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1271927 tn?1310580362

Nasal Congestion - PLEASE HELP!

My nose has been so stuffy for 2 weeks now, being in my first trimester (about 9 weeks now), I've been avoiding taking anything. I had a severe ear infeaction 2 weeks ago and did a round of the zpak. That helped ALL my symptoms, except the stuffy nose.

It's getting so bad that I can't sleep more than 45-60 minutes at a time without waking up. My lips and throat are drying out. I can't eat today because it's making a sucktion tunnel and my ears are popping when I try to eat - oh, and because my nose is stuffy I can't breathe when I eat!  

I can hardly get any of the mucus out and when I do, it's only a tiny bit of clear stuff. Today it's so bad and I couldn't be more miserable with it. I've tried the saline spray and afrin. My nose is so stuffy that it all just runs right back out. I've tried holding my head back to keep it in, but the second I sit up straight, it runs out.

Is there any thing I can do to provide relief? I've tried hot showers to break some of it up and nothing. Could this be left over from the ear infection? Could this be a side effect from the flu shot I got on this past Thursday? What can I do besides complain and cry about it?! At what point do I go to see the dr?
Best Answer
1396598 tn?1283945721
FYI - the pot that Cassandra was talking about is the Neti Pot. They're like $15 at Walmart in the cold/flu aisle. They work great! It's a salt water/saline mixture that rinses the sinuses, but also heals the inflammation so that the nasal passages aren't so swollen.

The shower pills that MicroIsabella is talking about - those work really well - especially if you use them in conjunction with the Neti Pot! They're made by SudaCare. The only place I can find them here in Michigan is at Walgreen's for some reason. Put them on the floor of the shower and run the water nice and hot. It gives off Menthol vapors (much like Vicks Vapo Rub) in the steam of the shower. It will take a good 20 minutes to go through the entire tablet. I found if I used it in the evening, then used the Neti Pot right after that I would get some great rest for at least a few hours. It's amazing how it clears you out!

Also - check with your dr first (as always), but Sudafed and Tylenol are both approved for anytime during your pregnancy. I used Sudafed a lot with my first pregnancy and am already taking it with this one since it's now fall and the molds are coming out like crazy!

Good luck!
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1271927 tn?1310580362
Thanks - They didn't say which one to take, but after looking at the store it seems like Mucinex and store brand Mucinex all has guafenesin in it and depending on which one you get it all about equals out to 100mg per hour. I took generic at first, tried the name brand but kept vomiting, so I switched to the children's syrup version. I am going to stop taking it now though - it doesn't help.

I too am very worried about my oxygen levels. I never wanted to take any meds - I just wanted a breathing treatment and some oxygen. It has gotten way out of hand. I will do the round of antibiotics and then I am no longer taking their advice - I will go to my regular dr and demand a breathing treatment. However, I am going to put a lot of faith that the zpak will work as I am fairly sure it's bronchitis and boarderline pnemonia.

And I have been very hydrated - plenty of water during the day and night, steaming showers, humidifier, hot vapor treatments...I've done everything possible with water! LOL!

I just want to breathe...is that too much to ask for?! I really hope to feel better in 2-3 days...can't take much more!
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
Keep an eye on it, I had a pretty bad chest/sinus infection at the end of my pregnancy, I actually went into labor while sick.  At one point I wasn't getting enough oxygen and the babies heart rate sky rocketed, they put me on oxygen after that and had me lay on my side, after a big it went back to normal.  I left the hospital with bronchitis and had to do a SECOND round of antibitiocs which helped a good bit, bit I'm now one month post partum and it STILL hasn't gone away compeltely.  I was told Mucinex wasn't safe during pregnancy?!?!  Which one did they say you could take?  Make sure you stay plenty hydrated while taking it becuase mucinex can really dry you out.  
Helpful - 0
1271927 tn?1310580362
Nevermind ladies - I did call the dr today and when the nurse called me back, she asked if I took the antibiotics prescribed. I told her none were given to me. She explained that yes, my dr wants me to take them because I could not breathe for 2 weeks at that point (now 3 weeks) and it's past the point of a cold and not a 10 week delay from non-smoking. That nasty nurse last week just didn't want me to take them...that's really not her choice now is it? I will be sure to avoid Candy the nurse...love my dr, but hate that nurse right now...just to think, I could be BREATHING by now!
Helpful - 0
1271927 tn?1310580362
Well, afrin seemed to help the nose. But my dr said to do nasonex because we can't use afrin long term. At least with this I can breathe out of one side of my nose at a time. And I am grateful for that!

Anyways, all this sinus mucas has been leaking into my lungs. I called the dr last week because I litterally couldn't breathe and they said I needed to call my ob before coming in. OB said to take mucinex. I started crying - I just wanted a breathing treatment. Mucinex will NOT help if you are in need of oxygen immediately. But whatever, I took their advice and I have been on mucinex for a week as of today. It hasn't gotten any better really. I wasn't able to cough up anything before and now I have coughed up three pea sized amounts of yellow/green mucas. That's it. The wheezing is incredible. I cough oncontrollably - my co-workers don't want me around them. I can't sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time. I sleep sitting straight up. I use a humidifier 24/7 and I am using the hot steamer about 4-10 times per day. The steamer provides relief for about 10 minutes or so.

Breathing is SO hard! Will this go away? Is this just a cold? Could it be bronchitis or pnemonia (which I've had before and this feels similar)? When should I call the dr back? Am I just being a big baby? Will this continue throughout my entire pregnancy?
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
I swear by the sinus rinse.  It really helps to break up the crud that's way up in there and won't blow out.  My sinuses get so bad at the end of pregnancy that I literally gag and throw up from all the mucus.  Makes me miserable
Helpful - 0
1151801 tn?1446596102
I just had the same issue and it turned into a cold.  I didn't want to take any meds so I tried everything.  I finally went to the drugstore and got a sinus clense.  It is somewhat like the neti pot but it is a bottle and you have better control of the flow into your nose.  It has been the BEST thing ever!!!  Ever since I started using it 4 days ago I have been able to get rid of sooooo much mucus.  It had gotten so bad that it was compacted in my sinuses and it hurt on the left side of my face.  I am now able to blow everything out on its on and use the sinus clense a little less.....and the cold is just about done!!!  wooooohoooo!  
Helpful - 0
1271927 tn?1310580362
Thanks ladies for all your advice. It was so bad the first part of the day I felt like taking a chainsaw to my nose - for real!

Jhaley - thanks for the clarifications...I was about to go out and buy some wacky tobbaccy if it would help! LOL! (Not really ladies, but it was so bad I am willing to try anything!) I have a generic saline spray/flush but it's doing nothing for me except sending saline down my chin or throat! Is this Neti Pot one different? Is that the thing that Jessica Simpson did on her beauty show?

I will definetly try the shower tablet things...I've seen them before but never used them.

Losing My Mind - that's how I felt this morning too! I finally broke down and took some sudafed. I used the generic kind because it doesn't have the other two ingredients (tylenol and something else for an exporatant). About 3 hours after taking the generic sudafed I have found reason to live again! My nose is not totally clear, but I feel like God doesn't hate me anymore. I just checked the label and it has the phelyephrine in it, not the pseudo one! Thanks for the info. I will be taking this as little as possible (as I hate taking anything during pregnancy), but I am SO thankful to have found some relief!

Joy - that's what I've heard. I'm not looking forward to that part. I come from a family of big noses and we all tend to see them grow even larger during pregnancy...Gonzo will have nothing on me by the time May comes around!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sinus problems are common during pregnancy due to increased blood flow and narrowing of the sinus cavities. Hang in there!
Helpful - 0
971074 tn?1362759766
Neti Pot
Humidifier by your bed at night
Olive leaf Nasal Spray

I know how frustrating this is. I had it for a few weeks during the first trimester. I'm still stuffy but acupuncture has been keeping me from getting too congested.
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
Go to Walmart and get a sinus rinse.  It helped me survive the first trimester and even the end of pregnancy.  I get HORRIBLE sinus problems when I'm pregnant.  

Sudafed PE (the phelyephrine one) is supposed to be ok in the first trimester, but always check with your doc first.  The Psuedoephedrine is supposed to be AVOIDED in the first trimester.
Helpful - 0
1396982 tn?1285323233
I know what you are going thru cause the same thing is happening to me and is due to allergies.  I can't and won't take any medication so in the meantime I do the following: at home lay your head back and pour a few drops of saline and stay in that position for 5-10 minutes to let the saline work its way, take a hot shower before going to bed and use a shower pill (don't know the name but it's menthol and you put in on the tub while shower), use a Breath Right thing over my nose to expand my nose and let me breath better during the night, and finally put an ice bag over my eyes and nose (that's where really hurts) to fell asleep. Also I have been taking Echinacea caffeine free tea 3 times a day on the days I really feel horrible and help a lot specially at work when my nose starts running.  Hope you get better and hope this helps!
Helpful - 0
1271927 tn?1310580362
Thanks ladies, but the saline spray just comes running back out of my nose. It's SO stuffy, that nothing will go up there! I feel like I have cement in my nose. :(

And I did get the zpak for my ear infection. It cleared up the tiredness, ear pain, headache, fever and clicking in my ears. But it did nothing for the stuffy nose.

I'm just at my wits end today with it! Am I able to take sudafed in my first trimester? I know it's on my approved list, but I didn't know if it was ok for the first trimester...I can look when I get home too.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hot steamy showers do help, but you might also try some saline spray.
Helpful - 0
1311519 tn?1333982067
try using one of those pots, i forgot what they are called but you pour water in one nostril and it comes out the next, it is very effective, I just got over a horrible cold and that is what i used, also you can use Tylenol pm, to go to sleep at night, so you get the rest, it is also safe. As for what it is sounds like a cold to me, it could be from the ear infection or the flu shot not sure. Did you get any medications for your ear infection?
Helpful - 0
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