666pack

so i'm sitting here drinking three packets of emergen-c before i go to class. i'm getting mad sick, my mucus is straight green.

what is your medicine, treatment, technique of choice for dealing with illness?

i'm gonna drink these emergen-c, pop a few dayquil and be gone. maybe i'll take a nap this evening if i have time.

tbrtbx

drink plenty of water and if you're hungry, eat rice.

BeantownFixed

I'm not sure what's in emergen-c but you can metabolize ungoddly amounts of Vitamin C without any stomach, kidney effects etc. I swear by 1 gram of Vitamin C every 4 hours. You can get Vitamin C at Walgreens or CVS in 250mg pills for like a 4$ for a bottle of 100. Take 4 every 4. If your mucuous is already green thoug it is probably too late and you should treat the symptoms, psedophedrine and tylenol are your new friends.

666pack

emergen-c is basically an ungodly amount of vitamin c. it's a powdered drink that has over 1000mg of vitamin c in each packet, i drink two every morning.

this **** just snuck up on me! i havn't been sick for about three months or so, and that's pretty good for living in a dorm.

LóFarkas

That is an ungodly amount of vitamin C. My friend who's in med school tells me that there's no point in taking more than about 500mg/day or something like that. The rest just goes right through you without any effect other than potentially causing renal calculus.

BeantownFixed

It is ungodly in that you are probably exceeding the bioavailability of it, however there have been published trials (not just case reports) of people taking in 1500mg with no side effect, there was study published like 10 years ago saying the safe dose shouldn't exceed 1Gram. For daily supplementation (somepeople propose anti cancer and some heart disease benefits, not proven) I think the dose is even lower like 250-400mg/day. All in all excessive bit not unsafe

queerpunk

emergen-C is good. i also eat raw garlic - two cloves three or four times a day, followed by a glass of water.

i also chop up a bunch of ginger and boil it (lid tightly closed), an add a chopped lemon and a bit of cinnamon - make it strong. it's really soothing.

it takes time to prepare, but i'm also a huge fan of a brew called Fire Cider. google it - it's a tincture in apple cider vinegar of onions, garlic, ginger, horseradish, cayenne, and parsley. super soothing and restorative, though harsh.

no more alcohol till you're better (a rule i break and it shows), get sleep, and stop doing stuff when you feel bad. take it easy.

stay hydrated and eat well. fruits and veggies are very good. fried, fatty, and sugary foods are not so good.

Landgolier

I'm going to take this opportunity to say avoid all zinc products like the plague, especially the nasal swabs and sprays. They are technically marketed as homeopathic and therefore not really subject to any controls, regulation, or testing, even though in this case the dosage is actually biologically significant (most homeopathic remedies have nonexistent or trace amounts of the alleged active ingredient and are thus fairly harmless).

astrx

if the mucus is in your lungs and your hacking up a lot, you need an expecorant, i usually look for something with guaphenicin (sp?) in it. or you can get your doctor to perscribe it seperately.

i stick to theraflu. it tastes like h3ll but works better than anything i have tried. also try not to over-exert yourself. ride your bike slower than you normally would and wear an extra layer being sure to keep your neck warm. the last thing you need is for your body to be trying to keep warm when it should be spending all its energy on fighting the disease.

if you got case of dehydration (from the sticky-ickies or cocka-dookies) i learned about the BRATT diet in Peace Corps. Bread Rice Apple Sauce Tea and Toast i think. these are suppused to be super easy to digest. stay away from meats, dairy, and oils.

BeantownFixed

Although my opinions on urban culture varries greatly with Landgolier (hahah) I concur homeopathis remedies are not FDA controlled so noone checks what is in the product you are getting. You are left to pick a name you trust and cross your fingers.
My last piece of advice is to not underestimate the benefits of plain old tylenol, most people don't get benefit from it from under dosing. Remember that dose ranges are based on a 160 lb person, of you are young and athletic you exceed those needs. NEVER exceed the max reccomended dose feel free to take it. Most people see 325 to 650 and take 325, whick is useless.

Landgolier

Also, I think there were some pretty robust studies 3-5 years ago or so showing that exercise didn't affect recovery time for colds and flu, though there's exercise and there's 30 miles of freezing your ass off in rain and slush.

fix

i haven't been sick for about three years or so, also living in dorms. You really get sick every three months?

Surferbruce

i work around children, and seem to get a cold about once every 3 months, and i am a firm believer in Zicam. you need to start it as quickly as you can when you feel it coming on, but i have no doubt it lessens the severity and shortens the duration.
lots of water, and lots of rest are also key.

cc700

i drink a half gallon of OJ a day.

crtreedude 

The local remedy is as follows down here. Take 2 or three mandarian limes (I am sure the regular will work), squeeze the juice into a glass - add some salt.

Shoot it down your throat like a shot of whiskey. Shudder (not sure if it is necessary - but everyone does it!)

As soon as a cold appears anywhere - people start doing this - it actually seems to work.

okpik

I use hot pepper therapy and keep riding.

Cynikal 

I'm currently freebasing airborn because the plague is rampant at work.

humancongereel

my recipe for feeling better is pretty simple...sleep and drink echinacea tea. i doubt emergen-c would hurt either.

queerpunk

airborn is ridiculously overpriced. emergen-C is like eleven bucks for fifty packets. and they're pretty much the same thing - lots of vitamin C, some vitamins and minerals, and electrolytes (which you should have in you anyway).

freebird

Try a grip of sketchy street-drugs and 48 hours holed up in a downtown SRO with a couple of amateur porn tapes. Should straighten you right out.

There's also the "Swedish Two-Hats" method.
Leave work/school, go home, get undressed and throw your hat on the end of the bed. Grab a book and a bottle and crawl in. Read and drink until you look down and see two hats. Go to sleep. You will wake up well.

queerpunk

that's not a cold remedy, it's an anti-depressant.
or a pro-depressant.
i forget which.

evanyc

yeah, if you take too much vitamin-c at one your ass will explode. however, when you're sick or injured your body can tolerate and absorb way more C than usual as it's trying to repair itself. 5g a day, 1g every few hours, is a good amount. DON'T try and get this C by drinking a ****load of orange juice which is generally almost all sugar and sugar isn't good when you're sick. drink tons of water.

exercizing also isn't a bad idea. a book i read recently recommended doing a "neck check" to see if you should exercize. if you symptoms are above your neck - runny nose, sinus problems, sneezing, sore throat - start your workout but keep it low intensity and shorter than usual. if you start working out though and start feeling worse after you start, then stop and go home. if you have "below the neck" symptoms - coughing up matter, chills, fever, achy muscles... then don't work out.

Quarters Mostly

"Yeah, Electrolytes, it's what plants crave."

chip thunder

A nice heated shot of Grand Marnier will clear your sinuses and make you feel oh so cuddly and warm and happy.

marqueemoon

spinach (wash the hell out of it first) + oj in a blender. Drink.
Breathe Right strips (not the knockoffs). They look stupid but they work.
Sinex 12 hour Ultrafine mist (don't overdo it on this ****)
Alka Seltzer Plus

Get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water or herbal tea and lay off the caffeine.