Best cold med?

NatureLovers · November 2014

I have a hacking cough, a stuffy nose that is giving me post nasal drip, that is then causing me to have a raging sore throat and a bad headache. What is the best thing to take for this? It's been 3 years since I've had a real cold so I'm clueless, but I'd like to breathe through my nose again at some point.

MichaelSC28 · November 2014

Sudafed is awesome for the congestion and should dry up the sinuses, so that they are not dripping to your throat. Now Robitussin is also great for a cold. I would suggest getting some cough drops, if you want to be all natural there are the Burt Bees which are really good. ** Well the drops are made by Burts Bees, and have different flavors for sore throats. Will find them in the medicine aisle at CVS or target.

Edvent · November 2014

I'm taking a sudafed/musinex combo that my OB approved and it helps a lot. I also take Afrin when the congestion gets too bad (especially to sleep at night) and that stuff is amazing!

NatureLovers · November 2014

nursesouder said:
Don't underestimate neti pot and breathe right strips.

I never could stomach the thought of the Neti pot, but especially after hearing about that lady that ended up with an amoeba in her brain? NO THANK YOU. lol

NatureLovers · November 2014

Edvent said:
I'm taking a sudafed/musinex combo that my OB approved and it helps a lot. I also take Afrin when the congestion gets too bad (especially to sleep at night) and that stuff is amazing!

I think my hubby has some of the sudafed/mucinex stuff hanging around.

peggels24 · November 2014

NatureLovers said:

I'm taking a sudafed/musinex combo that my OB approved and it helps a lot. I also take Afrin when the congestion gets too bad (especially to sleep at night) and that stuff is amazing!
I think my hubby has some of the sudafed/mucinex stuff hanging around.

Be careful which mucinex you take - one of them is no good for pregnant women - maybe the decongestant?

NatureLovers · November 2014

peggels24 said:

NatureLovers said:

Edvent said:
I'm taking a sudafed/musinex combo that my OB approved and it helps a lot. I also take Afrin when the congestion gets too bad (especially to sleep at night) and that stuff is amazing!
I think my hubby has some of the sudafed/mucinex stuff hanging around.

Be careful which mucinex you take - one of them is no good for pregnant women - maybe the decongestant?

.....

Thanks for the heads up! @Edvent‌ do you know the specific one your doc approved?

NatureLovers · November 2014

ExcitedMama2 said:
I have been dealing with the same nastiness for almost 3 months now, it's horrible! Be careful with Sudafed...sometimes it can thicken up the mucus and give you pressure headaches/earaches. I took it for 3 days and was ready to stab myself in the ears to relieve the pressure...it hurt so bad my teeth were even hurting. Once I stopped taking the Sudafed, the pain went away after a day or two, but I still have the lovely cough and constant snotty nose. I had lost 4 pounds at my last appointment...pretty sure it was all in snot.

Hope you feel better soon...you don't need anything else to make this pregnancy uncomfortable!

I hope it doesn't get worse, I'm already having pressure headaches.

NatureLovers · November 2014

nursesouder said:

NatureLovers said:

nursesouder said:
Don't underestimate neti pot and breathe right strips.
I never could stomach the thought of the Neti pot, but especially after hearing about that lady that ended up with an amoeba in her brain? NO THANK YOU. lol
Ha ha, yeah I heard about that too....but...you get like 20 years of snot out when you first use it, no lie..

Alternatively you could use a saline spray.

20 years of snot? %-(

LooneyLife · November 2014

My OB gave the okay on these:

Sudafed 12 hour
Tylenol cold

Robitussin DM (w/o alcohol)

None of these worked for me though like the good stuff you're not allowed to have

jmcmoe · November 2014

I am a regular fish oil gel caplet taker and have not had a cold that lasted more then a couple days in like two years...perhaps try taking that daily and you may get over your colds quicker! If I do get sick I take an extra one until it goes away and then go back to regular dose! According to my midwife It also helps with the strength of the placenta in top of helping with your cardiovascular health and joint health!

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I take it at night right before bed to avoid the fishy aftertaste!

NatureLovers · November 2014

LooneyLife said:
My OB gave the okay on these:
Sudafed 12 hour
Tylenol cold
Robitussin DM (w/o alcohol)

None of these worked for me though like the good stuff you're not allowed to have

I took a dose of theraflu with pregnancy safe ingredients. It hasn't helped.

I may just have to suffer.

NatureLovers · November 2014

jmcmoe said:
I am a regular fish oil gel caplet taker and have not had a cold that lasted more then a couple days in like two years...perhaps try taking that daily and you may get over your colds quicker! If I do get sick I take an extra one until it goes away and then go back to regular dose! According to my midwife It also helps with the strength of the placenta in top of helping with your cardiovascular health and joint health!

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I take it at night right before bed to avoid the fishy aftertaste!

........

With my HG, swallowing a large pill, especially with fishy aftertaste, will seriously trigger my puking. Thanks for the advice though!

JessHy2012 · November 2014

I was going to suggest an oregano oil capsule but if swallowing a pill is going to trigger puking then don't try it. But oregano oil is good for lots of different things.

southernyankeegirl · November 2014

Ugh sorry you're sick! That sucks!

I love Ricola's Lemon Mint throat drops for soothing sore throat. And honestly, nothing works better for me than Afrin extra moisturizing spray. Clears up my sinuses really well and all night.

As for Netipot, I got the squeeze bottle and that stuff is amazing! To avoid any possible infection, boil the water and then let cool before using it. Or use bottled water.

NatureLovers · November 2014

southernyankeegirl said:
Ugh sorry you're sick! That sucks!

I love Ricola's Lemon Mint throat drops for soothing sore throat. And honestly, nothing works better for me than Afrin extra moisturizing spray. Clears up my sinuses really well and all night.

As for Netipot, I got the squeeze bottle and that stuff is amazing! To avoid any possible infection, boil the water and then let cool before using it. Or use bottled water.

Man I'd wish I'd gotten some Afrin, the pharmacy is closed now.

southernyankeegirl · November 2014

NatureLovers said:

southernyankeegirl said:
Ugh sorry you're sick! That sucks!

I love Ricola's Lemon Mint throat drops for soothing sore throat. And honestly, nothing works better for me than Afrin extra moisturizing spray. Clears up my sinuses really well and all night.

As for Netipot, I got the squeeze bottle and that stuff is amazing! To avoid any possible infection, boil the water and then let cool before using it. Or use bottled water.
Man I'd wish I'd gotten some Afrin, the pharmacy is closed now.

Grocery store? Walmart?

NatureLovers · November 2014

southernyankeegirl said:

NatureLovers said:

southernyankeegirl said:
Ugh sorry you're sick! That sucks!

I love Ricola's Lemon Mint throat drops for soothing sore throat. And honestly, nothing works better for me than Afrin extra moisturizing spray. Clears up my sinuses really well and all night.

As for Netipot, I got the squeeze bottle and that stuff is amazing! To avoid any possible infection, boil the water and then let cool before using it. Or use bottled water.
Man I'd wish I'd gotten some Afrin, the pharmacy is closed now.
Grocery store? Walmart?

.....

All closed near me. Plus it's really cold out, and my hubby is asleep or I'd ask him to get it. I'll just power through for now.

Reiden · November 2014

*silently takes notes down in order to help with congestion-death-sicks later on*

Is it seriously normal to be so congested, in the third tri? I keep hearing people say it is, but god, I wish someone told me that before it hit me like a brick wall.

I hope you feel better, though, @NatureLovers, and maybe you can get some Afrin in the morning? Or, well.. get hubby to get you some Afrin in the morning, if he's feeling generous

NatureLovers · November 2014

I've been up all night due to my stuffy nose and having to drink water constantly for my dry mouth and throat. It feels like I'm swallowing knives. I'll definitely be hitting up the pharmacy this morning.

southernyankeegirl · November 2014

I am so sorry you aren't feeling well! You've had a rough go of it.

Be careful with the Afrin - it's easy to become addicted. Once the worst of it passes, I dilute the spray with saline spray so it's mostly salt water when I really need it with a teensy bit of decongestant.

pleirey · November 2014

@NatureLovers, I felt exactly the same about that Neti Pot. It's awkward, the stuff that comes out of your nose will be disgusting, and then all of a sudden everything will clear out of your sinuses and it will feel like heaven! I still hate the feeling of using it, but the fact that it works makes it worth the suffering, for me anyway. And like @southernyankeegirl said, you can always use boiled water or bottled water. Between that Neti Pot and Benedryl, I survived spring allergy season and the sinus pressure from hell.

Hope you feel better soon and find a medicine that works for ya!

NatureLovers · November 2014

I just got back from the pharmacy. I got the super moisturizing Afrin, plus Sudafed. A couple squirts of the Afrin and I'm already breathing more easily!

southernyankeegirl · November 2014

Glad it helped! Try to save it for bedtime - it will be most effective that way, and least likely to have physical dependency issues (use it too many days and then not using it results in swollen nasal passages)

NatureLovers · November 2014

southernyankeegirl said:
Glad it helped! Try to save it for bedtime - it will be most effective that way, and least likely to have physical dependency issues (use it too many days and then not using it results in swollen nasal passages)

Wait, so you can actually get dependent on it, for real? Freaky! I hate nose spray, but I'll do it if I can breathe. I'm hoping to go back to sleep since I got so little last night.

efujan · November 2014

I have really good luck with Emergen-C and Alka Seltzer cold medicine (or the store brand, usually), too. Both are kind of fizzy & help clear me up quickly so I can breathe better. I think the Alka Seltzer lasts longer with me when I've got a cold, but after I feel like I'm past the cold, I take an Emergen-C daily to kind of keep it from rearing its ugly head again!

Edvent · November 2014

@NatureLovers sorry I didn't see this until now. I take the regular musinex or the musinex/sudafed. They're both on my safe to take list (I think maybe the musinex DM is the one you want to avoid, but I've seen other DM meds say that they're safe for pregnancy so I think every doctor is a little different in what they recommend). I'm glad the Afrin helped, I try to take it only at night and for no longer than 3 days... I took night 3 last night so I'm hoping I don't need it again tonight or I might have to break my rule. All of my crud is in my chest now and it's activating my asthma so I'm having to use my albuterol inhaler and worried I might need prednisone

being sick while pregnany should not be allowed ! Hope you get to feeling better soon, like you needed this on top of everything else!

JMcBick · November 2014

NatureLovers said:

southernyankeegirl said:
Glad it helped! Try to save it for bedtime - it will be most effective that way, and least likely to have physical dependency issues (use it too many days and then not using it results in swollen nasal passages)
Wait, so you can actually get dependent on it, for real? Freaky! I hate nose spray, but I'll do it if I can breathe. I'm hoping to go back to sleep since I got so little last night.

If you use it for more than 3-4 days, it can start causing rebound congestion. No fun! But use away for a few days

kellimark · November 2014

I was weirded out by the Neti pot too but it does work. I just use bottled water.
Afrin is awesome plus some hot yea with lemon and honey helped with a cough.
Sorry you're sick

jc51723 · November 2014

NatureLovers said:

Glad it helped! Try to save it for bedtime - it will be most effective that way, and least likely to have physical dependency issues (use it too many days and then not using it results in swollen nasal passages)
Wait, so you can actually get dependent on it, for real? Freaky! I hate nose spray, but I'll do it if I can breathe. I'm hoping to go back to sleep since I got so little last night.

Did you ever watch the show Yes, Dear? There is an episode where Greg gets addicted to nasal spray!

southernyankeegirl · November 2014

JMcBick said:

NatureLovers said:

southernyankeegirl said:
Glad it helped! Try to save it for bedtime - it will be most effective that way, and least likely to have physical dependency issues (use it too many days and then not using it results in swollen nasal passages)
Wait, so you can actually get dependent on it, for real? Freaky! I hate nose spray, but I'll do it if I can breathe. I'm hoping to go back to sleep since I got so little last night.
If you use it for more than 3-4 days, it can start causing rebound congestion. No fun! But use away for a few days

The best way to get past this is by mixing saline spray in after every squirt to gradually dilute it. After awhile, it's pure saline and no more rebound.

Reiden · November 2014

efujan said:
I have really good luck with Emergen-C and Alka Seltzer cold medicine (or the store brand, usually), too. Both are kind of fizzy & help clear me up quickly so I can breathe better. I think the Alka Seltzer lasts longer with me when I've got a cold, but after I feel like I'm past the cold, I take an Emergen-C daily to kind of keep it from rearing its ugly head again!

You shouldn't use Alka Seltzer while pregnant, as it has asprin in it! ( at least most of them do )
Asprin is a huge no, at least so my doc says, which sucks because god I'd kill to be using some Alka Seltzer for this crap

efujan · November 2014

Reiden said:

I have really good luck with Emergen-C and Alka Seltzer cold medicine (or the store brand, usually), too. Both are kind of fizzy & help clear me up quickly so I can breathe better. I think the Alka Seltzer lasts longer with me when I've got a cold, but after I feel like I'm past the cold, I take an Emergen-C daily to kind of keep it from rearing its ugly head again!
You shouldn't use Alka Seltzer while pregnant, as it has asprin in it! ( at least most of them do ) Asprin is a huge no, at least so my doc says, which sucks because god I'd kill to be using some Alka Seltzer for this crap

Yikes! Forgot about the aspirin part. Thanks for catching that/pointing that out.

I haven't used it during pregnancy - which I guess is good! I did get the OK on the Emergen-C from my Dr last time I was pregnant, but haven't used it this go-round. Luckily I've avoided getting a cold so far this pregnancy.

NatureLovers · November 2014

I'm not worried about aspirin, as my doctor has me on daily aspirin. Now that I can breathe through my nose, my biggest issue is that every time I swallow it feels like I'm swallowing shards of glass. I've had to start spitting out my own saliva because of how much it hurts. I guess I'll be heading back to the pharmacy to get some chloraseptic or some other numbing agent.

idontevenknow · November 2014

@NatureLovers‌ - sounds excruciatingly painful!! Do you have lemon and honey, and can u tolerate the taste? A spoonful of the two mixed always helps me out at times like you are having. At least for a good 5-10 mins.

Feel better!

PS- I keep reading the title as Best Cold Meat?... lol. I need to go back to bed.

NatureLovers · November 2014

I'm actually at urgent care right now. My throat is so excruciating that swallowing anything other than a small sip of water (which is super painful) is pretty much impossible. So I thought I'd better get checked for strep just in case.

idontevenknow · November 2014

Yikes! Let us know what they say.

misslizzy82 · November 2014

I hope you're feeling better! If they can't give you anything try a Shot of Apple Cider Vinegar, a few pinches of Cayenne pepper and a tall glass of hot water mixed together. Gargle like you would with salt water.

It works WONDERS!

Also, I use simply saline for my nose daily.

Edvent · November 2014

Urgent care sounds like a good idea! Hope they get you feeling better soon!!

NatureLovers · November 2014

I have a mild case of pneumonia, apparently we caught it just when it was starting up. I must have caught the virus from my hubby. DAMMIT. I'm getting a zpak and hydrocodone for my throat. They said my throat is so swollen they're surprised I'm not having trouble breathing.

misslizzy82 · November 2014

oh wow!!! Glad you went so soon!! I hope you get better quickly.

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