If you have a cold/sore throat, at what point do you stop?

[sunnydayinmay]

If you have a virus, with a slight temperature, sore throat and feel tired and a bit washed out, what would be too much for you? (I get lots of these, as am mildly asthmatic, and pick up every cold bug going. Occasionally, they stick and I end up on antibiotics, but usually shift within a few days. I am rubbish at judging when I am overdoing it).

Would you:

1. Go to work (office based, stressful job, hard to rearrange diary at short notice);
   

1. Go to a party?
   

1. Take a child to an all day sport event, where you are sitting and watching;
   

1. Entertain lunch guests;
   

1. Go out to pre arranged lunch with friends/family;
   

1. Get up at 6.30am to do 2 hours ironing;
   

1. Play tennis.
   

All of these were in my diary. Some I cancelled (well, one...), but wondered what others would do?

[MirrorMirrorOnTheFloor]

I would cut out the party, tennis and ironing. And get something pre-prepared for the lunch guests rather than cooking from scratch.

[MaidOfStars]

Everything but 6. But wouldn't do this anyway.

7 would depend exactly how bad I feel. Sometimes, running clears my snotty nise, gets things moving.

[Mypurplecaravan]

I wouldn't do 2 6 or 7. And I'd judge the gp or for lunch as to whether I felt well enough to actually enjoy it.

But then I'd never do 6. Noone has that much essential ironing surely?

[Showgirl109]

Antibiotics don't work on colds or viruses misses point of thread

[NamelessEnsign]

I am asthmatic with young children so get a lot of what you describe. I have had a sore throat and cold since mid week, with associated aches and pains and shivers.

I'd do everything except get up early to iron. Yesterday I played an intense sports match (it was a selection session) and since last night have been exhausted, wheezy, coughing like mad, etc. I lost control of my breathing overnight which was a bit scary.

And the similarly ill toddler kept me awake for four hours overnight so I'm sleep deprived.

So today I did very little (washing, feeding children, slow walk to the park).

In brief, take it easy, and try to recover a bit before putting too much stress on your body or you might end up considerably more unwell!

[Smartleatherbag]

Drop non essential things. I can't be doing with martyrdom.

[CrohnicallyAspie]

showgirl the OP referred to them 'sticking' which I assume means on the chest, and becoming a chest infection. My niece had a bad chest as a toddler and they queried asthma, every time she had a cold she got a chest infection and needed antibiotics to shift it.

[CrohnicallyAspie]

Oops, forgot to answer OP!

I would go to work, do lunch (but pick an easy option) and watch my child at sports. Maybe do the ironing later if I was still feeling up to it in the evening.

[GeneralBobbit]

I'd cancel everything but 1. I don't get paid if I don't go to work. Everything else is completely unimportant or could be done by a taxi/ DH/mate.

[HemanOrSheRa]

I wouldn't do any of them. I'm prone to tonsillitis and cold sores when I'm run down, which get infected. I've just recovered from one in my eye.

I'd take myself off to bed for a day and let DP get on with anything to do with DS/family stuff.

[gamerwidow]

I'd do 1 and maybe 3 if I couldn't get anyone else to take the child to the sporting event. Everything else I'd drop because there's no point going to social events if you're too ill to enjoy them and chores can wait.
I have to be really ill I.e. D&V or severe infection before I would miss work

[honeylulu]

I would do all except 6. I've got a cold and sore throat now and I've dosed myself up and done all my normal stuff including our local pride with my mate and plenty of booze, a day out with husband and children, been to work, been to the gym, done shipping. I've needed more sleep though as Night Nurse totally knocks me out so 9 hours sleep both nights has been required this weekend.

[Mypurplecaravan]

Showgirl they don't. But asthma and viruses both predispose a chest to a bacterial Chestd infection.

Get the two together and you may get away with viral exacerbation of asthma or you may get bacterial superadded infection. Which will get better with antibiotics.

As op referred to them sticking I presume she meant they went to her chest.

[sandragreen]

Same as gamer I would only do 1 and 3.

[FruitCider]

I would cancel 6 and 7. I've just worked 3 13.5 hour shifts back to back with an ear infection and temp of 38 after taking paracetamol. I'm a nurse and I don't take time off unless I'm literally coughing/sneezing everywhere or have D+V!

[sunnydayinmay]

Thanks all. That actually makes me feel a bit more reasonable.

Yes, the antibiotics are when it turns into a chest infection. Two years ago, I had proper flu, and it took me four months, two courses of antiobtics and two of oral steroids to shift. I'm not bad, but virus infections are a main trigger for me.

I sent apologies to the party. I did the ironing, because it was school uniform for tomorrow and I wanted it done.

I'm just trying to gear myself up for work and first day school tomorrow and feeling a bit sorry for myself.

[flibbidygibbet]

Rest and get better. Fuck everything else except essential kids/work stuff.

[Madeyemoodysmum]

Do you take prebiotics. Since taking them I've not had one cold or cough that's lasted more than a day and I'm asthmatic too.
The kids have also been a lot healthier since taking them as well
Just for future maybe.

To reply tho. I'd cut out tennis ironing Not sure about the others.

[Madeyemoodysmum]

I used to suffer from chest infections too but the prebiotics really help my immune system. I also have had the puemonia jab which I'm sure has helped avoid those nasty chest infections getting really deep rooted.

[sunnydayinmay]

What probiotics do you take? Tablets? I'm seriously thinking of trying them, as I'm dreading the winter now.

[RunningLulu]

Are you able to work from home? If so I'd probably do that and the prioritize the top 3 other things.

[BorpBorpBorp]

Have you tried Vicks First Defence nasal spray? I've found it's really good for stopping a cold before it gets bad. You have to take it at the first sign, and use it for a few days.

[sunnydayinmay]

It gives me nosebleeds, for some reason. I'm generally healthy, but super sensitive to lots of things (food intolerances, Raynaud's syndrome etc), so not sure if it's that.

Feeling better today, because I have paced myself, and using inhalers etc.

[Madeyemoodysmum]

Hi. The ones I use are powdered from Amazon. I just go for the ones with the best reviews generally.
A pot lasts 3 of us 3-4 months. You only have a little scoop. I add mine to the kids juice or in yogurts/milk.
Need a bit of stirring g but will dissolve. I have mine in yogurt or on the froth of my latte. Chuck it on and eat the froth with a spoon 😀

[yeOldeTrout]

Even I felt amazing I wouldn't do 2 hours ironing.
& my tennis is well & truly lousy. But I might try it for a laugh anyway.

Short answer: from what OP has said, I'd do all those things.

DH won't stop until he literally can't get out of bed.