How to knock "something viral" on the head?

[KanyesVest]

Panadol and nurofen aren't working. I've been feeling unwell since last Tuesday. It's definitely not the flu, but those kind of symptoms - achey, a bit weak, headache, sore throat, sore ears, sore teeth, sinus pain, a bit hot and cold (max temp has been 37.5 so no proper fever) and a lot of dizzyness/lightheadedness on moving or standing. I've been using my sinus rinse, but nothing is coming out and although I had a clear dribble from my nose for 2 days last week, nothing else. I'm not sneezing. I was feeling much better on Saturday, but feeling the worst all week today. DS and DD have been sick since Friday, DS with a bad cold/sore throat, DD looks like it might be tonsillitis.

I'd usually just ride these things out, but I've a wedding to go to on Friday and my first ever 10km race on Saturday. Other than drowning the germs in hot whiskey, is there anything anyone can recommend?

FYI, Panadol is the same thing as Paracetamol. Nurofen typically is ibuprofen. Buy the cheaper generic.

Try aspirin.

Don't trust medical advice from here, also. Go to a doctor.

Thanks, yes, I have generics, but the brand names are easier to spell at this hour of the night.

I know my (very good) gp well enough that these symptoms will get me sent home with a suggestion to take paracetamol as needed and come back in a week if I'm worse...and it'll cost me 60 euros. I was hoping for someone might be able to suggest some home remedy I don't know. I wouldn't in a million years have thought of asprin, so thanks, I'll try that tomorrow.

The Panadol and Nurofen are relieving the symptoms you are experiencing, at best, but as you say they're not even doing that. They won't make the infection go away. It is a pity you are labouring under a deadline, otherwise I would say that resting and "riding it out " was the way to ensuring a lasting recovery. I am currently slogging through week 4 of what sounds like a similar infection and I am convinced I would have made a much speedier recovery had I not been forced to grit my teeth and get on with stuff at the first signs of getting better. Interestingly, my GP suggested taking 3000g of vitamin C every day, drinking hot ginger tea and eating several cloves of garlic. I was surprised as although those are the kind of things I might do anyway, I thought the "evidence" in favour of these home remedies would be too anecdotal and not backed by hard science
Get well soon!

Oh god, peaceful, week 4?? I think DH has some fizzy vit c tablets in his bedside locker and I'll add ginger tea and garlic to my shopping list! I'm not helping myself by being a terrible and impatient patient I'm a very sympatheic nurse though .

Hope you feel well again soon too.

Take 5g of buffered vitamin C per day with 2 L water. It's what works for me. I use Solgar brand.

Hope you feel better soon.

Try your local chemist - they will have an idea what over the counter things will be most effective.

Make it fresh ginger root which you slice and boil up quickly, as opposed to ginger tea bags :)

How painful is your ear? Do you feel sick as well as dizzy? If so, it could be an ear infection. I've been unwell for a month with what started off with a virus then sinusitis, then another virus (or the same) then an ear infection then Labrynthitis!! Miserable. I was given antibiotics for the ear but I can't say they helped much, but may have started getting better. I'm still deaf in my left ear and feel very claggy. I know what you mean about GPs sending you home with the line 'it's a virus' so I rarely go myself. This time though the pain was so much and it's been 3 weeks of feeling unwell. Only you can call when it's time to go to the docs. Hope it buggers off soon though!

Keeping comfy warm; being cold suppresses the immune system.

My body turned in me during the night spent most of it sweating or shivering and can barely swallow so I've called the doctor and got an appt for this afternoon. I've only ever felt this unwell with strep throat or tonsillitis so it's better to be seen at this stage. On the upside both children seem to be well again, so I sent them to daycare and can be miserable in peace

Much sympathy op. I have something similar, have spent the bank holiday trying to rest and ride it out.

I find day nurse and other cold and flu tablets better than pure paracetamol or ibuprofen for this sort of thing. They help with the congestion and give s bit of an energy boost.

It's no longer viral definitely tonsillitis despite the bastards being removed 25 yrs ago. 10 days of antibiotics and I'm allowed go to the wedding but not do my 10km race. I'm gutted