Ibuprofen v aspirin

[RoadRaven]

I don't take aspirin cause I remember my mum saying when I was a kid it leaves some kind of sediment in your liver that never cleans out. I have never checked it out so it may be a completely eroneous (sp?) "fact"!

I use iburofen mostly, but you can use it with paracetomol as well - which I have been known to do to "top up" the pain-killing potential.

My partner doesn't take ibuprofen at all as it makes him feel ill - he always uses paracetamol.

Zen, I suggest you go to the chemist (drugstore?) if you are still in pain and ask for the strongest anti-inflam you can get without going to a doctor for a prescription.

Over here I get something called Voltaren + 25. I have to sign for it and its ingredient is diclofenac. It is awesome.

I do not advocate use of drugs unless necessary, but if you have back pain that is muscular, a couple of days on anti-flams means your muscles can relax and "un-twist" themselves.

As for the sinus, well, you are tougher than I. I have had three serious sinus infections and I think 2 days is the longest I lasted before getting antibiotics. The pain behind the eyes was tooooo much.

[OakLeaf]

paracetamol = acetaminophen

Voltaren is Rx only in the US. Naproxen sodium (Aleve) is OTC if you prefer that.

A true anti-inflammatory dose of ibuprofen is 300-600 mg q 6 hours.

Aspirin seems to be safer than other NSAIDs for long term use in terms of heart and liver damage, but the bottom line is I wouldn't take any pharmaceutical long term without close medical supervision (and then with misgivings and a real medical need that can't be addressed without the drug).

Contrary to what was thought even a few years ago, doctors now agree that yellow-green mucus does not indicate a bacterial infection. The vast majority of sinus infections, like other URIs, are viral, and excessive antibiotic use contributes to development of resistant bacteria. Like all other URIs, sinus infections should not be treated with antibiotics unless they persist after 5-7 days.

IANAD, etc., etc.

[Zen]

I did something last night with a funnel and almost drowned.
I was gasping for air and coughing.
apparently I did something wrong (duh. ya' think?)
It did help clear my head, though.

[snapdragen]

Maybe you could get yourself one of those squeezy bulbs used to clear out babies noses? I used that until I found a neti pot, it worked well. You want to get your head tilted so the salt water doesn't run down the back of your throat. I know I've seen demos online - much better than those youtube ones. I'll have to see if I can find them again.

[RoadRaven]

Thankyou for the clarification, OakLeaf - I had no idea that acetaminophen was paracetomol/panadol!


I suppose that I should qualify my antibiotic comment. I actually cannot accurately remember the last time I or my children had antibiotics.

I think the last lot of them in this house was when my youngest had a nasty infection that we were concerned would become blood poisoning - that would be 5-6 years ago. My partner has had them a couple of times in the past few years for nasty tooth infections that needed root canals. I think my last dose must be one of the sinus infections would be ten years or so ago (the last sinus infection)...

I do not advocate them as anything but a last option - when the children have earaches for example (a commonly overprescribed ailment) I am ruthless and give them painkillers and usually we don't even get to the doctors...



And Zen - tooooo funny!
I read your post and all I could think of was how your obit or coroner's report might read - death by funnel drowning - how does one explain that!?

[ummbnb]

For the sinus infection:
Neti Pot
Alkalol (not Alcohol) - cured my chronic sinus infections a few years back. You can get it behind the counter at most pharmacies.

[Skierchickie]

Zen,

I prefer ibuprofen for most things, over aspirin or acetaminaphin (acetaminaphin does nothing for me for headaches, monthly blech, or anything else). Do be careful taking anything. Ibuprofen is safe, but not if you take too much. A runner friend of mine (a nurse - at the time she was the head nurse in a local ER) used to routinely take a bunch at a time, every single day, for running/skiing/biking related aches and pains. That was before the resulting internal bleeding. Can't remember exactly what happened, but it was not good (you'd think an ER nurse would know better ). Now she takes absolutely nothing for those aches and pains, headaches, etc.

Careful Zen - we love you! And your amazing sense of humor!

I don't know what is wrong with your back, so I'm probably off base, but have you tried icing? No, no - not that kind! I mean an ice pack!

[SadieKate]

Alkalol (not Alcohol) - cured my chronic sinus infections a few years back. You can get it behind the counter at most pharmacies.

Love the stuff. It's fabulous.

[SouthernBelle]

Zen, Just found this thread. When I cracked my ribs a couple of years ago, ibuprophen was much more helpful than the prescription pain relievers.

[IFjane]

And Zen - tooooo funny!
I read your post and all I could think of was how your obit or coroner's report might read - death by funnel drowning - how does one explain that!?

RR - ROTFLMAO!

Begs the question - if one drowned by funnel, would he even need to explain it?

[OakLeaf]

if one drowned by funnel, would he even need to explain it?

LMFAO

English major! Busted! If you absolutely can't say "they," the appropriate pronoun on this forum is "SHE."

[sundial]

I did something last night with a funnel and almost drowned.

Did it include the whip too?

[kelownagirl]

I made the mistake of laughing out loud at this thread and then had to explain the whole darn thing to the hubby....

[Zen]

Did it include the whip too?

You do have an active imagination