I am so ill with cold what can I do

[faintpinkline]

I'm 9 weeks.

I'm coughing all night, lots of phlegm, really sore throat, constantly blocked nose, earache, shivery, feel weak and drained after about 10-15 minute even just gentle walking, sneezing.

Generally I'm rubbish. DP has the same but is controlling symptoms with lempsip max, strepsils and cough medicine all of which have warnings about pregnancy on the packet

I don't know what I can take. I've used fishermans friends and tried gargling with salt water which helps my throat but makes me vomit. I've had lemon and honey. I'm taking some paracetomol. Is there anything else I can do I feel awful

not really hun :( just sleep and drink fluids and keep doing what you are doing. It will be over soon :)

to be fair though, i wouldnt even think about not taking strepsils etc. everything is not recommended in pregnancy as they cant actually do trials on preg people, so to be on the safe side everything excepct paracetamol carries a warning.

Take care and get well soon! Xx

Do a steam inhalation to try and ease the stuffiness in your nose; sleep as upright as you can manage without hurting yourself; use these acupressure points to help clear your sinuses; and you might want to phone the doctor, just to see if they have any other bright ideas.

thank you.

Will try the acupuncture later and steam later. Will also ask midwife about strepsils as hoping for a call from her later.

My mothers cousin is a retired anesthetist and now does volunteer work using acupuncpuncture with terminally ill patients as she says it does not knock them out they way conventional pain killers do and it means they can have pain relief but still be able to communicate with their loved ones in their last hours. Not quite sure how it all works but its all voluntary and ethical and she spent 2 years learning about it in China.

It's fascinating stuff - did you see that documentary on it, where they do open heart surgery on Chinese patients only using acupuncture for anaesthesia? Amazing. Far better recovery rates as well because no aftereffects from conventional anaesthetic. Your mum's cousin sounds lovely to do that.

Im in a similar boat - only 4 weeks pregnant but have the cold from hell!!
Been in bed the last 3 days and feel utterly rotten!
Havent taken anything, just drinking loads of orange juice, eating fruit, and trying to rest (bored out of my brain though!!)
So -not much advice (sorry) - but lots of sympathy!!

Go to docs just to get checked out. i have had a cold for 4 weeks now which of course turned into a chest infection and don't think I have ever felt so ill. 25 weeks, vomiting everytime I cough and also slight cough induced incontinence is not nice! I also self-medicated with paracetamol but just doesn't cut it as your immune system is so suppressed.

Perhaps taking pregnancy vitamin tablets as your body is needing all the vitamins it can get may help too.
Apparently our immunity is focused to keep the little ones safe (so my MW said) and all you can do to get yourself better is lots of rest, steam inhalations and gargles. Saline nasal drops are also recommended in pregnancy... also if you're not vegetarian, a freshly made chicken broth is meant to be an old wives tell but perhaps some very warm comfort foods you can fancy that are liquid based may help, as fluids help to move things along too.

Sorry my fascination in this maybe obvious as I had some bad colds last year and was determined to get through them without any cold remedies as apparently it helps your immunity in the long run. First cold took 4 weeks to go, the second took about 3 weeks but my last cold only lasted for 5 days from start to finish and so there might be something in it?

Hope you feel better soon.

I use the pregnacare plus tablets (the ones with the omega supplements as well). Because I was a bit more laid back about taking them this time (ie I kept forgetting) I've really noticed the difference they've made. They help my immune system no end and also make a huge difference to skin/hair/nails - if I do forget to take them I notice the difference within 3 days, I'm noticeably more tired and my hair looks crap. So that's my first recommendation!

I was impressed when pg with DS that I didn't pick up any colds while pregnant or bf - based on my experience this time, I'd say that was down to the supplements rather than hormones.

My other advice has already been given by others, I think - soluble panadol, steam inhalations. Lots of rest. And my MIL swears by chicken broth too!!

Sending lots of sympathy, btw - I hate colds :(

Hot water with lemon and honey plus a couple of paracetamol - not quite the same as lemsip max but soothing all the same. How about a nice bubble bath with something eucalyptus-y in it - think radox does one?? Get well soon!

OP I had a dreadful cold during my 2ww this month.

I got by on paracetamol, Halls sweets/normal boiled sweets, steam, a humidifier, broth-based chicken soup (this really does help, I read about a recent study that showed positive effects) and lots of fluid.

So sorry you're feeling so rubbish!

I got some menthol liquid inhalation stuff from the pharmacy in my local sainsburys when pregnant last year, not as good as olbas but it certainly gives steam inhalation a bit of a boost.

I was also recommended menthol crystals as being suitable for use during pregnancy if you can get hold of them but nowhere in my local town stocked them.

I've got it too an was only able to take one day off work. I've gotten by on:

Chicken soup
Fresh orange juice with lots of ice to cool throat
Hot diluting juice with crushed paracetamol in it (substitute for lemsip)
Sleep and rest
Halls Soother (the one like sweeties that have only menthol in them but no decongestants)
Steamy baths

Boots do an own brand lemon powder and own brand cough sweets that are safe in pregnancy.

Steam inhalation with vicks, karvol etc should be fine, if you are worried then even just plain steam will be better than nowt!)

Fresh ginger and lemon with honey is soothing.

Rest up and take it easy. It is miserable not being able to take decongestants etc (makes you realise how effective they are!) but if you accept that you may need a day in bed instead of powering through it drugged up to the eyeballs you will probably recover faster anyway (and not spread it to everyone you meet!)

I second the suggestion for lemon juice/slice and honey in hot water. Really soothing and the honey has an antiseptic effect.

Also, if you can, cut out the dairy, it can sometimes create more mucus and I've always found it aggravates a sore throat/sinus condition.

Olbas oil for inhalation is fine, but don't take anything like lepsip/stresils because you really don't want to thin mucus membranes.

The Boots own brand one is ok, but it is just paracetamol and vit C. Also Halls Soothers.

From a non-medicine POV: lots of hot honey and lemon, hot blackcurrent, warm baths and rest. It will pass soon!

I've been to the gp today as thought I'd got a chest infection!! She advised nothing I should take other than paracetomal, honey and lemon and hot drinks..... She also said it will take longer for it to clear!!! Cheers then :(

take care and make sure you rest, hopeulky we will all feel better soon :)

Make sure your iron levels are high enough! If you're a little anaemic it will take much longer to recover from things.

It sounds grim but you can get these salt water sprays in pharmacies which you spray/snort up your nose and totally clears your sinuses. They are v popular in France apparently.

I find using that, and then a Vick's inhaler, and lots of lemon tea with honey and plain glycerin lozenges to help your throat keeps me just about sane with pregnancy colds

Agree re dairy, but I always find I go off it when I get a cold anyway and start craving citrussy things.

I've just read back and saw that alot of people do hot water with lemon and honey, someone told me a long time ago about lemonade warmed in microwave, and then a spoon of honey stirred in taste really nice and quick and easy to make :)