To ask you for tips in shaking off a cold/virus FAST?!

[pollykettleon]

Been under the weather (runny nose/headache/slight temp) for a few days and today feeling worse.

It’s ‘just’ a cold I think - but next week Tuesday/Wednesday I have BIG work stuff happening. Important meetings where I’m leading/pitching. I can’t miss them or be ill!

So please give me your tips on how to shake this, fast! I’m feeling a bit panicked…

A healthy diet improves your immune system but eating a bunch of f&v today not going to make any difference to a cold someone has already got.

I swear by those hydration Tablets when I begin to feel under the weather. They are in the tall tubes like berrocca tablets and you add to water and watch them fix like with berrocca tablets. I decided to try one a day when unwell as everyone always goes on about making sure you stay hydrated and they really work!

i also avoid caffeinated drink and drinks with dairy as i find they can effect my throat. Other than that, lots of rest and fresh veg and fruit.

Hope you feel better soon

I’ve just started with a cold this morning, really grumpy as I have no idea where I’ve picked it up from. I’m immunocompromised and have previously been quite ill from a cold so I’m particularly wary, not least as we’re supposed to be going away for a few days later this week. Planning to take it very easy today and have lots of fluids.

yeah this. Doctors recommend it. I’m the same, been struggling with this awful virus since Tuesday. A dehumidifier running while I’m awake and asleep has helped too.

Sleep. All day and all night. High dose vit c. Plenty of fluids

This sounds gross (and it is) but blow out all the snot and gunk in your nasal passages multiple times a day and especially in the morning. Hack up anything in your throat too. Don’t sniff it back up…..get it out. Use hot water to loosen it so you can blow it out. I always get over colds quicker doing this.
Eat plenty of fresh food, fruits and veg. Don’t skimp on healthy calories. Vitamin D, C and the B’s.

The only thing proven to help with the length of a cold virus, as PPs have suggested, is First Response (or a generic alternative).

Nothing else will actually help you to "throw off" a cold you already have.

I've been using Vicks First Defence for the last couple of months - usually I'm knocked down by every cold going but none of my throat tickles have manifested into a full-blown cold lately. The jury is still out but I would say it's worth trying!

Unsure if it would work once the cold has fully taken hold though.

Thank you so much everyone xx

Vitamin D supplements. Also when you’re next with your gp ask for your vitD, vitB12, and folate(folic acid), magnesium and ferritin levels to be tested.

Following as I've had this for 5 weeks now!

Get some Sambucol. It is clinically proven to work with flu, not so sure about colds, but worth a try.

Might not work now as you’re so far in it and the virus will have taken hold but my routine is this. 5000iu vit d with k and 2000mg vitamin c and zinc every day in winter. If I am going on public transport or anywhere crowded in winter I use Nasofed before leaving and when I get back. I use it 4 times a day if DD has a cold.

I very rarely get a cold (about 4 years since my last one) but at first signs of a cold/sore throat: I take high quality, high dose vitamin c every 20 minutes to bowel tolerance. 25000iu vitamin d with k. Allicin capsules twice a day. Zinc. All very good quality supplements (Pure Encapsulations or Solgar).

I got this method (minus Nasofed - she uses saline) from a nutritionist and it’s worked for years. It kills the cold before it takes hold. It can help shorten a cold though too but works best to kill it on day 0.

Taking a high dose of vitamin D (exceeding 10 µg), over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body. This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.

OP get a nasal spray -
Its recently been shown in clinical studies that nasal sprays- Vicks First Defence or similar generic, can shorten duration of colds and reduce symptoms.
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/news/nasal-sprays-reduce-symptoms-and-duration-colds-and-flu

Second this.

Also make sure you've eaten something before taking ibuprofen.

The Sudafed nasal spray is incredible if you're really bunged up but only use it in moderation when you have to.

You only take that dose once on the day you feel you’re getting a cold. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

Extra vit c, lemsips, hot baths with vapour steam. Xxx

if my throat feels funny, I gargle warm salt water

Second all the above- complete bed rest, lots of water, nasal rinses, salt gargles, First Defence, hot water bottles, paracetamol (within safe limits) - but also marshmallow root.

I have asthma & bronchiectasis and find that if I have a cold, marshmallow root (added to my usual meds, various inhalers & carbocistrine) really helps clear my chest of the filthy gunk. Worth bearing in mind though that it can slow down the absorption of other medication so time it carefully.