Atkins & The Flu!

[dani**]

Help! My whole family has come down with the flu. So far I am the last one who hasn't been knocked off my feet with it, and I swear it's because of the extra protien, water and vitamins from doing Atkins! Anyway, while I haven't been laid out flat like everyone else, I do have a low grade fever, and have developed a cough. (PRAYING it doesn't go beyond that!)

I didn't want to take any of the cough syrups that I have been giving the kids and husband because they seem to be loaded with sugar, so I opted for the Tylenol Severe Cold tablets...thing is, they have the worst taste, like they were dusted with Sweet 'n Low! It's all I can do to choke them down...partly because the taste is so gross, and partly because my mind is screaming, "Nooo sweet 'n loooowwww!!" lol...

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can take as a cough suppressant or expectorant?

I have lost 17 pounds and am SOOO close to finally breaking 200 that I will not let this flu screw up my groove with Atkins. So, I'll tough it out with plain ol' chicken broth if I have to, lol, but it would be nice to just be able to stop the coughing and maybe nip this in the bud if I can!

[JulieB]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

I don't know of a cough syrup or expectorant...but your pharmacist might be able to point you towards something. There must be sugar-free stuff for diabetics...

I have been using a combination of Vitamin C supplements (1 tablet, 3 times/day),
echinacea and ginsing (Cold-FX) whenever I feel something coming on. So far..so good.

[dani**]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

Thanks, JulieB. I got some sugar free cough drops that I noticed were made with sucralose, so I guess it's better than aspartame, right? I've just come off of a short stall that I think was caused by the shakes (that I know now not to drink! Self-admitted book skimmer here, lol...) and I didn't want to get back into that lull again.

I'm just so ready for everyone to be healthy again!! This really came out of nowhere and wreaked havoc on everyone at once. Crazy!

[mizski]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can take as a cough suppressant or expectorant?

Guaifenesin is the active ingredient in expectorants. It is available in tablets (see Mucinex or store brand versions). For colds/flu I love Vicks Dayquil/Nyquil Cold & Flu Multi-Symptom Relief Caplets. They do have acetaminophen (Tylenol) in them. Vicks Vaporub for your chest and throat. Puffs Plus with Lotion or Puffs with Vicks for your nose. Hot decaf tea & lemon for your throat and hot chicken broth for your tummy. HTH

Hope you feel better soon.

[dani**]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

Thank you, Mizski!

Hubby is a bit better today so I am going to have him get the Dayquil. And the Puffs! My 5 year old's nose is running off without him now, lol...

[mizski]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

Thank you, Mizski!

Hubby is a bit better today so I am going to have him get the Dayquil.

Remember to get the caplets, not the liquid stuff. Personally, I think Nyquil caps work much better but they have the sleepy stuff in them so you need to stay home with that.

Hope you're all feeling better soon.

[not2late]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

Here's a link to a thread in the Low CArb menues forum:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/low-carb-menus/22623-menu-ideas-during-illness-convalescense.html

[dani**]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

Ooh, thanks for that! I tried skimming to see what I could find before I made my thread, but this board has a lot to take in for a newbie like me!

Thanks to all of you for the replies. My boys are still sick, but my hubby is back to his goofy self, so I'm thinking he's gotten the most of it out of his system! I'm just pretty congested today. Hopefully I've seen the worst of it myself!

[ziggy]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

dont give your kids cough syrups cough syrups are a scam they are just sugar water and nothing more

[mizski]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

dont give your kids cough syrups cough syrups are a scam they are just sugar water and nothing more

Ziggy, I was wondering where you get all your information.

[dani**]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

Well...I think alot of them actually do work, if you get specifically what you need. Like, if you need a nasal decongestant, get one that says that's what it is..something that says cough suppressant isn't really going to be any good when you just have a stuffy nose, ya know?

As for cough drops, I have heard before that the sugar in them is actually a big part of what soothes the cough, so you really could get a similar effect from a piece of hard candy if you didn't have cough drops handy.

I have a daughter with cystic fibrosis, so we've never really kept cough syrups in the house because they were ineffective with her anyway, but I've also always managed to keep 'em all pretty healthy, too! This flu really came out of left field and knocked us all down! Well, except for Chelsea, she wasn't here this week! Lucky!

[ziggy]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

sorry your right i should have looked into this more before posting xD i remember hearing about it along time ago and thought it became the norm what everyone is supos to know for some reason but this is where i got my info from

Pediatricians say cough syrup won't help kids, parents


but when i look on google and wiki everyone says it does stuff so it must do something

[barrnone]

Re: Atkins & The Flu!

dani - I had a bad cold a while back that affected my ears and throat...I sipped club soda. It is so fizzy, it really helped soothe. Wishing you and your family well.