Has anyone else dealt with pregnancy rhinitis? I've had it a few months now. I realise I just have to deal with it, but it's doing my head in.
I have a constant post nasal drip, with mucous filling my sinuses and running down my throat. This leads to lots of coughing and spitting up phlegm. The coughing can become quite violent and often leads to vomiting. I even got tested for whooping cough because I was worried about it.
In addition, I have at least one nose bleed a day, which can lead to more coughing and vomiting if the blood gets in my throat.
Apart from being disgusting, it's affecting my sleep. Whenever I lower or raise myself in bed, the phlegm moves and sets off another coughing fit. The other night, I was coughing and vomiting from 3:30 to 5am. Which means I am so tired. My emotional state isn't great anyway and being constantly tired just makes it worse.
Ways I'm dealing with it include sniffing rhinocourt once a day, sucking on ventolin as needed, sleeping on a wedge pillow with a humidifier on at night, and stocking up on tissues.
I realise it's not a serious medical condition and I feel bad about whinging about it. It's just something I have to suck up. I was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with it and if so, when did it end?
Oh you poor love. I'm sick with a throat infection and my nose is all congested. Pharmacist recommended lil fess nose spray/drops. Maybe you could try that? It's perfectly safe as its only saline.
I have the post nasal drip at the moment (morning chunks, anyone?) but not during pregnancy.
The frequent blood noses I can relate to those - I had those both pregnancies.
Apparently the mucosa membranes thin all over during pregnancy - including in the nose - and this leads to it in some extra special women like us. Mine were awful, and I had almost permanent scabs up in there, because they would just bleed, then heal over a tiny layer, which would itch, and come right out next time I needed to blow my nose or sneeze, etc. Very annoying, and actually quite sore.
Mine cleared up maybe 2-6 weeks after each birth. Not much help for you now, but my nose did go back to normal reasonably quickly.
Sorry about the post nasal drip though. It's a nightmare.
It makes me feel like I have pneumonia, because it gets so heavy on the lungs, and the coughing/vomiting is a *****.
Try a saline rinse to flush out your sinuses chemists sell a kit, I get nose bleeds all the time with my sinus infections. Make sure you are taking vitamin c as well as that can help.
I had it with DD1, although the nosebleeds weren't as frequent. Drinking apple cider vinegar in water seemed to help. Although placebos always work on me, so maybe it was that
I think it cleared up well before birth though. Peaked between 22-28 weeks.
I had problems with this too. I used saline spray (fess) all the way through which helped enormously. If that doesn't work, you could take it up a notch with a saline rinse.
ETA - chewing gum may help - the chewing motion helps ear/nose/throat drainage.
Just when I think it's getting better, today it is just horrible. A constant feeling of glue running down the back of my throat. Blergh!
MissM/black_rose/marydean - I have tried saline sprays. I still use them but, unlike previously pregnancies, in this one, they barely make a difference.
PN - it does feel like my lungs may be filling up with fluid. Hence, the constant coughing and spluttering.
Tinks - I didn't know rhinocourt can cause nose bleeds. I've started lining my nostrils with coconut oil before using it, in the hope that both heals the scabs and prevents more damage. My GP gave me the name of an oil that can help. I'm going to see how the coconut oil goes.
luna moth - I've tried apple cider vinegar, though not consistently. I also have bad heartburn, so adding ACV to that just burns.
My acupuncturist has told me to stay away from cheese and nuts. It gets really bad afterwards. Which may be why it's so bad today - last night's pizza.... He did say a teaspoon of sugar in water a couple of times a day will help, though I haven't found it does. Honey will make it worse.
I think it's just one of those pregnancy things I just have to suck up. The last couple of times it was bad urticaria & SPD. This time the histamine reaction seems to be more in my sinuses than my skin. Plus the SPD, because that is always fun.
I've learnt I can't avoid going to sleep to avoid this. I just need to go to bed earlier, knowing that it will take an hour of coughing and vomiting before I can settle and that I'll have at least another hour of it during the night. The rest of the world has to put up with me constantly spitting up phlegm.
Oh look, another blood nose...excuse me whilst I stick tissues up my nose.
I find mineral water helps clear that gluey feeling. It was one of the only liquids I could stomach, actually. That, and later milk (though not for the gluey feeling of course).
See, now that weirds me out on the ACV. So many natural parenting nancies swear it is good for heartburn, but I can't see how it would be?!?! Still, never made mine any worse, and I took a lot towards the end - had a cold at 39 weeks and was pretty worried. And you know about slippery elm for heartburn, right?
Anyway, digression is what I do best. I think cutting dairy right back might work in your favour. Worth a try.
I did not know abut slippery elm for heartburn. I am a huge user of ACV - I use it for everything. I may need to use it more preventatively, before the heartburn and coughing starts. I gave myself food poisoning last week and the ACV was awesome at helping get over that quickly.
black_rose - I used to have one of those saline washes. I must get another one. I'd forgotten about them.
I can't help for during the day, but I get this at night and same with dd. I have tried pretty well everything for both of us, and short of dosing myself up on sinus decongestants (dont know if theyre pg friendly) pretty much the only thing that helps is to have a humidifier/vaporiser on (doesnt have to have anything in it except water) AND a heater. The heater in particular is the one that does alot, but the vaporiser sinches it. Make sure the door is closed and the heat and humidity can't escape.
Hth
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Pregnancy Rhinitis / Post Nasal Drip
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