Fed up with this cold!

[Tallgirl]

Myself and DH have both had horrible snotty cold for over a week now and just cant seem to shift it. I'm on the echinacea and Vitamin C/Zinc but not helped so far. Any tips please! I am very busy at the moment what with DS birthday next week, Christmas and the usual load of stuff so probably a bit run down which is maybe why cant shift this.

Any advice/miracle cures would be very welcome! Thanks a lot

[GeorginaA]

No miracle cure only sympathy.

Am only on day 3 and I feel like I'm suffocating... Feeling doubly guilty for all the "pull yourself together" type comments I gave the kids last week when they had it!

[gossifer]

tallgirl, cannot help, only wallow in pity with you, had it for a week, felt better last wednesday, went on a long overdue clothes shopping trip for ds and got it again!
lots of liquids and get well soon

[Fimbo]

My poor dd has had the cold for nearly 2 weeks, she even got sent home from school on Friday because she was shivering so much, she has gone back today but complained of a sore ear on the way in, so I am just waiting for the phone call to go and collect her again... - and now I have it too - you have my sympathies

[tex111]

Just wanted to revive this thread in the hope of getting some info myself. Me, DH, DS (3 years) and DD (one month) all have it and it's a nightmare. DS is coughing all night and I'm so worried about DD being ill while she's so tiny that I can't sleep even when everyone else can.

Any advice for DS's cough? We're using a humidifier with a little Olbas Oil to help clear his nose and he's been taking Medised. Is there a better decongestant we should try? I wondered about TixyColds. Anything besides saline solution that I can use for DD?

And what do you guys recommend for me and DH? We've been taking Beecham's Flu capsules but I'm open to anything that helps. We have a Neals' Yard nearby and I'd love to know about any homeopathic remedies you can recommend.

[GeorginaA]

I haven't found any cough medicine that actually works, tbh - they're all a big waste of money. That said though, I saw recently that Nelson's (as in the homeopathic people - you get their clickpaks in Boots) do a homeopathic cough syrup thing for kids... I might give that a go if I'm feeling optimistic again sometime. We're big fans of medised here, in fact even I resorted to using some for myself at 2am last night (was in the "can't sleep I'm suffocating" mode again)

I keep getting recommended Night Nurse for us, but I keep forgetting to go to the pharmacy in daylight hours when I'm feeling okay (not great, but okay) - it's just at night it all seems to build up and turn into monster cold from hell.

[Mercy]

Totally sympathise with you all!

Boots do a cough remedy for children which I think is homeopathic and it's called something like ipecacuana. Simple linctus is ok for a ticky cough.

Texx; I don't think there is anything you can do for such a tiny baby. Pharmacist recommended saline drops for ds when he was 7 weeks with a stinking cold - not sure if it made any real difference though. Is she blocked up? or coughing?

[Mercy]

BTW how do you get your kids to take Medised? ds just spits it out even when I've used a syringe type thing.

Just remembered: I use Karvol capsules sprinkled on to a muslin cloth and tied it to the cot bars near the head

[Fimbo]

My ds (nearly 2) hates medised but will take it if you syringe tiny bits into his mouth (takes ages - lol) or you can put it into their drink, but my ds can taste it.

[tex111]

Mercy, DD is blocked up and occasionally coughing. The saline drops seem to help briefly then she fills right back up again. So distressing for both of us!

[GeorginaA]

Medised: use syringe, small amounts at a time, and to the side of the back of the throat so they're more likely to reflexly swallow it

Mind you, have you ever tasted it? It's ghastly stuff - no wonder they complain!

[Mercy]

Ok thanks, will try a little bit a time - if I can pin him down and get him to open his mouth that is!

Tex111: another tip is to raise the head end of the cot slightly (couple of books or something) as this can make breathing a bit easier, or let her sleep in the car seat if you have one. Does the cough sound chesty at all? Could you put the humidifier in her room?

[annobal]

Have ds1 and ds2 on high dosages of vit c, echinacea and acidophillus (they've been on so many antibiotics lately!). They're still bunged up and coughing though. I did hear a rememdy tonight from a friend's physio... lay ds/dd on your lap and gently hit their back with your hands cupped - it loosens their chest. Also getting them to laugh a lot helps to loosen the chest too (and you feel a lot better hearing them laugh .

[tex111]

Annobal, what kind of dose of vit C are you giving your boys and how old are they? I've been thinking about doing that with DS (who's 3) but I have no idea what a safe dosage would be.

[annobal]

I give them powder and add it to their food. I'm giving my 2-yr old about a 1/4 tea spoon on each meal and my 10 month old about half of that. I also give them the same quantity of acidophillus. The "all knowing" owner of health food store nearby said that they would get runny bottoms if I gave too much and then to cut back - that hasn't happenned. If I have added more, they can taste it and refuse to eat it as it tastes awful!! Touch wood they haven't had a cold for the week that I have started this! Good luck

[annobal]

Sorry - the powder I'm referring to is vitamin c...