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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Chest infection and vomiting at 28 weeks

29 replies

Madigan · 03/01/2009 00:56

I am 28 weeks pg, and have been suffering from colds and flu for the past 2 months. I have not had a day when I feel properly well. For over 24 hours now I have been feeling truly awful - I can safely ssay I have never felt so ill. My lungs hurt when I breathe so I can only take shallow breaths, my nose is constantly running, I am sneezing every minute, I cannot lie down because I feel like I am choking as a result of the mucus in my chest. I did not sleep last night, and it looks like I won't tonight either. I have just had two serious bouts of multiple vomiting - I cannot even hold down water. I am truly miserable.
Doctor put me on amoxycilin this morning, and I called her this evening. She has reassured me that it is not pnemonia, just a chest infection. She does not know about the vomiting.
Anyone else had this, and what should I do? I feel incredibly weak and am shivering one minute and really hot the next.

OP posts:

alittleteapot · 03/01/2009 01:05

You poor thing. Have you taken paracetamol for fever? tho i guess you couldn't keep it down. If I were you I'd call the on=call doc or nhs direct for advice. I've just had all your symptoms and the amox, but i didn't have the voiting. As you are pg I'd get prof advie even in mid of night. not that i think you need to worry just you deserve to get help and reassurance. get well soon x

Niecie · 03/01/2009 01:06

Sorry I don't really have any experience of this but I just wanted to send you much sympathy and hope you get better soon. You sound like you are having thoroughly miserable time.

If the original doc knows nothing about the vomiting I think I would be on to the out of hours docs for advice. You do sound like you are getting worse and I would be worried that the antibiotics might be the cause. Maybe you can't stomach them in your pregnant state.

Apart from that, try propping yourself up with loads of pillows and try and rest even if you can't sleep.

Hope you feel better soon.

alittleteapot · 03/01/2009 01:11

Yes, i'd call someone now if i were you Madigan. btw the antibiotics kicked in day 3 for me, but as Niecie says, perhaps they're not agreeing with you.

EightiesChick · 03/01/2009 10:35

Madigan, could it be norovirus if you are vomiting? I had this earlier in the year and couldn't take two steps away from a bowl for days, couldn't keep anything down. I actually went to A&E where they gave me an anti-nausea injection (wsn't pregnannt then though). I would definitely go to the out of hours doc or your local walk-in centre - it does sound as if there is something amiss the antibiotics aren't dealing with.

Original poster

Madigan · 03/01/2009 10:54

think it is the terrible coughing that causes the vomiting, rather than reaction to antibiotics. And the coughing is particularly bad when I try to lie down. TBH I simply do not have the energy to get out of bed and go to a&e (miles away). No drop in centre around here. I think I will stick it out for the weekend, and revisit doctor Monday. I feel absolutely awful today. Joints aching etc. Not interested in food, but know I have to eat, so just sent DH out for fruit and yoghurts. This is such a nightmare. Feel very depressed, as I have never felt so ill before.

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alittleteapot · 03/01/2009 11:08

please call the doc, they can come out to you, you don't have to go out anywhere.

daisyj · 03/01/2009 11:14

God, how absolutely hideous for you. The most important thing for you and the baby is that you stay hydrated. If you can manage tiny sips regularly that's probably the best way. Make sure you stress to the doctor that you can't keep liquid down. In the end they may admit you to hospital to rehydrate you, as it's unsafe for both of you to get dehydrated, and that can happen quite quickly when you are pg and ill.

Hope you feel better soon.

Niecie · 03/01/2009 12:34

I agree with alittleteapot - just call the out of hours docs. They can speak on the phone and come to you if you are really bad. You don't have to go anywhere but don't wait until Monday to speak to somebody.

Original poster

Madigan · 03/01/2009 14:41

i have called out of hours doctor amd they are going to come and visit me at some point this afternoon. Thank you for advice girls.
I have only vomited once so far today, but I still feel absolutely dreadful.

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Niecie · 03/01/2009 17:27

Glad the docs are coming out to you - you must be bad to get them out to you!!

I hope they do something for you and you feel better soon.

Original poster

Madigan · 03/01/2009 18:11

Thanks Niecie. Doctor just came. I have Flu ("influenza A"???). Have been prescribed ventalin to help with breathing, but he does not reckon the antibiotics will do any good, because it is a viral infection. He was sure it was flu, not a just a chest infection. Apparently will take 3 weeks to recover. Nightmare.

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jasperc163 · 03/01/2009 18:20

Madigan
Just wanted to add my sympathies as I am in the same position though no temp now or vomiting, but cant breath, cant stop coughing and cant lie down so not slept more than 2 hours a night.
In my case AB's arent helping so they think it is prob viral but i hope it will in yours and you feel better soon

jasperc163 · 03/01/2009 18:20

ps and 27 weeks pregnant

jasperc163 · 03/01/2009 19:10

Sorry Madigan - must have missed your last post - hope the ventalin helps and you manage to get some sleep tonight
all the best

Original poster

Madigan · 03/01/2009 19:21

Jasper sorry to hear you are in same position - totally horrible, isnt it. What about trying Ventalin? I have just had 2 puffs, will let you know if it helps. Are you feeling v fatigued, sore joints etc? If so, could be flu.

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alittleteapot · 03/01/2009 20:55

Poor you Madigan and Jasper. There's so much of this flu bug about. Hope you are being looked after! Get well soon.

Original poster

Madigan · 03/01/2009 21:09

Well, are a yoghurt and a banana during the day, and then tried toast and scrambled eggs for dinner - but just bought it all back up. Really worried for the baby if I cannot keep food down .... doctor has presribed an anti-nausea tablet which DH will get from chemist tomorrow. also worried about all this medication though.
This is so grim. Why oh why did I not get the flu jab as my consultant suggested? I just sort of forgot. what an idiot.
How are you feeling now Jasper.

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ZakuroFujiwara · 03/01/2009 23:25

Just to add my sympathies - am 13 weeks pregnant and have just been hospitalised for 3 days to have antibiotics by IV for a chest infection and urine infection (oral antibiotics didn't work). Although the cause sounds like it was different I can sympathise totally with all your symptoms; the coughing-induced vomiting meant that I was so dehydrated that I also had fluids by IV. Am so totally exhausted and I'm not even as pregnant as you!

One thing the consultant said to me though was, however hard it is and however crappy you feel, you really need to keep moving because we're so prone to clotting in pregnancy. So make sure you keep on the move as much as you can...

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Original poster

Madigan · 04/01/2009 08:12

Zakuro - that sounds utterly horrendous - poor poor you. I hope you have recovered now?

TBH I do not know how I can keep on the move though .... I have zero energy and can just about make it to the bathroom!

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Niecie · 04/01/2009 12:13

Hi Madigan, Glad the doctor came out to you - I hope they put your mind at rest even if they can't make you better. I know it is a nightmare that it may take 3 weeks to clear up but at least he is being realistic and you won't worry when you aren't fighting fit by the end of the week. And if you are, then that is great.

How are you doing today? Did you manage to get some sleep last night with the help of the inhaler?

Don't forget to keep drinking.

Original poster

Madigan · 04/01/2009 16:52

Hi Niecie, and thank you for your words of comfort.
Unfortunately I feel worse than ever today. Had mutiple vomiting sessions last night, and inhaler is not working really. Only got about 2 hrs sleep, but have slept during the day today. All joints aching, which is really uncomfortable. Also, very congested with a pouding headache. I just have never felt this ill before.
Thankfully my mother is here to look after me and DD (1 yo), which is wonderful. I am just paranoid that DD will catch the flu - thankfully my mother has had the jab, so hopefully she will be ok.

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Niecie · 04/01/2009 20:24

Goodness that sounds awful. I have had some horrendous colds in my time but I don't think, reading about all of you suffering as you are, that I have had flu even if I thought I might have done at the time. It is in a whole different league, isn't it.

Glad you managed to get some sleep today even if you didn't last night. And that your mum is there to help too.

For what it is worth, I read in the paper last week that the age group most likely to get flu are the 15-40 yr olds. My friend had it just before Christmas and her two DDs were absolutely fine. Fingers crossed your DD is not likely to get it either and will be OK too.

Original poster

Madigan · 05/01/2009 09:27

Niecie, thank you for your support. Unfortunately DD is at doctors as I type .... she was vomiting a lot last night and has a temperature etc. Also - she is fed up at not seeing me!!! She keeps crying "Mama" - but I am too frightened to let her into bedroom/give her cuddles, in case I give her the flu.
My mother told me that the test for flu (as opposed to a heavy cold) is that if you saw a £100 note in the middle of the floor, you would not have the energy or inclination to go and pick it up!! I can second that. I have absolutely no energy for anything .............(except lying in bed with my laptop, chatting on MN).
At least I did not vomit last night, and mamaged about 6 hours sleep. Feel no worse today, so that is a good sign.
I have never had flu before and really, I would not wish it on anyone, xxx

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Niecie · 05/01/2009 13:37

Oh no! Poor DD

Hopefully it is just a tummy bug and over in 24 hours. If not, well, at least you can give her a cuddle as you won't have to worry about being contagious if she has it too.

No I have never felt so bad I can't get out of bed, even for a £100. Seriously bad luck for you to get your first dose of flu when you are so pregnant.

Glad you had a better night though. I hope you are over the very worst of it now.

Original poster

Madigan · 06/01/2009 11:40

Hello Neicie, feeling better again today - still in bed and very tired/coughing etc, but at least no vomiting or aching joints any more. DD seems to have recovered very quickly from her fever etc so do not think it was flu in her case, thank goodness.

ADVICE TO ALL PREGNANT WOMEN - GET THE FLU JAB.

This flu is to be avoided at all costs .... a total nightmare.

xxxx

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