Would you ever get medical attention for a cold?

[TheStarburstConcept]

I’ve got a horrific cold. It’s been bad in the evenings/nights for three weeks or so now, but for the last two days, it’s been awful. The room is spinning, I’ve got a horrible cough, I’m wheezing when I breathe half the time, I’m struggling to finish conversations. Sleeping doesn’t seem to help because I keep waking myself up coughing or with a crazily runny nose, that’s mental at night but absolutely blocked during the day. Everything hurts.

There’s not much I can take for it as I’m 21 weeks pregnant, and rest is hard to come by with a two year old. I’m doing honey and lemon; hot showers, Vicks, Olbas oil inhalers. I think that’s all I can do, no decongestants or anything. But I genuinely feel so, so awful.

This doesn't sound like just a cold, so yes I would. You could have a chest or sinus infection

A cold, no.

But wheezing or other difficulties in breathing, YES!

Sounds like a nasty virus and you are getting not worse not better. I’d go and get your chest listened to/ oxygen saturation checked at the doctors. Have you done a Covid test? Just so you know what you are dealing with…

You can take paracetamol still. But yes I'd speak to the doctor, you are more vulnerable when pregnant and it's not just a basic cold.

Yes, as is could be a sinus or a chest infection. It might be viral (so Covid/flu/or a very bad cold) but worth getting checked.

I don't know that I've ever felt so miserable as I did the winter I was pregnant and had a two year old. I think she was trying to kill me with nursery germs, and my asthma was so much worse.

Anyway. Yes, if you're wheezing and struggling in conversation, then your asthma isn't controlled and you need to be seen. Never ever ever fuck around with asthma.

sounds more than a cold, my sister had a horrible virus during pregnancy it took so so long to go but she was very poorly. I’d get assessed by a dr for your breathing at least. I had kidney stones when pregnant and just suffered no bloody idea why, I was in agony, didn’t want a fuss but now I’m like why on earth did I not phone to be seen.
hope you feel better soon sounds v miserable

That is no longer just a cold OP. You need to see someone.

Definitely a trip to the doctors with the breathing difficulties. Also they might prescribe you a nasal spray, there are a couple you can take in pregnancy. The gp prescribed me one when I had a very bad cold with dd2.

That’s clearly no longer/not a cold, you need to get checked for chest infection and possible antibiotics.

I would if it was making me feel very unwell and for a prolonged period.

What you describe is not a common cold. Get yourself checked out ASAP! I think you have chest infection.

Because you’re pregnant I’d check it’s not a chest infection.

And you can take paracetamol there’s no point punishing yourself and making yourself feel sicker sticking it out with honey and lemon.

The recent cold that ran round our asthmatic family bunch required oral steroids for one and increased use of combination/steroid inhalers for the others.

We must have used a whole tree of tissues to mop up the mucous.

So yes, a cold can often require medical attention. You could try 111. (online is fastest)

Go to the doctor OP! It could well be a bad viral infection or cold or it could be something bacterial that needs antibiotics. Either way, the fact you are pregnant means you really must be more cautious than you would be normally, you have a baby to think of now as well.

A cold as such, no. The side-effects and complications from a cold, possibly. I had an absolutely foul, rotten stinker a few years ago, which gave me a sore throat, laryngitis, styes, and turned me into a snot-factory on legs. It was more disgusting than actually worrying till it attacked my ears. At one point, I was in the centre of York, near the theatre and I couldn't hear the traffic. On another occasion, I was in a cafe, listening to what sounded like Amy Winehouse singing 'Moondance' on the overhead system. It was actually Van Morrison. And the snap-crackle-pop in my ears took months to ease off - I've never had ear problems like it and was sure the cold had damaged my hearing, so I saw a GP who recommended olive oil, which worked eventually.

In your case, given your medical history, your pregnancy and the fact that this monster has gone for your breathing, you would not be wasting anyone's time if you sought medical advice. In fact, you might avoid a hospital admission and save a lot of people, especially yourself, a lot of trouble.

I think you know really what the answer is? There are two of you to consider and also it's lingering and not fading away. Phone NHS111 and see what there advice is or try a visit the chemist to see a pharmacist

I absolutely would if it had gone on for as long as yours has without improving.

In fact, it sounds more like you might have a chest infection than just a cold. I had a serious chest infection when I was 32 weeks pregnant with DD2 and was unable to inflate one of my lungs fully. It was awful and I did need a good course of strong antibiotics to deal with it. There was no choice as my breathing was getting so bad. Unborn DD was fine (kicking me in my aching ribs) but I definitely wasn't. It had started out like a cold, but a secondary infection set in.

You need to see a doctor as soon as you can.

Your symptoms are worse than a cold and you’re pregnant. Please do seek medical advice. You’re clearly suffering and you deserve to be checked out in case it needs antibiotics or even if you just need reassurance. People see the doctor for way less!

I’m wheezing when I breathe half the time, I’m struggling to finish conversations doesn't matter whether it is caused by a cold, or flu, or COVID, or pneumonia - here is the NHS page: www.nhs.uk/conditions/shortness-of-breath/

Well you sound like you need antibiotics and there are plenty you can take when pregnant.

This sounds like me when I had a sinus infection in the summer. That or a chest infection. I went to the GP and got antibiotics. Definitely get yourself checked out, there’s plenty you take while pregnant if they’ve been prescribed.

That ain't no cold!

You should seek medical.care as you r pregnant and need to safeguard baby as well as yourself. Take care 💐

i used to get bronchitis a lot - and once I'd had it, every cold would morph into a chest infection, so yes, i'd try and pre-empt that with GP & anti-biotics.

I remember going to an emergency drop in surgery between xmas and new year, receptionist was full of "no, of course you don;t need to see a doctor, or have antibiotics"

GP walked into the waiting room saw/heard me coughing & said to go straight through, she'd do a prescription right away.