Why is it when you mention you have a cold...

[KCtheMommy]

or that you are feeling one coming on…

Someone inevitably HAS TO SAY:

“Oh you should take vitamin C and Echenacia (sp?), or get cold pack, or blah blah blah”

Now really, why do people do this? As if we all don’t know that some herbs and vitamins are good for a cold. Maybe. Either way you would have to live in a cave in Antarctica to not know this (well ok, you probably would know it there too since you would often suffer colds…or maybe not, because there’s not a lot of population…oh all right I’ll stop, I am just rambling.) so why do people feel compelled to offer random medical advice? STRANGERS will tell me what to take.

Anyway, I just got to venting about this because I said “I have a horrible cough” to someone on IM and I get back the Vitamin C speech. ARGHHHHHH! No! Stop it!

I wonder how much time in my life I have spent discussing what I should take for my colds and coughs? I don’t offer it to anyone else, that’s for sure. Big people can make big decisions like how they want to tackle a cold.


Now, hand me some Nyquil and hush up already.

 

[whatevergirl]

LOL!!! I laughed out loud reading this. I just saw someone today, here at work who is getting sick…and I told him the vitamin c speech…

oh, and KC…drink lots of liquids…and green tea too!!!

Seriously, though, I hope you feel better soon. :console:

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Because people love to help.

I love Theraflu myself, of Nyquil.

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

**Come on KC, you have a cold and are cranky and irritable. In all fairness, they only want to help. When someone finds something that works they want to spread the good news. Call them Vitamin Evangelists or something.

Now, I guess I am a little numb to the “medical advice from strangers” thing though. Being chronically ill you get advice from every well meaning person on the planet it seems at times. And all of them seem to get huffy if you decide not to take their advice:shrug:

So go and get yourself better. Maybe even take some vitamin C and echinacea … it works you know**

 

[KCtheMommy]

Because people love to help.

I love Theraflu myself, of Nyquil.

Yes, but there’s helping, and then there is REDUNDANCY. Seriously, what happens to the vitamin pushers when they push the vitamins on a vitamin taker? Is it an “out-do-you” on vitamin knowledge? Yeah it is! How do I know? Because I have actually seen it go down:

“Well you should take Vit C and echinacea.”

“Well of course I have! There is also Airbornne which is SO important to take when you travel, and feel something coming on. Oh and Trader Joes has this cold pack”

“Well you can also take the Traditional Medicinals Teas”

“Well I do take those too, and I also have heard the vitamin blah blah blah…”

“Yeah well you know you should also look into this book about herbs and their values I have…”

Oh for Pete’s SAKE. I typically leave the building at this point - really I have nothing to contribute.

Arghhhh and then there is the Theraflu. Major contention in our family over the Theraflu. Ian LOVES the Theraflu, only thing he’ll take. Me? No thanks, makes me gag, can’t stand it, any flavor of it.

What happens each and every time I get sick?

“Hon, take some Theraflu!”

“NOOOOOO. Geesh we’ve been married 12 years and I have never, not ever, taken Theraflu – stop already!”

Will you just hand me the DayQuil already?

 

[KCtheMommy]

LOL!!! I laughed out loud reading this. I just saw someone today, here at work who is getting sick…and I told him the vitamin c speech…

oh, and KC…drink lots of liquids…and green tea too!!!

Seriously, though, I hope you feel better soon. :console:

Oh HAHAHAHA! I knew YOU would get the joke I am making here – I guess I thought the end tag line would have been suggestive enough to make people realize it was a joke. But then there is the whole “tone” thing and I didn’t explain well enough. Oh well. It’s a joke people. Kinda. I am tired of the Vitamin C speech, really. But I am not seriously or angrily venting or anything!

Won’t drink tea anymore. Ian and I had this discussion the other night. My friend Kozue from Japan gave me this black tea when I
was pregnant with Dash and it tasted like it had dried FISH in it. Oh it was vile. I haven’t drank tea since. Never, ever, mess with pregnant women like that.

Thanks, I feel “ok” it’s Ian that’s pretty bad off. Guess I better get out the Theraflu :flowers: for him.

No really, I like my 'quils and that’s it.

I told my IM friend that I am so sick of taking vitamins after ten years of prenatals I won’t take them unless I have too, but am drinking Cran/Ras juice so am getting SOME Vitamin C. (See here I was defending myself that I am taking some vitamins… )

 

[puzzleannie]

I usually just consider such comments in the category of “have a nice day” just well meaning, expressing care and concern etc. and ignore the advice. I have to avoid most popular herbal and folk remedies to due interactions with prescription drugs, and effect on blood sugar, and have learned if it is generic advice on the web or in a magazine, to ignore it unless I know from experience it works and has no bad side effects. but the zicam (zinc) really works

 

[KCtheMommy]

I usually just consider such comments in the category of “have a nice day” just well meaning, expressing care and concern etc. and ignore the advice. I have to avoid most popular herbal and folk remedies to due interactions with prescription drugs, and effect on blood sugar, and have learned if it is generic advice on the web or in a magazine, to ignore it unless I know from experience it works and has no bad side effects. but the zicam (zinc) really works

ZICAM! That’s it!! I couldn’t remember!!! My mom freaks out over this stuff. Acts like she’s going to die a horrid death if she doesn’t take it. Thanks PuzzleAnnie.

And of course I have been told to take it, numerous times.

 

[KCtheMommy]

** Call them Vitamin Evangelists or something.

Now, I guess I am a little numb to the “medical advice from strangers” thing though. Being chronically ill you get advice from every well meaning person on the planet it seems at times. And all of them seem to get huffy if you decide not to take their advice:shrug:

So go and get yourself better. Maybe even take some vitamin C and echinacea … it works you know**

Vitamin Evangelists!!!

People get huffy over Vitamin C. I can’t believe it.

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

**I don’t know. **
**Whenever I say I’m feeling a little sick or “off” everyone says I should take a pregnancy test. **

 

[shannyk]

And haven’’ there been like a bazillion studies saying Vit C taken when you are already sick does ***nothing ***to shorten a cold?

Maybe you can type out some studies and have a little pamphlet ready to counter evangelize the Vit C’ers of the world.

Actually to be fair, citric acid DOES kill viruses on hard surfaces, like counters etc. So, some lemon juice on your counters and faucet handles and doorknobs isn’t that bad an idea during cold/flu season:thumbsup:

 

[LilyM]

I’ve only been guilty of doing this on like two occasions in my entire life Let’s go for three - has anyone mentioned freshly grated ginger in hot water (with a bit of sugar if desired)?

I don’t mind if people do it to me, it’s just their way of saying they care. And no-one’s ever gotten huffy about me ignoring the advice - as if anyone’s ever going to agree on the perfect cold and flu remedy anyway.

Not being around me every hour of the day, I don’t see how they can tell if I AM ignoring it Are you getting in these peoples’ face and telling them their advice is wrong or something?

 

[Jennifer_J]

Personally, I like the Airborne stuff. Tastes horrible so you know it must be doing something, right? I do know everyone in the house got sick, except me, and I’m the only one who will take it the moment I feel a cold coming on… but who knows, my immune system may just be better than everyone else’s!

So, my advice (you asked, right? ) take some Airborne and I do hope you’re feeling better very soon. Nothing worse than a sick momma in the house!

 

[kage_ar]

My only suggestion? A vodka martini and menthol cigarettes

Sneeze on em and walk away.

 

[whatevergirl]

ZICAM! That’s it!! I couldn’t remember!!! My mom freaks out over this stuff. Acts like she’s going to die a horrid death if she doesn’t take it. Thanks PuzzleAnnie.

And of course I have been told to take it, numerous times.

I personally dislike ZICAM, but prefer airborne…taken at the FIRST SIGHT of a cold. Oh, I’m not supposed to be giving advice on colds.



You know, we’re heading into 2009–why hasn’t someone come up for a cure yet for the common cold?

 

[whatevergirl]

And haven’’ there been like a bazillion studies saying Vit C taken when you are already sick does ***nothing ***to shorten a cold?

Maybe you can type out some studies and have a little pamphlet ready to counter evangelize the Vit C’ers of the world.

Actually to be fair, citric acid DOES kill viruses on hard surfaces, like counters etc. So, some lemon juice on your counters and faucet handles and doorknobs isn’t that bad an idea during cold/flu season:thumbsup:

I take this blue green algae supp…(terrible tasting but highly effective) and people at work wonder why I don’t get coughs, etc anymore…it is amazing stuff. It is God’s medicine…But, I also take ESTER C…sold in most supermarkets, drugstores…it’s amazing vitaminc c. I promise KC…This vitamin c is like no other…lol

It really works. People come to me at work for it when they are sick…and they tell me that they must have it, because they feel better by the day’s end. It’s like magic or something!

Most vitamins are water soluble, but if your body needs it, then it will absorb it. And this ester c is amazing stuff…really.

Ok…I’m done with my speech now KC!!! I know what you are saying though. Like you don’t know this stuff already?

Get under the covers with a good movie tonight, and get better.

 

[shannyk]

Personally, I like the Airborne stuff. Tastes horrible so you know it must be doing something

, right? I do know everyone in the house got sick, except me, and I’m the only one who will take it the moment I feel a cold coming on… but who knows, my immune system may just be better than everyone else’s!

So, my advice (you asked, right? ) take some Airborne and I do hope you’re feeling better very soon. Nothing worse than a sick momma in the house!

Is airborne still out there? I thought they got sued into oblivion for making false claims or something?

WG I don’t doubt the power of vitamins esp the whole foods kid I take a pile of them myself, but it’s so hard to say if the stuff ‘works’ after you are already feeling sick because viruses can last anywhere from a day to weeks long, so how do you know if you take it and feel better after two days it’s the C that did it? Could have been a short lived virus. And, sine you can’t catch the same virus twice, you never know what may work on one may not on another.

BUT, for something that truly does work, ha anyone tried the breathe right nose strips? holy cow those things are a GODSEND, especially for kids who can’t sleep because they can’t breathe. Those plus some Valerian make for a restful night for ALL,

 

[whatevergirl]

Is airborne still out there? I thought they got sued into oblivion for making false claims or something?

WG I don’t doubt the power of vitamins esp the whole foods kid I take a pile of them myself, but it’s so hard to say if the stuff ‘works’ after you are already feeling sick because viruses can last anywhere from a day to weeks long, so how do you know if you take it and feel better after two days it’s the C that did it? Could have been a short lived virus. And, sine you can’t catch the same virus twice, you never know what may work on one may not on another.

BUT, for something that truly does work, ha anyone tried the breathe right nose strips? holy cow those things are a GODSEND, especially for kids who can’t sleep because they can’t breathe. Those plus some Valerian make for a restful night for ALL,

:dts: Nope, it’s the vitamin c that works, i just know it. LOL
It’s Friday…I’m allowed to be silly with you guys…right?

 

[Brenda_V]

BUT, for something that truly does work, ha anyone tried the breathe right nose strips? holy cow those things are a GODSEND, especially for kids who can’t sleep because they can’t breathe. Those plus some Valerian make for a restful night for ALL,

Sure they work but who wants a big old rash on the bridge of their nose in the morning? Oh, yeah, wait, not everyone has the ultra-sensitive skin I have!

 

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

I’m terrible about doing what you say, except now for a cold (even
after you have it)and allergies, I tell everyone to take, Elderberry
Defense. It has the echansia (sp), the elderberry and royal jelly
and one feels better in a half hour. My mom died in Feb. and I
had been up with her round the clock cking on her and then going
to the hospital for the 6 days she was there I really got run down
and about 10 days after she died, I was SOOOO Sick. When my
brain started working and I was walking a little, I called that talk
show we have here (it’s on the web) and he gave me that to take
and a number of other things, but that one thing really worked fast.
I know my sister told me she is allergic to the echansia, but several people have tried it and they’ve had the same results I’ve
had.
Now, I thank God because I rarely get sick. I can almost count the number of times I’ve been bedridden. HE has a plan though
and that is that I was caretaker for my mom and dad and, of
course, my kids when they were growing up. A friend is sick
right now and I may be moving her here after the rehab, because
she can not be alone anymore. Do you see a pattern here?
Really, I am so thankful that I’ve been able to do what I have done.
I don’t take my health for granted.