Ok, woke up with a hot dry throat

[Jenise]

And don't skip doses. The "every 4 hours" line is not there just to use ink.)

You mean every THREE hours. See? I read the directions. Will do, doc. They reccomend this not cease until 48 hours after the symptoms disappear. Not excited about that, but okay. And will do re the heavy artillery: my body came with inbred respiratory issues so I keep a pulmonologist on staff. But early on I tend to be the stoic type and have never learned how to properly 'nip it in the bud' early.

Yeah, I vaguely recall seeing the words "I tend to be the stoic type" engraved on a tombstone somewhere.

Good luck - I hope this one passes quickly for you

what does tantric mean?

Who cares, as long as the word "sex" follows it

Hard to argue with that

Jeff

Hope you're feeling better soon, Jenise! I thought you were dying when I saw this thread had only been posted a few hours ago and there were already over 20 replies!

My suggestions are rest and time. David Attenborough wildlife videos also seem to help, as does sipping on port or muscat if the throat gets too sore.

Get well soon!

Celia

Jenise,

If the problem is dry winter air, I suggest the advice from my best friend from childhood, who is now a research pulmonologist. Get one of the traditional steam vaporizers, such as Vick's markets. Ultrasonic humidifiers are the worst, because what they do, in effect, is to take all the dust mites, spores, and other antigen particles in the air and mix them with micro-droplets of water to form an aerosol that you then inhale. Second worse are the wick-style humidifiers, because you're at the mercy of how clean (in terms of bacteria and mildew) the wick is. But the good ole-fashioned steam vaporizer sends sterilized moisture into the air.

Otherwise, it's most likely post-nasal drip due to a cold. Don't worry, in that case--it will pass in a few days.

Or you may be as I am, and suffer from chronic moderate sinusitis due to asthma, which kicks up every winter due to the cold, dry air.

If the ole nasal plumbing gets grouchy, the saline sinus rinses available over-the-counter can work miracles.

The next step up is fluticasone propionate, which is only available by prescription. It worked miracles for me when I ended up with chronic severe sinus headaches following an acute viral sinus infection. If you end up with continual splitting headaches due to sinus inflammation, be sure to seek professional help and this is probably what they'll proscribe.

There are other more drastic measures available for even more severe cases, but I don't like to think about them.

And if it's just a simple, grouchy throat, the rum toddy remedies already suggested can work miracles.

-Paul W.

But the good ole-fashioned steam vaporizer sends sterilized moisture into the air.

However, these cost the most to run.

The wick models, if carefully managed, are acceptable.

The ultrasonic ones, and their white dust brethren, are to be avoided.

However, I have one question - what does tantric mean? LOL

Where to start? The term "tantric" properly refers to the Tantras, scriptures pertaining to the esoteric traditions of both Hinduism and Buddhism. As normally applied in the term "tantric sex," though it refers to the use sexual practice as a route to enlightenment, a concept that first appeared in Hinduism, but reappeared in the Buddhist tradition in the form of the Vajrayana ("Tantric Buddhism"), which is itself a subject worthy of an entire treatise.

Mark Lipton

So let's see. In the "route to enlightenment" department, I could choose something like doing a hundred mile pilgramage on my knees while whipping my bare back with thorny branches. OR I could become enlightened via sex.

Some decisions are difficult. Some are less so....

You ain't kidding about it being an easy decision.

You don't have to take the thorny branches out to dinner first OR listen to how it's day went (or pretend to).

[Jenise]

You don't have to take the thorny branches out to dinner first OR listen to how it's day went (or pretend to).

You are SO bad. I only have one comment, and I've never said these words aloud on this forum before but hey I'm sick so forgive me: thorny branches don't give blow jobs.

Progress report: I've taken the Zicam as prescribed, even popping one whenever I woke up during the night if three hours had passed since the last one. It has mostly been like a very light cold (which I didn't even think was possible) and I credit the Zicam with preventing me from ever being 100% stuffed up--no cold medicine needed. In fact, yesterday it had changed from Friday to the cold-hot-clammy stage of my body temperature trying to get back to normal, and I was sure I was getting over it. However, today it seems to have settled into my chest, and I'm stuggling not to cough that rough cough of the inflamed lungs, but it's a fight I sense I'm going to lose before the day's out. I sound like Thelma Ritter.

thorny branches don't give blow jobs.

You obviously need to work on your persuasion technique. Have you tried roses? Spanish guitar? Roofies?

If none of them work, then I'm sorry. The branch just doesn't find you attractive.

Amateur.

Hey hey, glad to hear the zinc-a-thon is doing you right! You just keep plugging away there according to directions, and you'll be up and nagging like a Real Woman again in no time - minus the wheeze. Rock on, Thelma!

I know that I'm late here, but maybe for future reference (hopefully you're feeling better by now!), this just came up on another forum that I frequent. I can't personally vouch for it, but with that much garlic and cilantro, it might just do the trick:

2 qts of chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup chopped garlic
Olive Oil
1 bunch fresh cilantro
Juice and zest of 2 limes
salt to taste

saute' garlic in olive oil......then add broth and cilantro.
Simmer for about 30min, add the zest and juice of two limes
salt to taste and serve


This is awesome for colds and flu......and it makes a great base for other soups. I like to add other veggies and some kind of meat (leftovers)...It can also be converted into a great leak and potato soup.

Jenise,

If the problem is dry winter air, I suggest the advice from my best friend from childhood, who is now a research pulmonologist. Get one of the traditional steam vaporizers, such as Vick's markets.

Paul,

What do you recommend to clean the heating element? I have tried vinegar and CLR on my Honeywell warm vaporizer but cannot get my element clean which means the unit will not operate.

A possible suggestion: Muriatic acid (building supply stores) will get any calcium deposit cleaned off, but be careful handling it. You'd have to rinse the vaporizer several times afterward, also.

A possible suggestion: Muriatic acid (building supply stores) will get any calcium deposit cleaned off, but be careful handling it. You'd have to rinse the vaporizer several times afterward, also.

Muriatic acid is another name for hydrochloric acid (HCl). It should be used with due caution, meaning having protective clothing, eyewear and rubber gloves on. I agree that it will remove scale deposits post-haste. The main concern is whether the rest of the vaporizer is stable to hydrochloric acid. If it's made of plastic, there might be issues.

Mark Lipton

[Jenise]

I know that I'm late here, but maybe for future reference (hopefully you're feeling better by now!), this just came up on another forum that I frequent. I can't personally vouch for it, but with that much garlic and cilantro, it might just do the trick:

2 qts of chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup chopped garlic
Olive Oil
1 bunch fresh cilantro
Juice and zest of 2 limes
salt to taste

saute' garlic in olive oil......then add broth and cilantro.
Simmer for about 30min, add the zest and juice of two limes
salt to taste and serve

This is awesome for colds and flu......and it makes a great base for other soups. I like to add other veggies and some kind of meat (leftovers)...It can also be converted into a great leak and potato soup.

Skye, how sweet of you to post that. I've had soup like that--once in Phuket, Thailand, I was very sick, and I asked the hotel kitchen to send me some soup for breakfast. The above, with the addition of rice, was what they sent me. In all this time I've thought it was simply what they had on hand, but in light of your recipe I'm now realizing it might have been a deliberate choice. It sure helped at the time.

Today, for the first time, I did not wake up sicker than the day before, so I'm finally on the mend. Started running fevers on Sunday so it appears to have been some kind of a flu after all. Haven't been eating much. Half a mug of soup per day of a soup I made Friday when all this started, some juice, and strangely, yesterday and today, slices of cold avocado have tasted good. I think tonight I'll actually be ready for a real meal!

I don't have a good remedy for removing mineral deposits on the electrodes of a vaporizer. I second the suggestion of mild hydrochloric acid solution.

Better still would be prevention: since obviously you have hard (mineral-salt-rich) water, I suggest using distilled water or filtered (Britta or whatnot) water in the vaporizer. You will need to add a tiny pinch of table salt if you're using distilled water.

You should also make sure that, between uses, you don't leave the electrode assembly immersed in the water reservoir.

-Paul W.

I bought a steam vaporizer for our bedroom last weekend, since the dry air has been playing hob with my sinuses, and the care instructions said to immerse the heating element in vinegar for a half hour or so weekly, to remove stubborn mineral deposits. I'll need to try it this weekend, since our water apparently has plenty of it.

If you think it's going to become a cold, try the zinc lozenges. They have worked for me, I believe.

Jeff, do have have a brand that your prefer? I just checked my medicine cabinet and I have half a package that just says Zinc Lozenges, Elderberry flaror. Have no idea how long it has been in there.

I usually buy Cold-Eeze. (On the other hand, I don't know that zinc ever goes bad, and time is of the essence -- slurp them in the first 48 hrs or forget it -- so I say slap that elderberry antique in yer mouth, THEN go shopping.)

I'm with you on this one...Cold-Eeze are great! Good luck Jenise!