One of the perks of dating the landlord is there is a doctor in his immediate family. While I hate to abuse the privilege, having someone look at you in your free time on a Saturday afternoon is pretty nice.
I came down with a cold on Tuesday night; by Friday afternoon I thought I was on the upswing and all but had those cooties beat. Apparently sharing a bottle of wine and then a few beers and then more wine with my lovely friend Bridget, who was in town for work, was not the wisest of decisions. I woke up on Saturday feeling like death. While I had been thankful my cold initially didn’t involve the dreaded sore throat, my throat more than made up for it belatedly. I was miserable.
After checking my ears and throat and lungs, he gave me a few helpful tips when it comes to cold medicine:
- Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is the best drug to combat congestion. However, you should take the 12-hour dose (120mg) once a day, first thing in the morning. It will ease your congestion and facilitate the release of the excess fluids.
- Smaller doses of pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine (a recent substitute for pseudoephedrine), such as 4- or 6-hour doses, should be avoided. Not only is the smaller dose less effective, taking it repeatedly over the course of several hours does not increase its effectiveness. Moreover, pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine tend to make people hyper and wired, hence if you take it before bed it may interfere with your sleep (I experienced this for three days myself).
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and over-the-counter antihistamines should be avoided. They combat sneezing and congestion, yes, but not in the manner that is helpful with colds.
- Oxymetazoline (Afrin) should be taken via nasal spray at night. Again best in its strongest dose (12-hour), Afrin will clear your nasal passages and allow for easy breathing and restful sleep without the hyper side affects of phenylephrine.
- Throat sprays and lozenges should be avoided as some people have low-grade allergic reactions to them and hence worsen their sore throat without realizing it. Gargling with warm salt water or taking an anti-inflammatory (either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, which is Tylenol and Advil, respectively) will help ease the pain.
- Common “cure-all” cold and flu medicines marketed by Tylenol and Advil (among others) should be avoided as they contain phenylephrine rather than pseudoephedrine and in the smaller, unhelpful dose. When combating colds it’s best to use a full 12-hour dose of pseudoephedrine (120mg) alongside acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed.
- Netipots can also be helpful for irrigating the nasal passages, providing both flushing and hydrating relief. This is perhaps easier/more comfortable at the onset of a cold before full-blown congestion sets in.
- Rest, rest, rest. Protect yourself: wash your hands, cover your face, stay home and away from other people’s germs and conserve your energy. Many people (like me) get over the hump and then insert themselves in a public setting while their immune systems are still low. One sneeze and you’re back at square one. Stay home the extra day if you can.
I heeded his advice immediately: tossed the Advil Cold & Sinus and the 4-hour Sudafed and the Ricola, and bought 12-hour Sudafed and Afrin. The Afrin cleared my nasal passages within minutes and allowed me the most restful sleep I’d had in days. The 12-hour Sudafed kept me clear throughout the day. The sleep alone is a lifesaver. It’s also nice not to have to keep track of pills and time periods throughout the day. One pill when you wake up and a couple spritzes before bed and you’re set.
So here I am, Tuesday morning. I resisted the urge for a beer last night, although I wasn’t happy doing so. I was pretty sure I was through the worst of it and in the clear, but I wasn’t about to let those sickies fool me twice. So far, so good. Maybe I’ll have that beer tonight.
Next time I get waylaid by a cold I know precisely what to do. No more week-long sickies for this girl.
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