Cold heading into chest infection, help please :(

[fuzzpig]

Aaaaargh :( excuse me while I wallow in self pity!

Have had numerous CIs in the past, it used to be on average 3x/yr, my whole family on mum's side is prone. But I've hardly had any since having DCs.

Got a horrible cold and for the first time in a year or so I know it's going to my chest and I'm panicking, I HATE it, it hurts a lot and I get really scared when I find it hard to breathe properly (the first time when I was young I was nebulised but not had that since) and of trying to cough up green stuff. I'm not that congested yet but it really hurts and I feel it's going to happen IYSWIM.

It's the first one I've had since starting work and I really can't afford more absence.

Do they give antibiotics for this sort of thing? And is there anything I can do to alleviate the pain... Have been drinking hot apple juice and gargling salt water.

TIA and apologies for self indulgent whingeing.

Oh, I sympathise, I had a chest infection over Christmas that started as a cold. I had a course of antibiotics, felt pants and was in bed by 8 ever night, but I did drag my carcass into work every day...

At fist the cough was just dry but so loud it hurt the top of my head! Then i started to cough up this vile tasting gunk, but the antibiotics helped loosen all the gunk and the cough became 'nicer'

I also had hot toddys every night to try and help sweat out some of the grot!

You prob will need antibiotics but it will help clear it. Eventaully!

Oh, this may be what I have.

thread here

I have the same head hurting as joyce

It hurts soooo much, doesn't it? I was sitting next to dh on a night coughing barking a gagging while holding the top of my head and then generally feeling very sorry for myself and havinga baby like cry about it all

I have been sleeping on the sofa - my choice, it's more comfy as I can be propped up and distract myself with DVDs. I am really annoyed that Asda didn't deliver crisps with our groceries - how the jeff did they not have walkers crisps FFS? They really help when I have a sore throat, it scratches the itch so to speak.

Might go to the walk in clinic tomorrow, just feel really weak and pathetic. If I can get through Monday at work though, I'll be fine as I don't work again until Thursday.

Oh fuck actually I have college on Wednesday :( easy lesson (compulsory functional skills because my sodding A levels are 1 year too old!) but it's still one day less to sleeeeep.

Grrr have spent half the night coughing up stuff and wheezing. Waaah :(

Still at least it's progressing quickly. And bizarrely it is good because now my throat doesn't hurt/itch as much! It's like I can actually feel where the germs are IYSWIM.

Drop in open 8-8 today but I realised there's no point going that early because Boots won't be open til 11! No way am I going in twice.

I know what you mean about head hurting when you cough.

DS is a bit wheezy too, he has had an inhaler/spacer thingy to use when he has a cold, since he turned 1. It's weird that it helps him but apparently doesn't help me - I once had a test with it and I was the only person the Dr had ever seen who had done worse after using the inhaler - I think I might ask today though because maybe it was a fluke result and anyway it was 14 years ago!

I had asthma as a child/teen and have wondered myself if an inhaler would help rather than AB. It's when I start coughing I just can't stop and can't catch my breath - it's scary at times. And yes the gagging here too.

Thing is I don't feel unwell as such. Bit of a scratchy throat intermittedly - and yes crisps and coke help!, odd moments of ear pain still but comes and goes and never lasts long.

I work M-F so have considered walk in but just don't think I'm 'ill' enough iyswim?

Ah, we have a hospital walk in but we also have a new NHS walk in clinic - for normal doctor type stuff rather than emergencies. It is a fab service as anyone can use it when they can't get an appt at their own GP. You still get grumpy arseholes complaining at the waiting time though! I'm going later as my dad is driving up thankfully.

I discovered a new tip - a hot water bottle on my chest! It really helped me sleep and I think the heat sort of loosened the phlegm as it is shifting quicker.

IKWYM about ear pain too - mine are really tickly and it's driving me nuts. I want to dig a cotton bud or 3 in there.

Yet when I have a bad throat and have been to the GP before, I've been told my ears are actually fine - it is just a symptom.

Oh well doctor was pointless as its a virus and ABs wouldn't help. Advice was to drink lots of water (naww, really? ) and she said I could try DS's inhaler/spacer if I want but she didn't think it'd help.

Have you tried doing steam inhalation? Boil the kettle, let it cool (so you're not burning off the first layer of skin on your face lol) pour in a washing up/mixing bowl, towel over head and inhale the vapour through mouth and nose. Do it two or three times a day if you've got time. Really good for thinning and loosening gunk in your lungs and sinuses.

Yep my mum used to make me do it! I always found it helped for a few minutes and then the congestion would return very quickly, and it made my face hurt same with Vicks/Karvol, it's too strong for me

I'm also getting pain in my right rib, under my breast, under the rib and down the side. It's sharp and passes.

Still don't feel 'ill' though.

Doesn't rib pain count as feeling ill then? :)

Just took my second dose of Beechams all in one. My god it is FOUL it looks like swamp water and tastes even worse! But it seems to work - next time I'll take it at the first sign of a cold. I used to do that (pre-PG/BFing) and it often stopped it in its tracks. Have to take Rennies with it though as it causes heartburn ouuuuch.

Working at 8.30 tomorrow so off to bed now. Hope you feel better (can I say that if you don't actually feel unwell? )