For those of you who have been sick within the last year or so, I am wondering if you have tried anything different to deal with it, and if so, did it work or not?

For instance, most people who feel like they're coming down with something or feel a fever coming on, will rush to take aspirin (or similar). Certain folks say that doing that interrupts the body's defense mechanism (fever) and makes the flu last longer. Any experience with comparisons?

What about those cold remedies like Zicam, where you're supposed to start taking them as soon as you feel the flu coming on?

If doctors are prescribing antibiotics like Zithromax, are they attempting to treat the virus (useless) or the symptoms?

Just wondering.

Sue

About the only thing I take when I feel something coming on is vitamin C. As a matter of fact, I'm taking some now...........

Vitamin C
Echinacea
ColdFX (which is just ginseng)

These have all worked for me in the past but usually I let it run it's course and I feel fine in a few days time without doing anything except stay hydrated and well fed.

My wife swears by Zicam, I gobble cherry flavored Vitamin C like crazy...

My mom always said - "stay in bed and force fluids" and she kept us quiet and well hydrated. Still works for me - last episode was about two weeks ago. I also took pseudofed to combat a runny nose. Most cold remedies are just expensive placebos. This does not mean that they might not help you.

Sometimes I'll take aspirin or psuedofed or something to relive symptoms, but I don;t take anything to combat the flu or colds (except Vitamin C). I just rely on my body's system to take care of the rest.

My reply: I don't know. I've heard mixed results concerning TheraFlu. I carry some in my FAK but I haven't had reason to try it yet.

My reply: Aspirin, acetominophen, ibuprofen, etc will shut down the fever which will ease some symptoms but you are prolonging the illness. My understanding from physicians is that fever is a good viable mechanism to fight off a bug. Most Dr's will have slightly differing opinions on when a fever is considered to be getting dangerous. Most will say the danger area is between 103-105 degrees.

My reply: This is why bacteria develope immunities to anti-biotics over time. It's never good to take anti-biotics when a virus is involved because the virus isn't adversly affected but it too will develope stronger immunities, over time.

No, I am not a Dr but I use to play a Medical Officer on a Coast Guard Cutter.

In the event I get a little under the weather I drink tons of liquids and make sure I get out in the sunlight and shuffle around the backyard or driveway.

The getting outside in the sunlight also works wonders for the ocassional "blues" and "funks" I get in.

Up until recently (when the .gov made them put them behind the counter) a large percentage contained pseudoephidrene. It's a decongestant and it works and it works well. If you can take it. Most decongestants will make any blood pressure problems worse.

Never fails, I find a product that I like and it turns out to be deadly. Not that I doubt your word, but can you give me a link or something about this???