What can help you sleep when you've got a very bad cold?

[G.T]

I've had a cold for about a week now, and am feeling much better (thank goodness!).

The thing is, for a few nights, I just couldn't get to sleep. Rubbing Vicks on my chest, taking cough mixture, taking a throat lozenger and taking 1 paracetamol tablet all helped ease the symptoms a little, but my mind was just so active, thus couldn't get to sleep. Some nights I was fine, some wern't.

Is there any way to help ease this? I've always remembered getting to sleep fine while having a cold, and used to wake up in the middle of the night instead (nasty too).

One night I tried to overcome it and stayed up VERY late, like 6 hours after I went to bed at 8pm, so my mind was actualy half asleep when I finally put my head down. The problem was, the next day I got up at 7am (mind was active again) and felt grotty and tired all day.

 

[DQuaN]

A large glass of warm hennesy.

Or if you have a girlfriend.....

 

[G.T]

Umm, yeah, I suppose that does help.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Im having the same problem at the moment James, struggling to sleep with this cold/flu is a pain in the arse! Last night though i found listening to music for a bit through headphones helps a lot, and benylin flu tablets, take 2 before you hit the sheets, they helped as well:tup:

 

[Der Alta]

My usual process was a few shots of a heavy whiskey, a couple aspirin, and a hearty bowl of chicken soup with extra garlic. Pile on the blankets and sweat like a pig throughout the night.

You'll be fine the next morning.

 

[Niels]

I dont have any tips for this. I was sick a week ago, the flu, and I had exactly the same thing. I cant get to sleep while being sick.

But somehow I think the music will work:tup: I also fall asleep VERY VERY quickly when reading some book or something like it, but I hate books, I just have to read a certain number of books for school every year....

 

[Max Powers]

Every time I have a cold, I just drink as much water as possible to flush out my system.

As for getting sleep, I usually take Nyquil, or some sort of night time softgels. They work well for me, usually I'm passed out by the time my head hits the pillow.

You really go to bed at 8pm though?!?

 

[G.T]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

You really go to bed at 8pm though?!?

That isn't my usual bedtime!

I had to that day because I felt so awful...

 

[FoolKiller]

On an empty stomach take an allergy/sinus or cold/flu medication that warns not to operate heavy machinery. That's always a good sign if you need to get to sleep. Then follow that with a full dose of NyQuil-green, death flavor.

If that isn't doing it then a shot of some sort of alcohol. If you are a lightweight then ameretto and as far up as vodka or whiskey depending on your tolerance. I woudl avoid this if you have a soar throat. I did that once and my throat burned so bad that it involuntarily clenched shut and I couldn't breathe for about ten seconds. Scared me to death.


Pretty much, if you shouldn't drive after swallowing it then you are in good shape for sleeping.


You could always try those over-the-counter sleep aids too, but I don't knwo how well they work. I heard they were just the same stuff that cold medicine has to make you sleep. I don't know though. I just know my mom likes Tylenol PM.

 

[Anderton Prime]

NyQuil always works for me. I usually take more than the recommended dosage though, otherwise it doesn't really put me to sleep. If your nose is really stuffed up, use Dristan Nasal Spray, and be sure to get the fast acting one. Two or three spurts in each nostril and you will be amazed.

 

[Duke]

Warm tea with sugar and a double shot of Grand Marnier in it.

 

[FaLLeNAn9eL]

usually i dont have any probelms going to sleep. the only reason i can think of that keeps me awake is the congestion. usually my problem is waking up

 

[DQuaN]

Warm tea with sugar and a double shot of Grand Marnier in it.

Hot Toddy 👍

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Not getting to sleep is usually a mental thing. If your mind is flitting from one thing to another, you need to get a handle on it. Think of an activity that you would enjoy (no smutty comments here please), and replay it in your head. Concentrate on it, and soon you will be asleep.

 

[FoolKiller]

Not getting to sleep is usually a mental thing. If your mind is flitting from one thing to another, you need to get a handle on it. Think of an activity that you would enjoy (no smutty comments here please), and replay it in your head. Concentrate on it, and soon you will be asleep.

Yeah, I just set the sleep timer on my iPod and put the headphones (wife is trying to sleep too) on and I'm out in no time.

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

If your having that much trouble sleeping, find the medication that cautions you about its drowsiness, then double the dose and mix with alchohol. Sure it could harm your body, but the good nights sleep you get will make it all worth it.

 

[G.T]

Not getting to sleep is usually a mental thing. If your mind is flitting from one thing to another, you need to get a handle on it. Think of an activity that you would enjoy (no smutty comments here please), and replay it in your head. Concentrate on it, and soon you will be asleep.

The thing is, trying to think of something I like is VERY hard when my mind is that active during a cold. I get to think about VERY weird things constantly over and over (last time it was large floating white "T's", I know, it's bonkers what your mind thinks of...). It's so bad sometimes I get to slightly visualy see what I keep thinking about, so thinking of another more relaxing thing becomes VERY hard, so I can't relax and get to sleep in that way.

 

[FoolKiller]

You could take the Dennis Leary route: take the whole box of Sudafed and wash it down with a bottle of NyQuil. You'll wake up from teh coma a month later feeling more rested than you ever have in your life.

 

[G.T]

You could take the Dennis Leary route: take the whole box of Sudafed and wash it down with a bottle of NyQuil. You'll wake up from teh coma a month later feeling more rested than you ever have in your life.

Err, I don't think I'll go to them lengths.

 

[DQuaN]

Take all above suggestions and you will have a damn good night!

 

[Danoff]

Another vote for Nyquil here.

Blast some afrin up your nose (you can only take that for 3 days straight), and do the nyquil thing - that should get you a good night's rest. Vicks also works well, though I like their inhaler better than the rub - which is gross.

A good belt of alcohol also works well (works well on nerves too if you can't calm down - but that's a different subject).

Congestion is easy - coughing is another story. I've tried a lot of things to get me to quit coughing long enough to go to sleep and nothing seems to work.

 

[Jondot]

Sleeping with a cold is a pain. Not because your mind is busy, but because you end up breathing through one nostril, or through your mouth.

When my mind is busy, i just read for a bit, or listen to music.

 

[Sage]

Yet another vote for NyQuil – when I’m really sick it’s the only thing that’ll put me to sleep, and it does it right away. Get the cherry flavor, which is a little more tolerable than nasty-verde.

 

[Danny]

I suggest sleeping with yaks, or painting a joyful ostrich purple.

NyQuil also works. Or Night Nurse.

 

[Flerbizky]

3/4ths of redwine, 1/4th boiling water, 2 slices of lemon and plenty of sugar.. 3 of those babies will get you through the night and the Vitamin C from the lemons will do theirs as well !...

 

[MistaX]

Why is this thread full of suggestions of to drink, when G.T. is underage. Didn't a thread just get closed because of underage drinking?




Whenever I can't sleep I just stay up until I can't stay up any longer. Going to bed after being up for 36 hours straight, it's quite easy to sleep.

 

[VT]

I would definately go the Nyquil route, although they stopped putting the alcohol in it from what I've heard. Also, you might want to try some Melatonin, that stuff works wonders.

http://www.melatonin.com/melatonin-faq.php

 

[Sage]

If you have to drive to school, be smart and don’t take the NyQuil several hours before having to do so. One night I had a really bad cold and couldn’t fall asleep, so at 3AM I got up and took some NyQuil. I had to wake up at 5AM to drive to cross country practice – that was a scary drive to school. Dumb of me.

 

[Gil]

Put on some Jazz, and turn on C-Span, usually you'll be asleep in nothing flat.

Seriously, if you require pharmacuetical help to get to sleep:
Prescription: Ambien (don't take it for more than 10-14 days though)
Restoril is another fairly effective sleep aid.
Non-Prescription: 25-75 Mg of Benadryl will do it for most people.
However, start with 25 mg. If it has a "paradoxical" effect, it will make you hyper, and better to only have a little "0n-board". It's really popular in the Prison, for helping the inmates "chill" at nite.
Coricidin is another decongestant that will also put most folks to sleep.

Out of the realm of meds: A glass of wine, a hot toddy, or some such, (if you are of age) in conjunction with something to read, (preferably something "dry" and dull) but not in hard-back, cause if you fall asleep you don't want to get conked in the noggin with a heavy book.

 

[Solid Lifters]

My usual process was a few shots of a heavy whiskey, a couple aspirin, and a hearty bowl of chicken soup with extra garlic. Pile on the blankets and sweat like a pig throughout the night.

You'll be fine the next morning.

That usually works for me, too. But, no more booze.

I also step it up, a bit. I eat peanut butter and cheese sandwiches. Trust me, it sounds gross, but it's not. It's a great combo. Ever had peanut butter and cheese crackers? Dunk the vwiches in the hot chicken soup to melt both the cheese and PB. Awesome stuff! 👍

Then, take hot, hot showers for a long period of time, and breathe all that steam in through your nose. That clears you out. Also, breathe in all that steam from your chicken soup. Take vitamin E and C and drink fresh squeezed OJ.