I've got a cold

For chronic sinusitis, a neti pot using warmed sterile water with sea salt, twice/day for about 10 days (yes, it's a nuisance but worth the trouble), will shift the old catarrh clogging the sinuses. Be prepared for a lot of old and dark coloured mucus to pass out. This may have to be repeated over several weeks

Please research thoroughly before embarking because the nasal water must be sterile and your neti pot thoroughly cleaned, sterilised and air dried between uses

I had chest infections / cough since august last year,cumulated at xmas then got co-proxiclav precribed on boxing day,from hospital dr,only a weeks though,but it now seems to have done the trick,(fingers crossed) in meantime id had 4 different lots of ampicillin,various cough/ cold remedies,camera up nose,chest xray,all no help.plus a very strong antibiotic at xmas i had a nasty reaction to,..now ive had visit to chest clinic who has ordered xray again,then maybe a scan,and thinks its asthma, personally i thought could be allergies- but i was coughing something up when i was very bad,so it stumps me what it is.Was much improved though by putting a small dish of water near the radiators as i used to do in winter when my kids were little.( helped when theyd bad chests,id forgot about that) Has helped enormously.try it.

I also used a Netizen pot....it works for about two hours then all comes flooding back.

Theyre sold out of hand sanitizer gel EVERYWHERE,even online,due to coronavirus,but as my teenage son pointed out " if its a killer virus how do they think hand gel will help?"

Gagajo.... I had chronic sinusitis last year.... it lasted 7 months ... had three lots of anti-biotics) didn’t work ...Doctor finially sent me to hospital as I was getting no sleep (2 hours at most). consultant took one look with camera ( up nose) and put me on co-proxiclav anti-bio’s ...within three days everything started to clear up. I was in them for three weeks...after 7 miserable months I was better. Unfortunately I feel it’s all starting up again....same time as last year!!

Another vote from me for the neti pot. So simple and so effective clears out the sinuous just using mild salt water. You must use water that has been previously boiled and then cooled to just warm, it’s very soothing as well to stuffed up sinuses.

A good sniff of Olbas oil works wonders for colds etc. It's also a great cure for muscle aches too. I always have a bottle of it " in case " because I can't take any cold/flu preparations with warfarin.

I had an op to correct deviated septum & clear out sinuses in November following severe sinusitis. After the op my consultant advised using the ‘Neil Med nasal douche’ mentioned up thread. It works well & he also told me that I could make my own douche by mixing equal parts of salt & bicarbonate of soda. It’s a slightly unpleasant thing to do everyday but it really clears out the tubes!

i use my own spray of sea salt christals and tap water. Works a treat!

I developed a sinus infection before Christmas though just thought it was a bad cold. Put up with it for weeks. Unable to sleep as pain got worse during the night. Couldn't close teeth together. Tried all the sprays trying to fix the "cold" symptoms. Had to give in and see GP who when touching my face and back of head thought I was going to be sick, so painful. Sinusitis diagnosed and antibiotics given. Dr told me a cold shouldn't be painful and I should have been sooner, signs of ear infection too. Hope it is a cold/allergy you have and it clears soon.

@paddyanne I feel your pain. As I write this my eyes and nose are streaming, I haven’t had a proper voice for a week and trying to cope with the whole too hot/ too cold achy bones thing.
I have taken today off sick from work, look like I will have to take tomorrow as well as I am a nurse working with the elderly. But I don’t get paid sick leave and next month will be so difficult having lost 24 hours of wages

Can’t give any advice Paddyann, except it looks like you’ll just have to sit it out. Anyway, I hope you’re feeling better soon.

Salt water sprays don't do anything in my experience. They just clean out the nasal passages. Are you sure its a cold and not sinusitis, in which case you will need an antibiotic from your GP. It will not clear up without it.. Or it could be allergy. Try Flixonase or Pirenase. I suffer from rhinitis which gives you a permanently runny nose and nasal drip which causes you to cough. For years I thought I was catching one cold after another.

It doesn’t work for me!

Was recommended to use Sterimar by the consultant after a nose operation (deviated septum) to prevent infection/blockage and it did the job!

How do you use the sinus rinse, Moggycuddler? I think my sinuses need a clean out. I've been holding on to this stuffy nose for weeks since the cold itself finished.

Does Beconase actually help you Phloembundle? I was prescribed it years ago and used it for a week or so but made no difference.

Colloidal Silver will knock it on the head

I have constant sinus problems and find sterimar only gives temporary relief. I, also didn't want yet more antibiotics so have resorted to Beconase nasal spray, which I have to admit is helping, although I don't like using a steroid because I already have to due to asthma.

I’ve had a cold and cough since Christmas - don’t think it’s the same one as the grandchildren love sharing bugs - but there’s no way I could take time off work. I know I’m not indispensable but I need the money!!!

Sterimar is really effective, and non "addictive" as some other sprays are, I took Otrivine spray years ago and couldnt get off it never used the like since then.Take plenty of vit C drink lots, drinks with honey and lemon are soothing too.Get well soon.

If the Sterimar spray doesn't help - perhaps you could ask your doctor for Mometasone spray. I am taking BP meds myself and this is what my doctor prescribes for me when I have sinus problems.

Last bug I had lasted nearly 2months. Cough and cold, bad chest infection temperature up and down. Took 3 courses of antibiotics and a short course of steroids to shift it. X-ray showed lung infection too. I have COPD so perhaps that's why, but OH caught it and still lasted 4 weeks

It's ok but what you really need is Neilmed Sinus Rinse. Buy a kit with a bottle and sachets. You dissolve the sachets in boiled water (left to cool to body temperature) and wash out your nose and sinuses with that. You can use it once or upto 3 times a day for ever if you like. It rinses all the mucus and debris out and feels much better after. I suffer from chronic rhinitis and I've used this for years. There are full instructions and you can buy on Amazon.

DH swears by this

Sterimar is great give it time get well soon