Sick... What now?

[Barbee]

I've been "down" for the past week with a terrible cold that is now a sinus infection. Every pill or medicine I tried to take for relief had some type of sugar in it. I couldn't sleep because I was hacking and hacking so in desperation took NyQuil for 3 nights... then switched to a diabetic Tussin but it doesn't help you get to sleep (or coughing for that matter.) I have to get back to work so am now eating sugarless cough drops one after another... or else I cough all over the place. Now, I have gas from them.

Even the cold pills I took tasted "sweet"... probably a sugar coating. Now today my doc put me on antibiotics which gave me a stomach ache so I grabbed my Tums... and, oh no! Sugar!
What are we supposed to do when ill? And most importantly how do I get back to the diet?

(The good side is I lost 5 lbs just being sick... had no appetite.)

[deb79fl]

Sorry you're sick! For your coughing, get Robitussin w/ cough medicine added (not sure about spelling, Guiffessan added) - check with the pharmacy department. If your antibiotics give you "loose stools" get some Immodium caplets. Stay hydrated! Lots of liquids. Hot tea, decaf with SF sweetener, if needed. I wouldn't worry too much about staying perfectly on plan while you're sick, but make some homemade chicken soup. Not much of a cook? Buy some low sodium already prepared chicken stock, place your chicken pieces (raw) into pot of low boiling broth and simmer until cooked. You can make a Chinese style broth by adding some fresh ginger, sliced chicken breast pieces (like you were making chicken strips) and then add a few pea pods from the vegetable section. Just skip the noodles in either recipe and the carbs will be low. You can also make egg drop soup. Take prepared broth and drop a beaten egg slowly in boiling broth - done in a matter of a few minutes.

Hope you get better soon!

[APanthesilia]

So sorry you are sick! There are definitely sugar free cough syrups and I take more swallowable medicines rather than chewables or syrups because they usually don't have sugar! Also, try broths like Deb mentioned! They are tasty and as you feel up to it you can add more and more things like meat and veg until you are all better! Also, instead of cough drops you could try just sipping water? Perhaps it would help you cough less without the gas? Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

[FLdoodette]

Good suggestions from Deb. Add spicy stuff to your broth ... it'll get the mucus flowing and clear your head out faster. Garlic, hot pepper sauce ... that kind of thing. Drink plenty of water!

[MommaRuthie]

To help you sleep you could try some benadryl. I know that it is an antihistamine but it will also dry out your sinus's and help you to sleep through the night. most of the coughing during a cold is caused by post nasal drip. it irritates the throat and makes you cough. Benadryl can help to dry that up. *Disclaimer* But this is just a suggestion. Please read any medicine labels before taking anything.

[Mickkey]

Great advice here. Sorry you're sick. Take it easy, drink lots of fluids, mainly water, broth. Don't expect yourself to stay perfectly on plan while you're feeling ill. Get well soon

[Barbee]

Hi all... thanks for the suggestions. I can't take Benydryll because it gives me RLS (restless leg syndrome )and I don't need that now! But I do use it for bad allergy attacks.

I am drinking lots of decaf tea and broth, I can't drink cold water because it makes me cough. The doctor put me on Z-pak and I am slowly getting better. Today my voice is gone and I'm sure it's from so much coughing.

I just wish companies like NyQuil would take into consideration that not everyone wants to drink sugar or corn syrup. I'm going to write to them. It really is the best product when you are sick with congestion and /or coughing.

I ate a few less cough drops today and tried to find a sugarless throat lozenger... no luck.

I feel like such a minority! Now with the holidays upon us everyone will be giving me gifts of candy, cookies etc. I don't care.... I refuse to eat that garbage!

I am going to start eating one slice of 100% whole wheat bread each day since I'm on the last step of Atkins. I'm looking foward to it. I'll have dippy yokes instead of scrabbled eggs and dip in into the yokes...

Thank you all for the support.

[APanthesilia]

Originally Posted by Barbee

I feel like such a minority! Now with the holidays upon us everyone will be giving me gifts of candy, cookies etc. I don't care.... I refuse to eat that garbage!

I am going to start eating one slice of 100% whole wheat bread each day since I'm on the last step of Atkins. I'm looking foward to it. I'll have dippy yokes instead of scrabbled eggs and dip in into the yokes...

Thank you all for the support.

Good for you for refusing to eat the bad stuff people give you! It can be hard when you're being bombarded with holiday food but you can do it! And even though it might seem like you're in the minority, you've got plenty of people here doing it with you!

About the bread...be careful with that! When you say last step of atkins that means Maintenance to me but from your signature it looks like you have some weight left to lose. I don't know how many rungs you've gone up but even if you are at the grains rung I would be really careful adding in wheat, even if it is just one piece of bread a day. I've just found that for me even if it doesn't stall my weight loss it always causes serious cravings. It might be just fine for you, I just urge caution!

Good luck and I hope you're feeling much better!