I have a cold and I am experiencing chest pain

[NurseGrace 509]

I seemed to have picked up a cold from work. Lovely.

I tried to take some dayquil but my stomach flat out rejected it. It's the first time since surgery 47 days ago that I have had something come back up on me. The cough and drippy nose I can deal with but I am having some pretty uncomfortable chest pains along with it all. I can breath alright and I don't feel like I need medical attention but I am curious to see if anyone has any good home remedies for this type of thing? I'm not usually into stuff like that but OTC medication is not agreeing with me and I am uncomfortable to the point of desperation.

I am making some tea as I type this so maybe that will help.

[SpaceDust 585]

Hot Drinks for sure. If you have some, mint teas are particularly soothing. I also like spicy teas like masala chai, as that seems to loosen things up a bit. If you would normally take milk with your tea, I would suggest not doing so in this case because it tends to make me feel like I've just "gummed up the works" so to speak. Ginger in your tea can also be helpful, better if it's the fresh kind.

You might also try a hot shower, as hot as you can stand it, and if your shower head moves direct it away from your body so you don't feel like you're being scalded - it will create a sauna-like effect that seems to loosen up the congestion. You could do something similar with hot Water in a bowl, hang over it with a towel creating a tent over your head. Add menthol or peppermint to the bowl if you have it, but the steam alone is helpful. Deep, slow breathing is called for with either of these methods. I prefer the shower, but if you don't tolerate pretty hot showers you might like the bowl method better.

Just some thoughts for you.

[NurseGrace 509]

You might also try a hot shower, as hot as you can stand it, and if your shower head moves direct it away from your body so you don't feel like you're being scalded - it will create a sauna-like effect that seems to loosen up the congestion. You could do something similar with hot Water in a bowl, hang over it with a towel creating a tent over your head. Add menthol or peppermint to the bowl if you have it, but the steam alone is helpful. Deep, slow breathing is called for with either of these methods. I prefer the shower, but if you don't tolerate pretty hot showers you might like the bowl method better.

Just some thoughts for you.

Thanks. I just drug my aching body out of the shower and that helped a lot. I have one of those facial steamers that boils Water into a little thing that you hold your head over - its to clear out your pores but I think I might use that to just breath in the steam while I am setting up at the computer. I can't stand to lay down anymore.

[SpaceDust 585]

Good luck, Grace. I would almost rather have a stomach bug than a bad cold - stomach bugs usually end faster!

[NurseGrace 509]

Thanks dude. I am feeling marginally better already. I woke up at like 9:30 (I'm a night shift type of person) and it kind of shocked me how bad it was. I felt a little sick when I went to bed but i woke up like I had been thrown out of a car and hit by a train.