Dad's sage (or rather, citrus) advice for Mom's Cold
My grandmother says, “Feed a fever and starve a cold.”
The doctor says, “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.”
My husband says, “Take 40,000 mg of Vitamin C, a B-12, 6 Echinacea tablets, and a tablespoon of eye of newt.”
For some strange, out-of-character reason during cold season, my husband becomes a raging herbalist. This is the man who usually eats like a pregnant woman, with some of the weirdest food combos since Iron Chef: Battle Sea Urchin. I have seen him order a side of bacon with his bacon. However, if either one of us has a cold--like I did this weekend--then somehow he believes that massive amounts of nutritional supplements will cure what ails us.
My contention is that while Vitamin C may be effective in the early onset of a cold, there comes a distinct point when your immune system is not just compromised, but shut down and you may actually need a good old-fashioned antibiotic. When you haven’t been able to hear out of your right ear since last citrus season for instance, perhaps it’s time to visit an M.D. rather GNC.
He will have none of it.
“I still think if you took your C’s this morning, you’d feel better,” he says as I line up for a chest X-ray.
“Sweet pea, I'd appreciate that if I had scurvy, but I think I have a sinus infection at this point.”
“And you haven’t even tried the Echinacea.”
I cough. “I took one, but I think the nausea might have negated the effects.”
So, darling, I know you weren’t able to hear me through my laryngitis this morning, so you’ll be happy to know that I took my amoxicillin, three Prednisones, Mucinex and Nasonex that a doctor prescribed with a big ol' glass of O.J. this morning. I’m sure I’ll feel as good as new when you get home for dinner tonight.
We’re having crow a l’Orange.
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
Amy Hollyfield is a workaholic mother of two young
daughters, blessed to have a work-at-home husband who makes their life possible. She was born in Detroit and moved around a lot as a kid (read: Air Force brat). She has lived in Florida since the month after she
graduated from Northwestern University. She lives for the yelps, hugs and kisses that greet her on nights that she makes it home before bedtime.
Sherry Robinson was born in the Sunshine State but she feels more comfortable inside a mall than outside at the beach -- thank goodness her husband is the outdoorsy type. He takes their two sons on night hikes, beach runs and bug hunts while Sherry does her best to take care of the homestead -- and find out what is new on the store shelves. A graduate of the University of South Florida in 19noneofyourbusiness, Sherry has been at the Times for nearly 20 years. And with nearly 10 years of parenting experience, Sherry is eager to offer up some great dish on raising kids and keeping your sanity.
Guest blogger Tracey Henry, a.k.a. Suburban Diva, is a frantic, slightly frazzled mother of four. She is a freelance humor writer and author which is the only thing that parenting four children ages 12-1 trains you for, except perhaps court jester and professional bull rider. She and her husband have lived all over the country, but settled in Florida eight years ago because the beachcombing is so much better here than on the banks of the Mississippi. Their family time includes a lot of sport -- both watching and playing -- and fun in the sun and surf. Catch her in Whoa, Momma! and on her site, 
Sherri Day and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world in early 2008. So far, she describes parenthood as exciting, exhausting and exhilarating. A self-described Southern belle with small-town values and big-city idealism, Sherri was born in rural Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the Brandon bureau chief for the Times. Sherri moved to Tampa from Brooklyn four years ago.
Keep taking the antibiotics and watch as the viruses become more drug resistant. But with your attitude I do not think you really care.
Posted by: TTT | November 25, 2008 at 01:26 PM
I thought the article was quite comical! Do what works for you!
Posted by: Whoa, Momma Reader | November 24, 2008 at 11:57 AM
http://blogs.tampabay.com/moms/2008/10/mohawks-for-kid.html
Wrong columnist on the mohawk. Harhad, go grab some vitamin c. I hear it is good for the sense of humor.
Posted by: Sean | November 24, 2008 at 09:35 AM
lol, I have kids, and I care about them, I like to read things that contribute to my family life... sadly this chick serves up few good articles and she truly lost me when she wrote that article bashing the kid over the rayhawk..
Not trying to be overly rude... but I hope they don't pay her for this column... it isn't worth a dime...
Posted by: Hardhat0038 | November 24, 2008 at 09:02 AM
ummm, i think the column was meant in a fun way.
Posted by: pete | November 23, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Hardhat said it in a really rough way.
However what he said has been already been said in medical literature.
Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses.
Colds are caused by viruses.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/question38.htm
The flu is caused by viruses, too.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/flu1.htm
Taking antibiotics for viruses produces antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Not taking the complete prescription (all the pills prescribed) for a bacterial infection can also create antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
I'm not a doctor. I just like to read medical literature. So if a medical worker would like to correct the above, feel free.
Posted by: Kimberly | November 23, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Hardhat what is a toughy tough like you doing rolling through whoamomma?
Killing us, wow, I used to like you SD.
BTW give me some drugs every time too!
Posted by: winnie | November 23, 2008 at 09:08 AM
People like you are killing us,... antibiotics for this, antibiotics for that.. That's why all this crap is so resistant to all these 'antibiotics' now. Try eating healthier, washing your hands more often, drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest, and you can avoid or significantly lessen the effects of a cold.
Posted by: Hardhat0038 | November 22, 2008 at 05:33 PM