I’m unwell and haven’t slept for nearly 48 hours …. Help!

[imsouseless]

I developed a cold on Wednesday, usual headache and achey, snotty nose and sore throat. By Thursday the sore throat was gone and I just felt a bit malaise.

Friday I developed shivers and a really tight feeling in my chest. Can’t explain it - I feel like there’s so much phlegm on my chest but I can’t get it up! When I cough, I am feeling phlegm “seeping” into the top of my throat but I can’t cough enough to get it out. The coughing is so bad that I struggling to breathe during a coughing fit.

Friday night l went to bed after work and woke up around 9pm. Couldn’t get back to sleep because was struggling to breathe. Saturday day was alright, just stayed at home and rested but cough got worse. I got an hour last night from around 12am to 1am and then was up with stabbing pains in my chest.

so far ive tried: steam inhalation, Vicks, night nurse, ibuprofen, cough medicine, strepsils, honey and whisky (a v small glass!), lots of water, but haven’t managed to eat a lot.

what else should I be doing? I’be never had a cough like this and it’s scary when everyone’s gone to sleep and I’m just awake. My whole body feels heavy and like my bones are snapped twigs!

Any help appreciated!

Poor you! Have you tried a sleeping tablet? I take Nytol if I haven’t slept well (not the herbal one). You might feel better if you get a good nights sleep. Hope you feel better soon.

You need medical attention.

Well it’s most likely the flu or Covid. Keep hydrated and take paracetamol and let your body rest. If your chest gets worse then contact the doc - you may have a chest infection.
Some of the new covid strains can make you feel dreadful. Hope you get better soon.

Please seek medical advice!

I agree that songs like you need seen. In the meanwhile do you have aSATs monitor to check your oxygen levels ? DH was ill last Christmas and was trying to soldier on. I was worried so checked his and they were under 90 so rang 111 who diagnosed pneumonia over the phone and gave him antibiotics. Its a really useful thing to have in your medical kit and costs less than a fiver.

But for now ring 111.

Hope you feel better soon

Can you 1tspn turmeric, an inch of grated ginger and some honey and put in a mug of very hot water and let it mix. They you want to steep it and drink it. It's very anti inflammatory.

Nytol - the blue one.
Amazing, fall asleep, stay asleep, go back to sleep if I wake for a wee and wake feeling refreshed and not groggy.
Game changer.

New covid strain is a hellish cough.
Keep hydrated, pain releif and rest.
I like guaifenesin - you can get it in cough bottle - for thinning mucus
If your struggling to breathe then get into gp.

Blue nytol is contradicted for anyone with asthma so I wouldn't be recommending it to someone struggling to breathe.

@imsouseless I agree that you need medical attention for this

Medical attention, definitely!

I wouldn't follow the advice to take a sleeping tablet. For someone who has a general issue getting to sleep fine but if you are struggling to breathe you shouldn't be sedating yourself. I agree using an oxygen monitor/getting checked over/phoning 111 would be more sensible.

I agree as you are experiencing a tightness in your chest and struggling to breathe, you need to seek medical advice. Definitely call your GP in the morning but if it becomes worse call 111.

Unfortunately it’s going about, I’m over 2 weeks in, my chest is looser but still coughing a bit, today was the first day I’ve not caught my breathe

Sounds like covid. I spent a week in hospital with Covid and pneumonia a few weeks ago. My symptoms were very much like yours. I had IV steroids, antibiotics and nebulisers. Please seek immediate medical help. If you are struggling to breathe don’t just ignore it.

Frankly, if you're struggling to breathe and have chest pains I would strongly advise you go to A&E. That is what 111 would advise based on your symptoms.

This. As soon as I saw the chest pains and struggling to breathe I thought a&e. You need to be seen by a doctor. Pneumonia isn't something to mess around with

If you're struggling to breathe absolutely do not take a sleeping tablet, it could slow your breathing And make things worse.
I think you should consider getting medical advice.

Are you lying down all the time? When I am ill I often find its better for me to be sat up. Especially if coughing up phlegm. Also I sleep better sat up when ill. Call 111 or go to hospital.

What did you decide op? Sounds like covid, this strain is insanely bad right now 🥺❤️

Call 111 is my advice, as youre having chest pains

Pneumonia 😭

Not surprised as I had the same diagnosis with similar symptoms and ended up in A&E . Hope you get good treatment. I left it too long and took nearly a month to recover.

It’s awful isn’t it. I’m 3 weeks on from my hospital stay now and only just starting to feel better. What treatment have they given you? Poor you.

I’m so glad you got seen OP. Pneumonia can take months to get to normal from so takes things easy.

I’m shocked by some of the advice on this thread - struggling to breath, stabbing pain in chest and rigors and some people were saying to take a sleeping pill and recommending home made remedies. It’s a good reminder that MN is not always a good place for medical advice.

@imsouseless I thought it sounded like pneumonia. Bad luck. Don't rush your recovery

I'm sorry to hear it's pneumonia, you're "proper ill". I hope you start to feel better soon