Thanks to all of you, we've planned a great trip for Italy. Unfortunately, my son brought home a cold from school last week and I woke up with a raging sore throat this morning. Any ideas for survival on the plane, or better yet - an instant cure??

Zicam nasal spray right now! Also, lots of orange juice & other fluids, and as much time resting/sleeping as possible.

Once in Italy, if your throat is still feeling "woolly" try drinking orange juice (spermuta d'arancia) and buy some "Bengola" throat lozenges.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

BC's advise is good -- I also like to use Cold-eze gum (zinc). The cinnamon flavor is least offensive, and it doesn't TOTALLY destroy your sense of taste. I'd use it for a couple or three days. Of course you must also drink tons of water! Good luck and Bon Voyage!

I'd be safe and try to see the dr. to make sure it's not a sinus infection and get some back up antibiotics. I know you're not supposed to overuse antibiotics but this is an instance that calls for it!

ZICAM nasal spray. I swear by it. It has worked for me and I have been using it for 2 years with no colds.

If it's not an infection or caused by bacteria, you don't need antibiotics, and those are for a doctor to prescribe only should they deem it necessary. As your son doesn't seem to need them, you probably won't either.

Italy cures colds. It just does. So get a lot of sleep now and drink your OJ and don't let the flight wear you out, and you should be fine.

Echinacea capsules boost your immune system, and will help lessen the impact of a cold. Th Cold-eze tablets also help, but don't drink any citrus juices within 1/2 hour of using zinc, or you'll negate it.

I would think you'd contact your doctor rather than taking advice from a bunch of us strangers on a website whom you don't know anything about other than that we allegedly have some knowledge about Europe!

hi wendylee,

1st sign of a cold and I reach for 2 shots of nyquil for two evenings and 1500-2000 mg of vitamin C a day with a calcium tablet. It usually does away with it (summer or seasonal change colds) and the vitamin beefs up my immune system.

Now winter is different. most of my "colds" in the winter are really flu/viruses and I end up with bronchitis. I had pneumonia several years ago, I have learned to go to the dr. 1st thing and hit the antibiotics immediately.

This past year was terrible. Bayer now makes an antibiotic that worked wonders on a particular dangerous bout of bronchitis when nothing else worked....the name Avelox....remember it!


ps...yes I know the nyquil is filled with alcohol. It along with the decongestant seems to work wonders and I can sleep without coughing...when I can't sleep for coughing my immune systems deteriates and then it just really kicks me down. Works for me!

zicam - is it OTC?

Wendy, I also suggest bunches of water. Well, bunches of fluids. And (I'm really serious) I think some red wine helps too.

If your head is stuffed up, you may experience ear pressure pain on the plane. You might want to take your usual decongestant before flying.

Four echinacea tablets a day plus three glasses of orange juice.

Bookchick:
if by BENGOLA you mean those lozenges that you find in italian pharmacies, actually it is called
BENAGOL (lemon, orange and mint flavours).

oh my gosh, I hope you get better pronto and have a lovely trip.

Hope you feel better soon and have a great trip. Don't be afraid of "overdosing" on vitamins- I'd go up to 4000 mg of vitamin C with calcium taken throughout the day, not all at once. Also two echinacea tablets morning, noon, evening, and before bed. I'd also take the vitamins with you and keep dosing up while in Italy, and share them with the family so no one else gets sick. Good luck!

I have been in your situation more than once, so I feel for you! When it happens, I load up on Vitamin C and take zinc lozenges. I also take Alka Seltzer Plus cold tablets at the first sign of a cold. They make me drowsy, so I take them when I know I will be home the rest of the night. But they usually knock out my cold symptoms in a day or two.

Good luck and have a wonderful time in Italy.

If it IS a cold...here's another vote for Zicam. I didn;t believe it until I tried it myself and was amazed.

However a seriously hurting sore throat , might be Strep, I'd double check with your dr along with the Zicam

Thanks for reminding me to pick up another bottle for our trip next month!

WendyLee,
Lots of vitamin C, gargle with warm salt water with a pinch of vinegar 3 or 4 times a day,
take echinacea and golden seal for at least 10 days
take also a Benadryl the day of your flight
Drink, drink, drink, green tea and Buona fortuna(good luck)
Buon Viaggio,

Hope you get better SOON. Here's one I haven't seen mentioned yet that sometimes works for me--

Several drops of Colloidal Silver (needs to be taken with Acidophilus) in orange juice or tea (along with lots of echinacea and VC). It's hard to find Colloidal Silver, but call around to healthfood stores. It's really worked for me (and won't hurt you!)

Good luck!

P.S. Also recommend the Jewish cure all with this--chicken soup (preferrably homemade)!