Fed up with this cold!

[Tallgirl]

Myself and DH have both had horrible snotty cold for over a week now and just cant seem to shift it. I'm on the echinacea and Vitamin C/Zinc but not helped so far. Any tips please! I am very busy at the moment what with DS birthday next week, Christmas and the usual load of stuff so probably a bit run down which is maybe why cant shift this.

Any advice/miracle cures would be very welcome! Thanks a lot

No miracle cure only sympathy.

Am only on day 3 and I feel like I'm suffocating... Feeling doubly guilty for all the "pull yourself together" type comments I gave the kids last week when they had it!

tallgirl, cannot help, only wallow in pity with you, had it for a week, felt better last wednesday, went on a long overdue clothes shopping trip for ds and got it again!
lots of liquids and get well soon

My poor dd has had the cold for nearly 2 weeks, she even got sent home from school on Friday because she was shivering so much, she has gone back today but complained of a sore ear on the way in, so I am just waiting for the phone call to go and collect her again... - and now I have it too - you have my sympathies

Just wanted to revive this thread in the hope of getting some info myself. Me, DH, DS (3 years) and DD (one month) all have it and it's a nightmare. DS is coughing all night and I'm so worried about DD being ill while she's so tiny that I can't sleep even when everyone else can.

Any advice for DS's cough? We're using a humidifier with a little Olbas Oil to help clear his nose and he's been taking Medised. Is there a better decongestant we should try? I wondered about TixyColds. Anything besides saline solution that I can use for DD?

And what do you guys recommend for me and DH? We've been taking Beecham's Flu capsules but I'm open to anything that helps. We have a Neals' Yard nearby and I'd love to know about any homeopathic remedies you can recommend.

I haven't found any cough medicine that actually works, tbh - they're all a big waste of money. That said though, I saw recently that Nelson's (as in the homeopathic people - you get their clickpaks in Boots) do a homeopathic cough syrup thing for kids... I might give that a go if I'm feeling optimistic again sometime. We're big fans of medised here, in fact even I resorted to using some for myself at 2am last night (was in the "can't sleep I'm suffocating" mode again)

I keep getting recommended Night Nurse for us, but I keep forgetting to go to the pharmacy in daylight hours when I'm feeling okay (not great, but okay) - it's just at night it all seems to build up and turn into monster cold from hell.

Totally sympathise with you all!

Boots do a cough remedy for children which I think is homeopathic and it's called something like ipecacuana. Simple linctus is ok for a ticky cough.

Texx; I don't think there is anything you can do for such a tiny baby. Pharmacist recommended saline drops for ds when he was 7 weeks with a stinking cold - not sure if it made any real difference though. Is she blocked up? or coughing?

BTW how do you get your kids to take Medised? ds just spits it out even when I've used a syringe type thing.

Just remembered: I use Karvol capsules sprinkled on to a muslin cloth and tied it to the cot bars near the head

My ds (nearly 2) hates medised but will take it if you syringe tiny bits into his mouth (takes ages - lol) or you can put it into their drink, but my ds can taste it.

Mercy, DD is blocked up and occasionally coughing. The saline drops seem to help briefly then she fills right back up again. So distressing for both of us!

Medised: use syringe, small amounts at a time, and to the side of the back of the throat so they're more likely to reflexly swallow it

Mind you, have you ever tasted it? It's ghastly stuff - no wonder they complain!

Ok thanks, will try a little bit a time - if I can pin him down and get him to open his mouth that is!

Tex111: another tip is to raise the head end of the cot slightly (couple of books or something) as this can make breathing a bit easier, or let her sleep in the car seat if you have one. Does the cough sound chesty at all? Could you put the humidifier in her room?

Have ds1 and ds2 on high dosages of vit c, echinacea and acidophillus (they've been on so many antibiotics lately!). They're still bunged up and coughing though. I did hear a rememdy tonight from a friend's physio... lay ds/dd on your lap and gently hit their back with your hands cupped - it loosens their chest. Also getting them to laugh a lot helps to loosen the chest too (and you feel a lot better hearing them laugh .

Annobal, what kind of dose of vit C are you giving your boys and how old are they? I've been thinking about doing that with DS (who's 3) but I have no idea what a safe dosage would be.

I give them powder and add it to their food. I'm giving my 2-yr old about a 1/4 tea spoon on each meal and my 10 month old about half of that. I also give them the same quantity of acidophillus. The "all knowing" owner of health food store nearby said that they would get runny bottoms if I gave too much and then to cut back - that hasn't happenned. If I have added more, they can taste it and refuse to eat it as it tastes awful!! Touch wood they haven't had a cold for the week that I have started this! Good luck

Sorry - the powder I'm referring to is vitamin c...