You May Think It’s Funny, But It’s Snot

  • November 17th, 2007

Ah, still sick.  Day 2 of anything is never the high point, as things tend to get worse before they get better.  This cold is no exception.  I’m pretty sure it’s a cold and not the flu, but honestly, I’m not sure how you can tell.  A fever?  check. Aches?  Got that.  Sneezing?  Alrighty!  That feeling like your head might spontaneously pop off your body and roll across the living room carpet while you scramble for a Kleenex? Got that, too.

Last night I had a little Nyquil and shuffled off to dreamland, but awoke at 2:30am, 3:15am, and 6:00am, only to stumble out to the couch and crash until 9:30am.  For someone who sleeping until 7am is “sleeping in”, this was quite a feat.

I’m sure everyone has a similar sort of list, but I have staple items I usually like to have on hand when I’m sick:

  • Kleenex Ultra-Soft Tissues (not the lotion ones)
  • Nyquil in Cherry Ass Flavor
  • Ginger ale or 7-up
  • Water
  • lip balm (right now it’s Carmex)
  • Graham crackers

What do you need when you’re sick?  I don’t know what’s up with the graham crackers.  I think perhaps my mom may have done that. Normally I’m a cinnamon graham fan, but those holiday gingerbread ones from Honey Maid are pretty tasty.  Or, at least I think they are.  When I can actually taste something I’ll let you know.

Aside from the old faithful Nyquil, I don’t usually run to OTC medicine at the first sign of illness, but this girl knows when to give up the good fight and indulge in an antihistamine, you know?  I’m adding something new to the arsenal. I’ve got some work I need to do this weekend and couldn’t stay in a Nyquil stupor the whole time (as delightful as that sounds), so I picked up some new Zicam Daytime Multi-Symptom Cold & Flu.  It’s basically like Dayquil, only made by Zicam and completely clear

They claim it’s virtually tasteless when added to “any beverage”, but I decided to do my shot straight.  I want my cold medicine to work as quickly as possible, not take it’s sweet time diluting in a glass of OJ.  But I don’t know if OJ could mask the flavor because even with 90% of my senses deadened, I could definitely taste it.  I can’t even really equate it with anything; it was… well, medicine.  Medicine without the mask of Cherry Ass Flavor.  Wait! You know what it tasted like?  Those blue Mr. Sketch markers that supposedly smelled like blueberries.  The one that always smelled like medicine? That’s what this stuff tasted like.  Now let’s just see if it works.  So far, one side is letting air in, so that’s a bonus.

Speaking of which, how is it even physically possible for my nose to be stuffed up tighter than my high school jeans, yet still be running like faucet?  Riddle me that, Science!

*cough*

14 insightful thoughts

chickrawker said on 11/17/07 @ 1:20pm

ack. feel better. breakfast tomorrow!!!

(but if we have to postpone to next week, that’s cool too.)

Joelle said on 11/17/07 @ 2:03pm

@chickrawker: yes, I think we’ll have to. At this point, it’s looking like a rain check. :-(

Manic Witch said on 11/17/07 @ 3:08pm

All I can keep handy is benadryl.  I’m allergic to any kind of decongestant so I have to settle for antihistamine-which knocks me on my already over-tired dead ass. 

I totally agree with you about the lotion puffs.  I am already trying to wipe snot off my nose without rubbing it with something that feels like I’ve already done that.  Fortunately, despite working in a doctors office, I manage to get only one cold a year now.  Feel better soon.

By the way, your book ROCKED!!!

Joelle said on 11/17/07 @ 3:25pm

@Manic Witch:  Thank you!!  grin

Kathy said on 11/17/07 @ 5:56pm

Ewwwwwww.

Lip balm (totally), Campbells chicken soup… the crappy kind with the tiny chewy chicken bits, cool mist humidifier and definitely NyQuil… and not the imitation kind either. 

Sorry you’re feeling like cwap. :(

Kathy said on 11/17/07 @ 5:58pm

Oh and the usual arsenal of girl movies.  Can’t forget that.

witchypoo said on 11/17/07 @ 9:04pm

Echinacea is also good.

I swear by Cold Fx, although I don’t know if it’s available outside the states.

A hot rum toddy is always good.

witchypoo said on 11/17/07 @ 9:06pm

Err, I meant outside Canada.

I am Canuckian.

Hear me be polite and apologize.

And put “u” in words where you wouldn’t expect it.

Gwyn said on 11/18/07 @ 12:36am

Nyquil is about it for me usually.

I’m just getting over a cold that was seriously kicking my butt. I took a couple of those dissolving Zicam tablets in my achy, sniffling stupor and it has magically disappeared on me a day or so later. They taste like ass and you’re not supposed to drink anything for 15 minutes afterwards so it’s pretty much cruel and unusual punishment.

It was my first time ever taking the stuff so I can’t really say if it was the Zicam or if the cold just went away on its own. However, it is nice to feel like I’ve returned to the land of the living again.

Michelle M. said on 11/18/07 @ 5:09am

I’ve been fighting a cold (I think) for about a week now, because our fabulous Ohio weather fairy can’t make up her mind. Since I’m prone to sinus infections, I have an arsenal too: Blistex DCT, Advil Cold & Sinus, diet Canada Dry and loaded ice trays (continually refilled by the fiancĂ© as I use them up lol). Also ginger snaps (ginger helps calm nausea and they’re good anyway), mashed potatoes if I can eat since that’s my comfort food, my trusty gel ice pack usually reserved for my migraines because sinus headaches are almost as bad, and my cat next to me. Oh, and ditto on the girly movies. Hope you feel better soon!

Manic Witch said on 11/18/07 @ 6:04am

Kathy:  The chicken soup MUST be Campbell’s.  Not the even crappier generic, nor the pretentious Progresso either.  And I missed the lipbalm part.  I need the carmex in the pot (tub? jar?).  I nearly always end up needing to rub some on my very tender and raw nose. 

And if the cold is really horrendous?  Vicks vapor rub.  Just like mom used to use.

mel said on 11/18/07 @ 12:41pm

I just got over being sick, while away from home.  Which is basically the worst for me.  I want to be in my bed, in my bathroom, in my little bubble of sickness when I’m not feeling good.  And I need to have Tylenol, Echinacea, Robutussin DM (if there is coughing involved and usually there is), Lotion Tissues of some variety and vicks vapor rub (I fight it, but it always works!).  I’m allergic to Nyquil and Benadryl and I’m not sure what else, so I don’t like to experiment too much with new things.  I stick to what I know won’t kill me and try to make it through.

I hope you start feeling better soon!

Peggy said on 11/18/07 @ 3:26pm

When I am sick, the only thing I want is my Mommy:)

If you have a cough, you should try Mucinex. I swear by that stuff. Hope it passes quickly.

Joelle said on 11/18/07 @ 4:07pm

Thanks everyone. I’m starting to feel a weensy bit better.  Hopefully, by tomorrow I’ll be more functional. grin

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