Flying with a cold
Jan 14, 2009 | 3:12 pm
#16
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I was quoted in a national newspaper story a few years back about having an "expressly permitted" item confiscated by the TSA despite demonstrating that the item was (and still is) allowed. 
Jan 14, 2009 | 4:10 pm
#18
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And all drug stores will have their own generic version of Afrin for a lot less money -- look for "Compare to Afrin" on the box.
I actually find the 12 hour nasal sprays to be too harsh -- I get a sore nose. I usually use the generic version of 4-Way.
Oh, and get a (<3oz) bottle of hand sanitizer. These colds mostly spread through hand contact.
I actually find the 12 hour nasal sprays to be too harsh -- I get a sore nose. I usually use the generic version of 4-Way.
Oh, and get a (<3oz) bottle of hand sanitizer. These colds mostly spread through hand contact.
Last edited by alanh; Jan 14, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Jan 14, 2009 | 4:22 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2008
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A KLM FA put me on to Otrivin, which is a very powerful nasal decongestant spray. It's not available in the US, but you can get it in Canada and in Amsterdam airport (and probably other places in Europe). Wow. It really does the trick. I carry it in my ziploc just is case (the bottle is very small).
Jan 14, 2009 | 5:01 pm
#20
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And all drug stores will have their own generic version of Afrin for a lot less money -- look for "Compare to Afrin" on the box.
I actually find the 12 hour nasal sprays to be too harsh -- I get a sore nose. I usually use the generic version of 4-Way.
Oh, and get a (<3oz) bottle of hand sanitizer. These colds mostly spread through hand contact.
I actually find the 12 hour nasal sprays to be too harsh -- I get a sore nose. I usually use the generic version of 4-Way.
Oh, and get a (<3oz) bottle of hand sanitizer. These colds mostly spread through hand contact.
Jan 14, 2009 | 7:11 pm
#21
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My wife and I use something called a "Neti Pot" when we are sick and love it. It's an actual small clay pot that gets filled with warm water and salt that rinses and cleans your nasal passage. I'm absolutely convinced that when I get the common cold and use the Net Pot a few times per day it makes the duration shorter and makes the symptoms significantly better.
Jan 14, 2009 | 7:18 pm
#22
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Zicam is not a medication (as defined by the FDA). It is a dietary supplement. The only active ingredient is zinc.
You can get the same effect by buying a bottle of zinc gluconate at the pharmacy and swallowing 50mg per day (with a meal--very important). But many people like Zicam because you take it every 3 hours and don't need to swallow it.
Jan 14, 2009 | 7:20 pm
#23
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Pseudophedrine doesn't actually help you get over the cold; it just suppresses the symptoms temporarily. I use it only in dire emergencies, like when I have to give a presentation while I'm sick and don't want to sound terrible.
Otherwise, I stick to things that actually help to boost my immune system: Vit C and zinc. And exercise, when I'm feeling up to it. All three are powerful immune system boosters, and the zinc actually helps with the symptoms too (or seems to).
Jan 14, 2009 | 7:42 pm
#24
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I've made a point of playing racquetball the last three days with this cold but the exercise makes me feel better (until I stop). The Hista-Vent I picked up earlier today really seems to be helping but I still added some Simply Saline w/ Menthol (Non-Habit Forming according to the label) from my medicine cabinet to the mix ...
Jan 14, 2009 | 7:58 pm
#26
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Then they make zinc products which are homeopathic (i.e. don't contain zinc). How can homeopathic "remedies" claim their "active ingredients" are in the product, when they're not in the product? The whole idea is that it's so diluted that the product contains much more of the factory employees' dead skin than the active ingredient.