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1646392 tn?1333251893

Congestion during pregnancy..so bad I want to cry

I am 14.5 weeks pregnant.  I have had problems with congestion since 8 weeks.  Since about 11 weeks, it has been unmanageable.  I have done sinus rinses, nose strips, sudafed, benedryl at night, vicks rub, and zyrtec.  I can get about two hours of sleep at night before I wake up with my nose running and nose clogged.  My husband has started sleeping the guest room because I keep him up at night.  I tend to go through a roll of toilet paper blowing my nose in two to three nights.  I stay awake for one to three hours at night trying to breath, blowing my nose, and trying to fall back asleep.  I stay congested all day only with relief of an about two hours after taking sudafed.    

My question is....do any of you know of anything I can ask my OB to prescribe me?  I have talked to my Family Practitioner about steroid injections and they do not give those.  I am at my wits end.  Any help will be much appreciated.

Oh BTW, I have some problems with allergies but nothing proven, had the back test and came out negative on all allergies so they just told me to take allegra.  I can't take allegra and sudafed together so I switched to zyrtec.  I am also allergic to IB Profrin and Aspirin.
Best Answer
202436 tn?1326474333
I have the EXACT same problems as you during my pregnancies.  I have tried zyrtec, allegra, claritin, etc, etc.  claritin does ok.  I also found that actual psuedoephedrine (the kind you have to get from the pharmacy desk) works much better than the sudafed phenylephrine.  Something else I have found that amazingly works WONDERS for unclogging the most clogged sinus....I think it's called "4 way" it's a sinus spray you can buy over the counter.  I got the menthol/phenylephrine kind.  A couple of drops in the congested sinus, pinch my nose together for a couple of seconds and within a minute it is unclogged, I can breath and fall back asleep.
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202436 tn?1326474333
Your welcome.  Keep in mind that many doctors will prescive category C drugs because they have found through experience that they work and the benefits outweigh the risks.  Category C doesn't mean that it DOES cause problems, it means there just isn't enough evidence either way.  Good luck, hopefully your doc can find something to give you relief.  
Helpful - 0
1646392 tn?1333251893
Interesting....  I didn't realize that the meds were category C drugs.  I did some research last night after posting this and found out that Rhinocort AQ is nasal spraty steroid that is a category B, the only one.  I am going to ask my doctor tomorrow for a script.  I don't care if insurance doesn't even cover it, I will pay whatever for some relief.  I will also ask about the 4 way spray as well too.  Thanks for your help!
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202436 tn?1326474333
My ob had already told me phenylephrine was safe.  Funny how doctors  vary on what they recommend. Mine told me to stay away from psuedoephedrine in the first trimester and stick with phenylephrine.  But I've been pregnant enough times and seen enough Ob's to pretty much figure out what I can and can't take.  This last pregnancy was my 6th full term so I go more on personal experience than my doc.  Definitely talk to your doc though.  

The cough drops don't necessarily help with the congestion.  The menthol helps to soothe your nasal passages, it might not clear them up but it can make it a little more comfortable.  

Phenylephrine and Psuedoephedrine are both Pregnancy Category C drugs which means there isn't enough evidence to know if it will cause problems.

Here is a link with some info about the 4way:

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/phenylephrine-nasal.html

Here is one for Pseudoephedrine

http://www.drugs.com/pseudoephedrine.html
Helpful - 0
1646392 tn?1333251893
Thank you!  Did your Dr. tell you that you can take 4 Way nose spray while pg?  I will def ask about that and get some menthol cough drops.  Never knew cough drops help with congestion.  I am taking the pseuodophedrine only, my OB won't let me take the phenylephrine one.
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202436 tn?1326474333
Oh and I become addicted to menthol cough drops, they help a little as well.
Helpful - 0
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