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Original poster

Why's it worse at night?

26 replies

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 20:29

I had to go to out of hours doctor's appointment yesterday.

Both sinuses and ears are infected.

And my chest.

My chest doesn't bother me much at all.

Until night, when it's dead painful to breathe.

Why do things get worse at night?

I have a follow up appointment w/the GP tomorrow, because I had pretty bad pneumonia in the past and my left lung is scarred.

OP posts:

Scootergirl · 18/02/2007 20:33

Ouch. Por thing [sad}
When DD had an ear infection last the dr said it was worse at night because she stopped swallowing as much and this meant pressure built up in her eardrums so she should take sips of water to reduce the pain.
Doesn't do much for your chest though I imgaine - sorry.

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 20:35

I was surprised my chest was infected.

I had a cough, but I thought it was pretty much in my throat.

Doctor said my chest was kackling horribly when he listened to it.

My ears, however, were so painful I think they sort of overpowered everything else except my face.

OP posts:

wurlywurly · 18/02/2007 20:39

expat i'm the same have chronic tooth ache which i am waiting to have sorted out anyway during the day I can manage to keep the pain to a minimum without having to take painkillers. When it gets to the evening I end up taking every possible painkiller i can find just to keep the pain under control.

Flumpytina · 18/02/2007 20:42

There is a reduction in the natural steroids your body produces overnight, so lots of chest conditions get worse at night.

Also position (ie lying flat) effects how your chest functions (have you tried sleeping in a propped up position)?

DH also informs me that some viruses (like bronchiolitis)are 'just worse at night', sorry no more info from him as Top Gear is on!!

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 20:42

Oh, no, wurly!

I'm a veteran of two absesses myself. I feel your pain!

Hope you're seeing the dentist tomorrow.

I was prescribed co-codamol. I took one last night because the pain was so bad in my ears and chest.

Today was better, but I think I might need one before bed b/c of my chest.

OP posts:

Scootergirl · 18/02/2007 20:43

Take the painkillers - you both sound like you could do with them.
I've had an abcess too and it hurts almost more than childbirth IMO (and there's no cute baby at the end!!)

wurlywurly · 18/02/2007 20:45

expat have to go back on the 27th, but have a doctors appointment tuesday morning for something different and i may ask him for some stronger painkillers. Am taking co-codamol at the moment but they are not touching the pain.

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 20:46

Absesses are AWFUL!

Actually, one of the most painful things I had was a scratched cornea. OMG! That was sore.

I'm just glad I'm the one who's ill and not the girls.

I'd rather it were me any day over them.

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liquidclocks · 18/02/2007 20:46

expat - as I understand it, the natural steroids your body produces during the day help to keep your airways open and at night, when the levels drop, the airways become tighter and make any cough you have worse.

Also you are lying down and relaxed, your breath rate slows and mucus settles, blocks more alveoli because you're not breathing so much. This 'irritates' your lungs (and you) so you cough more.

Not much help, sorry - but hope you feel better soon and have time to put your feet up.

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 20:46

It is absessed, wurly?!

Why do you have to wait so long?!

It's an emergency!

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tribpot · 18/02/2007 20:47

My friend once had brochitis, and it was fine during the day, she started a hacking cough every night at about 5 p.m., it was a nightmare. Can you sleep sitting up?

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 20:48

I'm just pleased my ears and face are tolerable, liquid.

I sort of let it get out of hand b/c DD1 was ill and I couldn't be arsed going to the doctor, too, because I also have to work.

So I just kept taking Lemsip and Sudafed and the like, which I shouldn't because my bp was 140/98 and 140/97 yesterday so I have to see GP for that, too, but yesterday I just couldn't function anymore.

OP posts:

Flumpytina · 18/02/2007 20:50

Absolutely with expert pillow placement. Slumped sitting is the worst position for chest problems. The most comfortable position for coughing/breathlessness is high side lying, so that is propped up (at about 45 degrees) on your side.

Did your GP tell you which lung the infection was in....if you lie with the infected side uppermost it will help drain the secretions so you can cough them up more easily.

BettySpaghetti · 18/02/2007 20:53

expat - as well as all the physical/medical reasons I always think its partly psychological why you feel worse at night.

It feels as if you're the only person in the world who is awake and that everyone else is curled up asleep.

Theres no distraction to take your mind off the pain -no day to day activity, no children to run around after, no tidying/cooking/wiping away snot etc its just PAIN.

You have my sympathy

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 20:54

Thanks, flumpy, I'll try that.

It's that damn left lung. It's been dodgy since the pneumonia.

Feels like a vice around it just now.

I can't take anything w/pseudoephedrine now because of my bp, which tends to be on the high side anyway thanks to my dad's side of the family. Grrrr.

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Rumpel · 18/02/2007 20:55

Expat - in Traditional Chinese Medicine between 3am and 5am is 'Lung' time, this explains why lots of people die at this time (stop breathing). Lungs in TCM are to do with vitality and grieving as well, they are paired with your large intestine - are you having any poo problems? I think the thing is as well is that at night you should 'naturally' be sleeping so your body is wound down. Also night time is a very lonely time to be awake so feels worse.

Wurly - is your pain worse between 5pm - 7pm? This is bladder time in TCM, bladder has to do with the bones and therefore the teeth. There is a good point on your hand for toothache. Between the forefinger and the thumb in the wedge of flesh, at the very top, in the crook of where the bones meet. Hook your finger or thumb in and slightly under the dip of the bones and hold for a few minutes. Do this on both hands.

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 20:55

Believe me, Betty, I was so ill last night psychology didn't play into it. Besides, I could hear all those damned punters at the dodgy pub last night were wide awake - bastards!

The co-codamol helped take my mind off them .

OP posts:

Rumpel · 18/02/2007 21:01

Expat - if you have naturally high bp use a very good quality aromatherapy oil, eg Tisserand or Lothian Herbs. use Lavender, ylang-ylang and marjoram, a couple of drops of each in some full fat milk in a warm bath and steep for 20mins. They all lower bp. Or you could add a drop of each to your moisturiser - best thing to do is read up on them. You could also try a steam inhalation using eucalyptus oil - this loosens up mucus stuck to the lungs and helps to open up the airways. I'd recommend you visit a herbalist to get some advice on supporting your lungs long term. They can mix up a tincture for you for your bp and your chronic lung condition.

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 21:02

Thanks, Rumpel!

I'm still steaming about five times a day. That's helped my face a lot.

Wurly, if you are taking co-codamol, drink plenty of water and eat lots of dried fruits - opiate painkillers can constipate you.

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Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 21:07

I've been trying to stay off meds for my bp for a while, Rumpel. So far, I've managed it with exercise and diet.

But I know this may change as I age.

Sadly, another close relative has died of hypertensive-related disease.

My dad's younger sister, Virginia, died from heart failure on Friday.

She was not following up with her doctor about her bp levels and the meds she was supposed to be taking for hypertension. As a result, it's likely her blood pressure was too high for a while and contributed to the development of heart disease.

She suffered cardiac arrest last week and was removed from life support on Thursday.

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Flumpytina · 18/02/2007 21:10

expat this link shows some positions to help breathlessness...sorry the stick men are a bit shite but they give the general idea. HTH

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 21:36

Thanks, Flumpy!

I did notice it was better if I laid on my back, too, although I hate sleeping on my back!

DD2 is teething like mad now, too. She just woke up crying and her grobag was all wet with drool.

Grrr. She's got her MMR/second pneumoccocal jab on Tuesday, too. I'm sure it's all going to make for some interesting nights around here!

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Flumpytina · 18/02/2007 21:42

mediseds all round then for you and your house tonight!!!

Original poster

expatinscotland · 18/02/2007 22:04

I'm thinking we may have to Medised DD2. She had 10mL of Calpol at around 7.30.

If she wakes up again around midnight I'll Medised her.

Poor soul!

She's much droolier than DD1 was.

I'm going to Calpol her before her jabs.

OP posts:

Flumpytina · 18/02/2007 22:14

All praise, honour, glory and power to the great god that is Calpol.

How I wish I had bought shares in it before I had children.

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