Need advice on bad cold

Hope You're Over It Quickly
Dear Snot,

Ugh - here's another brick on your pile. Yep - you already know to go back to chugging vast quantities of water. Also, the chicken soup thinng is proven to help - you can't do peppers, can you?

Kinda gross and weird to do, but last year, using a Neti pot really helped me (pouring salt and baking soda solution through your nose). Let us know what you try, and what seems to work.

- Pam

Snot-nosed Deb
I'm 13 months post treatment and still will not take anything OTC without asking my doctors first. Maybe I'm paranoid but I don't want to take any chances by taking something that could be harmful.

Your doctors know where you are at in your recovery and what side effects are still bothering you so I would contact them for advice. Their nurse should be able to relay this information to you without your having to go in to see the doctor. Just my opinion

Hope you are better soon,
Glenna

agree with Glenna
No OTC medications without clearing them with your doctor, Deb. Better to be safe than sorry.

Stuffiness in the nose can be aided by a simple saline spray. Lots of water and chicken broth if not chicken soup.

Also, consider a humidifier in your room, although the kind that "self-sanitizes" is best so you don't have to worry about mold growth in the apparatus - also, putting salt in the water is a good idea.

Finally - get lots of extra rest while you fight this cold!

Hugs and tissues.

ekdennie said:

colds
since I have three small children, I have had cold after cold. I use a neil med sinus rinse twice a day...helps with the congestion. my ent said not to use the neti pot, but the squeeze bottle...it gets father up the nose for a better rinse. I was told that there is a cheaper walgreens version that works as well. my ent said to try to stay away from most OTC meds, but that mucinex was fine to help remove some of the mucus, but if you are having a hard time blowing your nose, you will need something to decrease inflamation...I would call your dr. just to be safe. they are used to getting calls this time of year, and they will let you know what they feel is safe to use with any meds you are on.
oh, and get a humidifier, if you don't have one! you will need to sanitize it daily, but it will help.

Deb are you feeling
Deb are you feeling better?
What did you end up doing?
STacey

D Lewis said:

cough cough hack hack
I'm using liquid benadry at night. It's not too bad, but with my nose blocked, I breathe through my mouth and we all know how well that works. If you want a great visual image, search on Youtube for "Jim Carrey, cotton mouth." Seems to exacerbate the edema. Falling a little behind on sleep.

Deb

Decongestant
Unless your doctor has specifically said "no decongestants" you should be able to take any of the generic (or brand name) sudafed-type decongestant. Pseudoephedrine is the one you have to ask for (they don't have it on the shelf in CVS because it can be used to make meth) and it is supposed to be more effective, but phenylephrine (the one in Sudafed PE) works for me and many others (it's the one they still have on shelves and not behind locked cabinets). Pseudoephedrine also helps reduce edema.

If you are having trouble taking pills (they are typically small red pills, and the more expensive ones are candy-coated) then you will want to get a liquid formulation (Sudafed makes a kid's liquid). If you try very hard, you can find one that has both benedryl and pseudoephedrine but I've had trouble finding one that does not have acetaminophen, which many oncologists will not want you to take is it will mask the fever you might get with an infection.

If you are already taking drugs for lymphedema or if you have high blood pressure, it's really important that you talk to your doctor first.

It sometimes keeps people awake - I find it does not do this to me if I'm taking it concurrently with benedryl.

Stay away from decongestant nasal sprays unless your doctor recommends them. Not only do they have a rebound effect, but they can drip down your throat and might irritate your inflammation.