I´m leaving for SA on Saturday and I now need the board members help -I have a f-ckin´ cold that isn´t getting any better. As an MD I know that these things take time but I´m hoping one of you might have an old home remedy or a "grandma´s special" that I could try.

I hate flying sick.

cewe,

Wouldn’t you consider asking someone to replace you?
I wouldn’t mind going thru all the trouble and go to RSA in your place!
I think it would feel really nice to help a forum member in need!

B.Martins

Mrs. Collingsworth's old-time cold remedy:

One tablespoon lemon juice
One half pint (decent quality) whiskey
One half pint honey.

Mix together and keep on hand for those lousy head colds with sore throat and cough.

A swig of this stuff and you won't care whether or not you have a cold.

b.martins: Sorry, i ain´t dyin´!

As for Mrs. C´s recipe I´ve tried my own version but using brandy but Mrs. Cewe put a stop to that remedy on Saturday (she also muttered about cirrohsis...).

If this doesn´t clear by Thursday I´ll hit the antibiotics.

When she would care for me my grandmother would heat one cup of water and stir into it the juice of two squeezed lemons, a couple teaspoons of honey, and a couple shots of bourbon. She would have rubbed my chest with Vick's Vaporub and put an old t-shirt on me. Then I'd drink the concoction and she would tuck me in...with an extra blanket.

I'd wake up eight or ten hours later with wet sheets, etc., but the fever would be broken and I'd be on the mend.

cewe,
Are you visiting Tino?
I know Ryno doesn't work with him anymore, but if you go near Bandelierkop give him or his family my salutes.

Does Tino still has his headquarters there?

Lorenzo

cewe,

You might try that Airborne stuff. My wife swears by it. Personally I think it's more of a placebo. But hell, if the placebo works...

Other than that take some Ambien and sleep through the flight. Even if you don't sleep the amnesia will make you forget most of it.

If you do take a sleep aid, be sure to take a bit of asprin to help ward off clots from lack of movement.

I'm not a doctor, but I play on on the boards...

Have a great trip. You'll probably be over the worst of it by then anyway

-Steve

P.S. Sorry, didn't realize that you're posting from Finland. Not sure if you can get those things I recommended there. But you might try.

cewe,

, My condolences - ugh! Flying with a head cold is terrible.

You've received some great advice here. Just make sure that you've got a cold and not a case of the flu that's going around - if it is the flu GO STRAIGHT to the hard drugs! After ten days of flu I'm on my third set of A/B's.

My cold remedy is similar to what you've already read except in the evening I go to the sauna, (wet - not dry, this shouldn't be much of an issue in Finland!) cook myself and then get steaming drunk with the honey, lemon juice and Bourbon recipe, do the Vicks T-Shirt routine and get in bed - normally I feel pretty good the following morning.

Get well and have a good time in Africa.

Cheers,

Gerry

Thanks for the advice, I´ll try some lemon-honey-brandy again this evening, at least I fall asleep in a wink after that. There should be some Vapo-rub left from when the kids were smaller so that´s going on. Airborne can´t be bought in Europe but thanks anyway.

Do you guys take sleeping pills when flying? I´ve heard of it being done but I tend to react strongly to all forms of sedation and I`m afraid I might start talking in my sleep -or worse !

Lorenzo: Tino bought a ranch of his own outside of Pietersburg two years ago and that´s were he has his basecamp. A lot of hunting is still done around Bandelierkop + some other new concessions. I saw Rhino and his father last year and they were doing good, Louisa was at work but I hear she´s still a sight for sore eyes. I´ll say hello if I see them.

Thanks cewe, take care and good hunting!!
Last time I saw Tino he was leaving for a lion hunt with dogs !!

L

cewe!
I have trouble sleeping on that 18 hour flight from Atlanta to Joberg. It is a pure hell flight for me. My local mudzimu (Doc) prescribed Lorazepam. Two 1 mg. tabs relax me enough to sleep very well with out putting me completely out to the point that the flight attendant can't wake me up in case of an emergency. Has worked great so far.

465H&H

I'd also give my vote to the lemon with honey. I'd eat lot's of oranges as well. You might also try some echinacea, it's an herbal vitamin that you take when you have a cold coming on or already have a cold. My family uses them and I've always used them before hunting trips to help avoid getting sick. Good luck to you and have a great time.

cewe,

If your decision of rejecting my kind and generous offer is a final one, (and in order to prevent someone else to take advantage of your present weakness), I guess I have no other choice than to disclose to you my family’s private, ancient, and 100% effective, “bad cold†recipe:

- Pour 2,5 centilitres of boiling strong coffee in a mug.
- Add the same amount of “arbustus-berry brandyâ€
- Hold the sugar
- Get into bed.
- Drink it as fast as possibly.
- Cover yourself really well because you will be sweating a lot!


In case you don’t get to sleep immediately and feel that the bed is sort of “moving†and you start to get “sea sickâ€, don’t hesitate to put one foot on the floor! This will make the bed stop immediately.

By the way: the “arbustus-berry†brandy is mandatory! The prescription won’t work with any other brandy.

Have a fast recover!

B.Martins

I guess lorazepam would work but that means no booze on the trip OR one very wild trip! I was thinking of maybe trying one of the milder sleeping pills but whiskey is an alternative...

Arbustos brandy? Sounds like some very potent stuff! Are you sure it´s centiliters?

Thank you all for the support!

Cewe,
Take in a lot of vitamin B it helps a lot. As far as sleeping pills they work, in my case a couple of beers works better than any sleeping pill. Hope you are beter soon , enjoy your hunt, our weather are nice and hot.

I feel for you cewe, because last year I went through what you are going through.

I ended up taking some antibiotics (Zithromax) and codeine containing cough medicine. Eventually this combination worked.

But I was pretty miserable for the first few days of my safari--coughing and wheezing, etc.

I very nearly spoiled a couple of long and carefully planned stalks . . .

I suspect you are on your death bed - better to let someone else take your place in Africa. You could start an auction for your spot right now.

All kidding aside, most of the advice you have received is worth what you paid for it. Call your doctor and tell him with is at stake. He will be able to give you some drugs that will dry up your sinuses and get you through the flight. You will heal up when you start hunting.

Get to a health food store, and buy a bottle of Oil of Oregano. It is known to kill 98% + of the known viruses. It is potent stuff, and when you belch, you'll swear you just swallowed a whole pizza. Put 5 or 6 drops in 8 ounces of water, juice or whatever, and chug it down. It tastes like hell, your lips will burn, but it works. Good luck.

Hi again,
Went to the lab and checked my CRP which was normal and did a Strep A swab that was negative. Seems like the flu and not a regular head cold. I´ve loaded up on antihistamines but if I´m not any better tomaorrow I´ll start the antibiotics -and get diarrohea! Luckily my trip is for the whole of March so I´m not running a tight schedule. Alcohol doesn´t help me sleep but it makes those waking hours more enjoyable!

Now back to bed...

When you land go straight to the chemist at the airport and buy Degoran Plus. Dries you up (ephedrine), stops you coughing, gets rid of the headache (paracetamol) and lifts your mood (caffeine). Works like a charm.

My mother swears by the Airborne (?sp), but I haven't tried it. Everyone in her office believes in it though. Good Luck!