Help for bad cold/sinus/ear aches

[yotoman]

So, I've had this cold for weeks. It's moved around. I did have an ear infection but the school doctor says he "thinks" it's gone, but my ears hurt now....and headaches as well. Sometimes it moves to the throat. NO temperature though.

I've been using this sinus rinse and it has been helping me breath. Also, did the warm lemon and honey juice and that helped, but the cold came back worse. Taking vitamin c and drinking water and stuff.

I'm really congested. None of the stuff the doctor gave me works that great.

Ideas?

I rested all day yesterday...I got a foggy head too. I almost feel like my vision is a little blurred.

P.s. - I have no insurance at the moment. The school is free. I am trying to get student insurance right now though.

Edited December 8, 2009 by yotoman

[Wingnut]

A true sinus infection is often (for me it's always) bacterial, and will only really be kicked by antibiotics. However, I would also recommend Cold-eeze and a Neti pot.

[yotoman]

Well, I just finished taking antibiotics and didn't do anything for it.

I have been using NeilMed Sinus Rinse.

[Moksha]

I have been using NeilMed Sinus Rinse.

Drinking diet cola while reading something really funny has acted as a good sinus rinse for me. Rootbeer can be substituted.

[Maya]

Drinking diet cola while reading something really funny has acted as a good sinus rinse for me. Rootbeer can be substituted.

I can see the pinquin with cola bubling ot of the peek!

I know a stuff that ahs kept me going , but unfortunately Enliven was sold to someone else and teh stuff they ahve IS NOT as good as the earlier... but now it is also ok to sell it in EU... probably had to take away the thing that worked... The only homesale system that worked for me I even earned something... adn it is not any more

All I can say try noni prodict. PURE noni ... that tases awfull, but it is also consentrated in samall bottles with a dropper and that is not so bad. I think there are at least 2 pretty good firmaes doing it over there... PM me if interested.

[yotoman]

I was hoping for some ideas that would not cost me too much money.

[Tarnished]

Ok, so here are some of our home remedies. Take my advice at your own risk. I claim no responsibility for burned off lips and such.

My husband and his mother have always been into herbal remedies, and from this my husband has come up with a few different ideas that work pretty well.

Cayenne Soda - Not really a soda, take a warm drink such as hot cocoa or apple cider, dump a bunch of cayenne pepper in it. Drink the entire thing. Not only will it clear out your sinuses but it will also fight the cold. The only problem is that it burns your face off, ok not literally but it feels like it. You can also get cayenne pills from health food/vitamin stores this helps put the cayenne in your body to fight the cold but does not burn your face off, the bad thing about going this route is not sinus clearing.

Vitamin C - Orange juice, apple juice, any of the juices that have high vitamin C, you can also take Vitamin C pills or chewables.

Airborne - found for cheap at Walgreens as Wal-born, yes it helps you fight airborne germs and viruses but it also helps to boost your immune system, not too tasty but as I am finding can become an acquired taste.

Noni - Found at Wal-Mart, these are pills that come from the Noni fruit, they help to boost your immune system as well.

Vapor-rub - you can get the Vicks brand or a generic brand, this will help clear your sinuses and also pose as a nifty eucalyptus and menthol cologne

Multivitamin – It can’t hurt and it could very well help you replenish nutrients you are losing.

Hope some of this helps!

[Iggy]

To loosen the congestion: Vicks vapor rub(or store knock off). Put a spoonful in a pot of water, put pot on burner and bring just to a boil, reduce heat to simmer. BE SURE to keep water in at all times.

When the congestion in your throat, chest, nose loosen- - - expel it!! Blow your nose, cough and SPIT!! By snuffing back the gunk in your nose, you are blocking the release of it, it can get impacted in your ears, sinus', etc. SO Blow, Expel, get it OUT, Gone.

Your symptoms sound like you have a sinus infection along with the cold. Taking anti-histamines will dry up the sinus and then your ear aches should go away.

Get your self some of those nite time, gotta rest capsules, slather the Vick's on your throat, chest and the soles of your feet (put on cotton socks to protect your sheets and carpet) [yes, it really, really works]. Keep the tissues close and a receptacle for the used tissues, and sleep.

Husband and I have a cold. My colds center in my sinus' and ears. Husbands centers in his nose and chest. We are taking Walgreen's brand of nite time capsules (I am allergic to alcohol so I don't do the liquid stuff), I also take two anti-histamine tablets a day), blow my nose, spit out the coughed up crud and drink even more fluids = water, water, and a cup of beef broth, water, water, water, cup of beef broth.

Beef broth or chicken broth will replace the electrolytes you are losing.

The vitC tablets, zinc chews, etc are for when the cold FIRST starts. Apple juice doesn't have that much vitC- citrus juices do. Drink three times as much water as you do juice. One OJ, three waters, one beef/chicken broth.

Stay away from sodas as the carbonation dehydrates you. My oldest sister was not feeling all that well. She drank nearly two dozen diet sodas and was getting worse and more thirsty. When she couldn't even get up to go to the bathroom, we took her to the ER. Not only did she have a cold, she was dehydrated!!!

Oh, another place I put Vick's is on my forehead, temples, and cheek bones. This is where your sinus' are. Then I place a folded cloth handkerchef over my eyes and lay down or just rest and let the Vick's work.

Edited December 8, 2009 by Iggy

[Maya]

On yes Vicks is good! Do you have the drops too I mean the candy? They are really god with caugh or stuffy nose. They dont have them in iorway bt in Finland they do. I alwys by some in Finland. I been also using Fisherman the black white striped ... that is the ONLY thing tha helps me.

I also have some Brokyl tablets taht you put in water, taste ok adn my DH said they really help him too if stuffy... but I dont know what you would call them.

[Tarnished]

Ah yes, Maya's post reminded me, Fisherman's Friend (or Fisherman's Fiend as we like to call them) they are cough drops that you can find at Wal-Mart and Walgreens. They are made with menthol and eucalyptus oil, and they are very strong. They are rather nasty which is why we call them fiends but they do the job. Plus if you breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose while sucking on one you can do a decent job at clearing your sinuses. In the US the only flavors they have available are the original menthol and eucalyptus flavor, and cherry which is much more palatable and so far I have only found at Wal-Mart.

[yotoman]

Wow! Lots of information. What would be a good brand of an anti-histamines? Can you just get the store brand. Or does that come as a medicine?

My doctor gave me this: Cetirizine 5mg/Pseudoephedrine 120mg

That does help a little. I think it is an anti-histamine.

[applepansy]

Daniel's Ointment from Allen Drug in Malad, Idaho. I won't be without it. I ordered more today. Its 100 times better than Vicks Vapor Rub. The ingredients are more than just camphor and menthol. It has eucalytus, pine oil, ....I'll have to go read the bottle. It breaks up congestion amazingly fast. Rub on chest or add to boiling water and breathe vapor.

You can get citric acid (Vit C) in powder form at the pharmacy without a precription. Add to juice.

Echinacea will help boost your immune system during cold and flu season. (My son starts taking it in October.)

I hope you start feeling better soon.

[Iggy]

Wow! Lots of information. What would be a good brand of an anti-histamines? Can you just get the store brand. Or does that come as a medicine?

My doctor gave me this: Cetirizine 5mg/Pseudoephedrine 120mg

That does help a little. I think it is an anti-histamine.

From Walgreens drug information-

Ingredient Name: CETIRIZINE (se-TI-ra-zeen)

Drug Manufacturer: PERRIGO

Common Uses: This medicine is an antihistamine used to treat both seasonal and perennial allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose (rhinitis), itching eyes, and sneezing. Cetirizine is also used to treat hives.

Ingredient Name: Pseudoephedrine:

Common Uses: This medicine is a decongestant used to relieve congestion due to colds, flu, hay fever, and other allergies. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

You are getting enough antihistaime medicine.

[yotoman]

One day I can breath. The next I'm clogged.

One minute I'm fine. The next I've got me a headache.

It's getting better I think. lol Die sickness, DIE!