I have a cold. Or worse than a cold. It’s one of those evil afflictions that bangs your head sideways and removes it from the head hinges. I’ve been like that for a week now, and I suspect that by now I have a vicious case of flu.
No, I didn’t see a doctor, because all he/she will do is tell me to go home, drink plenty of fluids and rest. And that I can do all by myself, and at least that way I won’t be exposed to those even more horrific cases sitting in the waiting room at the clinic.
Last week Grażyna suggested me to try some traditional Polish cold remedies, but since I don’t know any, and the ones she told me about sounded particularly vile, I did nothing. Maybe that’s why now my cold is a full-blown flu? But c’mon now, would you really drink milk with garlic? Or warm dark beer? They’re supposed to make you feel better. No kidding! After you puke all that milk and garlic out, you will certainly feel better, I guarantee it. And of course you’ll feel better after downing a couple of pints of dark beer, duh! For better results why not just drink żubrówka instead?
I really don’t remember what my mother used to give me when I had a cold as a child. Vitamin C and some fizzy orange flavored drink. I refused to drink milk, so that was out. I refused to eat onions and garlic so that was out. And I didn’t really like hot tea with honey, either. My mom’s chicken soup was OK, but it wasn’t the kind of stuff that would make you feel better. Possibly the opposite.
So, what did I do? Stay home, sit in bed, watch TV, read books and generally get on everybody’s nerves. In other words, not much has changed. I still do exactly the same when I’m down with flu.
And if you ever find yourself sick in Poland, here are some useful words:
I will record the audio when I get my voice back. Now, if you excuse me, I am crawling back under the blankets. No milk with garlic for me, thanks. I’ll stick to orange juice, zinc and multivitamins.
Comments:
Lori:
My cold cure that no one has ever turned down. Go home, go to bed and do there whatever you enjoy, and drink plenty of fluids, whatever you enjoy. Sure beats hacking around at work! Hope you feel better soon.
Thomas Westcott:
Anna,
Get well soon.
Lukas:
Thanks for the post. Hope you get well soon. By the way, how do you say “Get well soon” in Polish ?
Grazyna:
Yeah, colds, flus…. and other bugs – hate them all as much as I hate most of our traditional Polish mixtures that, frankly, often do boost your immune system. When I was treating you with the exciting vision of your mouth hosting the fab mix of milk, honey and garlic, I forgot to mention the onion syrup (to make it you’d need to chop one onion into a glass and add a tb full of sugar and leave for some time for the onion to produce a juice) which help coughs and is rich in vitamin C! I can imagine your face as you’re reading this, since you’re a self-confessed enemy of the poor veggie! hahaha (don’t get sick on your laptop, pls!)
ZDROWIEJ SZYBKO!!! 🙂
Kathy G:
Anna, I hope you feel better soon! There is nothing worse than being sick.
Esa:
First, I hope you get better soon!
Second, I just started studying polish and although finnish (my mother tong) isn’t too easy either, I find polish quite a challenge at first.
This blog and what you are doing is invaluable! There is very little truly good material on the language. And the way you write about the subject is of course incomparably nice (and “easy”) to read.
Hope you keep writing!
Pau Brazill:
Yes, but you’re lucky. you’re a woman. now a MAN cold. that IS a cold, let me tell you! 🙂
Fran Turner:
Ah, misery! A cold by any other name is just misery (to paraphrase Shakespeare). A human condition that definitely transcends language. I’m praying that you are feeling better real soon.
Grazyna:
Paul – you’re SOOOO right! Inasmuch as I hate having a cold, it is much worse when my husband is poorly…. MEN, stronger gender, huh? 😉
Anna:
Hi guys! Or “Szanowne Panie i Panowie” 😉
Thank you so much for your wishes. I am almost back to normal. Well, my nose seems permanently blocked and I forgot that my throat could NOT hurt. But other than that, I am slowly recovering. I’m planning to fling a new post on here tomorrow.
Pawel:
Hi, Anna
Mam nadzieje ze juz lepiej sie czujes. I hope you are feeling better now. I have to disagree with one sentence from your post:
“No, I didn’t see a doctor, because all he/she will do is tell me to go home, drink plenty of fluids and rest.” That’s what doctors in Sweden do. In Poland you will get prescription for antibiotics or medicines you can buy yourself in any drug store. Unfortunately in Poland you have to go to doctor for seek leave which is requeried by employer.
If it comes to traditional ways of dealing with cold I think that garlic, onion soup and chicken soup are the best! You do not have to drink milk with garlic instead you eat cold meat sandwich with garlic.
Zycze szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia
Best regards
Pawel
Anna:
Hi Pawel!
Thanks and welcome to the blog!
Antibiotics for flu? They won’t do anything! Flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Hence going to see a doctor is a waste of time, money, and antibiotics. 😉
mike barnes:
take a look at http://www.vitamind3world.com there is some great info on vitamin D there and its functions
Shahab:
I have very badly dry cough only ,I take medicine but not working,4th day running only night time dry cough only