Chest Infection, help please!

[Yuraye]

My sore throat has gotten worse overnight and during the afternoon today has turned into a chest infection.

Symptoms are:
-Runny nose/nasal congestion
-Dull achey feeling where my eyes are
-Dull achey feeling around where my jaw is
-Warmer than normal
-Chesty cough that hurts alot
-Heavy breathing

Only long term physical conditions that I have are asthma and anaemia (iron related).

Could anyone tell me how I can make this better? Apart from antibiotics, I'd like to avoid those if possible because it's easier for the repeat to happen. (I had a chest infection three months ago and took antibiotics).

I'm trying to drink as much water as I can and have my tissues. I do not have any paracetamol, and don't have any lemon to make honey and lemon tea. I'm also finding sleeping virtually impossible as I cannot for the life of me, sleep with my mouth open. I just can't, and therefore the nasal congestion is stopping me from getting comfortable and drifting off.

Probably the only way for me to sleep well would be to knock myself out with something. (Migraine tablets are usually effective, but I don't have a migraine).

Relatives are looking after my 11 week old DD at the moment but I really miss her, and want to get better as soon as possible.

[unhappychanger]

Ask your relatives for some paracetamol and plenty of warm drinks like hot squash.
Use your usual inhalers and keep an eye on your peak flows twice a day.
If you get hot, cold and shivery or start to cough up a lot of green stuff get antibiotics and seek attention for your asthma if you are more wheezy and breathless for steroids/antibiotics/nebulisers.

[Imnotaslimjim]

Hot blackcurrant is fab for easing a cough. Antibiotics are best avoided anyway as bronchitis is self-limiting - takes up to 10 days but it will pass. Steam is excellent, and sleep sat up if you can, it stops the nasal congestion getting so bad

But as UHC has said, any green mucus or extra wheeziness, get seen to immediately

[JanePumpkin]

avoid dairy as well...it helps produce mucus, so best avoided at a time like this.

Inhaling steam over a jug of boiling water is good, be careful though, and it can be very uncomfortable but loosens the catarrh

get some paracetamol asap, keep an eye on temperature. Good luck x

[Yuraye]

Taken two paracetamol and my iron tablet.

I have Nytol, never used it before so don't know if it's effective or not, and nighttime herbal tea?

My temp isn't too bad, just feeling a bit warm.

Mostly it's just feeling achey and congested.

Hot squash makes my throat really dry for some reason, so I'll be avoiding that, but I have two bottles of water so I'll drink those. (Tap water around here is horrible, gives me acid).

Mucus is clear, not green. So I think it'll be all right. Last time it was green though (three months ago) so I'll keep an eye on it. There isn't too much mucus when I cough, it's mainly in my nose.

[Yuraye]

Do you think a hot bath would help? I can usually get very relaxed from having one, but don't know if the temp would be a good idea.

[neverever]

I feel your pain op I have had this for nearly 2 weeks sat here wheezing and coughing (have asthma) have been on antibiotics for 10 days have good days and bad days it is shite am so fed up, the steam helped me today but just want to feel well again, may go and steam my head again.