It may not be cold in FL but it was chilly up in NJ when I went to see my family for Thanksgiving. The temperature dropped to 32 degrees and I layered, bundled up and took Airborne everyday. But these wise steps of prevention were not strong enough to hold back the first tell-tale signs of a cold coming on as I went to bed Friday night with that raw-sore-throat feeling. I just moaned knowing that my ear was next in-line to begin aching. I was not a happy camper as I took 2 Tylenol caplets and closed my eyes to sleep that night.
The next morning I began my "this cold is not going to get the best of me" attitude as I purchased some Ricola Natural Herb Cough Drops (I love the honey lemon flavored ones), drank some hot tea with honey and took Airborne. When the family got together to have brunch on Saturday at a cool restaurant in NYC I stopped kissing everyone including the grandbabies and sent them all air-kisses. That's when I learned that other family members were beginning to feel sick as well. So before our meals arrived at our place settings we each had 1 minute to do our I'm the sickest person whining session without wise-cracking comments; which with my family is hard to do.
Later that day as my husband Jack, who was also feeling sick, and I were flying home the idea of rubbing Vicks Vapor Rub on my chest to avoid the cold moving into my throat and chest became a focus for me.
On the way home from Tampa International Airport Jack sweetly volunteered to pick up the following cold remedies at CVS: DayQuil & NyQuil combo package, tissues with aloe, more cough drops, vaseline and Vicks Vapor Rub as I sniffled like crazy in the car anxious to get home and into bed.
Sunday morning the cold symptoms hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew that sleeping and complete rest along with my self-prescribed remedies were going to be the ticket to minimize the misery I was feeling and get me ready to do the radio show the next morning. There was no way I was going to miss it. This overbearing horrible cold was going to have to become a whisper within 24 hours. That meant I had to do Self-Care for me, the Caregiver Coach without any excuses.
Here is my 12 step plan:
- Get rest: stay in bed as much as you can, watch movies and take naps whenever possible
- Use soft tissues with aloe to make your nose less raw
- Rub vaseline around your nostrils to keep them healed
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Drink tea with honey & suck on cough drops throughout the day
- Take NyQuil or DayQuil when necessary
- Take Tylenol or other brand
- Rub Vicks Vabor Rub on your chest and throat 2x a day
- Gargle with warm salt water 2x a day
- Use antibacterial hand gel when touching things that can carry germs
- Drink fluids
- Take Airborne daily
- Limited how many holiday parties you want to attend. Go home if you are tired. Someone nicely told me, "No one wants your cold." I had to laugh. :)
I stayed with my plan and it worked. My cold never traveled up into my throat, chest or ear. It's taken the whole week for my energy to return and the nasal drip to clear, but I'm caring for myself in a sensible way and starting to feel better, not sicker.
My wish for you is to take care of yourself as you care for others. That's the balance I talk about on the radio show each week. This was an opportunity for me to walk my talk.
Now you have a chance to do the same.
Sue Talbott from Easy Living & Aging Wisely and a monthly guest on The Caregiver Hour Radio Show has extended this Offer of Self-Care for the Caregiver through December: 3 Free Hours of Respite for anyone who wants to have some time to recharge themselves, take care of a cold or do some holiday shopping while a professional caregiver takes care of your loved one in home, at a facility or hospital.
Please contact me if you are interested:
kim@thecaregiverhour.com
OR call the helpline: 1-877-552-4950
OR call Easy Living directly: 727-448-0900
and tell them you know Kim from
The Caregiver Hour Radio Show.
This is your holiday make it the best ever!
Warmly,
