I am now entering week three of a minor throat tickle/headache/stuffiness scenario that is driving me absolutely batshit. I’ll wake up feeling good in the morning, but by evening I have a headache and my throat feels meh and I’m all sniffly. Is it possible to have an evenings-only cold? Because if not, I have no explanation. Perhaps I am allergic to…my winter coat? The HVAC system in my building? 4:12 p.m. sunsets? Mysterious.
When I was teaching, and when I was in grad school, I would be sick every year at Christmas, without fail. It was like my body held on as long as it could, but when it felt me relax into vacation- WHAMMO! Cold and flu, baby! Enjoy your Christmas presents with a side of nyquil!
I’d really like that not to happen this year. Perhaps since I don’t actually get any time off at the holidays, my body will not settle into vacation mode, and thus I will not get blindsided by some wretched pestilence? (Now if that’s not a valient effort to find a silver lining in a schedule that has me working both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, I don’t know what is.)
In the meantime, answer me this. Humidifier: fabulous tool for decongesting, or tremendous waste of money? Inquiring minds want to know.
Oh no. I hope it goes away!
We got a humidifier to keep me from getting nose bleeds, but it does help keep moisture in the air (germs thrive in non-humid environments) so I think it helps with not getting sick too 
You were congested and feeling uncomfortable last night? I never would’ve known!
Ironically, I just bought a humidifier over the weekend. I had been waking up every night with crazy coughing fits. Tickles in my throat that just wouldn’t go away. It got so bad that Sweets started wearing ear plugs. We’ve used the new humidifier for 3 nights now and … nothing … nothing as in I’m sleeping without interruption again. It has solved my coughing fits.
By the way, if you do get a humidifier, I’d highly recommend ones without filters … lowers the risk of them getting moldy!
My colds are always like that. I wake up in the morning and think, “Oh! I’m better!” and by the evening I’m a snotty mess. And yet the next morning when I wake up feeling fine, I STILL naively think I’m all better.
I hope you are all better soon!
The humidifier is so worth it. We have had ours on for almost a month. It has prevented us from waking up with dry throats and noes and prevents the dog and husband from snoring.
Dude, I’ve been dealing with the same thing. Nothing horrible, but just general stuffiness at night. It’s weird.
My old apartment didn’t seem as dry when I had radiators. Probably because of the steam. But now, with a furnace, I’m so dry. I’m totally getting a humidifier. Or buying stock in Vaseline.
I’ve been dealing with the same issue – was sick for almost 2 weeks. I recently did a bit of research on the humidifier thing, so I thought I’d share: pharmacist actually suggested a vaporizer rather than a humidifier becasue the vaporizer puts out steam (rather than cold mist) and you don’t have to worry about cleaning/filters etc. Of course the one I bought (Vick’s $15) isn’t strong enough for our large room, but that’s the idea).
ooh! ooh! i just read an article about holiday sickness! apparently our bodies fend off illness when we’re stressed / crazed (eg, the holidays AND working at the same time) in a sort of fight-or-flight survival necessity thing. and then in the vacation let-down, your body relaxes and actually becomes way more vulnerable to illness as a result. the article suggested keeping to a regular exercise routine once you start destressing and holiday-ing to help keep your immune system boosted and not too relaxed
I currently have an evenings-only cough. It’s perplexing.
Two thumbs up on the humidifier!
Humidifiers work. Plus they cut down on the shocks you get around the house, and your skin is less dry.
I have an evening-only cold too. Must be The New Thing.
And I couldn’t LIVE without our humidifier. That is the #1 thing our doctor tells us to do when Theo starts coughing and it helps like crazy AND cuts down on his meds.
We went balls-out and got a spendy one that doesn’t release mold and all the ich. But for sure, get one STAT!
I am totally confused. I understand the humidifier for coughing and maybe the tickle throat, but congestion? Congestion in your lungs? Ok, I see that. Congestion in your nose? Prolly not. Vaporizer might work for nose if it was really close to you. Would you put it in your office? Whatever is bothering you, it doesn’t sound like your house is the source since you wake up every morning feeling fine.
I’d get a neti pot. They’re gross but they work. And they cost way less than a humidifier.