Me or DH - I’m ill

[No1YouKnow]

DH has pissed me off tonight. I’ve been pretty much bed bound since Saturday with temp, chills, aching body, sore chest/throat, cough, snotty nose etc etc. Pretty sure it’s covid as it seems much worse than a cold! I’m also 11 weeks pregnant so a temperature isn’t ideal and I’ve been taking a lot of paracetamol.

1. he’s saying I’m taking too much paracetamol - I’m not - I’m not overdosing I’m taking at least 4 hours between if not a lot longer and not during the night really bar a couple of times.

2. he says I need to get fresh air - I said would you tell somebody who’s got the flu to get fresh air? I can barely move out of bed & haven’t left the house! Then he said well I mean you should try to sit outside. In November. With a temp and chills (like I’m not cold enough).

I understand he’s stressed with looking after me and the kids but am I wrong here for resting and taking the very limited drugs a pregnant woman can!!

It does sound from your first post that you could have inadvertently taken too much.

HOWEVER, I would recommend the ‘midnight to midnight’ tracking tip that was given to me by midwives when DC were tiny and we needed to track feeds, calpol etc.

It’s much easier to track the amount of something you have had between midnight and midnight than trying to work out a rolling total.

It was such a simple tip but has stayed with us over the years!

But you could easily go over 4 doses in 24 hrs if you’re only considering midnight to midnight.

You need to properly track your paracetamol intake OP - its incredibly easy and dangerous to take too much. I also agree with fresh air - if you feel well enough to Mumsnet and get annoyed, it doesn't sound like the flu to me so entirely reasonable. Im also unwell, going outside, having a bath does wonders.

A couple of extra doses isn’t always ok so I wouldn’t be so blasé about it. For your health and your unborn baby’s development I would be more careful

He's right. You absolutely do need to be aware of how much you are taking. When my son had this the other week. We wrapped him up and sat in the garden with a cup of tea. Fresh air certainly won't do you any harm. If you are that ill that you haven't been out of bed since Saturday - 4 days you maybe need a GP appointment.

I wish paracetamol packets would state 6 hourly instead of 4 hourly with a maximum dosage as its ignored. People underestimate how toxic paracetamol is. I’ve nursed multiple ‘accidental’ overdoses of paracetamol, often young men with toothache. It’s not pretty and it’s tricky to treat if it’s staggered. Having a walk about will help your chest. Staying in bed all day will increase your risk of clots whilst pregnant. Try to move about every hour and do get some fresh air. Your husband may have a valid point.

Hope you feel better soon.

I would make proper notes of how much paracetamol you’re taking. I don’t think it would hurt to leave the house. I’ve only been so unwell I’ve had to be bed bound once.

I dont think your husband is being unreasonable. It sounds like in general he's doing a lot to care for you and take over the responsibilities you usually carry (as he should).

The advice re the paracetamol is reasonable as it sounds like you're not tracking it properly.

The advice about fresh air was clearly well meant even if you don't think it would help. As a suggestion I dont think its unreasonable

I think you are feeling ill and venting a bit. Nothing your dh has said seems wrong to me (he’s right re the paracetamol and it was just a suggestion re fresh air), and as you’ve described it he’s looking after you and the children.

If he’ll get you a chair, sleeping bag and blankets, then sitting outside all wrapped up while you have a hot drink is good. It clears the airways somehow.

We were told to take babies out when they had croup. The paramedics came out, carried him into the garden before deciding whether to take us into hospital. He started breathing easier, so we got to stay home.

Inside air just isn’t as nice as outside air. I went on a tour of a beautiful old hospital in Barcelona. It was designed so each bed had a window above and a fire in the centre of the room caused the air to flow in, across the bed and out above the fire.

How is be being a 'total ass'?

Bit OTT.

A little fresh air probably would help OP. Sitting outside with a blanket and a cup of tea, or even opening the window etc.

Can he get you some Gatorade or a drink with electrolytes? That really helped me when I was suffering like you are, because you’ll be dehydrated. Hope you feel better soon 💐

My DH has been lackadaisical about paracetamol dosing in the past, paying attention to the minimum gap between doses but not the total number per 24 hours. He's never been pregnant to my knowledge but I've still felt fine to pull him up on it.

At labelled doses of 1-2 tablets with at least four hours between with a maximum of 8 tablets in any 24 hour period it is a very safe drug for most people. Unfortunately the toxicity can rapidly become a problem when cumulative doses go above this.

You say on the one hand you are careful to space the doses by four hours, but then that maybe you've had an extra dose on occasion, maybe not can't be sure. If you're not paying attention to this he's right to worry irrespective of pregnancy or RFK nonsense. Unlike that rubbish the science is very clear regarding dose related/cumulative paracetamol toxicity.

I'm kinda with your husband here. Be very careful not to overdose and Abit of fresh air does help. However you are pregnant so totally allowed to be cross with him for even breathing. Hope you feeling better soon

Last I had the flu I set a timer on my phone. Had my paracetamol and other things ( wasn't pregnant) and then crashed back asleep.

To me, his advice sounds valid.
You do sound like you MAY have been verging on overdosing unintentionally, he is right to show concern about this. Write it down for yourself so you can keep track. It's bloody difficult when you feel so ill to remember what's going on!
I'm a big believer in fresh air. I don't imagine he is suggesting a 5 mile hike infecting other people, but taking a few breaths in the garden might feel nice for you.
Fingers crossed you start to feel better soon 🤞

Yes this. It actually doesn't have to be midnight , I would usually use 8am.or. something like that in the morning as the reset time. That that way I knew I could have three doses ( min 4 hr apart) during the day and saved one for late at night or in the night, which was often not needed unless I (or the child I was dosing) was feeling really bad and not sleeping at all.

Once I got to 8am, the clock started again, even if I only took 3 doses in the 24 hours before. That way it is much harder to take more than is allowed

If you are taking three doses during the day you still have one in reserve if you need it in the night. If you are feeling to out of it with being ill to be sure you are tracking get him to put a strip with eight tablets into the room each morning to reduce the risk of taking to much. Could you talk to the early pregnancy unit to get advice on balancing the risks of high temp and too much paracetamol?
Fresh air is good but maybe just open the window till you have enough strength to walk round the garden.

Snap!! I've been in bed since Sunday, sweaty chills, headache, vomiting, do not really eaten anything as struggling to keep even water down but retired husband is running in and out with fresh water for me to sip, hot toddy's, and homemade antiemetics (ginger and honey) and emptying sick bowls.... Last thing he'd be suggesting is going out for fresh air. Your husband is being a dick!

Why is he being a dick? He is 'stepping up' according to the OP's posts.

I'm not in UK but France. This is the official info here : Adults can take two 500mg tablets, 4 times in 24 hours. You must wait at least 4 hours between doses. In pregnancy, it says : 1 to 2 tablets (500 - 1000mg paracetamol) every 4 to 6 hours depending on the severity of the pain and should not exceed 8 tablets/day.
I think his Mem brought him up all wrong if he thinks a chill wind will help a temperature. For the meds, he is just worried that you arent keeping track so you can tell him Thanks but shut TFU !

Hrft but if you think it's covid, please call your midwife for advice. Covid can be even more awful in pregnancy.