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Thankful Thursdays - Mike's 52 Weeks of Thanksgiving - Week 7 - Better Living Through Chemistry

By
Real Estate Agent with Retired

My wife and I have both ahd the worst cold we have had inCold Relief Medications by Mike Saunders years this week. Well, hers started last week and then I caught it this week. We were both pretty well flattenned by these colds.

This week, I am thankful for better living through chemistry. Let me explain, though, both my wife and I try to stay away from synthetic drugs as much as possible. We try to use food and drink for our health and are usually pretty successful at staying healthy and shortening ailments. However, sometimes, that big cold comes along and it's time to find the local pusher.

I just want to say thank you to the makers of ZICAM. I will admit that I have been using this for at least 10 years for colds and it has really both shortened the duration and reduced the symptoms. For most colds, this is all we take. Well, along with a lot of chicken soup and hot tea.

But then there are the big ones that come about every few years and we bring out the DayQuil, the NyQuil (I apparently left that out of the picture), the throat lozenges and cough drops. This years colds were just those, the big ones, lasting 5 - 6 miserable days instead of just 2 -3 mildly affected days. So, thank you makers of cold remedies that work, now I can also.

Comments (22)

Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Mike,  That cold went through our office recently and laid most of us low for several days.  I'm with you on not taking drugs for every little sneeze !

Jan 16, 2009 12:35 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Sally & David - my parents used to use hot tea, lemon juice and whiskey

Diane  - thanks, we are finally

Bill - this was certainly a tough one, and, it has been going around

Jan 16, 2009 12:54 AM
Melody Botting
Broker Associate PenFed Realty - San Antonio, TX
You Deserve The Best

I am on day 16 of my miserable cold.  Sneezing, coughing, runny nose and up all night.  Nyquil make me feel hung over the next day so I have only taken it once.  It is also the worst one I have had in years.  My nose looks larger than Barry Manilow's!

Jan 16, 2009 01:09 AM
Bo Hussung
Bell Title /Triserv LLC - Nashvle, TN

Mike, getting sick sucks! I with you on the remedies also, hate them and avoid them at all costs. My wife and I had exactly the same thing happen last month. Mine lasted for about 3 days, she was not so fortunate. Hers lasted for almost a month and finally her doctor had to prescribe a mega dose of chemicals (actifed and steroids) It wourked though and now we are 100%.

Glad you are better

Bo

Jan 16, 2009 02:20 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Mel - but is your nose bigger than Ray Romano's;^) Try ZICAM, I know that it works for my wife and I. Hope you get better

Bo - glad you and your bride are feeling better.

Jan 16, 2009 02:25 AM
Debi Ernst
St. Charles County, Missouri - Prudential Alliance Realtors - O'Fallon, MO
GRI, e-PRO, Broker/Sales Associate

Mike - I'm sorry to hear about you and your wife's colds. I hope this is the last cold of the year for both of you.   I've heard a lot of good things about Zicam.   I think I'll try that next time...  :)

Jan 16, 2009 03:26 AM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

Glad you are feeling better! :)

Jan 16, 2009 03:39 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Debi - most people have good results with it, but, not everybody

Jane - thanks

Jan 16, 2009 04:33 AM
Leesa Finley
RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC
RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate

mike - the colds this year have been horrible for me and my family!  DayQuil is my best friend and NyQuil - well, i just have a total infatuation with him!

Jan 16, 2009 08:13 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Leesa - sounds as if you go for those Quil fellas;^)

Jan 16, 2009 11:15 AM
Shawn Davis
Home Crossings, P.C. - Davison, MI
Homes For Sale, Genesee County, Michigan

Sorry to hear you and your wife are under the weather, Mike.  I have not been sick with even a cold in years since I have been getting the flu shots!!  Hugs....Shawn

Jan 16, 2009 10:27 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Shawn - that is amazing, most people I know that get flu shots end up getting the flu, great for you

Jan 16, 2009 11:17 PM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Mike,

I guess I have an old fashioned touch, I always make a batch of homemade chicken soup when colds touchdown in my house.  But for sinus issues, Claritin D and advil have been a blessing.

Jan 17, 2009 03:06 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Rebecca - ahhh, homemade chicken soup. Since neither my wife nor I can make good chicken soup, we use prepackaged, it works the same.

Jan 17, 2009 09:04 AM
Gail MacMillan
Titusville, FL

Hi Mike - I'm glad you and your lady are feeling better.  I totally understand the miseries of colds, and STUFF related to allergies.  But---I haven't heard of, or taken, Zicam.  I keep an arsenal for when needed...should've called me ;-)  Is Zicam over the counter?  It looks like a nasal spray!  The best spray I've had in decades is Veramyst.  Usually by this time of year with the Oak and Pine pollens I'm reduced to a wimpering, wet rag.  So far, so good....but when the time is NEEDED I'll take WHATEVER.  Stay well and call if you need the voice of experience....LOL

Jan 17, 2009 10:57 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Gail - Zicam is over the counter, it is a gel, they also have an allergy product that my wife uses and appears to work for her (I don't have those allergies).

Jan 18, 2009 12:34 AM
Janice MacMillan
ERA Joyner Realty - Valdosta, GA
Associate Broker

Mike~ glad to hear you and your wife made it through the tough cold. We try to stay healthy in the same manner, but having school age kids in house makes it a bit difficult sometimes. It generally starts with my 14 year old and makes its rounds, but man made remedies have come to our rescue more then once!

Jan 18, 2009 06:15 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Jan - Marie - kids, little germ carriers, you love 'em but that's one of the prices you pay.

Jan 19, 2009 01:00 AM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Mike, I have used Dayquil but not Zicam.  I'll keep that in mind.  Glad your household is feeling better.

Jan 19, 2009 02:27 PM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Shirley - dayquil mitigates symptoms, zicam shortens the duration and intensity

Jan 20, 2009 05:01 AM