Pam, last year I got one and I cured it with Aveeno's product. It killed that thing within one day - I was amazed. I even started a thread here for sharing products that work. Terri, I don't worry about bacteria - I worry about viruses. And I wouldn't exactly call it worry. It's prevention - flu epidemics have killed millions of people in the world. It's different than using anti-bacterials, which I don't. Using Lysol to kill viruses on a doorknob is not making that virus any stronger or more resistant.

Thanks PB. How does one's general condition affect the initial fever being high or low? Do you mean that someone in good condition would need a lower fever to do the job? And why would the fever start low, say around 99°, then spike to 103.5 after 2 days? Is that because the low fever didn't do the job so it kicked in higher? My understanding of the flu is that it has a sudden onset that includes a high fever. It usually doesn't begin with a cold. Oh well, he is much better now but the headache doesn't want to go away and he feels weak after sitting or lying around all week. Jen

I've used this treatment a couple different times for bad colds: Cold Socks Treatment: Randall Bradley, N.D. , a naturopath from Omaha Nebraska, frequently uses the cold socks treatment, a long-standing naturopathic therapy for stimulating the immune system. Dr. Bradley finds this treatment to be effective in relieving the symptoms of many upper respiratory conditions such as head and chest colds, earaches, the flu, sore throats and even allergies. With this procedure, he says, relief is often seen within thirty minutes. If it is not, one can repeat the treatment while the patient remains covered and in bed. After four hours or usually by morning, the wet socks should be totally dry, the feet warm and the symptoms gone or much improved. Dr.Bradley says it is effective with both children and adults. Step 1: Soak the foot part of a pair of 100% cotton socks in very cold water and wring them out thoroughly. Step 2: Put the child's feet into a basin or bathtub of hot water, as hot as tolerable without burning. Have the bath deep enough to cover the ankles. Have the child sit on a chair or the edge of the tub, and keep the rest of the body warm. Soak the feet for about 5 to 8 minutes until they are hot and pink. Step 3: Remove the feet from the hot water and pat then dry with a towel. Step 4: Immediately put on the cold wet cotton socks, and then a pair of dry wool socks over those. At this point the patient should be covered and kept warm. Step 5: Have the child go directly to bed, keeping the feet covered throughout the night. According to Dr. Bradley, this therapy will fail if the feet are uncovered, or if the patient walks around or sits in a chair uncovered. Dr. Bradley believes that this home remedy works hemodynamically (by moving the blood to a specific area of the body -- in this case the feet). He suggests that when the blood is drawn away from the head to warm the feet, pressure in the head is relieved. As a result, the symptoms of the illness may disappear, and children usually fall asleep immediately. People who try this remedy will not only feel better the next day, but the treatment may actually boost their immune system, moving them through the illness faster.

Cold weather concrete pouring requires several precautions, none of which your contractor appears to have done. Normally this would be a clear violation of the contract but I suspect it doesn't contain a concrete specification if you let the contractor write it. In the circumstances you describe it is doubtful that the concrete was able to hydrate enough to be structurally sound. I don't know the structural requirement of this concrete but if it is supporting a building I would require the contractor to cover the concrete and heat it for a week in the hope that the error could be corrected. Your local building inspector should be concerned about this unless he is a pal of the contractor. Relying on a contractor or building inspector for construction quality control is not wise IMHO but you have a lot of company in that regard.