Help! How do I stop feeling so hideous?

[MargaretHale]

I'm 38 weeks and for the last few weeks my back has been killing me, at this point I can't stand up or walk for more than about 60 seconds before being in really quite a lot of pain. I have a 3 year old and I don't drive, so I have to take him 0.5 miles to preschool (and walk back, and then do it all again 3 hours later to pick him up later on). Every school run this week someone has pulled over in their car to ask me if I'm alright, so I must look a right state!

I am taking the maximum recommended dose of paracetamol, but is there anything else I can do? I've asked the midwife and she brushed me off, but I'm in so much pain, I'm so miserable - does anyone recommend, I don't know, osteopathy, reflexology, anything at all?

Also, I have had a really rough cold for the last ten days. It is stopping me from sleeping at night, I have pain down my jaws, in my ears, across my cheekbones (that's sinuses, right?), again my midwife couldn't advise me, but it is making me so extremely miserable. I've lost my sense of smell and taste completely, and I frequently go a bit deaf because of it, but it's the lack of sleeping that is getting me down the most, because of the pain across my sinuses.

Any ideas about anything, anything at all I can do to feel better? I'm trying to make sure I eat really healthily, but apart from that?

I'm actually dreading the baby coming at the moment, as it just feels like everythin will be even worse then, I'm getting quite depressed about it all.

Thank you in advance.

You will fee much better when the baby is here. Hold on to that thought.

Two weeks after an emergency c section I feel like I could climb Everest in comparison with beforehand.

Honestly - find a good osteopath! They can work wonders!!

I had really bad back ache around 24 weeks. The doctor said take paracetomol, keep active and if it doesn't go we'll refer you to a physio. I saw a physio privately she made the pain go away and gave me instructions on how to prevent it (more pelvic floors, frequent getting up etc). I'd recommend giving it a go.

My doc gave me the low dose of coedine phosphate for my back pain. One of those and the pain was gone. I've used them very sparingly though

I feel your pain and I'm only suffering with sleep deprivation let alone the other symptoms. Do u have anyone that can help out with nursury run?

You may have a sinus infection so go to your gp.

They may also be able to give you stronger painkillers as well. I had spd in pregnancy and had Co codomol prescribed as paracetamol did bugger all.

Ditto here not back pain but I've had sickness, dizxiness for 2 weeks now feel shit. Its so hard as you've got to keep going for the toddler but all you want to do is rest. I thought I would burst into tears this morn at the midwife app because I feel so shit but all we can do is keep going take each day at a time.
Try and get some stronger medication as someone said upthread codeine would be a good one Ive had acupunture in the past which has worked wonders.

For your sinuses, if you can't take medicines, you could try a salt-water nasal spray, there's one called Sterimar.

I am.preg Btw and just finishing a course of antibiotics for a sinus infection, plus steroids to help asthma. Tried to ignore it at first but ended up at the gp who was cross that I had left it.

There are medications they can give, obviously it's worth trying steaming and maybe saline nasal spray etc to try and help. Warm flannels on your face to ease the sinus pressure etc but really I would see your gp. You don't have to suffer just because you are preg.

No ideas sorry but I feel your pain, I'm 33 weeks preg and have a 14 month old so he doesn't even go to school or anything yet for me to have a break, dp works long hours and I'm struggling so much with my back pain, I can hardly walk or bend over but have to keep going for DS, I can't sleep at night because I can't get in any comfortable position with my back and I've got the worst heartburn in the world, I feel so miserable, exhausted and depressed.

YY - osteopath for your back, and GP for your sinuses. I left mine in early pregnancy with DD that my eardrum perforated. It hurt but the relief afterwards was amazing! Don't do that though; my hearing hasn't been the same since. Once that happened they gave me antibiotics, so there's definitely something you can do about it, go and have a moan. Good luck :)

I second the salt water nasal spray, I've used that for a mega bad cold/sinus infection and it cleared it right up. It's kinda icky but it really helps to clear up the sinuses. Even making a salt water rinse and letting it run into a your nasal passage can help - Google nasal or sinus irrigation.