Why me........??

I had to resort to Night Nurse too starbird which at least allowed me to get some sleep. I agree no good if you want/need to function the next morning though.

The sinus pains and headaches were like nothing I have experienced.

Hot toddy has my vote. Also hot water, lemon, honey, cinnamon and ginger is a powerful combo. Add a splash of whiskey and you will be sorted in no time.

I had the same thing starting 5 days before Christmas, it’s nearly over but not 100%. Aggravated by post nasal drip from sinuses and acid reflux., and more recently mild diarrhea. The initial headache felt like a brain tumour and the co codamol I usually take as a last resort, made me so sick that for a whole day even one sip of water made me vomit.

What helped were some Vic patches for children - I stuck one on my pyjama top at night near my left shoulder (as I sleep on the right), and night nurse but only if you don’t mind feeling dead all the next morning.

I know exactly how you (and others) are feeling Katek most of my family (including me) were ill over the Christmas holidays.

To be honest I'm still feeling rubbish but back to work now so have to get on with it.

OP do you think you’ve got this Australian flu that everyone’s expecting? Sounds like you have the symptoms. Hope you feel better soon. Don’t rush things and take it easy.

Couple teaspoons of Manuka honey (if you can afford it - so expensive) or a best alternative, grated ginger and juice of one lime. Steep in hot water then drink.
Olbas oil - fee drops in steaming water in a bowl. Cover head with towel then spend some time inhaling slowly.
Another one - tiger balm - the clear one so doesn’t stain. Cover the chest and back. Works wonders for me.

Thanks to all of you who have sent me good wishes and handy hints but oh dear, why is there always someone who thinks they know/understand the medical condition of someone whom they wouldn’t know if they fell over them in the street.

For clarification I am a chronic asthmatic of 50 years standing. My peak flow is less than half of normal (at its best) and my oxygen sats can drop pretty low when I have any type of viral or bacterial infection affecting my lungs. I have to be aware of the risk of respiratory failure at these times and use all my arsenal of drugs:inhalers/nebulisers to get me through without a hospital admission. Succeeded so far but it’s always a risk. So you see it’s not just a case of a few sniffles or getting a grip-I’ve been struggling to walk 3mtrs from bed to loo.

I didn’t go to the theatre - dd2 filled in for me along with dh. I was just very disappointed as this has been our annual treat with dgc since they were 4. We go out for pre theatre meal and then the panto, front row dress circle so wouldn’t have been breathing on anyone. This may have been the last Xmas treat as they’re now getting older.

I certainly would have been trying to keep my germs to myself - muffled up with big scarf and sitting on row end next to dh. I do have to point out though, that someone certainly didn’t take any precautions around me or I wouldn’t have been so ill

So either I’m not trying hard enough or I’m swanning around blithely dispersing a trail of germs to all and sundry

There’s no winning is there? Ah well-back to Silent Witness on the planner along with my ginger infusion, bronchial balsam, pineapple juice and honey and menthol!

This thread has cheered me up.I have had a cough since Boxing Day, I dont sleep for many hours because of this, then one day seems to be allright, not much coughing, its getting better! Then it starts again, I now know after reading the threads today, this is normal, and so many have the same thing, so onwards and upwards.

katek
Coughs/ colds viruses are treatable by using common sense.
Shouldn't we all look at a quotation by a long gone famous person
' I cried when I had no shoes until I saw a man with no feet.' Think about it.
Take paracetamol or similar, drink lots of fluids and don't go out what ever you may miss.

Stay away from people.

Just read an article here (in Oz) saying pineapple juice is best for a cough - could add that to your ever increasing shopping list! Hope you soon feel better

Also, worst thing for me in having cough and sneezing is the constant weeing that goes with it. Stock up with Tena!

I take it you didn't go to panto? It would have been madness IMHO. Also you'd generously pass round your bugs!

poor you. I've had it too, but nothing like as badly as you. Had a filthy sore throat for days, which has left me with a non stop running nose not to mention a cough that wont go away. I swear by Oil of Olbas for a sinusy headache - sniff it, put drops on a handkerchief, drops on your pillow etc. Also well worth investing in a jar of manuka honey - the most expensive you can afford (and it doesn't come cheap, even in the supermarkets). It has antibacterial properties, and in the past has been a life saver. Take spoonfuls of that at intervals during the day! Also there are some mega vitamin tablets, called Wellness which I stuff myself with when I'm not well.
Really hope, and everyone else, feel better soon. We've all joined a club we don't want to be a member of....too bad!

IMHO the only cough medicine that works is Mentholated Bronchial Balsam. It's usually less than two quid a bottle.
Bells make one, and Tesco do their own. It really does do the trick, if you can stand the strong taste.
NB. If you've a pre-existing condition best check the label to make sure nothing is going to mess with your medication. I'm sure you wise gals were going to do that anyway, but when we're ill we're not our proper selves!

Take a lot of sweets to suck at panto

Can't someone else take your place? Is it fair to go to a theatre, an enclosed place, and infect others with this awful virus some of whom maybe in the at risk group of elderly and young children. I would not want you sitting next to my husband for 2 hours plus as he has both respiratory and heart conditions and he would find it difficult to fight such a virus and might end up in hospital or worse.

Do it the French way. Get a load of eucalyptus, cinnamon, and camphor drops. Don't inhale it, stick a couple of drops of each on honey and swallow it. It will take the top of your head but won't half sort the sniffles etc.

You have my sympathy and like many posters here I've had it too. I'm on my 3rd week now so I'm hoping there's just one more week of suffering to go. If it's the Aussie flu it's just been mentioned on R2 by Ken Bruce. On the bright side we'll build up resistance and won't get this particular strain again.
I've a funeral on Friday so I'll take lots of cough sweets with me, the crematorium is quite stuffy at the best of times and once you get that tickle at the back of your throat . . .

I'm not one for pills and frankly think that colds and coughs take just as long to disappear whether or not you take any remedies BUT, on the night before Christmas Eve I had the first headache of my entire life...right behind my eyes,) followed by a dry cough and violent sneezing. Friend bought pelargonium root tablets from Holland & Barrett for me (doc says they're stronger/more effective than anything he can prescribe) They worked right away. One a day. Read about it. I hope you are well enough to enjoy the day out.

The same virus knocked me out for the whole of November. I was in bed for most of it, which I still haven't gotten over completely. The cough still takes the wind out of my sails at least once a day even though the rest of the symptoms have gone!

It's a deep cough that comes right from the bottom of the belly, taking my breath away as I feel like I can't breath. The cough lasts for what feels like a minute.

Get better soon however to cheer you up don't expect to be fully clear of it for a while yet!

Listen to me Kate'k, it's all coming your way, you have a bout of the dreaded lurgy it'll be gone soon. You've got a loving hubby trying to cheer you up and wonderful night with DGC, a few sniffles ain't going to stop you surely, get a grip, have a fab night and send those blues flying. ??

Oh dear. Sounds like the bug I had before Christmas- ended up with two rounds of antibiotics- first one for sinusitis and the second one for the chest infection. I absolutely hate taking antibiotics but I have to say they did clear it eventually. Keep warm, stay home and avoid anything strenuous- it will end!!! Hope you feel better soon. X

DH got it first and it lasted for 8 weeks. I got it a week later and it rumbled on for 6 weeks but I had two lots of antibiotics and prednisolone. Being asthmatic I get chest infections at the drop of a hat.
It does go eventually but if the coughing gets bad and you are asthmatic, please get to the GP soonest.

To get a better nights sleep try rubbing vicks all over the soles of your feet then pop on a pair of socks