Survived swine flu and now have a sinus infection!

[Elizap]

So after all the worrying and debating about if I should have the swine flu vaccine I go and get the damm bug anyway!! I have to say that I was one of the lucky ones and really had it very mildly. The worst part was the cough and not being able to drug yourself up to eyeballs with lemsip and nurofen. Paracetemol really at the end of the day doesn't do very much! One piece of advice is that I didn't think I could have it as didn't have a fever but apparently in pregnant women this is very common. So, now the flu has kind of gone I have been left with a killer sinus infection that is giving me the worst headaches I have ever had. Pls does anyone have any tips on how to relieve the pain as again paracetemol does nothing and have been told that using Vicks vapour is a no no in pregnancy. I would just lie very still in a dark room but I have an extremely active 2 year old!! On top of this am only 8 weeks pregnant and suffering from awful morning sickness... should say all day sickness really!! Not been a great week but at least I dont have to worry about the vaccine anyone. Every cloud and all that!

[Pingpong]

I've had a bad cold for over a week now, my cough is subsiding but my sinuses are blocked and giving me killer headaches as well. I'm 25w pregnant.
Like you I thought the temperature was the sign for swine flu? How did you know you had it then?
I'm also interested to read about vicks vapour rub as I've been rubbing it on a lot recently!
I've been trying steam inhalations, bowl of water, filled with water straight from the kettle and big towel over head to get the steam up the nostrils, also saline nasal spray and I use forehead methol stick on my forehead. It's not great but at least you feel you are doing something. I also have a gel eye mask which I put on my forehead to cool it down.
Hope you improve soon.

[varmit]

Hi. I had really bad sinus congestion a couple of weeks ago, and the only thing that really helped was inhaling Vicks vapour rub in a bowl of steaming hot water. The pharmacist told me it was fine to use.
This website is quite useful for info on which drugs are safe www.safefetus.com although it doesn't seem to have info on Vicks Vapour Rub, just the inhalers, I think it's because it's an American site.
I also found going out in the cold air really helped!
You may want to see your GP, just incase it's a sinus infection, which may need antibiotics.
HTH.

[Elizap]

Thanks.

Varmit I did go see my doctor today who said that was pretty sure was sinus infection but didn't want me to take antibiotics and should clear up itself. As am only 8 weeks pregnant I would prefer to not take anything if I dont have to. Is that the only way to get rid of a sinus infection though? not sure how much longer I can tolerate this headache for!!

Smac I found out as my 2 year old DD had a very bad cough so I took her to her paediatrician to make sure hadn't gone to her chest. I just had what I thought was a regular cold but the doctor thought we could both have the flu. We live in Portugal and has just really started to affect a lot of people and she had seen a lot of people with similar cough and no fever who were positive as well. She suggested I get tested as not very nice for a 2 year old and it was confirmed positive! I am working on the assumption that my dd gave it to me but she only had a fever for 1 night and other than her cough was right as rain. Have since heard though that the strain making its way around Lisbon is very mild. Thanks for the tips. Tried steam inhalation last night and did help and also have a sea salt nasal spray that helps. Am worried about how much paracetemol I have had to take over the last week but if I dont take any for the rest of the pregnancy may balance out!

[alyonor]

A humidifier might help you breath and clean the sinuses too. I had a cold a month ago with a horrible dry cough that lasted for 3 weeks and only with the humidifier on at night could I sleep properly without shaking the bed and my whole body coughing my guts out... I also used steams inhalations and they helped quite a lot, especially with salt, it clears the mucus and is antiseptic. Good luck

[Pingpong]

oh and cutting out dairy is supposed to help too, just til your tubes are clear again not forever!

[woodhj]

I have just had the worst cough and cold for 2 weeks, never got checked for swine flu as never had fever and could still get our of bed and take daughter to school etc. But felt the worst i have ever felt.

My face on the left hand side a few days after the cold started to subside, started feeling swollen my jaw, eye sockets, teeth, cheeks etc hurt like tooth ache pressure. I left it for a day but at night it was unbearable, when i laid down it felt like my head would pop.

I did go to the doctors yesterday as i could not bear it any longer and i have a sinus infection. She gave me antibiotics and told me to put boiling water and olbas oil in a bowl, blanket over head the head and steam it out.

[woodhj]

Just read back my comment. My face never started to subside, my cold did. Would be a very different complaint if my face subsided. This cold is affecting my sentences.

[Elizap]

woodhj I hope you are starting to feel better. I have woken up today without a headache which is a joy! I am hoping to beat the infection without antibiotics if I can. they dont sell olbas oil here in Portugal which is a shame as the stuff is brilliant but someone else recomended eucalyptus oil in boiling water so going to go try and find that. right now feels like am never going to get better!!

[Pingpong]

well I had a miserable night with hardly any sleep and felt like my head was going to explode so I went to the GP today and he has prescribed amoxicillin so I really hope that will knock it on the head as I've been miserable for ages now. Again was told to keep up the steam inhalations. It does give some relief but not for long!
Elizap glad you are headache free today and woodhj I'm glad your face didn't subside that would have been serious

[Elizap]

Smac my sister took amoxicillin when she was pregnant and worked a charm so hope you get some better sleep tonight!

[whensmydayoff]

I had terrible sinus infection weeks ago. Tried the sea mist spray, homeoepathic remedies and loads of other guff that did nothing.
Then my clever mum handed me a little tub of menthyl crystals, popped a tiny amount in very hot water (not boiling) and bingo, what a relief. Get them in chemist and safe for PG. Trust me, the whole side of my face, roung my eye socket and across my head was fit to burst (also have 2 yr old) and this is such an instant relief.

[Pingpong]

amoxicillin slowly making a difference. Still have constant headache/faceache but it's a dull ache in the morning rather than the agony I was in before.
I also bought some 'breathe right' strips - I'd forgotten about them but have used them in the past. They open your nose a bit more and make breathing a bit easier. I just put one on at night.

[minimouse88]

I'm 7 weeks pregnant and went to see my gp today for midwife referral and to ask what i can take as I have a cough/cold and blocked ear/nose. My gp suggested steam inhalation and said that olbas oil is safe to use while pregnant, so i'm planning to try that this evening. I'm feeling sick all day too! Hope you feel better soon