allergies? throat moisturiser? um. other sources of sore throat?

[cimorene]

So, three days in a row I've woken up with a semi-mild sore throat of the kind that generally worsens before turning into a cold. Except it's not getting any worse. I don't have any experience with this!

In the past, I've had rare reactions to perfumed products when I accidentally inhaled them in great concentration, causing my throat to swell almost closed, resulting in two days or so of transient but unignorable face-clawing agony.

But this is much more mild than that. I don't have a lot of allergies. And I don't have any experience of this from the same time of year.

But the only other thing I can think of is perhaps that the dry air has irritated it, maybe if... I breathed with my mouth open too much or something? (In which case, probably all I can do is tie it shut...)

Before I invest in a gag, anyone else have any ideas besides a huge supply of throat lozenges and Finnrexin?

Comments

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

Mix: a couple large spoonfuls each of honey and lemon juice. Add enough water to be a good drink. Put in several slices of fresh ginger. Heat.

It's particularly good if you make it up a quart at a time, so the ginger has time to leach into the drink. I usually whap the ginger slices with a meat mallet first, to make them extra juicy.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Hm... I don't think I can get fresh ginger at the corner store, but if it feels better than honey and lemon without it, it would be worth it.

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

crystallized ginger would probably do if that's all you can find.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Noted. I've never used that before...

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

It's sugared, so you use less honey. Just sucking on a piece of it may help your throat, if you like that sort of thing.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

I should definitely look around for some of it - sounds convenient!

[guinevere33.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're having post-nasal drip while you're asleep and it's irritating your throat. This can be caused by a lot of things (including allergies), but the most common one that requires treatment is a sinus infection.

The best non-antibiotic way to get rid of one, FYI, is to take huge amounts of decongestants and chug water. If you start to see green snot, then congrats - it's a sinus infection.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

I know I sort of have very mild chronic post-nasal drip, and so does my dad, probably from untreated allergies I've always figured. I haven't seen a marked increase in nasal congestion recently, though, which was what made me think I wasn't getting a cold. I do have the non-OTC equivalent of Sudafed left from Wax's last cold, but I kind of hate that vaguely high feeling...

[guinevere33.livejournal.com]

I've gotten two sleeper sinus infections that are so far back I don't HAVE any symptoms but post-nasal drip - no pressure, no congestion, no nothing. But about 3 days after I start main lining sudafed, here comes the green snot brigade :( I agree about the annoying side effects; that stuff makes me cracked out, gives me dry mouth like whoa, and it's a stimulant so I can't take it near bed time. (Used to be banned at the Olympics as an upper!)

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Well it'd probably be worth it. And hey, at least I don't need sleep for anything except recreation at the moment. I could use the stimulant rush to translate more. While chugging water (or in this weather, warm herbal tea) to offset the drymouth.

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

The best non-antibiotic way to get rid of one, FYI, is to take huge amounts of decongestants and chug water.

I stay away from the decongestants myself, but hot-and-sour soup or hot sauce and garlic in regular chicken soup does a wonderful job.

[guinevere33.livejournal.com]

Apparently the little beasties like to live in snot, so anything that'll dry it up, make it run out of your head, or otherwise make it an unpleasant place to live ought to do the trick. I can see how hot sauce and garlic might help out w/ that. Will try next time!

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Too much hot-and-sour soup will upset my stomach sometimes, now that I have to make it myself and have no access to the Most Delicious Spicy Thai Soup Evar that I used to be addicted to in Texas. :( I'll try the Sudafed and hope I don't need to resort to chili powder all over my food. I'm more in the mood for bread rolls and honey and chicken pot pie in this type of weather, honestly.

[thesewordselope.livejournal.com]

When that happens to me it is usually because I'm either about to get a cold, I have allergy post-nasal drip, or I fell asleep with the fan on. That last one could be related to the dry air you're experiencing?

[cimness.livejournal.com]

No doubt. The air is naturally on the dry side here. Maybe I just need a humidifier.

[dreamnnightmare.livejournal.com]

Your mother snacks on crystallized ginger; you might like it.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

If I can buy some I will!