Yuckiness

[Nicole77]

I feel disgusting. All week long I have had a horrible sore throat and body shaking cough. I keep waking up at night (you know more than usual!) because my throat is so sore I cannot sleep or because I can't stop coughing. I end up downstairs at 3am brewing tea to settle my body down and wind up awake for the next two hours. So tired!

So, my question: my mother said it sounds like I have postnasal drip, which once I read about does sound right on target. All that gunk running down the back of my throat leading to an irritated sore throat and heavy cough. Is this just a pregnancy thing because I have so much extra fluid in my body right now? Has anyone else had this because I definitely have not the last two times. On the flip side if this is due to a sinus infection or something how can I tell and what the heck can I actually take to help out?

Oh, and to make it even more fun sometimes I get into such a coughing fit that I pee a little. Doesn't pregnancy rock?

[SheSpeeds]

Make about a 1/2 tsp of kosher salt in 2 cups warm water. Take an infant nose bulb and blow saline up your nose. Spray the saline solution up your nose for about ten minutes over a sink, blow when you need to. The warm water helps losen it up and bring it out. Besides hydrate like crazy, nasal "doush" will bring the gook out your nose and not down your throat. And will keep it from building up and causing an infection. I'm battling a "cold" now, taking almost a week to get really nasty. Prior to it getting worse, I was under the impression that NOT blowing your nose was best, but through further reading on "current" symptom reliefs, clean-out is the way to go. It has been helping!

[paisley]

:

I so feel your pain. I have been sick in one form or another, including my first sinus infection, since the beginning of January. Ds keep bringing colds home from preschool. Sleeping with a cool mist humidifier has been a lifesaver for me. Ours was $20ish at the drugstore. Also hot showers (for the steam) every night and morning, the above nasal passage washing (try it in the shower), and warming socks treatment for 3 nights in a row.

When my cold progressed into a sinus infection (I could tell because my face was really tender to the touch around my nose and I had the worst toothache in my upper jaw), I went to see my Naturopathic Dr. He did some acupuncture, gave me some Chinese herbs and advised the above sock treatment. The sock thing sounds bizarre but it helped me and it felt really nice. I read that it's very common for colds to progress into SI's in late pregnancy because your mucous membranes are all more swollen than usual. Try not to blow your nose too forcefully as this can irritate the sinuses and if you do start to feel that sinus headache pressure sensation, seek natural help as soon as you can. The faster you can get it treated naturally the less chance you will have to deal with abx. I hope you feel better soon!

[bred]

Just wanted to post some love, Nicole.

I was sick for a loooooong time at the beginning of this pregnancy, and it's just no fun. I have heard of post-nasal drip being associated with pregnancy...someone once told me it was always her first symptom of being pg.

i second the wet sock treatment, and would try a neti pot if you can get your hands on one, rather than forcing water into your nasal passages--it's a lot more gentle.

hope you feel better really soon!!!! and, think of all the great antibodies you are making for your babe...

[deuxceleste]

Same problems and add to that that I threw up THREE TIMES last night.

I'm TOO FAR ALONG TO BE THROWING UP!!!!

[Nicole77]

Thanks for all the good tips! If I can just keep myself from coughing for a few days I will be able to sooth my throat enough to heal.

Originally Posted by deuxceleste

Same problems and add to that that I threw up THREE TIMES last night.

Oh, yucky! No fun! We don't exactly have lots of time to kick this thing to the curb do we? Must. get. better. fast.