Absolutley AWFUL Couugh

[SianyBabe1]

Hello everyone, I am really feeling sorry for myself. I got this cold 3 weeks ago, and everything seemed to clear up, but now I have been left with this AWFUL cough. Sorry if this is tmi, but I was hoping someone could give me some advice. It seems to be worse on a night and first thing in a morning, where I just cannot stop coughing. I am coughing strings of thick mucus up (sometimes these strings can be long). I have to cough over the toilet as the only time there is any relief is after I have vomited from if 2 or 3 times. After being sick, I am OK for 2 to 3 hours, in fact, feel fine, except from being tired, then the tickle hits again and I'm rushing for the toilet or sink again. I'm 18 years old, a little underweight and 4 months pregnant, so just hoping the baby will be OK, although my nurse say she is fine. Already today, I have had 3 of these attacks and seemed to have vomited endless mucus. Have to eat little and often, and tend to keep lunch down, but that's all. Any advice would be SOOOO much appreciated as I can't stand being this sick. Add that to morning sickness, and it sucks ! I am also on my own, so no one to give me any sympathy :( Sian x

[PurplePotato]

You poor thing, sounds awful. To me, it sounds as though you ought to be tested for whooping cough. One of the characteristics of it is having attacks of coughing which can end in vomiting, then you might be fine for hours. Adults sometimes don't produce the well known "whoop" sound. Ask your GP and they can do a blood test. There's no treatment (antibiotics help but only if you take them in the first few weeks), but at least you'll have an idea of how long it will last. I'm not a doctor but had whooping cough myself a few years ago. Good luck!

[custardbear]

I was going to say whooping cough also - ring your GP surgery first thing in the morning and get urgent advice - tell them you're pregnant too - bloods take a few weeks but they can put you on antibiotics as it's bacterial
It may just be a cough but I had WC last year and it wasn't pleasant

[TragicallyUnbeyachted]

I third getting checked out for whopping cough (although IIRC the test takes ages to get results back and there is essentially nothing they can do to help except watch out for any complications). Antibiotics only help if you get them early on (and there's some debate over whether they actually help YOU even then, although they would make you less infectious) -- if you've been ill for three weeks already they wont help.

[SianyBabe1]

Thank you so much for your advice. I actually stayed over with my friend last night as I was so bad, I thought I was going to choke to death. She actually said the exact same thing, and phoned 111 for me, as she said I shouldn't be going out to the doctors as I could pass it on. I REALLY hope I don't give it to her now, but she said she had it 3 years ago, so should be OK.....fingers crossed. Anyway, I went through the whole cough, hack, vomit thing while they were on the phone, and they have arranged a home call today. They agreed there is not much that can be done, and I just have to sit (hack) it out, but could be WEEKS :( :( :( I am going to ask for a scan just for peace of mind as well (hope they can do that at home cos I don't want to go to clinic and pass this to the other mums if it is Whooping Cough). Anyway I'm staying with my friend for a few days now, as she says there is NO WAY I am doing this alone. She gave me a right telling off for posting that I have no one for sympathy too....Love her :) I'll keep you posted, and THANK YOU for taking the time to message - means a lot. Sian x

[TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead]

Oh no, DS (17) had this in September

Cough medicine that thins mucus helped a bit, lots of liquids, and vit C and zinc

[EleanorReally]

perhaps it is catarrh, cut down on dairy might help.

my family have same long lasting cough.

[GaaaaarlicBread]

I have the same thing right now , absolutely awful and so wheezy . Worse in the morning and night time . I really sympathise and hope you feel better soon 💕💕

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I don't think they can diagnose you over the phone. You need someone to listen to your chest.

[Marshy86]

I know it's harder to get certain medications during in pregnancy. Something I've always done including pre pregnancy is rubbing vicks on to my feet before going to bed. This has always helped when I've had chest infections, if you do try this remember to put some socks on over it - first time I tried I went sliding across the laminate floor!

[TragicallyUnbeyachted]

If you've had it for three weeks you are almost certainly not infectious any more, so try not to worry about that.

IME with whopping cough you feel absolutely terrible for around six weeks, and then you just have a really bad cough that causes other people to look at you as though you're about to die but you are really happy with because you feel so much better than you did before.

[SianyBabe1]

Thank you everyone. Love the comment about the vicks and socks (I'll give this a try (and yes, I would have not thought about the socks) :) Had a massive cough attack about an hour ago, but since then have managed some yummy toast and a little milk.......wish I'd not had the milk now if avoiding dairy helps, but hey ho, will stick with water. Doctor coming round to see me at 11.45 - yay !!!

[SianyBabe1]

Well, that was interesting......GP came round, took one look at me coughing and retching over the sink for 20 minutes and got me blue-lighted to A&E. I don't have whooping cough, I have Pneumonia. Oh well, I guess recovery is a little quicker, but this ruddy cough is terrible right now. Back home and my friend is staying over to ensure I don't choke to death as I am so sooooo tired and sometimes don't even know I am going through the whole cough/gag/retch/vomit saga IN my sleep ??? Anyone......how long does Pneumonia last ??

[Oldmum55]

At least you have been diagnosed. Have you been given anything for it, not sure there is any medication. Sounds awful, a couple of years ago I had similar but never went to the doctor which I realise I should have. Look after yourself and keep us updated.

[TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead]

Get well soon!

Pneumonia gets better in a week or two with the right anti biotics, but that is from memory. So ask your doctor!

Very important to take proper time to heal and recover

I had it years ago, and you could still see the scar tissue in my lungs on x rays years later. Does not affect me though

Get well soon

[shushymcshush]

Good call you and good call on the Dr.

Pneumonia is very nasty, but usually easy enough to treat. You will have to watch for complications though. Also do not underestimate the rest you need. Especially as pregnant, the demands on your body right now are enormous and you will be wiped out for weeks and weeks.

Hope you get well soon and for your friend too

[TragicallyUnbeyachted]

Antibiotics ought to start to help quickly if they don't then shout up to your doctors as you might need IV antibiotics for a couple of days (this probably won't happen, but just to be prepared). And take it easy you can't push yourself.