Chest pain with cold: will this work until I can get to the doctor please?

[RoseC]

I had what I would consider a mild case of the sniffles and I started taking anti-cold pills (recommended by pharmacist in Boots) because my chest is very tight and it's painful to breathe. I sit still in lectures all day so can't really distract myself from it. It's also painful to exert myself (running/climbing the stairs, dashing a few feet to a closing door). All cold symptoms have gone now (it's been a week).

Never had painful breathing before but I do have a family history of lung problems and have just spent time with DM who has a "deep-seated chest infection". DM has persuaded me to go to the nurse on Monday to get someone to listen to my chest. In the meantime my DP has suggested a Olbas Oil basin with boiling water.

Is this likely to help or make the pain worse (don't want to try in case of the latter)? Does anyone know anything that might help in the meantime please? Honey tea is not doing any good (and I hate honey so have stopped). Ditto lemsip. Have tried googling but got nothing except 'Call NHS Direct'.

Bump. Does anyone have any advice please?

RoseC - anyone who has chest pain post a cold should see a GP

If it hurts when you are breathing I really would see a GP; honestly. It might be a pulled muscle but realistically it's more likely it's a chest infection

Steam inhalation may help; it certainly won't make it worse; but please go & see someone tomorrow ideally

Thank you Katy :) I'll try the steam inhalation. I tend to think of Olbas Oil as quite aggressive so I wanted a second opinion.

The GP isn't open tomorrow but I'll book an appointment on Monday. Funnily enough I have a hospital appointment in the morning (allergy tests). I'm hoping it's an initial consultation rather than tests because I don't want them to say they can't test if I'm ill!

If you had the pain for more than a day or 2 I'd go to out of hours or a walk in

Steam can be fine on its own or with just a little oil - I'd use eucalyptus myself or vick

Sounds like pleurisy. I had this when I had pneumonia - really sharp pain on breathing and moving. Sound familiar? Google it, and see if it does. It is caused by an infected area of your lung sticking to your pleural sac, but to me it did feel like a torn muscle at first.

If so, you can take ibuprofen to ease it a bit til you can get to the doctors. Also, try lying on your side as this can help ease the pain.

It was bloody painful! Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks :) I just checked and the nearest walk-in centre is 8 (!) miles away so it will have to be Monday (don't think DP is up for driving me & I'm not insured). I'll give NHS Direct a call just in case there's an alternative.

Off to try the steam now!

All non-urgent problems are a four hour wait for a callback. Forgot it was Saturday night

Sorry TOWIE, just seen your post. It's not a sharp pain, more burning, but thanks for the suggestion :)

I managed to get a callback by going via the NHS website. She was lovely and has referred me to the OOH doctor as there aren't any walk-in centres here. She said it sounds like I have a lot of "something nasty" waiting to be coughed out and said more steam baths and hot drinks were key. Have also been referred because I had two minor allergic reactions today to silly things I shouldn't react to (I react like crazy when my body is stressed) and I couldn't tell whether my swollen throat was the reaction or the cold.

GWS

Thank you :) OOH 'doctor' was a call centre worker who asked me to go to the non-emergency hospital clinic. She said I have an upper respiratory infection and has given me the same antibiotics as my Mum. DP is a little so I feel a bit like a wuss but I'm glad I've done something about it.

He's promised me a ...

I am glad you got it sorted