Sick Again - Clinton Township,MI

It sounds like a tree alergy.... I get sick in the Spring and Fall with the same symptoms. You should try going to an alergist or trying some Claritn over the counter first, to see if it helps. Claritn works great for me. Hope you feel better :)

Hello N W,

It sounds to me like you have an allergy. Probably to molds. When the leaves start to fall and the vegitation is decaying there is lots of it in the air. See an allergist, it changed my life for the better. Good luck.

ALLERGIES! Hate to put it to you, but this is the time of the year.
Actifed is one of the best to dry it out. Also you can get Zyrtec-D (the D is for decongestant) you need this to get it out.
Ragweed is extremely high this year.
I had the same exact thing happen to me after I moved to Michigan. Thought it was a cold, but every September my nose would not stop running!
Good Luck!

Oh I feel your pain.

First to address the immediate issue. Vitamin C and Garlic! Lots and lots of both. Load up on them. You can get good doses of vitamin C many different ways... there is a powder you mix with water called 'Emergen-C', comes in tons of different flavors, I like the tangerine best. You can get it at Target. Also, mushrooms. They have the highest concentration of Vitamin C of any food. And of course straight vitamin C supplements.

Garlic. Load up on the garlic. Garlic is a natural immune booster AND has natural antibiotic properties. A couple of months ago I had super sick with a head throat thing. I reallly felt like it was heading in the direction of strep. So, I actually ate 2 cloves of RAW garlic. Disgusting to say the least, but that night I put on sweats and and a sweatshirt over a t-shirt, piled on the blankets to sweat it out and the next day I was good to go. The garlic and the sweating really pushed it out of my system. I wasn't 100%, but I no longer felt like I was a strep infection waiting to happen. Also, lots of water. Hydrate yourself. You may also look at a homeopathic practicioner.

Pepermint tea will help open your sinuses and tastes yummy. You can also do a steam treatment. Boiling water in a bowl and a towel. Put some chamomile tea in the water. It will help open your sinuses and the chamomile has healing properties as well and will help if there is any sinus infection starting. We lived in Germany for a couple of years and my doctor over there told me about that one. It really helped! You can use a little nasal spray to initially open things up so the steam really gets in there.

Also, you can try an humidifier in your room at night with eucalyptus in it. The eucalyptus will help open you up as well. Prop up your head so you aren't laying flat. Will help with the breathing thing.

Homeopathics work really well for me. They work with your body instead of masking the problem like an OTC.

Now for long term health. Prepare. Since this happens regularly I'm sure you have a pattern ... a time of year. Before that time of year hits, start taking echinacea. You have to get it in your system and keep at it for it to work. Also, Zinc is a good immune booster and will help shorten the duration of things if you get something. Garlic tablets. I swear by these. You can get tasteless ones. When I take these regularly I truly notice a decrease in how often I get sick.

Multi-vitamin to ensure you are getting the right amounts of vitamins and nutrients you need each day. Get a good one. It pays to investigate and maybe pay a little more. So many vitamins have more filler then vitamin. I get mine from my chiropractor, the brand is Thorne. Not sure where else you could get them. But maybe ask at a health food store. You want to be sure you're getting more vitamin then filler. Fillers do nothing for you.

A little bit of exercise goes a long way too in keeping us healthy. Particularly in the cold and flu season. I know with 2 boys you don't sit around much ... but at the same time, are you getting enough 'me' time? You need time to destress. Stress taxes the body. Taking care of 2 boys I'm sure has a lot of stress! So, make sure you are taking some time to relax. You NEED it to stay healthy.

B-complex. Your B vitamins are the first to be depleted. Stress of any kind... good or bad will deplete your B vitamins more quickly. This is significant because you need B vitamins to have your body do pretty much everything else. B vitamins are a cornerstone of metabolising eerything that goes into your body. (I'm not just pulling this stuff out of my butt, honest. This is all through my own research and what my doctor friend has given me.) So, a B-complex vitamin is important.

Hope this has helped! I know it sounds like a lot. But, providing your body with the tools it needs will actually allow it to fight things they way your immune system was intended.

Get yourself a neti pot. I found them for $10 at Korger or any drug store carries them. If you have alergies a neti pot will remove the alergins in your sinus'. When you feel the cold/allergy coming on start cleansing your sinus'. You'll be amazed at how releiving this is. I gave one to a friend at work....she really didn't want to use it but I was insistent. She all better today.....since yesterday!!! Also, I find that ZiCam is remarkable. These are the two best things I've found. Hope you try them. C.

If it's a cold and not allergies, use Zicam. The melt in your mouth tablets. They work great before you get a cold.

It sounds like allergies. Try taking Claritin every day starting at least a couple of weeks before you typically get sick. I used to be sick every year on my birthday in late September until I figured out that I am allergic to ragweed. I still have some symptoms but I don't end up feeling horrible for weeks and weeks.

Hello There,

I found something that is natural, preventative and has worked for our entire family of 5. As a matter of fact, my 7 yr. old has not been sick to the doc but once in his life time. My 2 and 12 yr. old are equally healthy.
I have taken this since I was pregnant with my 7 yr old. It's safe, simple and effective. I since then have helped many friends and strangers get better health like us and it's turned out to be very rewarding in many ways.
You can't get it in a store.
Best you call me and I'll explain the info to you in person if you wish.
Blessings, C. 248.914.10539 my cell or ###-###-#### my home.

N W,

A lot of the other moms have mentioned seasonal allergies and I agree that this could be the culprit of your misery. Does this happen just after your turn on your furnace? You could have mold in your air ducts, these may need a good cleaning, but the cleaning could trigger your allergies all over again. I suggest you stop eating bread, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. Anything that has a type of mold or organism used to produce the food.

My guess is you have a mold allergy (leaf mold in the fall, soil mold in the spring) and normally your body can tolerate the small doses, but in the fall and spring the mold spores fill the air and your body just can't handle the barrage.

Many of the foods we eat are made with mold and this can also cause our bodies to over-react when too much of a bad thing is in the air.

Just something to try, but it might help. Check out your local health food store for mold- and yeast-free options. There is a company called "Ruby's" that makes yeast-free breads. You can get your calcium from juices until the 2-week period has passed.

Also try setting up a box fan in your bedroom with a whole-house filter taped to the side that draws in air. Be sure to get a filter that will trap mold spores and dust mites. In about two weeks you will see a round dirty area where icky stuff is caught in the filter. I have allergies as well and have fans running in my bedroom and living room almost constantly. I change the filters about once a month and found it really helps me cope with my seasonal allergies.

Good luck and I hope you're feeling better!

-C..

Do you eat much candy or sugary foods? I used to get every bug around and at least 3 sinus infections/yr until about 2 yrs ago I cut way back on these things and started eating more natural and organic items. I read that one piece of candy can depress the immune system for like 6-8 hrs due to the sugar. Bacteria love sugar!! They thrive on it. I hope these tips can help you. I know how it feels and it isn't fun!

I think I can really help with this one...I'm the queen of getting sick/hurt...lol. I really prefer homeopathic remedies whenever possible.

Morning and afternoon: Hot lemon tea with fresh lemon squeezed into it and a tablespoon of honey or more if you like. Also, be sure to drink at least two 8 oz glasses of orange juice daily till your cold is gone. Claritin in the morning will also help with allergies and not make you sleepy.

When you take your shower, add some Vicks Vapor Rub to your chest (make your chest the last part you wash). It will help clear your sinuses in the shower.

Night time: Take Benadryl Allergy. You can use this during the day too if it doesn't make you too sleepy, but I know it knocks me out. That is why I suggest Caritin during the day. I think they have a non-drowsy Benadryl Allergy one now, but not sure. If you have an oil burner, you should get some eucalyptus oil and put it near your bed just before you go to sleep (remember to use all safty cautions when using a candle/tea light). Try to time it so you are just about falling asleep as the tea light is burning out, or blow it out if you just can't stay awake.

Hope you feel better!

I'm not sure this will help all your symptoms but it will definitely help with the cough. Put Vicks vapor rub heavy on the bottom of your feet and then put on socks. You should have relief from the cough in 30-60 minutes. I know it sounds crazy but it really truely works! I hope you feel better!

Sounds like sinues- happens to me a few times every year as well- I take sinus/ allergy pills percription Allegra- I've suffered with it for years before being diagoned with sinus problems. See your doctor

this is going to sound weird....because it did to me...
but...if you get it every year....same two times...i bet you are actually not sick, and it's severe allergies.
i would get sick every year....i would swear it was either bronchitis or maybe the beginnings of strep throat...
I would even have a fever! and the doctor told me it was allergies....(frankly...i thought he was crazy)
but...that's what i was...
i have nasonex...i don't take it all year (like i am supposed to) i just start taking it for a month or so, around 2 weeks before it usually hits...and i avoid it all together!
worth a try i guess?
for relief of what you are going through right now....I swear by DayQuil caplets...for everything! it'll help you feel like you can get out of bed

Sounds like you have some sort of seasonal allergies. Go to www.ahccenter.com
This group is wonderful! Read the testimonials from people they have helped. It's well worth the trip to Grosse Pointe!
Multi-vitamins aren't always the answer. Sometimes the OTC brands aren't put together well enough for your body to ABSORB them or maybe you have some allergy that is keeping your system from absorbing. It's hard to say. :(
I agree with taking Airborne. It really does work, even though the news and the FDA "pooh-poohs" it.

It doesn't sound like a virus if you get it the same times every year. If it is a virus...there is not much you can do but wait it out. It does sound like sinus's or allergies. I think you need to determine which one in order to try and help and/or prevent it. I don't know if there is good over the counter medications, but I would try your dr for prescriptions. You may not like taking medicine, but it may be the only thing that helps. Then again...maybe this is a problem that can only fix itself like a virus. Good luck to you!!! I hope you feel better.

Since I began taking acidophilus, I have not been sick. You can buy the capsules in any vitamin aisle. They are wonderful support for the immune system. They also help fight off yeast infections, bladder infections, sinus infections, etc. Try them and I'm sure you'll see a difference. Good luck and feel better soon! :)

Sounds like seasonal allergies to me. Having the immune system in balance will help tremendously. Do you eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day? How about lean meats? Here is "food for thought", for every teaspoon of sugar a person consumes, the immune system is negatively impacted for 5 hours. We can't eliminate the sugar from our diet and really shouldn't. So if you can eat healthy 80% of the time and eat what you want 20% of the time you will feel better.

Also, supplements are not an option anymore. Taking a multi-vitamin is a good start, but not enough for you. Also, you know your body is absorbing a multivitamin by doing this test: place your multi-vitamin in a half cup of room temperature water. Set the time for 30 minutes. If the vitamin does not dissolve within 30 minutes, basically it is going in one end and coming out the other end in the same state.

If you would like more information, contact me at ____@____.com you feel better!

Hi There,

This time of year hits me and my family every year. It is the change in weather but also allergies. The ONLY thing that works for me so that I can function is Mucinex DM and Sudafed. The real kind of Sudafed that you have to sign your life away at the pharmacy for. The combination of the two help to knock out the sinus infection and give me the energy to get through the day. Becareful not to get the 12 hour sudafed and take it too late in the morning though. You may have problems sleeping then. My kids have already been to the doctor for the sinus infection (after 3 weeks with it) and were prescribed antibiotics. I probably won't be too far behind. I am taking the sudafed now to try and make sure that does not happen with the minor symptoms I have now.

Well, good luck and Happy Fall.

K.

If you think this is a form of the flu, you could try getting the flu shot, if you don't already. If you get this every fall, after school starts, that could be it.

It could also be allergies. I take the original sudafed for my allergies. It loosens things up and I don't have the throat drainage, which allows me to sleep. My husband take the sudafed dm(nighttime). The anithistamines knock me out and make me dopey, they dry me up, but that just gives me a headache.

To treat it: you have been given some really good ideas, the only thing that I would add, is have your hubby, or you do it, take the kids to a friend, family, or daycare. I have not been doing this, but now I do. You need rest, that is important and you can't take care of them properly if you are sick.

elevate your pillows at night, have a humidifier or mister, and boost your immune system. I'd get to a health food store. You may need to detox too.

Do you smoke?

I can't think of a medical reason you would be prone to the same infection twice/year unless you have a poor immune system...usually due to smoking, severe allergies, chemo???

The moms on here know a great deal about homeopathic preventative measures...they'll give you great advice as far as what to try!!

BTW...if you are coughing/draining yellow or green, you need a dr...if it's clear or white, you don't. Standard rule!

~L.

Hi NW That's got to be frustrating especially with no answers.

You've received lots of good tips. Couple comments about the raw garlic: Lay the side of your knife on the garlic clove and press down to smash it. Let it set there for 5 minutes that will activate it even more and you don't have to chew it. Some people get burns from a lot of raw garlic. The active ingredient is not consistent in raw garlic because we don't know how long its been in shipping and storage....a majority of it is shipped in from China, how fresh can it be? So I look for a health product that is standardized...each tablet is guaranteed to have the same amount of pure safe active ingredient.

Again lots of good things for you to do...LOTS. Would you like to work with a wellness plan that would be customized for you?

M.

Do you have allergies. That's what it sounds like. I used to get so sick it was unreal every year same time. i take allergy pills now and it made a world of difference. you have to take it before you get sick its a preventitive not a cure. Good luck

I agree it sounds like allergies/sinus issues. I go through the same thing and whenever I feel it start to set in I do the zinc supplements and raw garlic (not fun, but worth it). The raw is important and you need to chew it a couple of times (have a big glass of water ready and waiting) due to some natural enzymes that get destroyed in the cooking/processing.

I also use a neti pot and saline sprays to help with the congestion issues.

Hope you feel better soon.

The Vitiamin Zink believe it or not really does wonders for colds, my mother would always tell me to take it but I was never a believer and do not like taking meds but when I had my daughter I was more worried about her getting sick so I started taking it at even the smallest symptom and it would either stop me from getting sick all together or it shortened the amount of time I was "down and out". I also take Aleve cold & Sinus, its a 12 hour pill and actually really works for 12 hours. Nose sprays are a life saver too, I have one of each for runny nose & Congestion in my purse and even though its weird spraying something in my nose it makes it seem like I'm not sick at all. Hope this helps

First of all, I'm not a doctor ( I only play one at home! Ha, ha!)

But I'll tell you what we do. We always keep 500 mg. tablets of vitamin C and boxes of Cold-Eeze (zinc) on hand in the house.

Whenever you feel that first tickle in your throat, start taking 3 tablets (1500 mg.) of vitamin C--spread throughout the day, and take one Cold-Eeze candy every four hours. I'll take decongestant medicine on top of this. This seriously diminishes our cold symptoms and whenever the kids or I get a cold it doesn't last more than about 3 days.

Feel better!

NW - It sounds like you may have allergies. Have you tried to take something to prevent that? My hubby has allergies and the rag weed gets him horribly this time of year. Check out some of the allergy meds that are OTC and if they don't help - ask your doctor if they could recommend someting.

HI NW
I'm voting for the neti pot as well. It's the best thing ever!
A. H

N W,

What we do here is as soon as we start to feel that yucky, coming down with a cold feeling we immediately start taking Airborne- its in the cold medicine section of your store. They are effervescent tablets that you put in a glass of water at the first sign of a cold, then drink them. You can take them every 3 hours until the symptoms go away. What they are is vitamins I dont have a bottle handy or I could list the ingredients. But you must take them before you actually get sick and it helps your immune system fight off the cold/virus. We swear by them!