Summer colds

[betagirl]

Is it just me or are colds in the summer exponentially worse than the winter? Why is that? Is it psychological because it's so nice out and you're bummed to be indoors? I have a wicked cold, and am effing miserable. Actually I think it's the flu because I have a fever. Regardless, whenever I get these in the summer I feel like I've been run over by a bus. For some reason I can handle it better in the winter. Anyone else notice this?

Time for some day-quil and the sofa. My bikes are bored.

[dachshund]

Yes! I can sympathize because I'm in Day 9 of the flu. Poor you! Poor me!

I think it's worse in the summer because I feel robbed. So, yes, it's maddening along with being boring and, well, a big waste of time. I just bought a bike, so I can only pad out to the garage and look at it - no riding yet. But I am feeling better, so maybe this weekend I can do SOMETHING.

But you know the drill, wait it out and try to sleep a lot, so you don't get a second round of it.

[Geonz]

Sometimes it helps to get out and ride around the block ... and sometimes not...

[bcipam]

I never get sick... but then again I avoid people at all costs. Being anti-social has its pluses! :p

[hirakukibou]

At first sign of a cold I take Yin Chiao a chinese remedy which really kicks butt. I think summer colds are more depressing in any event.

[Dianyla]

I never get sick... but then again I avoid people at all costs. Being anti-social has its pluses! :p
Ha! That's funny. :rolleyes:

I can relate.

[bcipam]

Sadly I guess, I'm not joking. :(

Basically I avoid children because they are germ carriers and if someone even seems sick I'm out of there. Last time I had a cold (and now I've probably jinx'd myself) was maybe 6 - years ago. The flu... can't remember. I just hate being sick. No fun!

[betagirl]

Dang daschund, day 9?? That sucks. I hope you get better.

I slept most of the day, and I think the fever just broke. What a great feeling :D Sad thing is one of my first thoughts was "ooo I may be able to ride tomorrow." I have done the go for a ride to see how you feel thing before, and sometimes yeah it works wonders. This round of flu was not going to allow that unfortunately.

I haven't been around any kids lately, but I do work part time at a hospital. So that probably doesn't help.

[Fuji Girl]

Man, I am so sorry that you are sick. That sucks. I would take it easy even though the fever is gone. Don't want to stress the body just as it's starting to heal itself. The weather is not that good today anyway, cold and rainy.

Working in a hospital is the worst - that's where the highest concentration of nasty pathogens are. There's even a term for that - iatrogenic. I'm constantly terrified that I will catch something horrible - an nasty Aspergillus infection or something. I don't even want to think about it. Ew.

Anyway, you will feel better soon. When you do, let me know, maybe we can ride together. :)



Dang daschund, day 9?? That sucks. I hope you get better.

I slept most of the day, and I think the fever just broke. What a great feeling :D Sad thing is one of my first thoughts was "ooo I may be able to ride tomorrow." I have done the go for a ride to see how you feel thing before, and sometimes yeah it works wonders. This round of flu was not going to allow that unfortunately.

I haven't been around any kids lately, but I do work part time at a hospital. So that probably doesn't help.

[KnottedYet]

Supposedly there are only a limited number of cold viruses out there (like 130 or so). And after you've had one, you won't react to it the same way the next time your immune system encounters it because you've built up antibodies to that particular virus's protien coat.

So get out there and hug those kiddies! Kiss their sweet little hands! Love them like they're your own, for are they not all OUR children with precious little souls? Fear not, for ye don't walk in the shadow of the valley of Death, ye only have the real world to cope with and a limited number of colds for your lifetime. (bacteria in hospitals, though, that's another icky story entirely:eek: )

[Trek420]

So once I've had 130 colds that's it?

I haven't had a major cold in about 3 years, guess I've had them all :cool: At the first sign of trouble, itchy throat, congestion...I take ekinacea (sp) and cut back on dairy.

Better eat that frozen yogourt now, I've jinxed it for sure.

[betagirl]

Today was better, but no ride. As Fuji Girl pointed out, it was kinda crappy out. Though this afternoon it was nicer. But I'm still a bit wiped and my nobe ib all nubbed ub still :D I slept 17 hours yesterday. My fever broke around midnight. Woke up with my cat laying on my chest. I think he sucked it out of me.

Fuji - I'm gone this week volunteering at a camp, so I won't be around to ride. I'm back on Friday, so maybe next week/end.

130 eh? It's been a while since I had a major cold. No wonder I'm so whiney when I get one. They suck!

[Trek420]

betagirl "Woke up with my cat laying on my chest. I think he sucked it out of me."

ah, the rare cold sucking cat.

picture here of rare flu sucking cat

www.mycathatesyou.com/cats/id/276

[Fuji Girl]

Supposedly there are only a limited number of cold viruses out there (like 130 or so). And after you've had one, you won't react to it the same way the next time your immune system encounters it because you've built up antibodies to that particular virus's protien coat.

So get out there and hug those kiddies! Kiss their sweet little hands! Love them like they're your own, for are they not all OUR children with precious little souls? Fear not, for ye don't walk in the shadow of the valley of Death, ye only have the real world to cope with and a limited number of colds for your lifetime. (bacteria in hospitals, though, that's another icky story entirely:eek: )

Actually, that's not quite true. While there are a limited number of viral pathogens that cause "cold" symptoms (fever, sore throat, myalgias, etc), and in THEORY your antibodies to those viruses should protect you, it is utterly impossible to protect yourself from the common cold due to the high rate of mutation among viruses.

Viruses mutate so rapidly, you can catch the exact same virus at the begining and at the end of the flu season. All it has to do is rearrange little RNA or DNA, and its antigens can change ever so slightly. Once those antigen(s) change, your body has mount another host reponse to it and produce new antibodies all over again. Bacteria do this too, but at a much slower rate. possibly due to a longer replication cycle.

Evolution, baby. Gotta love it. Life will find a way.

[KnottedYet]

Trek, dear, where do you FIND this stuff?????

[KnottedYet]

Fuji - pass the Kleenex!

I think I'm getting fewer colds as I get older, but the ones I do get are real doozies. I get minor sniffles and grumpy tonsils on a fairly regular basis. It's all that close contact with my patients. (blame it on them, it's more fun!)Maybe I've just learned how to handle little colds and cut them off early: my bod likes zinc and fluids and lots of sleep when a nasty cootie has invaded.

The best antiviral known to humankind: love and vacation! (and zinc lozenges and bubble bath and warm fuzzy jammies and a good cozy sleep)

(oh, and dark chocolate)

[betagirl]

Dark chocolate indeed....mmmm

Love the cat pic.

Fuji - you have been paying attention at those seminars you guys have, haven't you? :D

[Fuji Girl]

Fuji - you have been paying attention at those seminars you guys have, haven't you? :D

Nah, learned all that in medical school. Sometimes my very expensive education comes in handy, like at cocktail parties and on-line. :)

Hope you feel better soon. Let me know when you're up for riding again. How's the little CO2 pump I gave you?

[betagirl]

I have it all loaded. My goal is to never have to use it :)

I'm up in the north "burbs" near chain-o-lakes state park at camp. Nothing like gaining clinical hours in the woods :D I get back Friday afternoon, so I'll be going solo unfortunately. What's up with the cold? I'm SO going to need major motivation to get up tomorrow and ride. Considering breakfast is at 730, I need to be up by 530 to get in any decent mileage.

I'm feeling better. Just stuffy. I guess I should aim for a short ride tomorrow all things considered.

[Duck on Wheels]

It's 2am and I just woke up with a nose that feels like somebody poured quick-drying concrete in it. Too late for that "first inkling" dose of echinacea. :( How long did your cold last, Beta? I'm assuming the same one has found me, since I'm not that many miles away. I need it to be over in a week. I really hate flying with a cold!

[DirtDiva]

Trek - that pic was priceless. :D

I wish Knotted's theory on colds was watertight. I get 'em all the time (I'm on my second or maybe even third for the year right now :(), so that would mean I'd have totally exhausted the supply by the time I hit thirty. :p