Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
Peter Robinson ·
Sep 8, 2010 at 8:27am
Look, I know Ricochet is supposed to be devoted to matters of high import—politics, culture, Claire’s cats, that sort of stuff. But this morning I’m a mess. Headache, sniffles, sort throat, sneezing, and an intense desire to climb back into bed coupled with the complete inability to sleep once I’m there. A summer cold. Outdoors the temperature is still in the mid-seventies, but in my head it’s deep midwinter. Would you indulge me? Would you permit me to ask a low, entirely practical question?
Does Zicam work?
One more.
What do you do when you’re this miserable?
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Re: Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
Recorded the podcast, climbed back into bed, and now I'm up--and reading through this Ricochet armamentarium of remedies. Trace's sounds most appealing. Also least attainable. Here's what I'm doing--and I hope you all more or less approve: Neti pot two or three times a day. (The idea is revolting, the practice, I've found, less so.) Zicam chewable tablets once every three hours. (I can't find much evidence that they work, but I can't find any that they do any harm. I guess I'm hoping for some sort of deeply subconscious placebo effect.) Lots of Vitamin C chewable tablets, consumed, I confess, more or less randomly. And tea. I don't feel well enough to go out to buy Throat Coat, but at the back of our tea drawer I discovered Nettle Leaf Tea--purchased, I assume, during some now-forgotten illness, probably by my wife. It tastes terrible, so it must be good for me. Now to see if I can do a little work before yet another nap...during which, I'll dream sweet dreams of all of you.
Jul '10
Re: Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
I find that anger helps ward off disease.
Try reading "Daily Kos" and "Huffington Post".
The "New York Times" works nicely, too.
Aug '10
Re: Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
I have used Zicam in the past and felt it helped me get over the cold quicker. But, who knows if it really works. When sick I drink a lot of hot tea (but I drink a lot of tea anyway). The hot tea seems to help my head feel better. Rest and take it easy too. Liquids and rest are always the best remedies it would seem.
Jul '10
Re: Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
Half a cup of apple cider vinegar, half a cup of hot water, a tablespoon of honey, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Or Sudafed, if you don't mind the loopiness. Feel better soon, Peter!
Re: Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
Or you could do nothing, and you'll feel better in a week.
Jul '10
Re: Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
It looks like Mr. Sajak and I are on the same brainwaves. The only time laziness will solve your problems.
May '10
Re: Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
Unfortunately, I usually give the bug to my wife, and her misery helps me forget mine, because she is always affected more than I am. I just take 50 mg diphenhydramine hydrochloride (e.g., Benadryl) at night and sleep.
But I do everything else normally, especially work out, which feels miserable anyway, but with a virus you have an excuse.
Re: Summertime, and the Livin' is Lousy
Sorry you're feeling poorly, Peter. In my experience nothing works but waiting it out. Get well soon. I will take this opportunity to make a public service announcement, though: It's possible now to be vaccinated against pneumonia. The vaccination is safe and effective against the most common bacterial strains. Pneumonia is a killer at worst, a misery at best, and I can't see any reason not to have the vaccine. One less complication to worry about when you get a cold, for sure. I say this as someone who didn't have the vaccination and wound up spending a week in the hospital with pneumonia last year, for no reason anyone could explain except that sometimes it just happens.
You better believe I'm vaccinated now. God bless modern medicine, Big Pharma, and the economic incentives that in a free market drive companies to invent things like this vaccine.
There, Peter. I've managed to turn your affliction into a partisan attack on Obamacare. Your suffering isn't in vain.