Cold - or help I'm dying

[emejay]

I woke up way sicker this morning than yesterday. I keep sneezing which hurt my throat, I'm completely stuffed and my head hurts so bad. I can't sleep because I can't breath or my nose is running.

I called in sick again at work, but now I just want to feel better I've been Googling a storm and during first tri it's really not recommended to take any medicine.

Any old wive's tale tips and tricks? I'm already using Hydra Sense but it doesn't really help.

/whining

[allycat]

There's no reason to be so miserable. Call your OB and see if they can recommend something to help.

If not? Umm...I don't know. Cry?

[allycat]

Ooh, and tea. Tea w/honey and lemon? Can't make a real hot toddy with whiskey, but maybe the rest of the ingredients will help?

[cruisegirl28]

They told me I can take Claritan. I figure it's better than nothing. I'm getting sick for the second time this pregnancy. It's awful.

[cabgirl]

I went to the doctor for similar symptoms last week, and he basically told me that there is nothing I can take during first trimester that is absolutely safe. (It was my regular physician, ftr, and not my OB - he did say that I could call my OB, and she might tell me differently. But I chose to take his word for it.)

Do you have a neti pot? I used that a few times a day while I was sick, and it helped quite a bit, actually. And is safe while pregnant. We also bought a humidifier and had it on in the bedroom at night, and that helped too. Other than that, lots and lots of fluids, and as much rest as you can get. Feel better!!

ETA: Tylenol. Tylenol is safe, and might help your headache. And definitely take some if you start developing a fever.

[emejay]

Jan 22, 2015 7:31:18 GMT -5 cruisegirl28 said:

They told me I can take Claritan. I figure it's better than nothing. I'm getting sick for the second time this pregnancy. It's awful.

Aren't Claritain for allergy? I'll look into it. I'll send SO to the pharmarcy later to talk today to talk with someone.

[MrsEmuTavi]

Suck on a marshmallow. Heard it helps. H tried it when he was sick and said it works. Feel better!

[kcrkcs]

On the list of safe drugs my Dr. gave me, Tylenol and Benadryl are on there (but call your doctor and check). Tea with honey and lemon are my go to when I am sick too. Try to stay hydrated. The Benadryl would possibly help you sleep too.

[emejay]

cabgirl - Yeah, that's what I figured. Thanks ... I'm trying really hard to rest but I just can't sleep.

[emejay]

Jan 22, 2015 7:34:51 GMT -5 MrsEmuTavi said:

Suck on a marshmallow. Heard it helps. H tried it when he was sick and said it works. Feel better!

Like big fat fluffy white marshmallow? That's a weird one. I'll see if I have one somewhere in my pantry.

[cabgirl]

Jan 22, 2015 7:35:47 GMT -5 emejay said:

cabgirl - Yeah, that's what I figured. Thanks ... I'm trying really hard to rest but I just can't sleep.

Ugh, I'm so sorry. I was in the same boat last week. The only thing that helped me sleep was using the neti pot right before bed. Taking a hot shower first might help loosen things up, and then you can flush it all out with the neti pot. I was able to sleep after that, because I could finally breathe. If you don't have one, they're cheap at the drug store and pretty easy to use. (I'd never owned or used one before, because it just seemed gross to me and if I'm sick, I much prefer to just take medicine. But it wasn't a bad alternative.) I hope you're able to get some sleep today! It sucks to be pregnant and exhausted and unable to sleep. I feel for you.

[BookishMomma]

FWIW, my RE's office said it was OK to take Benadryl (for nighttime, since it will probably make you too drowsy during the day) and regular Robutussin--not the DM kind.

[swbrigadoon]

I second the neti pot and some hot water with lemon and honey for your sore throat. The neti pot is a little weird at first and I was skeptical but it really does work. My doctor says not only does it relieve symptoms but it can help shorten the duration of your cold too. Hope you're feeling better soon!

[riderchik]

Humidifier and cold 911 from DavidsTea

[mandy522]

Benadryl and Claritin are both antihistines - I don't know how much they are going to help with a cold. You need a decongestant (the D in most of those over the counter drugs) which is usually sudafed or something similar and I'm pretty sure those are not recommended. I would stick with a neti pot or saline spray and a lot of hot tea with honey until you can talk to your doctor.

Forgot to add - I hope you feel better soon!

[emejay]

Jan 22, 2015 8:01:19 GMT -5 Fearsy said:

Aw! Hope you feel better!

If you don't want to use the Neti pot, I recommend a saline nasal rinse. There's a bottle one similar to Neti but I can't remember the name.

I've been using Hydrasense for the last couple of days.

I'm on Google right now, trying to find the french term for Neti pot for when I'll send SO to the pharmacy later on.

Thanks everyone for your recommandations!

[indseylay]

Tylenol cold is good. It's all I've taken for the last four years. It's ok while pregnant and breastfeeding.

[emejay]

Jan 22, 2015 8:09:40 GMT -5 Fearsy said:

Jan 22, 2015 8:05:33 GMT -5 emejay said:

I've been using Hydrasense for the last couple of days.

I'm on Google right now, trying to find the french term for Neti pot for when I'll send SO to the pharmacy later on.

Thanks everyone for your recommandations!

I found it! It's called NeilMed Sinus Rinse. Make sure he gets distilled water to use in it too! We had some crazy stories over here of people getting bacteria from the water pushed through their sinuses and causing all sorts of brain issues. It was crazy!

wuttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!

[London]

The marshmallow trick is legit. Crazy but true. Very helpful with a sore throat.

I also find sitting in a steamy bathroom helps with congestion. I let the shower run hot water and I sit on the floor outside the shower blowing my nose as the congestion lets up.

[soyloca]

Chicken soup!! Feel better soon

[stuntmanmillie]

All of the above: tea with lemon & honey, steamy bathroom, sleep, humidifier, soup, gargle warm salt water.
Hope you feel better soon!

[keen]

I'm in the same boat. Safe meds are: Claritin, Loratidine, benadryl, and tylenol/tylenol PM. I called my OB yesterday and he said that a nasal spray with oxymetazoline (Afrin) could be used for a day or two if I was absolutely dying and in need of relief. I was kinda iffy about that, so I went and got some BreathRight nasal strips. Now THAT helped alot. I am much more swollen than congested and the strips pulled everything open.

My husband felt sorry for me last night and went out to get a wendy's frosty. Sitting in bed watching american idol, eating a frosty and feeling the sweet sweet relief of being able to breath was pretty much the nest I've felt since last saturday.

[andtheheartbreakers]

I was exactly where you are now during week 4, and it sucked so much - I feel ya! I hope you feel better soon!!!

I agree, a neti pot is amazing. Really gross and weird, but amazing. (Also in French it's called a "pot pour neti"!). A humidifier in the bedroom at night helps SO much. And yes big fluffy marshmallows are amazing for sore throats - I finally decided to try it when I was sick two weeks ago and it was life changing.

[snakefisherbub]

Hope you feel better soon Eme! Also I'm filing these tips away just in case I need them later.

[hypotheticalme]

+1 on the neti pot. It's weird at first, especially if you're really stuffed up, but it's amazingly satisfying (and gross) to see what comes out.

[kbeazly]

My MW has recommended I use motherrisk.org as a resource for checking on drug usage during pregnancy/morning sickness resource etc. It's a foundation of The Hospital for Sick Children in Ontario so it's actually a reliable resource (not WebMD or anything). Of course you'd want to check with your healthcare provider directly about anything you read there. But it might give you some ideas.

[whosurmomma]

I'm miserable too :-( my OB doesn't recommend anything but tylenol in first tri. I did do a netipot last night... That was a strange feeling! But it kinda worked.

[cabgirl]

How're you feeling tonight emejay? Any better?

[mrsb1008]

Hopefully you were able to get a neti pot or the like. It really is so helpful. And definitely distilled water. Those stories scared the crap out if me! Feel better!

[emejay]

Jan 22, 2015 19:31:06 GMT -5 cabgirl said:

How're you feeling tonight emejay? Any better?

Not so good I'm so over it. And my nose is raw.

I absolutely need to go to the office tomorrow and school at night. It will be a looooong day.