June 3, 2008 6:47 AM
Feed a cold? Starve a cold? What?
While blogging makes for a lot of transparency, a blogger may be keeping up with a few things, but one thing you won't know unless she says so is that she's sick.
Which I am.
Along with Justin, I missed the strep/sore throat epidemic that went around our house a few weeks ago. Unfortunately that has now caught up with both of us. We went to the doctor yesterday and Justin has an ear infection and though my short strep test came back negative, I have antibiotics on the supposition that I do have strep.
The test may have come back negative because my throat was so sore Saturday night I started taking some leftover amoxicillin. I know, I know - but what was I going to do? I had to pull myself together because Sunday after church the whole family was driving to the Riverside Theater Fredericksburg to see Matt playing Danny Zuko in Grease (he's usually Roger, but understudies the lead).
Which was very nice and I love seeing my little guys go out to dinner. It doesn't happen often and they are always so in awe of having people bring food on plates to the table.
Fredericksburg is 90 minutes away from us, so it was great to spend time in the van together too. During the show there was a huge thunderstorm - you could hear it in the background of the play - and then as the cast was taking their bows, a blackout. What timing! It could have shut down the show any time.
Anyway, that is why I took the amoxicillin - for my family :)
The doctor didn't admonish me, but now I have my own prescription. Not feeling any better today. Wish I could curl up in bed. But most moms understand how impossible that almost always is.
This morning is an awards assembly at Harmony, where Maddy and Jonny are in ninth grade. I've been summoned because they are both receiving surprise awards. Will write more when I return.
Oh, so my question was, Is it feed a fever, starve a cold? Or starve a fever, feed a cold? I googled but the confusion of opinions and information out there began to make my head swim.
I need to research this when I'm well. Trouble is, when I'm well it's the last thing on my mind.
Here's one thing that was short enough for me to read in my addled state:
The Claim: Starve a Cold, Feed a FeverBy ANAHAD O’CONNOR
Published: February 13, 2007THE FACTS It’s one of the most well-known medical bromides around: starve a cold, feed a fever. Or is it feed a cold, starve a fever?
Either way, it may not matter. Scientists have found little evidence for either one.
How these claims came about is unclear. One popular but unproven theory is that fasting during a fever helps lower body temperature, while eating plenty of food helps raise it, thus helping to fight off a cold.
Perhaps the only study suggesting that either claim had any validity was published in the journal Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology in 2002 by a team of Dutch scientists. They found that eating a meal increases a type of immune response that fights off the viruses responsible for colds, while fasting seemed to stimulate an immune response that could help fight off the infections associated with most fevers.
But other scientists have said those findings have little merit because the study involved a small number of subjects and has not been replicated. Most doctors, and years of research on cold and flu sufferers, say there is only one tried-and-true treatment: plenty of rest and fluids. It helps to know that once a person has contracted a cold or the flu, it will run its course in 5 to 10 days.
THE BOTTOM LINE There is little scientific evidence behind the notion of starving a cold and feeding a fever, or vice versa.
But what do you moms think? Like the Vicks on the feet thing, you're the ones who know.
Posted in Health, My life | Permalink
Comments
I'm not sure which it is, but each time I get sick (it's about once or twice a year), if it doesn't go away in 24 hours, I go straight to the doctor because I get REALLY sick for weeks trying to feed or starve whatever takes over my body. Who has that kind of time? :) I beg for a Z-pack (zithromax) or some similar sort of five day meds and I'm back to pretty much normal in another 24 or so hours. I go in to the doctor and say "I CANNOT be sick" and they say "oh, are you a college student?" (I look 14 but I'm 31) and I say "NO. I'm a MOM."
I hope you feel better soon!!
Posted by: Laura | June 3, 2008 8:41 AM
Hi Barbara! Traditional wisdom says "FEED a COLD, STARVE a FEVER", and there may be some truth to it. When you eat it kicks up your metabolism, which raises your core temp. Not enough to make a difference usually, but during a fever it could cause more discomfort. (Not danger, just added misery, and who needs that?) In feeding a cold, (think the proverbial chicken soup) you are boosting your energy and packing in the nutrients that give your body that oomph needed to fight a virus.
Either one does not usually make the difference in the actual severity of the bug, more just comfort for the infirmed. That's really what you need the most when feeling like that after-all, though, right?!
I hope you feel better soon!
oh, P.S. - the VICKS on the feet is a myth. There is NO basis in actual studies or even in common sense. If it works for you, though, great!
Posted by: Kate | June 3, 2008 9:04 AM
I'm a believer in eating and drinking what appeals to the patient. It's time for comfort food or special treats.
I tried the Vicks thing on my husbands feet and it didn't work. But now that I've developed a cough, I'll try it tonight on mine.
Our resistance isn't perfect, but it has been a lot better since we took your advice and started drinking hot water with the juice of 1/2 of a lemon every morning.
Posted by: Judy | June 3, 2008 10:39 AM
Gee, Barbara, based on purely anecdotal evidence (my three boys and myself) I would say to starve a fever. In my house, people with fevers usually end up, well, puking. I know, I know, that's not exactly a highly scientific research method (!) but enough already!
Sorry about the strep throat... I feel your pain. My doc finally recognized that I could identify it (in myself) and after four bouts in a year, gave me a standing prescription for amox.
Posted by: Julie | June 3, 2008 11:59 AM
Judy -
The lemon juice!! I forgot to mention that for some dumb reason I discontinued my morning lemon juice regimen about a month ago.
And now sick for the first time in a l-o-n-g time. You can bet I'm back on it now!
Posted by: barbara | June 3, 2008 1:20 PM
Barbara- I cannot comment on what to feed or what to starve,LOL.......but I would like to comment on something else: Our family has found several things that help to keep " stuff" from spreading like wildfire in our house. One of them is a product called " berry well" available at www.beeyoutiful.com This is an amazing product. Another thing that is very useful is something called GOOT. Type it in the search engine at www.welltellme.com
If the stomach flu has hit a family member, go to the health food store and have the rest of the family drink Kefir for about 5 days or so. We usually drink Kefir and take acidophilus, and it keeps the rest of us healthy. Chewable acidophilus tastes great, and Kefir is yummy too.......Sure beats an outbreak of the tummy bug with the entire family.
Hope you feel better soon!
Posted by: Lisa | June 3, 2008 1:21 PM
Hi Barbara...
I'm of the "starve a cold" mentality myself. :) It works really well for me!
It's funny you mention this because I actually wrote a blog post about this very recently:
3 Simple Things to do When You're Sick
(((hugs))) and I hope you are back to normal very soon!
Posted by: Sarah Parker | June 3, 2008 4:42 PM
