How do I know if it's just a cold or something more?

[sparkles27]

For background, I'm 29 weeks pregnant and usually fit and well. This week I've been ill, had a really chesty cough, generally feeling unwell and had some breathlessness, this I just put down to baby being in a certain position.

This morning though I've woken up with the worst chest pain. It's not constant but it's there, it feels really right.

I think I need to ring the doctors, I'm wondering if it's perhaps a chest infection.

Anybody else had this? It's not just a cold is it surely?

have you done a covid test?

I would absolutely try and see a GP with those symptoms. Especially being pregnant.

I get a lot of chest infections- almost monthly at times and it’s usually starts with pressure/tightness in chest. I’d definitely get checked out especially if pregnant. Good luck 💐

I've been wheezing a lot as well since yesterday so going to assume it is a chest infection. The tightness in the chest is awful, never had this before

Honestly, with chest pain, don't mess about. If you call 111, you'll be sent to a&e in an ambulance. That's exactly what you need to do.

Definitely get seen. I had pneumonia last year and was admitted. I keep a bag packed now as almost been admitted a couple of times this year as well.

@WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout What's the difference between a chest infection and pneumonia?

What time is your appointment
if later on I’d call 111 for advice. If that bad maybe you should just go to a&e? I’d probably do that tbh

@WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout Ringing the GP at 8 as soon as it opens. Im hoping they will see me quickly as feel awful

Pneumonia is type of chest infection, as is bronchitis. I get lots of bronchitis (I have chronic bronchitis also) but only had pneumonia once. I actually couldn’t breathe was awful. Not just tightness. I can now spot the difference.

Fgs. Can't get through to my doctors, the phone lines are that busy they turned them off.

I’ve often resorted to going down to my gp but then they are a 5 minute walk away. Village.

I do think you should try 111 or even a&e considering it's chest pain.

Managed to speak to somebody, no appointments until 11am this morning. Will see how I get on, if the chest pain gets worse I'll have to go straight to A&E even though I want to avoid it if I can 😞

Did you tell them your symptoms? Ask if you can have a call back sooner?

Good luck.

If it's so bad that you don't know if you can wait until 11am, I would go to A and E now.

https://usetherightservice.com/ae-or-999/when-to-go-to-ae/#:~:text=You%20should%20visit%20an%20A%26E,fits%20that%20are%20not%20stopping

I'm not pregnant but i have had a similar illness. the GP said that it was a pneumonia like virus and it was spreading fast. I've been ill for 3 weeks now and have turned a corner.

I haven't needed any meds as it's viral but have needed inhalers (not asthmatic) for the breathlessness

Get well OP. it's everywhere

and they recommended I had an oximeter. Do you have one?

Hope you get well soon OP. I had some frightening moments with it. Hopefully hospital can help!

GP receptionist didn't seem concerned at all even though I said I've had chest pain this morning

How are you feeling 💐

Pneumonia is a chest infection which has been seen on an x ray.

Mine wasn’t seen on my first or second xray. Only on my third. But the GPs examining me (I’d seen 3 or 4 by this point) knew I had pneumonia - they said it’s not always picked up on an xray 🤷🏻‍♀️

xH got diagnosed with pneumonia without an xray, had to do with how his chest sounded with stethoscope.

OP, did you update since yesterday appt? Hope you feel better now.