feverish...used acetaminophen...

[raw-siobhan]

Well, I was sick last night...I had a horrible headache and fever and I sucked it up all night feeling totally cold. I turned the heater up to 75 degrees andclimbed in bed with one of my kids to try to warm up more. Around 4 a.m. this morning I finally caved in and took some acetaminophen (Tylenol). I just couldnt hack the fever. I also took some sudafed because my sinuses tend to get icky and lead to sinus infections...I did that as a prevantative measure. Anyways, my guess is that I shouldnt have done either of the medications, but how can I approach things in the future. I expect to hit some nasty detox symptoms soon as I have kicked up my momentum to %100 RAW and I dont want my sinuses to get infected and lead to ear infections and then lead to the need for antibiotics. HELP!

BTW, I did a bath to help soothe my body and cool it off...it didnt do a lot for me and I just wanted to cry. :(

[Rawkinlocs]

I think that because of the fear that has been instilled in us regarding fever, we are afraid of them when in fact, a fever is another one of the body's ways of doing what it needs to do to rid itself of unhealthy things. A fever raises the body temperature to help it fight off whatever it is trying to fight off.

Some think fevers cause brain damage, etc. but it's not the fever itself...more than likely it's whatever the body was trying to fight off in the first place that caused it AND/OR the constant suppression via medications.

Once we learn to understand, accept and appreciate that "the symptom is the cure"...whatever the body does is it's way of curing the ailment, the better off we'll be. The best and only thing we need to do is to rest, stop eating or eat lightly until things get better and drink water. Interference on our part with constant "feeding" symptoms by eating or suppressing them with medications only tends to make things worse.

[raw-siobhan]

I was hoping you would respond to my post. I knew you would have an educated answer for me. Youre right, it scares me to wait out a fever. I went all night and I honestly was scared that something bad was going to happen to me...I know that sounds strange, but like you said, I have been so programmed to accept what has been told to me about medications.

What is your opinion on the sudafed??? I absolutely never go any winter without getting all snotty and goopy (sorry) and plugged up in my sinuses and it has led to ear infections in the past when I didnt treat it with some sort of a decongestant. Can you tell me what to do in this sort of a circumstance??? PLEASE! I have done so well today with my efforts of keeping it all raw that I really dont want to medicate myself if there is another way around the sinus issue. Hey! BTW, I even passed up a CHOCOLATE DONUT this evening that was given to my by someone! I am making progress!!!

[Rawkinlocs]

Aren't you sweet! :)

Well, I'd say that since you are now committing to 100% raw, you can kiss those snotty, goopy winters goodbye! I also want to say, don't claim a rough and tough detox...think positive. You may or may not have a major detox episode...but you don't have to lay claim over it either. If it happens, you'll know what to do...rest, eat lightly or not at all, drink plenty of water and maybe even some freshly squeezed orange juice - and what not to do...no drugs if you can help it. I know it's uncomfortable and we want and/or need to be functional, but taking suppresive drugs will only mean possibly having to face it again at some point.

The cleaner you allow your body to get by eating cleaner along with (should detox/cleansing symptoms arise) allowing your body to do the house cleaning with no suppression, the less you will find yourself getting sick and that will be glorious! I've also found in the past that when I got sick, I'd do an enema or two and my symptoms would not last nearly as long as they normally would! Sometimes helping things along by helping the elimination process can also be beneficial...at least that was my experience.

[juliebove]

I generally don't try to get rid of a fever because it is the body's way of helping to clear things out. But if I'm really suffering I will do the ginger bath. I just got over a cold that lasted about 6 days. I did not get really sick, although I sure slept a lot, ate very little and went through a lot of Kleenex. Daughter just came down with it. I am hoping she knocks it sooner than I did. Don't want her to be sick for Christmas!

In the old days I used to almost always get an ear or sinus infection or sometimes even bronchitis whenever I got a cold. But now that I am no longer eating any dairy that does not seem to happen. Daughter does still get the occasional ear infection but not like she used to and she has a lot more food allergies than I do. I've discovered with her it's usually some sneaky thing that she ate that we thought was safe. Like a prepared food or something somebody made for her, thinking they took all of her allergies into account.

I do use my heating pad when I have a cold. This time I felt some tightness in my chest so mainly I kept it there. I have used it on my sinuses or ears as well if I am having pain there.

I am also seeing a chiropractor. That really seemed to help. He noticed the cold coming on right away, focusing on my right sinus and two days later, the congestion in my chest. Each time I left there I felt better. I saw him twice during the time I was sick.

[raw-siobhan]

I appreciate all ofyour input. I feel more empowered now that I have allowed a fever to run its course (well, almost the whole course). So, I feel like if/when it hits again I wont worry about something horrible happening to me. So, that is accomplished...I still worry about the sinus thing...scary...but I understand the need to not suppress the body's reaction to things. So with that I will be sure I continue to KEEP IT RAW (thats my new catch phrase) so that I will someday not have to deal with this whole winter-I'm-sick-and-I-feel-like-death-warmed-over crap. Thanks again guys. ;)

[RowanC]

Siobhan,

All of us are just doing the best we can.
If we fall off the wagon, we get up.
There is no reason to feel guilty.

Did you know the original word used in the Bible for "sin" is an archer's term which means "to miss the mark?"

Now if your child was practicing archery and "missed the mark" would you punish him? Would you punish yourself?

Heck no! You'd just say.. "try again and maybe this time you'll make it! Each time you get a little closer...."

Don't guilt yourself out. Don't beat yourself up. It's hard to NOT take meds when you feel so bad.

Bundle up and get over this, then try again.
It's ok.

I hope you feel better soon! ::::hugging Siobhan::::

Did I tell you my niece's name is Siobhan. Twenty years ago everyone thought it was a very unique name. Now I know two of you!
Rowan

[raw-siobhan]

Boy I'll tell ya, the whole not taking medications thing is a funky idea for me...its weird because I really dont take medications for many reasons - for fevers, sinus problems, and jaw aches because I had surgery as a child and now I have arthritis in my jaw. I usually wait for the Tylenol/Motrin until I absolutely cant stand the pain, but for fevers I have never waited any length of time before taking medications. Thankfully fevers dont happen all that much to me. Now that I have experienced a fever I can cross that thing off my list and know that I can do it.

Its so strange and wonderful that for some reason things are ALL falling into place for me right now with the RAW stuff. I have STRUGGLED big time with my motivation/desires with going raw for a good portion of this year. I would stop and start and stop and start. But over the last several weeks I have been searching inside myself, praying, finding the motivation that I need to go RAW and stay RAW, and in the last 2 or 3 days it has absolutely hit me that this lifestyle is not only what I WANT but also what I NEED and not only to be healthy - or at least healthier than I have ever been- but also it is something that I can claim as my own...I am a raw vegan. I am proud and truly satisfied with the life I am choosing for myself (and for the animals in this world) no matter what others might say about me. I have, for myself at least, found the gumption, the motivation, and the deep down desire to do what I have wanted to do for so long and it is so hard to put it into words how neat it is. Not too long ago I posted a thread that basically talked about how my life was out of control and that I felt like I was a slave to it rather than it being a gift to me to do with what I wish. Something has clicked and I simply dont feel that anymore. I feel so incredibly blessed to have gotten to this point!

That was a novel...sorry. But at least everyone knows how I feel now. I have you all as witnesses. :D

[trinity082482]

When I get a fever I usually put a cold damp cloth on my forehead and I lay down and wait it out. I usually flip over the cloth every 30 mins because it gets warm with my hot head pretty fast lol :D

[trinity082482]

I have you all as witnesses. :D


He he. I saw you! :D