Common cold is **** on earth?

[Mighty Oak]

So, I've caught a cold... or something. I was exposed to strep, but I've been exposed to more colds than strep lately. I went to the doctor on day two of feeling not so good, so if it is strep, there wouldn't be any signs yet. Nothing to culture, if you catch my meaning. Anyway, he gave me a Z-pack, and I started taking it right away. We figure, if it's strep, this will knock it out without worrying about the wait for symptoms, the culture, etc. I'm on day three of the antibiotics.

My fever is up and down but never higher than 100 degrees. I have head congestion that makes me feel like I'm going to explode. My throat hurts. All that I can deal with, but I'm in dreadful pain besides. My shoulders, back, joints, everything hurts. Walking, laughing, rolling over in bed, it's all painful. I feel weak and shaky, and I'm having back spasms. I don't know what to do. I'm at the end of my rope. Is a stupid cold supposed to make me this miserable? I'm so depressed and flustered, I just don't know what to do with myself. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crying.gif

S'cuse me, are these body parts on warranty still? Can anyone advise me? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

--Oak Girl (feeling not quite mighty these days)

[cath]

Hi and sorry to hear you are feeling so unwell... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hugbetter.gif

The name "common cold" actually refers to a huge family of virises called rhinoviruses (I guess coz they affect the nose)

Some of these are nastier than others, which is why sometimes a cold is pretty mild and other times it is just ****. If it is a virus, the antibiotics will do nothing for you. Only time will fix it. If you aren't feeling better after a week of being ill, I'd go back to the doctor to get checked out again. Obviously if you get really ill, you need to go sooner than that.

Drink lots of water and try to eat small nutritious snacks to give your body fuel to mend itself.

Take care,

X C X

[peonyprincess]

I have always hated having a cold because I feel more miserable than having the flu. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif The aches and the sneezing and the sore nose is horrible!!! I always feel like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.

Best advise is to drink lots of fluids, eat fruits, yogurts and rest.

Hope you feel better soon!

Nancy