Cold - i seem to have had it forever - any tips to get rid of it!!

[Manfwood]

I know this is really trivial but i seem to have had the same cold/tickly cough/runny nose forever - well over a month now! everytime i think it is getting better it comes back and i am fed up of blowing my nose all the time and supporting Kleenex on my own.

i'm sure if i go to the Drs they will say they cant do anything and that it is just 'post viral' or something but it is really getting me down. Being at work in the air conditioning 3 days a week doesnt help and it is worse at night when i am lying down.

Every so often i start taking the Vitamin C and echinacae but maybe i'm not taking them for long enough??

The other thing people suggest is that it is allergy/hayfever but i dont think so.

Any advice please??

Thanks

I know you don't think it is an allergy, but the common cold virus really only lasts 4 days then the 'clear up' begins!! Clearing all that mucus that built up in your system. Gross, I know, but true. The fact that your nose is itching and running and the cough you have is tickly it really sounds like an allergy! Is it worse in the mornings??? My friend has a mild allergy to dust mites and this is how it manifests, but she's definitely worse in the morning.

Why don't you buy an over the counter anti-histamine like Zirtek or Neo-Clarytin and try it for a couple of days just to check?

Thanks Mum2Toby - i guess it is worth a try - anything for some relief (btw i havent got an itchy nose) - tends to be a bit worse at night and when wake up as been lying down all night. If it is allergy to dustmites will blame myself for being sl** and not doing enough housework!

my ds (16months) has also been suffering with runny nose and chesty cough (plus teeth coming through). We also have cats!!

Does anyone know why allergies suddenly start??

Thanks

No-one really knows why your body can suddenly develop a huge over-reaction to harmless things like dust and, in my case, tomatoes (an allergy I developed when I was 17!!!!). They can also stop quite suddenly too. I used to be allergic to lanolin as a child, but I seem to have 'grown out' of it.

It's a bit of a mystery, but there are loads of websites that outline different theories.

Try the bbc website. It has a feature on allergies starting from the beginning with 'What is an allergy?'

www.bbc.co.uk/health

It's very interesting. I studied a bit about this at Uni, but even in the short time since I graduated some of the advances are amazing!

Thanks a lot - i did actually find this website and it is quite interesting - although depressing. Hope DS doesnt have allergy.

Will go to chemist tonight and try some anti-histomene to see if this helps then will know.

Will let you know how i get on - thanks for your advice

Manfwood

Have just spoken to a couple of people at work - one of whom suffered from something similar last year - was initially told it was probably an allergy and to take some antihistamine - which didnt work. he went back to another Dr who said it was a build up of mucus in sinuses etc and gave him a nasal spray which did the trick in about a week.

Will visit the chemist and see what they suggest.

For anyone who is interested - i went to the chemist and got a 'hayfever' nasal spray which i think is a steroid. Less than a week later all symptoms are gone - just using it morning and evening - one squirt. Also DS not so bad and Dh seems to be better so hopefully we have cracked it. Useful tip for anyone else suffering from persistent cold - it might work.

Manf

Wahey! At last Manfwood..... bloody allergies!!