cold and severe congestion

hey everybody,

I am 11 weeks pregnant now and I have a cold with a fever and the worst is a severe congestion.  my Dr told me I could of taken regular tylenol and I did, but so far nothing works and I dont know how much I can take. I cant breath nor sleep and my head is exploding. Does anbody have an idea of what I can do to feel a little better without harming my baby will be greatly appreciated.

[AnnieBrooke]

You'll need a humidifier for your baby anyway, so buy one early and make a tent out of a towel or set it up in the bathroom and breathe the moisture.  A cool-mist one is very soothing and clears your head.  Also, try the time-release Tylenol.  To my surprise, though I am a person for whom regular Tylenol might as well be a placebo pill, the time-release kind works.  Finally, if you cannot find anything else that works, call the doctor and see if you can get something like Vicodin.  That would only be as a last resort.

[kamailelou]

Try taking Zicam.  It's all ZINC.. I had a cold a few weeks and ago and used the nasal gel for the congestion and the chewable tablets 3x during the day. I felt better in 4 days!  You only take it when you have the cold symptoms already.  Dr. said it was good to use since it's only homeopathetic remedy.  Hope you feel better soon!

[micheleB]

I agree that trying a humidifier may help.  I was also told I could use Saline nose spray (it helps a bit) and if it still wasn't helping you could use a nasal spray like Otrivin for a few days.

I hope it clears for you.  Mine didn't and I ended up with Sinusitis, and am now on antibiotics (one benefit is it also seems to be helping the cold).

Good luck - I know how awful it is to not be able to really take anything for it.

[cicin]

thank you ladies for your comments. I call the Dr today and didn't really talk to him but after his secretary spoke to him she told me that I could take a small dose of regular sudafed for the congestion tylenol extra strenght and also robitussin for the cough. I'm still skeptible about it. I will try the humidifier cause I'm not to sure about all this over the counter medicin stuff she told me, I'm just trying to keep my baby safe.