Got the cold

[luvsterriers]

I tried the Theraflu Sugar Free Nighttime Severe Cold & Cough Hot Liquid. It bothered my bladder. :( I don't know why it would do that. Does anyone have issues with cold medicines? What products are more IC friendly? I'm trying Breathe Right Nasal Strips for tonight. I may get some Vicks Vaporub tomorrow. I did gargle with warm salt water too. I read that Werthers candies are good for sore throat. Why would a caramel candy help?? It all started yesterday with sore throat. My throat hurt when I swallowed and so did my ears. I felt like I had a fever, but I took my temperature and it was normal. Today I'm just so congested. Eating soup mainly for lunch, but can't taste it. I'm the biggest baby when it comes to getting sick.

[kadi]

Here are a few of my favorite (for me, IC friendly) cold home remedies...
1. Hot showers with a "Sudacare Shower Soother" on the floor (fizzy tablet that releases Vicks type vapors when the hot water hits it)
2. Rinsing nose out with "Simply Saline"-reduces congestion
3. Vicks "Baby Rub"- milder than regular Vicks & more soothing
4. BreatheRight nasal strips (stick on to outside of your nose to open it up more)
5. Hot pear juice with a little honey
6. For sore throat & to soothe dry cough, Werthers Original hard candy
7. Gargle with salt water
8. Homemade chicken soup
9. Mucinex for chest coughs (check with the pharmacist on taking this with your other meds)
10. Ludens Licorice Throat Drops or Ricola original (not citrus!) drops.
11. Vaporizer next to bed, mine has a place to put menthol liquid in it.
12. Theraflu vapor patch: Like a sticker with Vicks vapors in it that you stick to your pj top. No gooey Vicks all over your chest!

I hope you feel better soon!

[VickiB]

It's been about 5 years since I last tried a cold medicine. Nyquil. It put me into such a bad flare I've never had the courage to try another product!

I looked what inactive ingredents are in Theraflu and here's what I found;

Aspartame, Acesulfame K, Citric Acid, D&C Yellow 10, FD&C Red 40, Maltodextrin, Flavoring, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Citrate, Sucrose, Tribasic Calcium Phosphate

The aspartame is on the approach with caution side of the IC diet list and citric acid is definitely a trouble maker for me. With my past bad experience and this ingredient label I think I would shy away from trying it myself.

Kadi has a great list there! I hope your cold turns out to be a short one.

Vicki

[luvsterriers]

A lot of cold medicines have pseudoephedrine. I read that pseudoephedrine causes flares in people with IC. I wonder why?:confused:

I'm going to try this nasal spray by Afrin. When I had a bad cold and even OTC didn't work, a doctor prescribed some nasal spray. At least I won't be taking it orally. So nasal sprays are probably better than oral medications such as Tylenold Cold, Aleve Cold, etc. But I wonder why a caramel candy like Werthers is good for sore throat and cough. Some lady in church was coughing so much, that another lady gave her a Werthers. I may get that as well. At least Werthers tastes good.

Kadi-Your list really was great. I'm going to try that sudacare shower.

[tigger_gal]

oh yes flair zone with cold meds, Puffs with vic's is a wonderful tissue =)

[luvsterriers]

I felt so awful when I woke up this morning that I went to walk in clinic. He prescribed Romdec CM generic is C-Phen DM. Anyone tried this? The liquid is purple color. It has DEXTROMETHORPHAN, decongestant and antihistamine. I'm to take a teaspoon of it every 4 hours. He says that I have a virus. Some other patient had same symptoms as me but she has asthma. I realized that Mucinex D is now sold at the pharmacy counter and not on the shelf. I guess because of the pseudoephedrine in it. I hear that kids are using it to get high. Pseudoephedrine causes IC flares? I did try Afrin and it made me squeeze terrible last night. I tried Ricola Original Herb Drops and I don't think my bladder likes it. Could be the peppermint in it. I also have acid reflux disease so I have to watch out as well. The Vicks Vapo Rub didn't do anything for me. When I'm sick like this, prescription meds seem to work the best. I wonder if the walk in clinic can be my primary care. They open 7 days a week so I can go there after work or early Sat or Sun morning. It is perfect!