Cold/flu during pregnancy :(

[TTT]

Hi everyone!

I'm feeling very sorry for myself atm as I have either a really bad cold or flu. I woke up yesterday morning with a very sore throat, then progressed to severe congestion, sneezing, coughing, ear ache and constant head ache. I am finding it very difficult to eat and sleep with the congestion and my whole face aches

Has anyone else had flu while they're pregnant? Is there anything you can take to relieve the symtoms? So far, I've tried to rest and am drinking loads of water, have used vapo rub but that's about it. I am struggling to take paracetamol cos I have had an extremely sensitive gag reflex since 6 weeks and just cannot swallow tablets.

I went to the doctors this morning hoping for a prescription/recommendation for some sort of remedy as I read on the NHS website that pregnant women are entitled to flu jabs and that there are things they can prescribe to help if you see your doctor early. Well, I could only get in with the practice nurse and she was awful. Her words were "it's a cold, there's nothing you can do about it". Oh well thank you for your sympathy! Her tone was very blunt and she made me feel like I was wasting her time. Why get a job in health care if you really don't care? I know it may sound like I am being mardy but I hate going to the doctors and have always anything to avoid it, I'm not a hypercondriac!

Any words of advice or sympathy will be gratefully received!

 

[CARNAT22]

It's crappy but colds are really common during pregnancy, your immune system is too busy looking after baby!

I doubt it's flu as if it was you'd be bedridden (I've had proper flu once when I was 12 and was on the sofa for a week, needed my Mum's help to go for a wee. It was dreadful).

As it isn't flu season yet they won't give you the flu jab, come September / October time you'll be offered it.

I imagine that you feel quite rough and I am sorry that you weren't offered much in the way of sympathy, but sadly you have to have a limb hanging off to receive sympathy in a Dr's surgery

My advice would be to rest, keep hydrated, try to eat (soups, fruit, or anything you fancy / can manage) and hopefully in a few days you'll feel better.

X

 

[TTT]

Thanks Carnat. I'm quite hormonal atm too and it's all just feeling a bit much. I burst into tears after we left the doctors, overwhelmed with frustration I think, which turned out to be a good thing cos my husband hasn't been very helpful these last couple of weeks as he got this cold first and has been feeling sorry for himself. So the tears made him take notice and we had a good, needed chat.

I was feeling quite angry at him because he had made no efforts whatsoever to protect me from catching his cold (which was inevitable I know) and was blowing his nose and coughing then going to make himself a snack without washing his hands :O and sleeping on my pillow after I get up in the morning things like that. But he's a very defensive person and he can be difficult to talk to at times as he takes everything as criticism!

So it's all been too overwhelming this week. I had lots of plans to get organised today, my day off, too. So gonna have to sit tight and start a fresh next week I guess.

 

[claire_louise9]

I had a bad cold , I've been in bed since Saturday afternoon. There's not a lot we can take with a cold. I've been using vick on my chest, and just Honey and lemon. Make sure you drink plenty and get as much rest as you can xxx oh and stock up on tissues, I gone through 3 boxes this week.

 

[CARNAT22]

Sorry your OH hasn't been all that sympathetic!

I am sure as the pregnancy progresses he'll get better.

Again I need to have a limb hanging off for any real sympathy from my OH

X

 

[Baby booboo]

Tri hopping here, I totally feel your pain I know its "only a cold" but when you can't take anything for it, it can make you really miserable.

This is day 3 of my cold and im all bites from being on holiday, phoned the doctor today for some advice to see if lemsips were ok as I'd read different things online and if there was something I could get to help the bites or itch, & the doctor was so unhelpful & basically rude. So I got off the phone n had a wee cry about it (as you do) lol.

I'd say just use soothers or lockets and drink hot water with lemon & honey & keep the tissues handy! Hope your feeling better soon!

 

[beckyboo1]

Try hot water with lemon, honey and fresh ginger grated/chopped in. Works well at soothing throat and clearing your nose out!

Colds are horrible during pregnancy so I feel for you xx

 

[megsmeadow]

You can also use a saline spray for the congestion, sometimes when it's all bunged up in your sinuses they benefit from a wee rinse out. And if tablets arent going down try some calpol or similar, it's just liquid paracetamol. Now you'd need a lot but it might help to have some to take the edge off. xx

 

[TTT]

Thanks everyone. Feeling a little better today so I'm optimistic I'm on the mend already