My Personal Viral Survival Guide (Finally, a post for adults!)

kaitlinrstockton
2 days ago
2 min read

How an ER Doctor/Mom Survives a Viral Illness

Like most humans with bills, children, and responsibilities that do not respect my mucus production, I cannot simply spend the day(s) in bed when I get a cold or flu. So when the viral goblins strike, I rely on these adult-oriented remedies to get me through (sadly, I am not paid to endorse any of these things):

1. Water, water, water

Hydration is my personality now.

2. Non-drowsy antihistamines

Try cetirizine (Reactine), fexofenadine (Allegra), or loratadine (Claritin) for runny noses and sneezing. Because nothing says “I’m definitely a functioning adult” like dripping on your own paperwork.

5. The Nettipot

Yes, the tiny teapot that lets you perform your own nasal baptism. Glamorous? No. Effective for congestion? Definitely yes.

3. Honey for the cough

If you don’t want to cough through the night like a tuberculosis ghost, a spoonful of honey actually does help. Multiple studies agree. (Meanwhile, OTC cough suppressants… do not.)

4. Pain + fever relief

Aches, sore throat, fever, headache, existential dread: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Advil). Taken as directed, of course—this is the doctor AND mom talking.

5. Lozenges

I need a bag of mentholated cough drops (like Halls honey lemon) or lozenges with a topical anesthetic (like Cepacol honey lemon) to survive those annoyingly scratchy or sore throats. These don’t cure anything, but they numb the misery until your immune system's reinforcements arrive.

6. A Mask

This protects innocent bystanders from my personal viral cloud. Plus, it hides the “I’m barely alive” face.

7. Skip the Workout

If you're one of those hardcore people who can't miss a day of HIIT, be aware that intense exercise is a great way to inject those viral particles straight into the deepest recesses of your lungs...

8. Go to Bed Early

This one is a hard sell for busy caregivers, but of all the above remedies, it is by far the most powerful, especially on day 1 of your viral journey. Stop scrolling and start sleeping.

The Timeline of Doom (and Hope)

You should START to feel better 4–7 days after symptoms begin. Viral illnesses peak, then retreat—kind of like your toddler’s interest in new toys.

Stubborn cough after the virus? Totally normal. Post-viral coughs can linger for weeks to months. Annoying, but expected.

When You Should Actually See a Doctor

Trouble breathing
Fever lasting 5+ days
A cough that gets worse after the first week instead of better
Severe ear pain
Severe headache that doesn't go away with the above remedies
You're concerned about dehydration (you can't stop vomiting, you're not peeing, you're dizzy or fainting, etc).