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PaperclipPerfector  9d ago (text post)   2002 thread views

Wellness Wednesday for February 12, 2025

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I'm currently enjoying something flu-like with a fever that's been recurring for three days (does it let off during daytime or am I just taking enough Ibuprofen? Not sure.), utterly stuffed nose and sinuses to the point where nasal spray doesn't even get through the snot anymore, alternatingly feeling too hot and too cold, the mother of all headaches, and resulting from all of this sleep that's far from restful.

Any tips? Meds that help, food that helps, methods that help? Activities to engage in while in this state?

It'll probably be over on its own soon either way, but maybe I'll look up your answers the next time.

Is Rhino PRONT not clearing your nose?

You may need to be insistent, my experience in Germany has been the Apothekerin will try push something pflanzlich.

I think it depends on the place and individual. In Austria, two out of three pharmacists will look at you like you eat puppies if you ask if they have any chemical options (and like a potential druggie or vexatious patient if you name a specific active ingredient), but once I was passing through Munich and the lady at the pharmacy in the Marienplatz subway station enthusiastically and unpromptedly gave me two of Big Pharma's finest (this was also in a blocked nose situation).

That could be, it was a rather consistent experience in Germany even when I'd ask my German Ärztin wife to go to the pharmacy.

In Austria I thought it was odd there wasn't a topical lidocaine preparation for sunburns only spray sore throats.

In Finland there was no topical diphenhydramine, given the mosquitos, it seemed odd.

I'm using xylometazolinhydrochlorid, which usually works just fine - if it can actually get to the membranes, which it can't right now because there's no air left in my nose, just snot. I doubt anything else would work.

Rhino PRONT is Pseudoephedrine, it works well for nasal congestion. It will shrink the swollen mucous membranes. It's a tablet that works systemically.

Nasal sprays here tend to be Oxymetazoline rather than Xylometazoline.

That should work then. I'll see whether the pharmacy has it. Thanks!

If they don’t have Rhino PRONT, BoxaGrippal is ibuprofen + pseudoephedrine and Aspirin Complex contains aspirin + pseudoephedrine.

I also despise nasal congestion and was relieved to find that pseudoephedrine is easily obtainable at the Apotheke. I find that it reduces the fatigue that comes with sickness, for better or worse. And despite it being a stimulant, I’ve never had a problem falling asleep on it.

Sure thing. For me the nasal congestion is almost always the worst part.

Worse, homöopathisch.

Once I started working in the UK, I discovered to my frank confusion that the standard treatment of a cold was to do nothing. No actual meds, maybe treat the fever symptomatically with paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Back in India, we used to prescribe antihistamines for it on the regular. I looked up the evidence base, and most studies claimed that they didn't help. I still disagree, both from seeing patients benefit, and personal use. Levocetrizine +- montelukast got me through multiple bouts of covid, and they mitigate the sniffles in normal colds enough that you can at least be functional while you're sick. I presume you should be able to acquire either cetirizine, levocetrizine or another OTC antihistamine, though I'm not going to handle the headache of looking up brand names. If you can get the original Sudafed, with pseudoephedrine, that might help too.

I was gonna tag you in the thread. It's nuts, I have a severe case of strep or throat infection of whatever any time I get a cold, so I never eat anything cold, avoid liquor, even then, I catch one any time I'm in a new city, how is the drug procurement in the UK compared to India for over the counter drugs.

A second gen brown dude there told me once that wait times were close to a year for psychiatrists in the UK. Kinda hard to believe but won't be surprised at all.

Everything is far more locked down, which can be good (less indiscriminate distribution of antibiotics), or rather annoying at best.

I was used to just asking for prescription meds at home by using my credentials as a doctor, or just writing myself a prescription. This, while not outright illegal in the UK, is highly frowned upon by the GMC. Which is bullshit paternalism, I find claims that doctors can't be trusted to judge their own health questionable.

The wait times can be terrible. If it's an urgent crisis, you'll get seen quickly, say someone contacting their GP with suicidal ideation. For something like getting assessed for ADHD, it can take >2 years for an appointment, unless you go private.

For something like getting assessed for ADHD, it can take >2 years for an appointment, unless you go private

ADHD is not autism, it is still in some edge cases enough to fuck your life up, it fucked mine up and seeing a psychiatrist helped me set it right. 2 years is insane, I get mine the day of and pay 2 pounds.

I have a big old pile of various antihistamines lying around. Will try. Thanks!

I've long wondered whether antihistamines would be counterproductive because when you're actually sick the inflammatory responses aren't false positives and are presumably useful traits. I have seen some suggestions that fever reducers for minor fevers may be counterproductive, I think. But it's a bit out of my area of expertise to actually find literature for antihistamines.

I recall reading some evidence that antihistamines and anti-inflammatories slow down recovery from illness, but the effect sizes seem too small to make a real difference.

For something like a cold or a flu, I doubt it'll matter, and the trade-off of being able to be more active and productive outweighs things.

The way I heal myself is the two two two approach - two space heaters, two blankets, two bourbons for a night. If you don't die, you sweat it out during before the morning - at a moment you have fever, the next moment you are sweating like crazy and need to cool yourself - that means you are over the hill. I don't bother with paracetamols, ibuprofens and other things like that.

I am lately of opinion that mild fevers shouldn't be medicated - otherwise you just prolong the suffering.

I am lately of opinion that mild fevers shouldn't be medicated - otherwise you just prolong the suffering.

Maybe so, but honestly I'd rather suffer for a day or two longer if it means not having to pass an entire night with those nightmare headaches.

As for the bourbon - I might try that.

utterly stuffed nose and sinuses to the point where nasal spray doesn't even get through the snot anymore

I recommend septoplasty when you get better.

Activities to engage in while in this state?

Being sick like that is the only time I listen to audiobooks.

I recommend septoplasty when you get better.

Already scheduled the preparatory talks with a specialist. Just need to wait a few months until the glorious public health care queues clear up.

Being sick like that is the only time I listen to audiobooks.

I might try that. Headaches could be too bad for it, but worth a shot.

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