Is there anything I can take for a cold?

[Sleepybeanbump]

At the risk of sounding like a massive wimp, I have a sore throat starting. I get one every year on average and they are pretty evil. I can't sleep for best part of a week unless dosed up to the eyeballs with night nurse or solpadeine etc.

Is there ANYTHING that's ok to take while pregnant that will take the edge off?! I've got through one before without medication (on holiday in county where couldn't get anything over counter) and do not wish to repeat the experience, but fear I will have to!

[Sleepybeanbump]

Pharmacist has just said strepsils ok, but packet says ask doctor.

Home made honey and lemon it is then

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

Everything says ask doctor. You can take paracetemol, strepsils....and for a severe sore throat there is a strepsils spray that is excellent (revolting taste but really deadens the whole area) that is fine to use.

[sizethree]

Hot ribena was my saviour with a sore throat. Also seemingly randomly, I found marshmallows incredibly smoothing! If you get more conjested, those menthol crystals you pop in a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head are great too. get well soon.

[24hourM0MMY]

Not being funny, but eating a pickled gherkin always seems to ease the soar throat a bit. Old wives take to sip some of the juice from the jar as well :)

And if course natural honey is a remedy.

[Sleepybeanbump]

Ugh. Wide awake. All I want is a nigh nurse.

Done all the hot toddy and honey nonsense. Gargling with cider vinegar works for about 4 seconds.

Paracetamol (never normally take it) has had no noticeable effect whatsoever. I'm such a lightweight when it comes to alcohol and caffeine, but like a horse with painkillers - only the really potent stuff works on me!

Am now trying the numbing strepsils extra on basis that Nhs website says no known ill effects in pregnancy.

Hmm. Reasonably promising.

[MissTwister]

I sympathise, have a horrible cold and am snotting everywhere......

[vvviola]

Hot orange was my go-to remedy when pregnant (squeeze one or two oranges into a mug, top with boiling water).

Possibly purely psychological, but it was soothing, easier to drink than hot lemon and when taken with a couple of paracetamol was lovely.

Added bonus: it's also my cure for pregnancy constipation.

[scarednoob]

I don't think marshmallow is that random - isn't marshmallow root a herbal remedy? I don't know anything about herbal stuff, but I do think a hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows floating in it would probably be quite nice for a sore throat as well as hot lemon and honey!

sympathy fistbumps, I'm miserable today with a blocked up nose and headache. I hate it. I hate it. I hate waking up to realise I've been breathing through my mouth and everything is dry and sore, so drinking like a fish, then waking up 10 minutes later needing the toilet... gah! I'm hoping like hell it is a cold, not hayfever, as a couple of days' misery is very different to a couple of months.

on the non medical side, hot showers and steamy bathrooms do help to unblock you a bit. menthol chewing gum (air waves) also helps more than I thought it would. but nothing is as good as the blissful instant relief of otrivine whimpers

[Fanby]

I can sympathise! About a month a go I had a horrible virus and ended up leaving the pharmacy in tears as they wouldn't give me anything unless I had a GP letter etc. Looking back now I'm mortified lol!
Anyhoo, finally got a doctors appointment and they gave me some antibiotics, just a low dose of amoxicillin which is fine when pregnant so you could try that!
Hope you feel better!

[Rosieliveson]

Gargling soluble paracetamol may help. What a rotten time to get poorly

[Sleepybeanbump]

Thanks for all the sympathy. I had barely any sleep and now have pounding headache and aches everywhere. It's making me feel sick as well. On my way home early from work.

Feel such a wimp, but really, this is the worst I've felt aside from flu.

Modern medicine rocks!!! I will never take it for granted again! All the miraculous things we can just buy for a few quid any time of the day or night!

I did try gargling with paracetamol, but it seemed to have negligible effect sadly. Paracetamol just doesn't really seem to work on me.

[Sleepybeanbump]

Oh my god I feel so awful! Aches in my lower back and groin like you get with cystitis, and need the loo all the time but no stinging.

Muscles all ache.

Eyes hurt. Head pounds. Cough starting. Can't breathe.

Is this what a cold is really like with it medicine!?!? Feels like about day 4 of flu except I'm not actually crying from joint pain.

[SaulGood]

I don't take medication when I have a cold so can't comment on the difference between a medicated or a non-medicated one.

I do know a virus when pregnant is miserable though. Your body's already busy growing a baby so fighting off germs completely wipes you out.

I think with constant weeing and pain, you probably should have your urine checked. I've had horrific UTIs with no stinging at the start.

[Sleepybeanbump]

Yeah Saul, think I'm going to haul my ass to the dr tomorrow.

[SaulGood]

Good decision. Stay hydrated, keep up with the paracetamol even if it doesn't feel like it helps and rest.

Get well soon.

[scarednoob]

Me too - just walked in and burst into tears! If this is actually hayfever and I'm in for months of it, I am about to be very very sorry for myself... Internet Sympathy here!!

[Sleepybeanbump]

Sympathy to the hayfever sufferers!