A stupid but desperate question

**Duckie** · 17-02-2008, 11:06am

Can I take anything stronger than paracetamol

? I swear the cold I had a few weeks ago was nothing compared to this one, and I thought that one was the cold from hell. I've had a splitting headache for days which is barely responding to paracetamol, my throat is on fire, I can't stop coughing and sneezing and I haven't slept properly for days as I can't breathe when I'm lying down, and I keep going hot and cold

. The only reason I'm even out of bed now is because I desperately need to make Anna some lunch but will be heading back up soon - DH has taken her into town thank God so hopefully he'll be able to get me something I can take. Is there anything though - I feel so awful I just want to

.

**clementinexyz** · 17-02-2008, 11:09am

Oh Duckie

I don't know whether there is anything else you can take but if you haven't already you can try and ease things by using those 4head strips or the 4head stick, saline drops for your snotty nose and hot honey and lemon drink for your throat. Also boiled sweets, like barley sugars or something. Maybe you can take Strepsils?

I hope you get well soon

**Booh** · 17-02-2008, 11:10am

Not without talking to the doctor first

Ring your out of hours doctor, and they will be able to tell you what you can take. It really sounds like you have the flu, so don't feel you are wasting their time, you need something else by the sound of it.

I took co-codamol when I was PG.

**pooch** · 17-02-2008, 11:12am

I feel your pain! I feel absolutely awful and paracetamol is shite.

Not sure if you can take anything but if your dh goes to town he can always ask the pharmacist if there is anything else you can take.

Strepsils have been helping with the throat.

Hope you feel better soon

**bluekat** · 17-02-2008, 11:19am

I had a really bad cough a few months ago and in desperation ended up taking some of Lexie's tickly cough medicine. There was nothing on it saying you couldn't take it when pg.

It isn't for this but a traditional Piriton tablet (not the 24 hour ones...the ones you take 4 times a day) might stop your nose running...it works for me and they are okay to take in pregnancy.

4head is great stuff as someone mentioned..

For the cough you could also take honey and lemon or gargle boiled water with a couple of teaspoons of salt and big splash of vinegar...this last one is horrible but my gran swears it works.

I think inhaling the vapours from one or two menthol crystals dropped in a cup of boiling water is okay too.

As someone else said...speak to a doc or nhs 24.

BKx

**clementinexyz** · 17-02-2008, 11:19am

I'm pretty certain you can also take olbas oil so you could inhale some steam with that in it, it will help unblock your sinuses and might ease your headache-it helped me when i was ill early on.

**Grotbags** · 17-02-2008, 11:20am

Agree with trying out of hours or NHS direct. Maybe try inhaling steam from a bowl with a blanket over your head to try and clear your sinuses a bit?

**bluekat** · 17-02-2008, 11:21am

PS I ended up getting a course of antibiotics from my GP as I'd been up for 5 nights with the cough and told her if she didn't give me anything I'd commit murder. (I did feel desperate but I'm sure I wouldn't have gone that far

)

**onefrostylaydee** · 17-02-2008, 11:42am

I had to phone the emergency docs on wednesday night, as i had terrible tooth ache. He did say the cocodamol was quite safe to use in the second trimester, but as it contains paracetomal you cant take them both together.

If you still feel as bad i would suggest the emergency docs. Hope you feel better soon.

**Duckie** · 17-02-2008, 07:16pm

Thanks girls

, sorry for not getting back on earlier.

Originally Posted by bluekat

PS I ended up getting a course of antibiotics from my GP as I'd been up for 5 nights with the cough and told her if she didn't give me anything I'd commit murder. (I did feel desperate but I'm sure I wouldn't have gone that far

)

Believe me, I was plotting ways to put myself out of my misery as I saw every hour tick by on the clock last night - I'm hoping for a better night tonight. Have got one of those plug in things in the room, more olbas oil and will be having paracetamol with a hot drink before bed. Didn't get to DH in time for him to pick up anything else but will try and get some tomorrow if it's still bad. I just can't get over how rough I feel - i swear I never used to feel this rough with a cold and my temp is normal so can't be flu

.

**funky_totts** · 17-02-2008, 07:17pm

really hope you get better very soon

xxx

**RealGoneKid** · 17-02-2008, 07:19pm

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Check your plug in before you use it though. We have the sudafed one for E and it says not to be used in pg.

**bluekat** · 17-02-2008, 10:08pm

Originally Posted by Duckie

Thanks girls

, sorry for not getting back on earlier.

Believe me, I was plotting ways to put myself out of my misery as I saw every hour tick by on the clock last night - I'm hoping for a better night tonight. Have got one of those plug in things in the room, more olbas oil and will be having paracetamol with a hot drink before bed. Didn't get to DH in time for him to pick up anything else but will try and get some tomorrow if it's still bad. I just can't get over how rough I feel - i swear I never used to feel this rough with a cold and my temp is normal so can't be flu

.

I remember being exactly the same. Take a piriton, if nothing else it will knock you out.

BKx