Colds And Flu?

[Scarlett]

Regardless of Covid, have you had any coughs, colds or flu recently? I had a bit of a cold which I caught from my friend whilst he was wearing a mask. Since then I felt a bit wheezy – I am asthmatic – and have a bit of a tickly cough, but not much. I’ve taken a covid test as I spent eight hours in A&E a few days ago. I just wanted to know what else was out there.

[Mamyalynne]

I had a nasty cold in September but that's what it was - a cold.

[Buenchico]

I had a minor cold (which was little more than 'a bit of a sniffle') last week.

However it did occur to me that a common cold (of whatever severity) is caused by one of four coronaviruses. So, despite rarely going out, always observing social distancing and always wearing a face mask in shops, etc, I've still managed to get infected by a coronavirus. Fortunately it was a virtually harmless one but it has brought home to me how easily coronaviruses can be picked up, making me even more determined to steer clear of the potentially very nasty one that's about!

[jourdain2]

No, just the usual reactions to changing weather. I'm asthmatic too and always get sniffles and wheezes, which can be a bit throaty/chesty, for a day or 2 this time of year. It will probably prove whether masks are any good or not if no-one catches a viral cold or 'flu. Interesting.

[Mamyalynne]

My cold last month began a few days after I had some work done in the home, I did keep my distance and of course it crossed my mind as to the possible origin but gladly it never developed into anything.

[tiggerblue10]

Son and I had colds a few weeks ago. Usual blocked and runny nose thing. I tried for several days to get a covid test for him online as he also had a temperature but nothing available.

[Vagus]

I have a bunged up nose and a very slight wheeze which I’m attributing to seasonal allergies to the moulds at this time of year.
Can’t be anything else as I’ve not been within 50 yards of anyone since March.

[Scarlett]

That’s interesting. I’ve felt slightly allergic to – with itchy and watery eyes, for which I took an antihistamine. Whatever is going on in my chest isn’t being helped by my inhaler, and that seems to be very typical of cold/flu/chest infections. In January I had a chest infection Which made me very short of breath, weirdly so, and was not helped by my inhaler at all. The doctor said it was a virus and to wait it out. I wonder whether it was Covid, but chances are it was just a version of the flu.

[Scarlett]

Vagus- that’s interesting, that you’ve not seen anybody since March. It makes me think I’m perhaps being a bit complacent, considering that I do have quite bad asthma. I spent most of the time at home, but I have had occasional trips to physio and the hospital. All of these were necessary since I’ve had such dreadful problems with my spine since lockdown. I’ve not been anywhere socially, but I have had the odd friend come over to the garden, and A friend came over to build a bed base for me. He is the one I caught the cold from!

[Jackdaw33]

I rely on Mother Nature's natural remedies. Chew a piece of raw onion or, better still, half a clove of raw garlic daily. The bugs don't like it and I haven't had a cold for over 10 years.

[jourdain2]

Jackdaw - my dad used to eat a small, raw onion with his lunch every day and never ailed anything until he suddenly died aged 89. I've also tried raw onion with a genuine cold and it does help - not with the asthma wheezes though.

[Scarlett]

Jackdaw- I’ve been taking a ton of vit C/D and zinc so hope that will help! I’m actually quite keen to get a normal cold or flu as that at least will give me some antibodies. It’s not good for us to live in a sterile environment! But yes, it’s a bit worrying that if you can catch a cold, you can catch Covid!

[ummmm]

I will advocate the raw garlic. I've fed it to people at the start of a cold....and it works.

I've never had a cold....maybe because I eat lots of garlic.

[Jackdaw33]

The point about raw onion and garlic is that it is a prophylactic - to be taken daily to prevent colds, not when you've already caught one.

[Jackdaw33]

The point about garlic is that it should be raw. Using it in cooking kills off the active ingredient, allicin, and is only good for flavouring food. If you are worried about breath odour, then chewing a sprig of parsley gets rid of it.

[Scarlett]

I just mixed a chopped red onion with for raw cloves of garlic – some cayenne pepper – a tin of tuna and a little bit of mayonnaise. It wasn’t half as revolting as it sounds but I can no longer feel my tongue.

[david small]

I’ve had a nasty chest cough since January. Can’t get to see a doc. I’ve been taking high dose of vit C. It’s helped but no got rid of. In the past a verbal challenge with doctor I eventually used to get antibiotics but they are extremely reluctant to give them. Strange as they worked.

[Jackdaw33]

Four cloves? One would have sufficed. Next time leave out the mayonnaise - and the tuna.

[roopower]

Yes, I had a cold about three weeks ago. Typical cold for me, stinging back of nose, sore throat to start with, sneezing and runny nose followed by a cough. I'm slightly asthmatic and I always get a cough with a cold, my dr calls it my asthma cough and I use my blue inhaler and take simple linctus. Cough lingers for a week or too but definitely just a common cold.

[ummmm]

Always raw, Jack, thinly sliced on toast with some juicy tomatoes.

I feed that to my family often as a mini starter. I don't think the youngsters know it's raw. Same with cheese on toast...always raw onion. They don't get ill.

[iluvmargie]

Nothing recently, but I had a bad cold very early on in lockdown which was a surprise as I haven't had a cold for years. Often wonder if it was the virus.