Summer cold and flu symptoms - What I did, should and shouldn't have done

Catching a cold or having flu like symptoms during the winter months can be a drag but catching one in the summer time is a double drag.  I should know, having just gone through one. It began as a cold then gradually escalated into flu like symptoms leaving me with a nasty cough.

No fun watching folks taking off to the beaches and pools on a hot sunny day while you are picking up a prescription at the pharmacy feeling so very sick and heading back home to hop into bed. But, sometimes that is just the way it is and frankly it could be worst. So we go through it, we tackle it and hopefully learn how to make it better in the future when it will most likely visit us again.

This morning I woke up feeling much better and it seems like the cough subsided quite a bit. Which I will be keeping an eye out for in the next few hours in order to know whether or not I should take another trip to the doctors office.

I am going to share with you how I have been taking care of my summer cold and what I have done to help minimize the symptoms and also what I should and shouldn’t have done. Please take into consideration that we are all different and particular symptoms for a person can mean something completely different for another. Consulting with a physician is important and necessary in order to get the best care.

Day one I spent coughing. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it; I pretty much put it off as a common cough.

Day two Early morning hours at about 4 am. My cough rapidly became worse, now congested with a runny stuffy nose. I was pretty much feeling like crap. Since I am not quick to go to the doctor, which by the way I have learned better by this experience. By 8 am that morning I decided to take a trip to the grocery store and buy some honey, tea, and lemon.

4pm that afternoon I am not feeling any better and foolishly decided to keep a 7pm commitment. Not a good Idea, It was a muggy humid rainy evening and well, needless to say by 10pm I am now worst, with flu like symptoms 102’ fever and body aches as well as the cough becoming increasingly congested. Decided to take Tylenol and continued drinking lots of fluids, tea, water and orange juice, I also had a little chicken soup.

Day three I was beginning to think I felt better because the fever and body aches were gone, but I was wrong. I rested and continued drinking a lot of fluids along with the Tylenol. But, quite truthfully I should have gone to the doctor the day before (day 2)because I was very weak and the cough did not sound good at all.

Day four Cough sounds really bad and extremely congested, finally decided to go see my doctor and totally Regretting not going sooner (and yes that is Regretting with a big R). Doctor said it sounded like bronchitis and comfirmed my summer cold. He prescribed me some penicillin, also suggested for me to stay in and get as much rest as possible and recommended me returning to see him if I was not feeling better within a few days.

Day five and six Still my cough was not sounding any better, I was thinking that perhaps the medicine had not taken effect as of yet. However, I was considering going back to my doctor the next morning so I can be on the safe side because by than I was beginning to get worried that it might be something worst.

I continued to drink a lot of fluids along with taking my medicine getting as much rest as possible. I also tried my best to avoid having the air conditioner on too high, but could not turn it off completely due to the weather being extremely humid and at 95 degrees, which made my cold and flu symptoms feel worse..

Day seven Feeling much better this morning and the congested cough has seemed to subside quite a bit. I am going to closely monitor it and continue to drink lots of water and tea. Maybe this afternoon I will take a brisk walk. Hopefully I will continue to feel better through out the day.