To think this isn't normal with a cold? Any advice please

[Zarachristmas]

Both me and dh have got a cold, sore throat and cough we both feel quite bad. However I've literally gone through 3 toilet rolls since yesterday for a runny nose.

Dh is getting annoyed with me constantly blowing my nose every 30 seconds but if I don't I can't breathe and mucus actually runs out my nose non stop. My nose is really irritated and I keep sneezing too. I'm about to start on my fourth toilet roll. I can't breathe through my mouth because it irritates my throat and I have a coughing fit.

This happens every time I get a cold and I'm starting to think my runny nose is very excessive. Dh never has this problem and thinking about it I've never known anyone else to.

I read online I shouldn't keep blowing my nose but I can't just let it all run out.

I've taken sudafed and made a honey and lemon drink it's made no difference.

Definitely try an antihistamine and some fresh air.

Also, I find some loo rolls "dustier" than others (tesco in paticular) which makes the irritation worse so may be worth trying tissues instead.

I make little twists of kitchen roll and shove them up my nose. It's more absorbent than loo roll or tissues plus it doesn't fall apart as easily!

Your poor husband - my heart bleeds for him - he sounds as though he has the patience and understanding of a gnat!

Word of advice - if you do not want your nose to get very sore and flake away from constant nose-blowing, try putting lip salve round your nose regularly during the day - it works. If you are feeling very rich Lanolips is the best one.

Hope your cold is better soon - I am on my second this winter, having only just stopped coughing from the first!

Onein8 I have dust allergy and I've never thought about tissues but they do seem to make to sneeze and feel worse, you've solved my problem!

Opposite to pp I think exercise and getting out helps mine to clear.

Normal in my family.
Some people plug their nose with tissue as it is impossible to get anything done otherwise. It also stops the skin beneath getting raw.

Sudafed will make your nose stream because it's a decongestant, don't take it unless you have sinus pain. Sudocrem is amazing at reducing a red/sore nose. Hope you feel better soon.

I'm exactly the same when I get a cold. You poor thing. Get better soon. I can highly recommend bepanthen cream for the sore nose.

It sounds normal for me.

Do you both live in rural Norfolk?

I used to get a really sore nose whenever I had a cold due to constant blowing/wiping. Realised if I was actually much more mindful and gentle when using a tissue that I could avoid that completely. I no longer get a sore nose now though I realise not everyone would be able to keep it in mind all the time!

My nose was like Niagra Falls yesterday , was so sore from wiping and blowing made no difference . It's better today but I still feel like shit.

This was my 'remedy' !

That you describe is drearily awfully normal for me. I used to take as much high dose Sudafed as the package said was safe - about 4 a day, I think. I have hypertension now, so Sudafed is not really good for me. I'm mildly asthmatic and suffer from hay fever-like allergies, so nowadays I just up the dose of my over the counter anti-histamine.

You have my deepest sympathy. For me, the common cold makes me very ill, miserable, and I feel disgustingly infectious and unclean. A cold will put me in bed for up to a week - they make me much more ill than other people seem to get. I usually end up with bronchitis, but to be honest, it's a relief, as it means the sinus infection and runny nose (and really sore blistered skin around my nose) have stopped. Urrrgh.

I just stuff tissue or cotton wool up each nostril when I'm at home. agree you should be using balsam tissues to blow with as they are kinder. also, Vaseline on nose or something called 'happinose'.

Thank you all! Sorry to hear some of you get this too, I guess some of us are just more snotty. Colds do make me really miserable, not sure if they effect me badly or I'm just a wimp.

Dh isn't the most sympathetic although I'm kind of annoying myself drowning in snot and tissues. He has helped in practical ways.

I'm just over a cold (got rid much more quickly than others by taking variety of witchy brews, especially citricidal, great stuff!) and sneezed / nose streamed much more than usually does when get a cold, so maybe this bug has that effect more than say the congestion of a different cold bug?

I think for some people this is unfortunately normal - it is for me. Every cold I have I am literally blowing my nose non stop, I can get through a family size box of tissues in a day with extra pocket tissues, loo roll and kitchen roll thrown in too. It is really awful. Horrible. I think some people (like myself) are what I call 'mucally challenged' - too much mucus, snot, runny gunk to not be blowing your nose constantly, it is utterly gross and unavoidable. I had a bad cold over Christmas and my nose just streamed and streamed, it was unbelievable how much there actually was, and as fast I could blow it out there was more. I am still getting over it now, still a bit congested. It is really inconvenient (it really slows you down) and also embarrassing, having to blow your nose in front of people, you feel like a disgusting snot bag. When I'm not ill I have rhinitis anyway so always dabbing my nose whatever the time of year, and a bit of hayfever usually too. I often wonder if people think I'm gross, always dabbing at and blowing my nose, but it would be running down my face if I didn't, it is a really horrible and miserable affliction and wish it would just go away. I do wonder what people in the middle ages did before tissues. Probably suffocated on snot.

BTW I am very irritated on your behalf that your OH is irritated by your nose blowing - like you are enjoying it and doing it on purpose or something?????

Normal I'm afraid. I get this when I get a bad cold it just streams out like water from a tap. I find wedging a load of toilet roll up each nostril gives temporary respite.

I follow condensedmilk in the runny nose remedy. Doubles up as a truly irresistable look and men try to marry you left right and centre. Honest.

I am currently fighting off a cold. This would be worthy of trumpet fanfare emoticons if there were such a thing, because usually I succumb at the first fleeting glimpse of a germ. It may be the thyroxin, or the echinacea, or the vitamin C. But it's brilliant. I haven't had a cold in months, and I usually get them really badly. Hoorah!

I once came across one of those 'ask a science question' type blog things, where the question was about the possibility of suffocating if a kidnapper taped your mouth while you had a blocked up nose (I was blocked up at the time and wondering). The answer was not only a resounding 'NO' but that mimicking this effect by refusing to breathe through your mouth actually clears your nose and sinuses.

So I tried it, right there at my desk. Relax your shoulders, firmly shut your lips, and refuse to breathe. It really works. You get a bit panicky, you truly feel like it won't work, how long can you do this for? but it does for me, my nose clears and the effect lasts for a while. I always do it now.

Apparently, it's something to do with the response of your blood vessels to lowering oxygen levels. Your nasal/sinus ones are particularly susceptible. They shrink, and this gives clearance.

Or there's the loo roll blotter trick.

My husband gets this. He has it with colds but other things trigger it too.

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rhinitis---non-allergic/Pages/Introduction.aspx

He is miserable for a day or two and also does the nose stuffing With tissues thing.

I had this for a bit with my last cold. I restarted my antihistamine/steroid combo nasal spray I'd been neglecting to use for the prior few weeks and it really helped.

I have a lot allergies that make my nose run and my colds are very snotty affairs. The allergy specialist told me that tissues aggravate the lining in the nose and we should use old fashioned hankerchiefs. I invested in loads of huge men's hankerchiefs and my nose is now a lot less sore and definitely runs less. (I use tissues when I'm out still) I know people will say hankies are disgusting but I stick them in a plastic bag and then wash them on a hot wash and it works well.

I get real humdinger colds, the constant runny watery snot sounds normal to me.
Definitely get the balsam tissues and some night nurse.

Clopy must be an Essex thing .

I used to get this, taking vitamin C and zinc regularly (all the time, not when you have a cold already) seems to have made my colds much less severe.
Also those big fizzy tablets you dissolve in water as a vitamin C drink seem to improve cold symptoms for a few hours for me - no idea why, I wouldn't expect them to help immediately in that way, but they do, for me!