So what do you think of my new selfie? Ok, maybe the medicine is getting to my head, but this picture is definitely how I am beginning to feel these days; an uninspired hermit who spends her days reading {just throw in a poor, bored little boy}.
It’s been 10 days and this cold has been nothing but a roller coaster teasing me with days of wellness and then kicking my ass for the remaining. Monday I felt so invigorated, I cleaned, caught up for the past week of illness and even posted my pumpkin bread recipe! Maybe I did too much because on Tuesday, I did go get my hair done, but I felt like crap doing it and it’s been downhill again ever since.
M has bought me sinus medicine, sinus-fever medicine, cough medicine, throat drops, cold cream and the pharmacist has even given him two free bottles of cold aromatherapy type thing for the bath. Right before I got sick, I had my first “blate” with Megan, from Megan Joy Jaunts, and she even had the impeccable timing of bringing me NyQuil. Some things are helping, but I’m still so down right tired and just wishing I could breathe normal again.
I have the cold that keeps on giving. It’s taken up residence in my body despite multiple attempts at eviction; it’s staying put.
Yes, I have thought about going to a doctor, but as many of you expats should know, it’s just not the easiest thing to do for a few reasons:
- I don’t have one and would have to find one and make an appointment.
- Should I remind anyone that I don’t speak German yet?
- Then, say that all happens, I have to try to go with my son….that sounds fun and so not stressful!
- I’m not really sure I’m in need of antibiotics and I’m a big fan of doing your best to let your body fight it off. I’m terrified of “Super Bugs” and quickly running to the doctor for scripts is the quickest way for the world to start breeding them (IMO).
So I am mainly writing to vent , say hello to the world and see if anyone has any tips? Any old family tried and true methods out there?
Help a girl out….
Oooh, look at all those lovely booooooks!
Hmm, I swear by lots of sleep (probably not gonna happen with the bored boy around?) and Lemsip (not available in Germany). So basically I’m zero help. The Germans would probably say Erkältungstee is what you need…preferably enough to drown in!
Lol! Thanks for commenting on the photo. I was trying to be funny after all
When I was in Tokyo, I had food poisoning and ended up going to the doctor found with the help of my internship coordinator. He found a clinic with an English speaking doctor. It may even have been called an international clinic. I couldn’t have found it myself. .. so I can relate!
Oh that would be rough! I have my husband, I just hate asking for another thing related to language.
Ugghh I remember having a super terrible cold one time in Paris, that then manifested in a double ear infection… I ended up having to break down and go to a doctor. Antibiotics cleared it up within almost one dose. I’m like you, I prefer to let it pass on its own without interference of antibiotics, but sometimes it’s just not worth it! Maybe M could take you to a doctor over the weekend? It’s so much more daunting when you don’t speak the language!
Oh gosh, a double ear infection? Ouch! Yah he probably could…..he’s mentioned it. I’m just waiting to see of it’s really necessary.
lemon and ginger tea, with lots of honey. Seriously. I think it works better when you use freshly grated ginger and lemon slices, but the teabags work too. I don’t know why this helps clear up a cold, but always helps me! I’m of the mind of not going to the doctor unless absolutely necessary too.
Thanks for the great idea! I have a strong aversion to ginger, but of it helps it may be worth it!
I love that too! Fresh sounds amazing, but I always got these huge jars in Korea. They had a citrus blend too, maybe something like that would be more to your taste if you don’t like ginger? I love plain old green tea when I’m sick too.
Maybe….but I just can’t do ginger. I have been drinking fruit tea all week that is loaded with vitamins. Hoping it helps! Thanks Marielle!
Ok here are some brilliant old wives (actually from my dad, so husbands?) tales:
- fresh ginger, peeled, boiled in water with lemon and honey, leave to steep until drinking temperature, then strain and drink. Helps with tummy aches, helps to make you feel better generally. If you’re feeling nauseous, it makes it go away (either settling your stomach or making you throw up…either way - nausea is gone!)
- get some lemonade (like sprite, but not sprite!), heat it up in the microwave or on the stove top…drink (amazing!)
- ribena! You might be able to get it in Germany. It’s a cordial of sorts. You usually mix it with cold water but get some hot water in there instead. Also brilliant.
I thought these were just things that made me feel better because they were part of my childhood but testing them on The Canadian shows me that actually, they tend to just work.
Steaming your face is also excellent. plop a little bit of vix vapour rub in a bowl of hot water, get a towel and get your face over that water! *shrug* may not work with a little one running around!
Feel better soon! The first cold in a new country is always the worst!!
Hannah from The Lemon Hive!
(www.thelemonhive.com)
Haha. You’re awesome Hannah! Thanks for all of the ideas….definitely a few I will try! I’m curious about the ribena so will see if they have here.
Aw! I honestly don’t blame you! It’s the reason I try really hard not to get sick because I try to use all natural remedies I take care of myself. I don’t even take Tylenol or Advil like I used to. I would say to eat vitamin C, drink some tea and get your rest. It also can help getting your workout on if you aren’t too under the weather. It sounds more like a cough you can’t kick. It’s normal, cold viruses need to run their course. The cold medicines only help with symptoms in the meantime.
Yah, it’s all upper respiratory stuff with a nasty cough. Just a nasty virus that won’t go away! Thanks for the well wishes Brittnei!
Go the Russian route: vodka, honey and lemon. I swear it helped me!
Here’s a nice recipe to try: http://globaltableadventure.com/2011/11/04/recipe-hot-honey-lemon-with-vodka-for-the-brave-w-poll/
Hmmm…..I just may do that! Thanks Polly!
You’ve grown quite a beard since I saw you! I’m so sorry you’re still not feeling better.
HAHA! Yes! Thanks, I was hoping someone would get my humor. Hope you’re having a blast on your trip!
Oh, so sorry you are still struggling. You really need to find yourself a doctor. You can make an appointment for morning (or just go there the earliest they open, cough and sneeze on them couple of times, tell them you have fever, and they will squeeze you in). and let your husband, who speaks German, come with you.
Wish you gute Besserung!
Hi! Finally went in as my husband was worried I had pneumonia, but nope, just a virus. So, here’s to hoping my weak immune system can kick some serious butt!
Great to hear that! I guess there is some really kick ass virus out there these days. It took me 2.5 weeks to recover. But hey, now you finally got yourself a doctor!
Keeping the fingers crossed for you:)
Hi Deanna, That’s so rubbish you still aren’t feeling well! If you’re sure it’s a cold then there probably isn’t any point in going to see the doctor. GPs here in Northern Ireland always advise you to stay at home because it just has to work its way out and they can’t really give you anything better than what you get over the counter. That said, put it on your to do list to register yourself with a doctor at some point. You never know when you’ll need them and it’s a real pain to have to do it when you are ill - you know how the Germans delight in paperwork!
In the meantime I’d advise you stock up on plenty of fluids and oranges. They usually help hurry the cold along a bit! If you don’t mind whisky you could try a hot whisky with a bit of hot water and lemon - and honey maybe? I never drink it but have hear it is just the ticket to cure a cold.
All the best and keeping my fingers crossed you get well very soon!xx
Hi Laura! Thanks for the well wishes and for stopping by. M finally took me in, but it’s just a virus. The doctor told me I need rest. I told him I have an 18 month old. We both laughed.
Forget the medicine. I had the cold from hell, drank wine and slept a bit - almost right as rain again!
I tired it. It didn’t work. Moving on to the hard stuff.
Good thinking. A few hot whiskys and you’ll be right as rain
I’m with the overdosing on wine and sleeping it off. My dad would tell you to ingest enough garlic to make your husband throw up, or, my husband would tell you to GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY DYING. But he’s kind of dramatic. Old movies, hot soup, a bit of wine. Ahhhh.
I was thinking whiskey.
This a-hole of a cold needs something stronger than wine!
Yikes- getting sick in a foreign country is the worst. I had some sort of lingering cold while I lived in China… a girl who lived upstairs gave me Grapefruit Seed Extract, which was supposed to be some kind of miracle elixir. All it did was taste disgusting and make me angry at Asia.
Do you have to actually go to a doctor to get prescriptions in Germany or can you just visit a chemist? Good luck… I hope you start feeling better soon!
Hi Aussa - Yes, you do for anything that would require a script like in the states (antibiotics, etc). My husband did end up taking me in and it’s just like I thought, a virus. So here’s to waiting it out.
Thanks for stopping by and following me!
Ah, bummer! Well… I hear wine helps with viruses………..
Being a hermit and reading all day would be okay with me! Aside from feeling lousy though
Just keep taking it easy!!
Haha! Thanks Kate! Yes, it wouldn’t be bad if I was alone, but my toddler has zero patience for that!
Thanks for stopping by!
Ugh, I’m sorry you’re still feeling so sick! I went through something similar recently. My husband and I got sick at the same time. He was better in 5 days, and my cold hung in there for two weeks! It even seemed to get worse after about the 6th day. So I feel your pain. And I totally know what you mean about going to the doctor. They never seem to do anything for colds anyway. I finally gave up and went in for my cold because I used to have a serious problem with sinus infections. They just looked in my ears and said, “huh, I can’t see anything,” and gave me some additional decongestants. So not much help. Hang in there! It’ll go away eventually.
Oh, and by the way, I once tried that real ginger and garlic “tea” when I was desperate to feel better. Oh…my….god…. I couldn’t even drink it! I don’t know if I made it wrong or something but it was sooo strong and totally awful. Maybe you’re just supposed to hold your nose and down it, but I just couldn’t do it. I’m not the biggest ginger fan, though, so maybe you’ll fare better.
That’s exactly what my cold did! I’m starting to feel a little better…..at least the breathing is a bit easier. What more could a girl want? haha
Oh I hate ginger! I never used to until one time I made a recipe with fresh ginger and used too much and I’ve never been able to eat it since; unless it’s very hidden/mild.