Sick, miserable and took OTC meds...

[Mariposa]

I have been sick with a cold since Monday. DD had it first, and being the sweet soul she is, decided to share it with me. I had started taking extra vit C, elderberry and even took a few doses of oscillococcinum, hoping to avoid getting sick. It didn't work. I have continued to elderberry and vit C and I thought I was getting better, but I am miserable.

I think most of it is lack of sleep. I can't sleep at night because I can't breathe. That led me to being desperate and taking Sudafed and Guaifenesin. I even have taken some Tylenol because my throat hurts so bad I can't swallow and gets more dry at night because I am trying to breath with my mouth open. I think I got 5 hours of sleep last night, between trying to breath, sleeping sitting on the sofa and then getting up to pee all night. I even had a breathe right snoring strip on my nose and Vicks Vaporup all over me, to no help.

Of course now I am worried that I have done something that will hurt the baby with the meds I am taking, but I am just miserable. I know I took some of the same stuff with Abby when I was sick once, I think about the same time, but still. I am almost 19 weeks.

Any ideas?

[sputnik]

I had two sinus infections early in my pregnancy and took sudafed, benadryl and tylenol each time. I ultimately decided that the lack of sleep was worse for me and the babe than the drugs (especially since my MW ok'd them). All are supposed to be safe in pregnancy. The benadryl actually helped me sleep.

The other thing that wound up working well for me was a Neti Pot - to rinse out my nose. I still use that one to combat my allergies.

Hope this is reassuring!

[Mariposa]

thanks! i got me a neti pot and it felt really soothing. i am going to do it 3-4 times a day while i am sick to see if it helps. also got me some EOs, tea tree and eucalyptus to put in the shower and around the house. and some omcka(sp?) that someone here recommended.

hopefully i will be well enough to go to work tomorrow. i called in last weekend because abby was sick and i can't miss another weekend.

what i really need the most is REST. but you can't sleep when you can't breathe... :(

[SoulJourney]

I'll have to agree with Sputnik...as long as your MW approves the meds, it's better for you than lack of sleep/feeling miserable forever. I had to take some meds this week b/c I started having a serious allergy attack. I pulled my ab muscles (right around my belly button...OUCH!) from sneezing SO much. That was my last straw! :(

[~*~MamaJava~*~]

:hug :hug :hug It's ok! It's not the best thing, obviously, but there's a balance you need to find between being able to rest and function, and toughing it out. Those drugs are not a hugely big deal, as long as you took a small, normal sized dose.
I find that moist air helps a lot - hot shower or vaporizer. I've also been known to use cold meds when pg if it's insufferable.

[Mariposa]

thanks all. i am doing better now. that neti pot helped a lot and now i am in the recovery process. DH now is sick, so i hope i can get him well with my alternative therapies and that we don't get sick from him.

[Snowdrift]

I was also sick and really miserable with a cold (the second one this pg, and I'm only at 11-1/2 weeks) yesterday and last night and a little bit today but I tried a kinda odd alternative remedy that I think helped.

DH and I had sex. Last night I felt like death warmed over; congested and shivery and achy like with flu it was so bad. Horrible horrible headache--combined pg and cold headache, congested sinuses, the whole deal.

I couldn't get warm so DH suggested the ultimate warming solution. I didn't really feel up to it, but then I though, hrm--endorphins...

And I probably caught the cold from him so not too concerned about giving it to him. Obviously we had to be pretty restrained cuz I felt so bad, but I felt much better right after, and although I had a pretty horrible night last night--couldn't get to sleep til four a.m., slightly feverish, etc, by morning I felt *so* much better! Still a little achy and congested today, but none of the shivery chills or aches and none of the headache of yesterday. I have *never* had a cold resolve so quickly. Maybe I'm crazy but I'm attributing it to the sex.

Just something ya night want to think about trying. Certainly less work than putting togehter all kinds of herbals and things. :)