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Still feeling sick; what gives?

By Catherine Toth Fox • November 7, 2011 • Musings, The Daily Dish

This is something like my fourth week of being sick.

And I can’t figure out what’s going on.

I surf and go to Pilates several times a week. I wash my hands regularly (and vigorously). I wear sweaters when I walk the dogs.

But for the past month or so I’ve not been able to shake this cold.

The sneezing and coughing keeps me up at night — then I don’t get enough sleep. I can barely stay awake at my desk at work. And forget about trying to get anything done at night. My nose is running so much it’s like it’s training for the marathon.

I’ve tried everything — barring prescription medication — from overdosing on vitamin C to using over-the-counter meds that have been just temporary relievers.

I ate pho. I had ramen the other day. I’m avoiding dairy. I’m trying to drink more water.

Nothing’s helping.

Anyone else feeling sick like me — or know of the miracle cure-all? Because right now, I could use something.

I bet winning Megabucks would help.

(smile)

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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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13 Comments

  • Reply David Jackson November 7, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    Have you been to the see the doc? After an month it might be a good idea. Might just be you need to take it out of gear.

  • Reply oldshoes November 7, 2011 at 5:35 pm

    Get to the health club and hit the steam room! Then do hot and cold. Couple minutes hot tub, then jump in the pool. And drink some brandy or rum at night. Best Wishes.

  • Reply hawaii2000 November 7, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    After a month, it’s probably time to see a doctor. I rarely get sick but when I had a cough that just wouldn’t quit after six weeks, the doctor took a chest x-ray and said there was an infection in my upper lungs. He prescribed some antibiotics and just like that the cough disappeared. This was odd to me as I didn’t really feel sick but the chronic cough (triggered by an itch in the back of my throat) just would not go away on its own.

    In the end, a doctor may tell you just get more rest, etc. But he or she could fix what’s ailing you too.

  • Reply Jade Eckardt November 7, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    Larix is my miracle cure all. They have it at most health food stores, it knocks everything out of me every time, I haven’t used anything else since I was 14. Hope you get better!

  • Reply nonstopmari November 7, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    i thot mine was bad, 13 days of low-grade fever and throat issues. after 2 nights of nighttime coughing that was keeping me up and cramping my abs, i found robitussin lingering cold long-acting cough syrup. tastes like cherry li hing mui. tamped down the cough enough to let me sleep thru the nite. i was sooo grateful, started to feel better after that.

  • Reply freerangenan November 7, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    If you haven’t been to the doctor yet, it’s time to go. It could turn into bronchitis or even pneumonia.

    Meanwhile, to relieve chest congestion, try Lo-Han-Kuo, available in Chinatown. You could boil the dried gourd into a medicinal soup, but we just buy the “beverage,” which is sold in the tea section. For less than $2 you get a green box with 10 doses. Just dissolve the cubes in hot water and drink as often as you like. It doesn’t really cure, but it relieves the cough so your body can heal. Taking at bedtime won’t put you to sleep but relieving the cough allows you to sleep. We’ve never experienced side effects. Tastes ok, kind of like brown sugar.

    For the runny nose, try nibbling dried chili, as hot as you can tolerate. It really clears out the sinuses!

    Get well soon!

  • Reply rayboyjr November 7, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    Hey Cat … sorry about your ailments … sadly, I don’t have a cure-all recommendation … I think each of our bodies are different … and we all respond differently to sickness and medicine …

    … sure, modern medicine is amazing … but the flu and the common cold are always one step ahead … there’s no real cure for it … but our bodies are resilient enough to beat it … without the help of medicine …

    … I think the road to recovery is tied to two things …

    … the first is allowing enough time for you body to rest and recover … no getting around that one … it usually doesn’t happen overnight … and some people just have a longer recovery time …

    … the second is reducing your stress levels … both mental and physical … I know you are a busy body with so much stuff on your plate … and that you think you can handle it all … even with your sickness … but your body may be telling you something … ??? …

    … maybe you don’t want to hear what your body is telling you … that you should ease up on the workload … at least for a while … while you’re recovering …

    … do what you need to get done … but take time off from work … skip some of the unnecessary stuff … like this blog, for one … and do things that actually relieve stress … spend extra time talking to Derek … rent more movies and just chill for a while …

    … we’ll all still be here … when you’re back to 100% …

  • Reply M November 8, 2011 at 6:48 am

    Not enough rest.

  • Reply matt November 8, 2011 at 6:50 am

    is it head cold only? maybe it’s allergies?

  • Reply zzzzzz November 8, 2011 at 7:58 am

    I wonder if something’s going around. DW is (I hope) just getting over something similar that’s been with her almost 3 weeks now, and a friend had a similar cold that just seemed to go on.

  • Reply WildeOscar November 8, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    Sleep. You’re already doing everything else. Then consider the possibility that it may be allergies. Most allergies are not present from early childhood, although some certainly are. Most allergies present themselves in our early-30s, and they begin to decrease in severity in our early-60s. It is one of the things to look forward to as we grow old.

  • Reply Bumper November 8, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    I think you need a couple days of unplugged rest. Lay around, watch TV, read and relax. Take the dogs for brief walks for fresh air. Don’t do anything work related. Maybe the downtime and cutting out the stress will do the trick. Listen to your body and it’ll treat you better!

  • Reply hawaiiobsessed November 8, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    you could try Kold Kare it has really worked for me in the past. Also try onion syrup for the cough. Cut up an onion ( organic is best if you can get it) into 1/4 inch slices and layer in a glass jar with honey or sugar. The honey/sugar draws out the juice of the onion and you take the resulting syrup as needed for the cough.

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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