I think I have a cold. Help :(
 

I think I have a cold. I started feeling sick yesterday (Wednesday). My symbtoms were a fever, feeling really chilly, dizzy, muscle aches, headache, and numbness throughout my whole body, and a mild cough. I've been taking Sudafed, NyQuil, and Tylonel (Not all 3 at once though). I'm feeling a little bit better today. Like, I can actually get up and do something for a little bit, then I'd feel a little bit drowsy and go back to bed for a few hours. Can anyone reccomend me some other types of medicine to take to get rid of the cold faster? Or is what I am taking right now fine for the time being. Also, since I am a college student, I would like to have more energy and a higher immunity so I get sick less often. I hate missing class :/.

Thanks

Sounds a bit like you have the flu, and not a simple cold.

For cold symptoms I've been relying on Zinc products like Cold Eeze the last couple years. They've reduced symptoms to zilch and sped recovery to 2-3 days. The key seems to be starting them the moment I noticed symptoms, so not sure it'll do any good for you at this point.

If it's a placebo, nya nya nya I'm not listening to you! (with fingers firmly plugging my ears)

I have centrum A To Zinc on my desk. Should I take that ?

when I'm sick I always try to down at least two Odwalla "C Monster" drinks a day. Maybe it's just a placebo but the vitamin C boost sure seems to help.

Some people swear by "Airborne" cold and flu prevention tablets, which contain a lot of C and herbs and aminos of various types. But I find them better at preventing colds than preserving them.

Here's a terrible idea that actually works: chow down two or three cloves of garlic a day, raw. Your breath will reek, but garlic actually contains a mild antibiotic and antiviral agent; you want fresh stuff. It gets you well faster, and, if you put a lot of fresh garlic in your diet on a regular basis, it'll keep you well more of the time. Like I said, it's got its drawbacks.

I use echinacea tincture. It is easily the worst tasting item to ever enter my mouth. I chug Cola to get rid of the horrendous after-taste. I wouldn't suffer through it if it didn't work for me.
It's always had me spry as a foal in a few days.
I found it at the health food store and our local Albertson's grocery. Taken as suggested, it does the trick for me.

Ok Pal,

I'm a licensed EMT. Take some motrin. Its great for the pain. Have you had sinus problems? Because Motrin would be your best bet. Keep yourself well with the fluids. Plus sleep. If your symptoms persist PLEASE suck it up and see a Doctor.

Your buddie,
HoldemD
Cerfified EMT-Basic Illinois

It sounds like the flu to me too, but I'm not a doctor. You usually don't get fever with a cold. If it is the flu, there is nothing you can do but get rest, drink plenty of fluids (a lot of people get dehydrated with flu), and wait. I took some ibuprofen when I had the flu to help with the muscle achiness. Other than that, I just had to let time take its course. Hope you feel better soon!

Good advice. Sometime you just have to grin a bear it. Sleep always works for me. The more I try to get better the more it stresses me out and I don't get well.

One more thing, to help prevent colds, I know quite a few people who swear by Airborne. I've never tried it, but you might want to give it a try.

I take two ecinachea pills when I feel a cold coming on. They don't taste bad to me, I get them from the drug store over the counter & with a gulp of water they're down & out. My mom recommended this to me and I'll be damned if it doesn't work. I could be totally full of crap but I actually believe it does help prevent colds when taken in time. It also seems to shorten the duration of a cold.

Sounds like witch doctor stuff (I don't take vitamins, pills or anything else AT ALL) but it seems to work. It's about 6 bucks for a bottle of 100 tablets.

Orange juice and garlic. Not necessarily together bleccccccchhhhhhhh

Red Bell Peppers, too. They are the vegetable highest in Vitamin C. Even over oranges. I know these aren't "medicine," but neither is echinachea.

400 Mgs Coenzyme Q10 daily until the cold is over. Which should be tomorrow.

I too swear by Airborne. I was really sick over Christmas break back at home and my mom kept pushing me to take it. I gave in and I actually followed the dosage which is taking it three times a day. The next day I felt so much better. Now whenever I start to feel sick I take some more and it puts a stop to feeling sick.

Use some Tylenol theraflu cough and cold (the stuff you mix into hot water). It taste nasty even though the box says that it has a natural lemon taste to it but it works for me everytime. I usually don't mix it into a full 8oz(i think) of water it recomends, i just fill a cup half way and chug it down and get it over with.