Please help! Sick and not sure what to take

[tngirl11]

Hi everyone,
I've had a horrible cough for about a week now that also turned into really awful sinus congestion and pain/pressure like I've really never felt before. It was so bad last night that I didn't sleep hardly at all. I finally broke down and went to the doctor today, mainly because my lungs were making a strange whistling/wheezing sound. The doctor said my lungs did sound really bad and that I had bronchitis or possibly a slight case of pneumonia, although she didn't want to do an xray (thank goodness!) She had me do an albuterol breathing treatment at the office before I left. I was a little concerned about that, since I have an inhaler for exercise-induced asthma, and I know it can make me feel kind of jumpy/shaky. I didn't want the baby to be effected, so I kind of only inhaled through my mouth part of the time.
She gave me a prescription for zithromax (antibiotic). What do you think? I really hate to take antibiotics at all, but I also don't want to mess with possible pneumonia. Is it likely to actually help? I'm not going to fill the prescription for robitussin with codine. I've been taking plain robitussin, so I'll just continue with that.
There are other natural things that I would normally do/take, but I don't know what's safe in pregnancy. Anybody know of anything safe? I'm taking my regular vitamins, extra vitamin D, eating lots of yogurt and kefir, and eating some really active manuka honey.
I dropped off the prescription already, but I just haven't decided if I should definitely take it.

[MaerynPearl]

Ive been miserably congested for a week... just getting a lot of rest, a lot of liquids and extra vitamin c. Otherwise I haven't done much and its FINALLY getting better. Hope yours does sooner.

[gradstudentmommy]

I'm sorry you're so sick. That's miserable. If you wanted, you could wait one more week to see if your congestion clears up. But I can't imagine being that miserable for another week. Without doing a culture, your doctor has no way of knowing if your bronchitis is bacterial or viral.

Personally I would probably take the antibiotics but I have a history of severe sinus infections and they've always gotten better with antibiotics, which leads me to believe they're bacterial. My research said that many antibiotics (including zithromax) are relatively safe in pregnancy.

I hope you feel better soon!

[Calleiah]

With baby pressing up on your lungs and congestion thats boarderline pneumonia, I would take the antibiotics. I would also do the albuterol treatments if he recommended them. If you arent getting enough air, baby isnt either. Keep that baby properly oxygenated! But seriously, please dont mess around with lung stuff, you could get much sicker if you dont treat it and that would not be in either of your best interest.

[BlackSheepPDX]

Thyme has antiseptic and expectorant effects. My naturopath recommends boiling some fresh thyme in a saucepan, and then turning the heat off and doing about 10 minute of steaming to open up congestion and get the thyme into your lungs and sinuses to help kill off the buggies. It's simple, fast, and you should notice if it's helping or not.

[umsami]

I'd take the z-pack. Pneumonia is nothing to mess with--and could land you in the hospital.

It's a category B...and has not shown ill effects on animal fetuses in studies, if that helps.

[tngirl11]

Thanks everyone. I picked up my prescription and will start the antibiotic tonight. I also bought my first neti pot and used it. It feels really weird, but I did it (I'm so proud : )
I will definitely try the thyme. I have always used thieves oil, but I'm out, so that sounds great.

[prone_to_wander]

I also have bronchitis. Freaking sucks! I'm on albuterol. They did an in office nebulizing but thought I'd need more so I'm on the puffer. Although, I'm trying to only use it when I have a really bad coughing spell...like really bad.

I'm also writing this while hunched over a steaming pot of water with eucalyptus in it (as per my midwife) and I'll be putting vicks vapour rub on later on.

Good luck fellow sicky!

[CorasMama]

Zithromax is quite safe, as is codeine. What isn't safe is depriving your baby and yourself of oxygen. That's a much much bigger concern.