LONG TIME, NO WRITE. For shame. 

ANYWAY, I want to talk about December. About a week after Thanksgiving, I came down with a cold! Us SIBO/Leaky Gut folks have weak immune systems, so despite of my ability to ward off most sickness for the past 2 years, I found myself with chest congestion, body aches, and fatigue. So here is what I did in order to completely avoid a trip to the doctor and a script for meds!

• Netty Pot – Create a mixture using warm water & sea salt and use your Netty Pot 3-4 times a day to ensure effective results. So many people freak out at this, but once you get the hang of using this, it is so worth it. It helps irrigate your congested sinuses to avoid an infection! An infection can lead to antibiotics, which is bad news for SIBO. Antibiotics can disrupt the flora in your gut, and can even be the cause of SIBO if antibiotics are used too frequently. I find that it is best utilized first thing in the AM, at lunch, and before bed!
• Salt Water Gargle – Do not under estimate the power of warm water & sea salt. This can help clear away toxins in your throat and break up any hardened, infection-causing mucus! I always did this after using my Netty Pot!
• WATER & SLEEP – Water will keep your body hydrated, which can help if you have a pesky headache. & never underestimate the importance of rest. I slept for 10 hours straight 3 nights in a row and kicked the fatigue by the 3rd day.
• Acetaminophen vs. Ibuprofen – Ibuprofen is notorious for irritating the lining of our stomach, and extended use can actually cause an ulcer/bleeding :(. I had issues during my kill cycle with stomach irritation. I had a pretty consistent spot of burning right where my esophagus meets my tummy.  Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a great option to Ibuprofen if your headache is too unbearable to deal with because it is gentler on our insides. Of course, only use if absolutely necessary!
• Tea & Honey! – You know me & my tea. Licorice Root does wonders for an irritated throat! Add some honey, and you have yourself some temporary relief.
• Delsym – This was a cough syrup that was definitely a risk taker for me, but proved to be okay without any adverse gut reaction. Although the brunt of my cold seemed to dissipate, my cough and chest congestion lingered for about 3-4 days afterward, and Delsym helped eliminate that completely. Fortunately, I only needed a dose in the AM for about 2 of those days. I did NOT overdo it with the cough syrup (lol).
• Avoid Dairy – dairy/cream products can actually create more mucus and congestion! I seemed okay with Almond/Coconut Milk, however.

Being proactive with these preventative maintenance tips could help reduce your cold symptoms and assist with fighting off your sickness. If you have the ability to kick a cold without having to rely on antibiotics or unnecessary over-the-counter products, do it. I hate when people think that NyQuil will help them fight a cold, and then wonder why they end up in a doctor’s office after a week of suffering. You might have to deal with a few days of discomfort, but at least at the end of it, you can be happy that you fought the cold naturally and avoid very little or no synthetic products!

Promise I will write sooner!

<3 Steph