Hello all....
I wanted to share this with all the steady working musicians who have a hard time staying healthy over the winter months.
Speaking for myself, I work a full-time day job and gig 2-4 times a week. That means precious little sleep, poor eating habits, often in smoky bars, am constantly pressing the flesh with other people and I smoke. I know Im not alone. All of this means, we musicians are incredibly susceptible to illness.....especially colds and the flu. I also have other respitory problems, but thats irrelivant.
Usually a cold/flu hits very fast. And we all know we cant just cancel a gig and have to play through being sick. It sucks! Its unsafe if you cant allow your body time to recover as well. I get sick A LOT during the winter since I joined The Nightcrawlers 3 years ago.
Here is what just happened and I think Im on to something here.....
I went to bed with a scratchy throat Sunday. No big deal I thought. I was in the smoky bars all weekend. Woke up Monday with a sore throat and as the day progressed, I rapidly felt worse with aching joints and the chills. I know from past experience a real humdinger is about to smack me down. Its the frigin holidays and Ive got gigs!!! WTF!!! I hate colds!!!! I remembered this commercial Ive been seeing this year about Zicam. I went to the pharmacy right after work and bought some. This stuff isnt cheap at $12 a little tube, but I thought Ive got to try something new.
The key for Zicam (according to the reccomendations and directions) is catching your symptoms in the first 48 hours. I was in the 12 hour range of my first symtoms. I took the stuff as descriped. You put this non messy gel just inside your nostrils.
Normally, I would wake up today totally hammered with anching body, stuffy and runny nose, fever and a cough that eventually moves to my chest. Guess what? None of that stuff!!!! I feel better than I did yesterday. I still have a bit of a scratchy throat and minor cough.
This is only day 2 but I can tell something is going on here. Im not sure if this is the next new thing to combat colds, but something is working here. I will let everyone know in a few days how it goes. I generally have a cold that last 1-2 weeks no matter what.
So check this stuff out!!!!
Also, if anyone else has any tips on how to stay healthy during the winter months, please post.
We have to take care of ourselves!
Happy holidays....
~Steve
Staying healthy over the winter....
i've had some pretty good sucess with a product called "airborne" your suppost to take it before you go into like airports, bars would be a good one, any crowded place where germs are running amuck. its like an alkaseltzer kind of deal. its basicly some kind of super vitaman-c. it really seems to work. plus washing your hands ALOT.
Have to remember that stuff!
I also saw a new product that comes in a 3 fold box...name slips me now cause I only saw one commercial, never see the ones you need more than once!
Said it builds up you immunity to like 300% (if there is such statistics!) and shortin the timespan a cold last.(If anyone could predict that?)
I just got over one...hard to shake it when you get sweaty and come outside at 3 AM to load the trailer after a gig!
You sound like me, I hate to be onstage sick!...My g/f's kids come home from school sick and I'm like,"OH NO!! Keep away!...I have to play this weekend!!"...Nothing worse than feeling ruff before a show!
I also saw a new product that comes in a 3 fold box...name slips me now cause I only saw one commercial, never see the ones you need more than once!
Said it builds up you immunity to like 300% (if there is such statistics!) and shortin the timespan a cold last.(If anyone could predict that?)
I just got over one...hard to shake it when you get sweaty and come outside at 3 AM to load the trailer after a gig!
You sound like me, I hate to be onstage sick!...My g/f's kids come home from school sick and I'm like,"OH NO!! Keep away!...I have to play this weekend!!"...Nothing worse than feeling ruff before a show!
"Proud endorser of Saluda cymbals"
http://www.saludacymbals.com/c/bfogelsonger.php
"Growing old is mandatory,, Growing up is optional!"
http://www.saludacymbals.com/c/bfogelsonger.php
"Growing old is mandatory,, Growing up is optional!"
Because I use my voice for a living and am constantly out in public seeing bands, the cold and flu season is always a concern for me.
Some people will debate its effectiveness, but I always try to get the flu shot every winter;. It seems to work for me; I've never been hit with the flu any winter when I've had the shot, and it seems that if I'm feeling symptoms, the flu shot seems to head it off at the pass so I'm usually feeling better shortly.
When I have had the flu in the past, Thera Flu seems to work for me. You mix it into hot water like tea, and at least for the times I have used it, it works.
As far as the basic cold, I find that each cold is different, and I usually have to identify exactly what kind of cold is affecting me before I can determine what to use to battle it. It can be frustrating, because the throat cold stuff I used to battle a cold three months ago doesn't have any affect on the sinus cold I might get tomorrow, so I usually end up having to go to the store to buy something different to battle it.
As mjb said, washing your hands a lot and taking a preventive approach to it this time of year works. Try to avoid putting your hands to your mouth after you've touched public door handles, grocery cart handles, or anything else other people touch and handle this time of the year. Wash your hands as frequently as you can.
Some people will debate its effectiveness, but I always try to get the flu shot every winter;. It seems to work for me; I've never been hit with the flu any winter when I've had the shot, and it seems that if I'm feeling symptoms, the flu shot seems to head it off at the pass so I'm usually feeling better shortly.
When I have had the flu in the past, Thera Flu seems to work for me. You mix it into hot water like tea, and at least for the times I have used it, it works.
As far as the basic cold, I find that each cold is different, and I usually have to identify exactly what kind of cold is affecting me before I can determine what to use to battle it. It can be frustrating, because the throat cold stuff I used to battle a cold three months ago doesn't have any affect on the sinus cold I might get tomorrow, so I usually end up having to go to the store to buy something different to battle it.
As mjb said, washing your hands a lot and taking a preventive approach to it this time of year works. Try to avoid putting your hands to your mouth after you've touched public door handles, grocery cart handles, or anything else other people touch and handle this time of the year. Wash your hands as frequently as you can.
Where you wash your hands is very important. There are probably more bacteria on the faucet handles at any public restroom than are on your hands. You wash your hands but still touch the handle to stop the water running, and get all those bacteria all over your just cleaned hands.
The alcohol based hand cleaners are a better choice than most public restrooms.
The alcohol based hand cleaners are a better choice than most public restrooms.
when i wash in a public restroom, first thing i do is grab a papertowel and use it as a make-shift glove for flushing and touching faucet handles and opening the door to exit the bathroom. finishing it off with a sweet finger-roll or a fading hook shot for 2 points. unless of course i draw the foul.
i'm a little funny that way.
i'm a little funny that way.
-
nightcrawler_steve
Just had a close call with the flu. Scratchy throat, body aches and major chills at 9:30 in the am.
Remedy
Quickly hit the Oscillococcinum (comes in little tubes with tiny candy tasting BB's inside: available at WalMart) and Zicam Cold/Flu one dose spoons.
Up and running by evening.
P.S. Oscillococcinum works great for hangovers (that queasy stomach feeling) also, plus it's a homeopathic drug with virtually no side effects.
Remedy
Quickly hit the Oscillococcinum (comes in little tubes with tiny candy tasting BB's inside: available at WalMart) and Zicam Cold/Flu one dose spoons.
Up and running by evening.
P.S. Oscillococcinum works great for hangovers (that queasy stomach feeling) also, plus it's a homeopathic drug with virtually no side effects.
Have a YUMMY DAY!
I wish I would have read this a couple of days ago Steve, I'm finally getting over the cold you speak of... If I feel OK Dennis and I may be at the Phyrst later. I will be sure to stay away from you so you don't get it... haha
-BURK
www.myspace.com/lowjackmusic
-BURK
www.myspace.com/lowjackmusic
That's my game plan, too, but some places have those damned blow dryers ... there are actual cities of bacteria living in those disgusting things and you can't use it as the "glove."mjb wrote:when i wash in a public restroom, first thing i do is grab a papertowel and use it as a make-shift glove for flushing and touching faucet handles and opening the door to exit the bathroom. finishing it off with a sweet finger-roll or a fading hook shot for 2 points. unless of course i draw the foul.
i'm a little funny that way.
Man, I want to rip those f'in' things off the wall when I see them.
r:>)
That's what she said.
That's gross. How did they manage to fit Cleveland into a blow dryer?BadDazeRob wrote: That's my game plan, too, but some places have those damned blow dryers ... there are actual cities of bacteria living in those disgusting things
Anyway, another option for cold-busting is Cold-Eeze. They look and taste like cough drops, but otherwise it's the same idea as Zicam . . . lots and lots of zinc. Great stuff!
songsmith wrote: My d*ck does look a little bigger, though.------>JMS
*Off to buy a big bottle*
"Proud endorser of Saluda cymbals"
http://www.saludacymbals.com/c/bfogelsonger.php
"Growing old is mandatory,, Growing up is optional!"
http://www.saludacymbals.com/c/bfogelsonger.php
"Growing old is mandatory,, Growing up is optional!"