I'm on my 5th day of a nasty cold and I have a bad feeling it may actually be a sinus infection. But I'm 33 weeks pregnant and would really like to avoid antibiotics if possible. Anyone else have a sinus infection during pregnancy? What did you do for it?
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I had a really nasty one....a majorly pounding headache, stuck on the couch with ice and heat trying to get it out, serious vertigo whenever I stood up. I was incapable of caring for E or doing anything other than lay there. I got antibiotics (amoxicillin) and they put me on mucinex for the drainage. I'm also really susceptible to sinus infections for some reason, so once I get them, I get them. I had had a cold for weeks prior, so it was prime development for it.
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@blackbird: Ugh that sounds brutal
I'm not there but this congestion is killing me. Did you just put ice and heat on your face? That actually sounds nice right now!
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Do you have a neti pot? I have successfully gotten rid of sinus infections pregnant and not with one. I use it 4-6 times a day until I feel better.
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@JessKas: I don't, they've always scared me! Does it hurt?
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I had two about a month or so ago. I'm 31 weeks plus pregnant right now. I ended up with antibiotics both times. The second time, my OB wanted me to go to the doctor right away. Part of it was the winter and part of it was the switching to a new daycare/preschool. My LO had a sinus infection too. The weather just changed today. I woke up with sinus pressure and a bit of a headache. Claritin has been helpful.
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@SeptMomma12: I did! If you have a sinus infection, you'll have pain along with it, so you may not be there yet so you might be able to avoid it! I did a lot of saline rinses, too, but by the time mine was full blown, there was nothing to do about it. Mucinex was something my dr allowed and i took it whenever i had a cold. Whatever to get the congestion and drainage OUT of me, because i knew if it festered, it'd surely end up infected. The heat did help to soften the mucous and get it out, but I also used ice for the inflammation of my sinus cavities.
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@SeptMomma12: It doesn't hurt but it takes getting used to. Mine has SAVED me. I used to get so many sinus infections a year but now I rinse every time I get a cold and only get maybe one a year. Using it actually feels pretty good because it relieves the pressure.
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I had a 8 week sinus infection in the first trimester. Had to be on 3 different antibiotics.
Used my netipot. Ultimately, I gave up dairy to cut down on mucous production and that helped with the final antibiotic.
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@SeptMomma12: I had a sinus infection/bronchitis with a fever in my first tri. A Z-pack cleared it up. I personally don't love the neti pot, but I do use a saline spray daily (Simply Saline or generic) that helps clear things out. A humidifier and a steamy shower helps, too.
I actually just read this article this morning about sinus infections and antibiotics:
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@macintosh: That article is really helpful, thanks! I'm thinking this is probably viral because my son had a cold/pink eye last week.
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I had a terrible one. I toughed it out for 7 days before throwing in the towel and going to the doctor for antibiotics. It was heaven, they instantly made me feel better. I couldn't take the headaches pressure anymore.
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I did. It was awful. My jaw even hurt! My OB wanted me to stick it out a few more days when I called, but suggested Sudafed (was at the end of 2nd trimester). I took Sudafed, but it didn't do much, so I stopped. It went away before I needed to call back. Tons of hot showers (rest was out of the picture with a 2 year old who was also sick), and just toughing it out (I used saline spray, too). A humidifier. Nothing really helped other than time, though.
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I had the most severe sinus infection of my life during the first trimester. It was about three weeks of pure hell. It took three rounds of antibiotics and inhaled steroids to finally get rid of it. When I was in the thick of it I was so congested that I couldn't even get the neti pot to work. Once things started draining, though, I used the neti pot twice a day to help get rid of everything and it was a god send. I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven't gotten to the point of severe congestion yet.
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I didn't have one while I was pregnant, but did have one a couple months ago that lasted 6 weeks and was brutal. My voice sounded ridiculous, I couldn't stop blowing my nose every 5 seconds, and I had daily migraines for about half of it. I resisted going to the doc because I read that it's hard to know whether a sinus infection is viral or bacterial, and usually they're viral. I guess a lot of people attribute getting better to antibiotics, but usually the illness is just taking the same amount of time to run its course. Doctors will give them to you for a sinus infection because patients expect them. I was convinced it would never fully go away, but it did. I saw my doctor shortly afterward for something else, and asked her of antibiotics would have done anything to speed up my recovery, and she said likely not. Hang in there and try the neti pot. I hope you feel better soon!
I'm not there but this congestion is killing me. Did you just put ice and heat on your face? That actually sounds nice right now!
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