Is there anything I can take for ...

[Pootle78]

A sore throat that has lasted nearly 3 weeks that now has turned into a tickly yet hacking cough? I'm 32 weeks with a 16m old and I'm shattered (he's got croup) so neither of us are sleeping much!

Been alternating between halls soothes and paracetamol but any other ideas would be gratefully recieved!

Thanks

Hot water and honey with lemon. Honey is thought to soothe a cough.

Definitely hot water, honey, lemon and even a little ginger, dry or fresh. Dark chocolate and cocoa is supposed to ease coughs too but you probably can't consume enough due to the caffeine! Cocoa stirred into hot milk with honey might work as a placebo! I suffer a lot from these being a teacher and swear by regular honey consumption, (even manuka in emergencies!) hot drinks eg ribena and generally being very hydrated. I recently discovered ginger cordials too. Steaming your head with just plain hot water under a towel might help too. Unfortunately I was told the best thing for a dry cough by one doc was Ibuprofen and hot whiskey by another .... !

Ps get well soon !

Thanks for the ideas, I'm liking the chocolate one!

Fingers crossed something will help!

Go to doc as if chest infection you need antibiotics even if pregnant.

Another poster recommended manuka honey being especially good for healing sore throats...

Are you a doctor yellowflowers ? As indeed, it is a chest infection with prescribed double dose anti biotics :o(

That was supposed to be sad face :( !!!!

Ah I'm not pootle but am 12 wks pg and just had chest infection that wiped me out and also needed steroids for very bad chesty asthma and I phoned the asthma uk helpline as my docs kept telling me it was viral and that they couldn't give me anything and the helpline, which was brilliant, was very clear that it is more dangerous to the baby to have an infection or not get enough oxygen than it is to have the meds. Which gave me confidence to insist to my doc.

Hope you feel better soon.

Am a gp. Normally we try to avoid antibox as most things are viral but sore throat for 3 weeks you need to be examined. Your immune system is lower in pregnancy so you are more at risk of infections. There are plenty of antibiotics safe in pregnancy.if u do have a bacterial infection that won't clear on its own is safer for baby to take antibiotics than get sicker.
See your go-they won't mind checking you over. Hope u feel better soon.

Gp not go...on phone! Sorry.