Chest Cold

So, over the Easter Weekend, I started aching all over. Then Easter Monday I woke up with a tickle at the back of the throat that wouldn't go away. It started to turn into a cough, and later I felt the dreaded rattling in my chest while breathing.

Yesterday, I walked the 5.5 k to work like usual, and almost fell over as I walked in the door. I felt AWFUL all day, but my walk home was much better (I had hydrated and eaten my protein all day). The cough was there, accompanied now by a little dizziness. As I walked home the sunshine helped I think, but I stopped for rests.

I laid down after supper and fell asleep for 2 hours. I woke up drenched, with a MASSIVE headache. When I stood up, I did it too fast and nearly went down. I wasn't dehydrated but the headrush caused a bit of tunnel vision and I leaned on the bed for a sec. BP has never been an issue, even prior to surgery it was normal. I walked around a bit and did some dishes etc., made Neo Citran.

I was really quite worried about the dumping while drinking that stuff, as it tends to be high in sugar. I fell asleep for another 9 hours or so, and had no problems. I woke up drenched this morning, but feeling much better. I got a ride to work with a buddy today, figuring I would be weakened for that far of a walk 7 weeks post-op with this cold nagging me.

Just wondering if anyone here has any recommendations for colds and/or sinusitis, since nsaids like Advil Cold/Sinus are now off the table?

I usually take Tylenol Cold Nighttime which works ok for the most part. It has Splenda in it, though, so if you are sensitive to sucralose, might not be a good option.

Thanks! I don't have any sensitivities to the sucralose, might just pick some of that stuff up. I'm not usually one to take anything unless it's just unbearable. I like to have stuff on hand just in case though.

I'm very much a tough it out person- I won't take OTC cold remedies etc- I feel they only mask the symptoms. But a few weeks post op RNY I did get a bad cold. My doc gave me a prescription cough medicine. (Coughing was painful!!) I will take OTC cough medicine (ie: Robitussin) for coughs-- I never thought twice about the sugar content. Otherwise I only take Tylenol if I have a fever. If Its bad enough that I consider taking something I just go see my doc.

Good plan. I usually avoid taking anything if I can but if I just can't take it anymore (or my wife gets after me because I stubbornly haven't used something to help with the symptoms) I'll take something. It used to be Advil Cold & Sinus but that's Ibuprofen. Tylenol products don't really do much of anything for me, including post-op pain relief (I had very little anyway). I never really understood why nothing happens with Acetaminophen. I did take some cough medicine Sunday night, I think it was the Kroger equivalent of Nytol. It settled things down enough I could sleep. It was 10% alcohol, not sure about any sugars in it.

Look for stuff that's single-ingredient, rather than a bunch of stuff lumped together like Ny-Quil. If you're stuffed up, Mucinex is great stuff and will clear all of the gunk out of your chest!

One of my other favorite tricks is to get some essential oil, like eucalyptus or mint, and sprinkle it on the floor of your shower before turning on some really ho****er. The scented steam helps to clear things out, and it smells so nice!