinc products. But using the nasal spray may be exchanging one set of problems for another. Zinc nasal spray hasn't been studied as much as zinc lozenges. Like the lozenges, research on intranasal zinc is conflicting. Industry sponsored studies of zinc gluconate nasal gel (Zicam) report dramatic results: zinc nasal spray lessens cold symptom severity and duration by up to 75%.16,17 But, other studies have found no effect.18,19 Zinc gluconate nasal spray can cause a tingling and burning sensation in the nose.16 It has been associated anecdotally with anosmia (loss of the sense of smell). There is some animal and human evidence to support this possibility. In the 1930's before the discovery of the Salk vaccine, the polio virus was thought to enter the body though the nose via the olfactory nerve. Children were given "paralysis nose spray" to prevent the polio virus from infecting the nose. The nose spray, which contained zinc sulfate as the active ingredient, did not protect against polio. But loss of sense of smell and/or taste occurred in 25% of children. In some children, the loss was permanent.20 Animal research suggests that intranasal zinc sulfate adversely affects sense of smell.21,22 It is sometimes used in animals to induce experimental anosmia.23-25 The intranasal application of ionized zinc seems to damage the olfactory epithelium and olfactory neurons.21,22 In humans, there are several case reports of anosmia with zinc gluconate nasal spray (Zicam, Cold-Eeze). Anosmia may be dose related but has been reported following a single application.26,27 Lawsuits alleging zinc nasal spray as the causative agent for loss of smell have been filed.28 The Bottom Line There's not enough research to know if zinc gluconate nasal spray causes anosmia [Evidence level D; anecdotal evidence]. In the four clinical studies available, anosmia was not reported, but it was also not considered as a potential adverse effect.16-19 Anosmia and other smell disturbances can occur after viral respiratory illnesses, and secondary to head injury, nasal or sinus disease, and cigarette smoking. Smell can be affected by neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Ironically, anosmia may be a symptom of zinc deficiency.29 Tell patients that the efficacy of zinc gluconate nasal spray is questionable. Until more is known, the use of zinc gluconate nasal spray is not worth the possible risk of anosmia. Not all Zicam and Cold-Eeze products contain zinc. Zicam and Cold-Eeze are also names of several different products ranging from oxymetazoline (the active ingredient in Afrin) to homeopathic mixtures. Steer patients away from zinc-containing nasal sprays until more is known about safety and efficacy. Report any problems from nasal zinc products to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch/index.html or 800-FDA-1088. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tp793 Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 I have the same thing...mostly just in the head but anytime I lower my head it feels like it weighs a hundred pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 I have had what sounds like the same cold for the past week,. Unbelievable amounts of stuff coming out of my sinuses. A couple of the guys I works with have been going on and on about how well the NETI-POT works for a cold or sinus infection. Finally on Saturday I asked my wife to pick one up for me. I tried it Saturday afternoon when I got out of work. It isn't the most pleasant thing to do, but the results have been pretty amazing. Most of the post nasal drip is gone. The junk that I have been coughing up is gone. And, I have barely been sneezing at all. For me, it seems to last 10 hours or so. It didn't take away the physical aches and general crappy feeling of the cold, but it sure did clear my head. I honestly thought it was a gimmick, but there is definitely something to it. Well worth the $15 it cost! My wife had trouble finding one here, they were sold out almost every where she went. http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100095&navAction=jump&navCount=0&id=prod3356564 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 Load up on the Vitamin C & drink tons of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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