The Cough and Cold that comes and goes....

[IDismyname]

There is a bug going round that most people seem to have had. Its basically a mildish cold, but a whopper of a cough. You get it for a while, it dies down, then comes back with a vengeance.

I'm on Day 18 of this... Had a few days break earlier on this week, then its back. I felt so rotten, I went to bed yesterday afternoon for a couple of hours. (I last went to bed ill about 8 years ago!)

I'm on daily Berocca, am just finishing my second bottle of cough mixture. Both DH and DS think I should go to the Doctor with it, but I think I'll be laughed out of the surgery.

I'm asthmatic, so have been taking all my inhalers to stop it turning into a chest infection which so far - I've managed.

So - I guess my question is...

How the hell do I shift it...?

Any suggestions as to cough mixture, special vitamin mixtures... anything really.

Feel so fed up!

[IDismyname]

Cough!

[Soveryupset]

I seem to be having it too, with a bout of laryngitis to match - e.g. losing my voice. It really is rubbish, I hate it. I am currently in bed feeling rotten. Argh...

[silverfingersandtoes]

I seem to have had it for a couple of months. Every time I think I've shifted it it starts again, with sore throat and swollen glands too.

[IDismyname]

I lost my voice for the first week entirely. It's now back...just. But by the end of the day I have very little left.

What are you doing to kick your system into fighting it?

[Germgirl]

I'm at the 'just had a cold which has now gone but I still have the cough from hell' stage. Are you telling me it's going to hang around for ages?!
Great!
I get a lot of coughs, the only thing I've found that helps slightly is steam inhalation and maybe nasal washouts. No medicine helps although cough pastilles can help slightly for a short time.
Hope everyone feels better soon.

[FaFoutis]

I have this, since well before Christmas. I thought the hideous cough had gone but it came back yesterday. I'm glad it is a thing and not just me.
Cough, cough. Always twice.

I have tried cough mixtures without success. I had an argumet with the pharmacist about the categorisation of coughs into 'tickly', 'dry' and 'chesty'. What if it all three (mine is)?

[FaFoutis]

Apologies for rubbish speed typing!

[MatildaTheCat]

Ask for a blood test for whooping cough. It's massively under diagnosed because only bloods, apparently can confirm it. Unfortunately my blood test took another 17 days to confirm this so I was more or less over it by the time the diagnosis came.

If you feel really rough and suspect whooping cough, ask your GP for the antibiotics anyway.

[Joneseygirl77]

Another one in bed here. I've had this cold bug on and off since October now. Was going to start a thread myself today asking for tips of how to boost immunity.

My dd started at nursery in November and seems to be passing all of the bugs onto us as well as getting them herself! Problem for me is I'm still breastfeeding so I'm very limited in what I can take for it- basically paracetemol and glycerin cough mixture which is rubbish.

Only thing I'm trying now is probiotics/echinacea and sambucol black elderberry potion...I'm determined to beat this! Seems to have been the worst winter for viruses as everyone I know seems to have had it.

Anyone else got any miracle cures? I can see the nursery bugs lasting until spring at least

[poorbuthappy]

Sympathy here - I've been like it since the beginning of Dec. This week the earache has started...

[FaFoutis]

Matilda thank you. I looked on the NHS site, that is what I have. It is too late for antibiotics for me, but at least I can stop worrying about lung cancer (as you do).

[IDismyname]

Fa I too had the same conversation with the pharmacist yesterday! It starts about 4am as a chesty cough, by 9.00 it's a dry cough all day.

Got a different mix from the chemists. It seemed to suppress the cough for a few hours at night. I just feel so worn down by it.

Off to get Sambucol from Holland and Barrett today. Was also told to chop an onion up, drizzle it in honey, and leave it overnight. Take teaspoons of the honey hourly. Apparently raw onion has anti septic and anti viral properties, and once it's all infused, you cannot taste the onion.

I may go and look up whooping cough. Just to check it's not that.

[MatildaTheCat]

I think the defining thing with whooping cough is that it comes and goes in bursts, paroxysmal is the word. Mine would come on several times a day, or more likely, night but be clear in between. Naturally when I saw the doctor I didn't cough once and my chest sounded clear. It was only because I had seen my DH with it previously I was convincing enough for a blood test.

Th. Was three years ago and I think most gps will be more familiar with it now as it seems to have made a comeback despite vaccination.

[Davegrohlsgirl]

I had the cough for 5 (yes 5 !!!) weeks before christmas, no sleep for that time then it disappeared.........only to return 2 weeks ago.
DH went on the internet and came back with this advice -
Honey, lemon and black pepper in hot water drunk before bed.
It works
no coughing now for 3 consecutive nights

[Adarajames]

Inhaling steam can be helpful, add a drop of thyme essential oil to it makes it way better, but only a drop and keep your eyes closed as it can irritate them. I make up a witches brew with marshmallow (the herb not the sweets!), elderflower, liquorice, thyme (and sometimes few other bits depending on other symptoms) and does really help relieve symptoms and shorten length of it compared to when not used it.

Also worth getting selenium suppliment, and citricidal, both great for cold / flu / cough type things and immune support x

[Adarajames]

Oh and add chopped garlic to the honey and take a teaspoon full few times a day; is also highly antiseptic / antibacterial / anti viral etc

[IDismyname]

I had to make a Gps appointment and came home with antibiotics. Feel sad I couldn't kick it myself. It's been 9 years since I took them!

I'm on day 3 of them, and feel better. Still coughing a lot.

Someone told me that their bug came back after a week of antibiotics, anyway, so watch this space.

The cough mixture the pharmacist sold me was Corvonia Nighttime. Am on iPad, so can't link, but sure a Google will show you.

Hth

[BestIsWest]

Yep, had a week of antibiotics, then felt worse. Doc sent me for blood tests and a chest X-ray this week. This is week 5. I am so exhausted.