About Dr. Ron Jones — Medical Background
Over the years, I have worked in many healthcare settings: Emergency Rooms, Telemetry Floors, Med-Surg Floors, ICU/STICU/NICU/PACU Units, Pediatric Floors, Bariatric Floors, Rehab Floors, Prison/Inmate Floors, Psychiatric Units, Orthopaedic Floors, Skilled Nursing Facilities (Long Term Critical Care), Nursing Homes, Urgent Care Centers, and Out Patient Centers.
Medical training & certifications: Radiography, Computed Tomography, Ultrasonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, PACS Super User/Admin, PICC Certified, Phlebotomy and EMT.
I have found certain medications that work better than all others for certain symptoms. I share them here as a fellow patient — not as medical advice. Everyone is different and I am not a doctor. Always consult your physician.
💨 Nasal Decongestant
Afrin No Drip Nasal Spray — Yes, it works very well!
→ Afrin No Drip Severe Congestion Nasal Spray — Amazon’s Choice, 1,500+ Reviews
For the days when I feel like my head will explode or I have a shopping cart full of tissue shoved up my nose, this stuff clears me out within ten minutes. No joke. Ten minutes and my sinuses are clear. I’ve heard it can become addicting but I haven’t had any issues. It’s all about using it in moderation.
Tip: If I am REALLY stuffy, I lay my head back and literally drip this stuff down each nostril. I may taste the nastiness running down the back of my throat but again — within ten minutes my sinuses are clear.
Tip: If I use this while sick, I make sure to clean/disinfect the bottle when illness subsides. I’m pretty sure I’ve brought back some ugliness by using an Afrin bottle that hadn’t been cleaned. Use it for stuffy nose only — keep it clean between illnesses.
Neti Pot alternative: Wifey had good results with the Neti Pot, but I felt like I was drowning. If you try it, use only distilled water — tap water can cause serious infection. I’ll stick with Afrin.
🤢 Sore Throat & Cough
Fisherman’s Friend Cough Drops — Yes, works very well!
→ Fisherman’s Friend Original Extra Strong Cough Drops, 38 Count 6-Pack — 4.8 Stars, 5,900+ Reviews
Anytime I even BEGIN to feel a scratchy/itchy/sore throat coming on, I start taking these. I usually have two bags on hand at any time and carry one in my shoulder bag all the time. My kids eat them like candy too — which tells me they taste decent enough. Key soothing ingredients include honey, elder, horehound, hyssop, peppermint, and thyme. I don’t leave home without them. Works every time I get a sore throat.
TheraFlu Hot Drinks — Yes, works very well!
→ Theraflu Combo Daytime & Nighttime Severe Cold Relief Powder, 12-Count — Amazon’s Choice
The hot-liquid format is what makes this stand out. I warm up a coffee mug full of water, add a packet, and hold the warm mug while it works. The Honey Lemon flavor is the winner. It doesn’t taste amazing, but it works — and on a cold day the warm mug is a bonus comfort. Compact enough to carry in a shoulder bag.
🤕 Headaches & Migraines
Ibuprofen — Yes, works very well!
→ TIME-Cap Labs Ibuprofen 200mg, 500 Tablets — Amazon’s Choice, 9,300+ Reviews, $9
At 270–280 lbs, I tend to take 1000mg when my headaches get bad. I’ve had to take it up to three times a day to fight off a bad headache. When I feel one coming on (even subtly) I take 800–1000mg of tablet ibuprofen. If it comes on fast or I wake up with a bad one, I take gel caps AND I BITE THE GEL CAP OPEN BEFORE SWALLOWING. Tastes terrible but it goes to work VERY fast. When you’re in the throes of a bad headache, speed matters.
Tip: Brand doesn’t matter. Ibuprofen is ibuprofen. I stock it in my bug-out bag, food storage, shoulder bag, and Jeep glovebox.
Tip: When ibuprofen stops working after a third dose, I mix in Tylenol and/or Excedrin. Something in that combination kicks in when straight ibuprofen doesn’t.
😴 Sleep Aid
Melatonin — Yes, works very well!
I have experimented extensively with melatonin as a natural sleep aid. See my full post on the melatonin experiment for all the details on dosage, timing, and results.
💉 Appetite Suppressant / Energy
Phentermine — Yes, works very well! (Prescription Only)
This is available by prescription only. I have had very conservative physicians tell me this is well-tolerated and has been used safely for years with little to no side effects. I use it to curb my appetite and increase mental alertness/energy during night shifts. Talk to your doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Disclaimer: This page reflects personal experience only and is not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any medication or supplement.
