Hey faithful readers (including some of you sentient bots out there), I’m in a bit of a situation that maybe you can help me with. Right now, I have a head cold which is driving me NUTS.
As a friend of mine recently pointed out, I think noses only exist to remind us how much we hate them when we’re sick. My nose won’t stop running and whenever I try to clear it, it hurts. It’s so annoying that when I try to sleep at night it feels like a 5 pound weight is sitting on my face, and when I move my head to the side to compensate I then have to deal with a clogged nostril.
I know, THIS is what you read my blog for. Disgusting health news. 
Some of you might wonder why I haven’t turned to medicine to help me sleep. Trust me, I’ve tried. Last night I took a Benadryl, and the night before I took Tylenol Cold Nighttime formula. Both of these are supposed to make you tired and help you sleep despite having a maddening nose. Instead, once I take these drugs the exact opposite happens.
Sure, they do what they claim and help clean out my nose to help me breathe but they also make me hyper! My heart was racing last night and while I was physically exhausted and unable to concentrate I was without a doubt very awake. As I tossed and turned in bed, I would do my best to achieve a “Zen” state and clear my mind so that sleep would come naturally. Clearly, this was a failure and around 1 AM I decided to read through New Avengers: Illuminati and Necessary Evil to pass the time.
I believe I fell asleep sometime after 3 AM, and considering that I woke up at 10 AM I want to find some way to nip this in the bud so I can sleep normally. So I’m turning to you guys!
What helps you sleep? Do you prescribe by the “glass of warm milk” or do have another method? Tell me anything, from great grand papa’s old fashioned elixir to scientific methods. How do you sleep when you absolutely have to?
January 12th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
I will be the first to reiterate the suggestion: Neti Pot. A great pre-bed ritual. Clears you out. Gets you breathing. Good stuff.
Also: a nip of whiskey!
– c.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:46 am
We have a neti pot–next time you’re in town and want to try it, give a knock!
I recommend a calming yoga regime and/or meditation. Before bed, we set up some non-lyrical music–usually something by some monks/buddhists–and lay in “resting cobbler’s pose” for a while, in the dark. You focus on your breathing (so you don’t want a head cold!) and relaxing your body.
I was a naysayer before Zach talked me into it; it does work to calm you and help you zone out.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:47 am
But if all else fails, go with the whiskey. You can put it in hot decaf tea, too.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:22 am
A neti pot sounds like some sort of cult thing. If I use it, will it make me wear a Snuggie and drink caramel moccianos?
I tried a nip of whiskey but unfortunately it didn’t work. I’ve also tried staying active and mobile during the day but that still makes me restless. However I will try the yoga thing to see if I can calm myself down before I sleep so we will see how that goes!