to ask for your cold/flu tips

[ISeeTrees]

IABU, I know nothing will make it go away as it's viral and needs to run its course. But I need some tips to ease the symptoms. It's not Covid.
DC had it last week and it wiped them out for a full 7 days. I tried my best to avoid but you know how it is.
The worst symptoms are the full/foggy head and headache, the constant streaming nose/eyes and feeling like I need to sneeze all the time but not being able to. In fact that last one is the most annoying and it's weirdly painful.
My eyes sting, my muscles ache and I feel a bit "out of it" (fever probably).
I've taken paracetamol, I've dosed up on vit c and zinc, inhaled steam over a bowl and nothing is remotely helping. I haven't left the sofa except to do the school run (single parent).

What are you eating? When I have a cold I live off chicken soup/broth and or meat broth and fruit. No fried foods, no spicy food, no rice, no fizzy drinks, no chocolate / crisps or other junk food. It really reduces the symptoms.

I haven't really eaten much to be honest, my appetite has vanished. Today I've had some plain crackers and a little carton of apple juice.
I haven't got much in- haven't made it to the supermarket with poorly DC and now poorly me.
Some say avoid dairy, some people encourage spicy food to sweat it out. But I feel a bit nauseous so nothing much is appealing.
Why no rice @UdoU?

Rice often induces coughing (ime) and prolongs cold symptoms.

Drinking broth (and eating the chicken/meat) will give you energy and help you to get better quicker. Crackers aren't enough.

Have you tried a sinus spray? Works brilliantly at clearing your nose so you can breath normal which then relieves the headache slightly. Hope you feel better soon.

Really @UdoU I've not come across that before! I've got a chicken broth soup- canned so not ideal but better than nothing I suppose.
I hadn't really thought about food until you asked but yes, I need to eat more.
Thank you @Rainraingoaway21 I've tried the saline spray but it made the need-to-sneeze sensation worse, or did you mean a different nasal spray?

@ISeeTrees Yes I've used Otrivine nose spray and Vicks sinex soother with good results. I think they are different to just a saline spray. I don't feel I need to sneeze particuarly after using them, just wonderful feeling being able to breath!

Sambucol

I have the same sort of thing going on just now too, the nasal spray (for blocked noses, not just saline) has really helped, especially at bedtime. You can’t take it more than three days apparently as it can make it worse, but it’s worth it in the short term.

NeilMed sinus rinse bottle has saved my inflamed sinuses. I know that feeling of being permanently on the brink of a sneeze, and it drives me mad; after a few days of using a sinus rinse, that feeling has gone, along with the throbbing congestion, and I feel so much better. It's a lot more effective than nasal sprays.

Sambucol; vitamins; chicken broth; fruit juice, and ibuprofen for the aching joints. I'm sorry to hear you feel so rubbish. We had this same flu-like thing recently, and I was out of action for a full week. I hope you feel better soon x

Try crushing a bulb of garlic (still in the skin etc, just whack the whole thing a few times with a meat tenderiser) and putting it in your bedroom at night. Stinks but helps!