OT: Cold/sore throat/cough... how many times is too much?

[MikeVic]

Ok, here's the story:

In the past three months, I've had five combos of at least two of the symptoms listed in the title... (currently a cold and sore throat).

Does anyone know if this is somewhat normal, and had it happen to them? That's it's just bad luck? I've gone to the doctor's three of the last four times I've had it, and gotten cough syrup (if I was coughing), and every time also got Amoxicilin (or something like that. It cures an infection I seem to get when I have some sort of sickness like a cold).

I'm half-way through my most recent prescription of Amoxicilin, from a cold I had during Christmas and New Year's (yeah, fuuuuuuun!! ). But now I just started another cold and sore throat combo.

I take fairly good care of myself. I don't do anything like go outside with no jacket when it's freezing or anything like that, so I don't get why I've been sick so frequently this year. This has never happened to me before. Usually just get a cold or two during winter, and maybe a flu.

The last time I went to the doctor (last week), I told him if there was anything I could do (since I had 4 combos. through three months at the time), and he said it was just the changing weather and I couldn't do anything.

So, umm.. should I be seeking another opinion?

[Ragone]

I had the same issues.. do you have near constant stuffy nose? i have sinusitis.. which sounds alot like what you describe..

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Ragone

I had the same issues.. do you have near constant stuffy nose? i have sinusitis.. which sounds alot what you got..

Yeah, that does sound like me too. What's sinusitis?

[JonInMiddleGA]

While you mentioned not going outside without a jacket, etc., I can't help but wonder if you might be doing something else that makes you prone to c/c/f problems. Until a couple of years ago, when I finally stopped doing high school football on radio, I pretty much kept a 10-12 week long cold through most of the season. Or, really, I had 10-12 colds/etc that lasted 3-4 days each. I was as careful as I could figure how to be, but it rarely failed ... sick on Saturday morning (after a Fri. night game), pretty much well by late Wed/early Thurs, sick on Saturday, repeat. The problem wasn't being consistently warm/cold, but rather, going back & forth several times each night from a press box that was usually sweltering into the cold & damp night air (or working with an open booth window).

[aran]

if you are taking antibiotics all the time, it could be seriously damaging your immune system (through developing a dependency on the antibiotic). You should consider hollistic medicine and more natural stuff instead of just taking the antibiotics.

[MikeVic]

No, I don't go into very varying temperatures much. Although I can't completely ignore going from room temperature to like -46 celcius outside... I wear proper clothing when I do.

I don't want to rely on antibiotics or anything either, which is why I'm going to a doctor tomorrow morning and saying that to him. I'm trying inhaling hot steam from a cup of boiling water, and I will also try some saline nasal spray. I read those two things can help.

[Loren]

Originally Posted by aran

if you are taking antibiotics all the time, it could be seriously damaging your immune system (through developing a dependency on the antibiotic). You should consider hollistic medicine and more natural stuff instead of just taking the antibiotics.

hollistic, natural....my kinda man usually stick with echinacea to help keep the immune system up here, vitamin c and stuff like that...eucolyptus and camphor oils upon waking up and going to bed help a lot, we hadnt had an actual cold in over a year in this house till this past Dec and still got that kicked in about a full week. Avoid dairy(causes a lot of mucous buildup) and red meats when you start feeling badand of course drink tons of water, 1-2 gallons a day..

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Loren

hollistic, natural....my kinda man usually stick with echinacea to help keep the immune system up here, vitamin c and stuff like that...eucolyptus and camphor oils upon waking up and going to bed help a lot, we hadnt had an actual cold in over a year in this house till this past Dec and still got that kicked in about a full week. Avoid dairy(causes a lot of mucous buildup) and red meats when you start feeling badand of course drink tons of water, 1-2 gallons a day..

I've started taking vitamin C tablets also.

I'll go to a pharmacist and ask them about these other things since I have no idea what they are.

Thanks for the info.

[Sharpieman]

I get colds a lot and running noses, but my immune system is surpressed. Just try to take vitamins and drink a lot of orange juice...it seems to help a bit.

[duckman]

Regular exercise about three to four times per week for thirty minutes is really good for the immune system.

[Franklinnoble]

Might wanna get checked for strep throat, if you haven't already.

I had a similarly persistent infection about two months ago. Amoxicilin (sp?) didn't do it. Penicillin didn't do it. (bear in mind, I was prescribed both after already being diagnosed with strep). The doctor said he'd seen a lot of cases of really tough strep this year, and finally prescribed Zithromax. Good stuff. Five days. Bam. No more infection.

[Franklinnoble]

...dola... I also endorse the use of Vitamin C, Echinacea, and Zinc supplements. They're good stuff.

[MikeVic]

I'll go tomorrow and see what the doc says.

Part of why I hate this coming when it did was that I have been trying to maintain an exercise/workout routine. That kind of doesn't work when I have to miss a week or two here and there, basically starting from scratch when I get back to the gym.

[CraigSca]

BTW - isn't "going outside without a jacket" just a load of hooey? Ultimately running around in wet clothes may lower your immune system, but that doesn't cause colds or the symptoms. If I were you, I would start a regimen of vitamin C, zinc and also buy some of that alcohol gel stuff to wash your hands. You may be getting re-infected with something over and over again.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by CraigSca

BTW - isn't "going outside without a jacket" just a load of hooey? Ultimately running around in wet clothes may lower your immune system, but that doesn't cause colds or the symptoms. If I were you, I would start a regimen of vitamin C, zinc and also buy some of that alcohol gel stuff to wash your hands. You may be getting re-infected with something over and over again.

I wear a jacket so that I don't lower my immune system... I don't think it's good for your health to go outside wearing a t-shirt in very cold weather.

I have vitamin C, echinacea pills, and eucolyptus oil right now. Hopefully this can help me out.

[duckman]

Have you gotten a new toothbrush after each infection? You could be reinfecting yourself if you haven't done so.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by duckman

Have you gotten a new toothbrush after each infection? You could be reinfecting yourself if you haven't done so.

I read that somewhere after my second combo, so I changed brushes. I have once again bought a new one and will change soon.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

...dola... I also endorse the use of Vitamin C, Echinacea, and Zinc supplements. They're good stuff.

That's the exact combo that I take...