Severe Congestion Allergy Problems and Pregnant

E.,
I had the exact same thing last year! I am sorry to say that nothing worked, I spent the entire pregnancy sleeping in a chair because I couldn't breathe the minute I laid down. My dr let me take zyrtek and rhinecort nasal spray. I used my nasal rinse every day and nothing made it better. Within a week of having the baby I felt much better. I hate to say it but I think the baby is doing it to you. My Dr. said that some of us generate a lot more mucus than others.
I wish you all the best!
K.

Have you tried the netti pot? It is a little pot that you fill with water and a solution and it is supposed to flush out your sinuses? Walgreens has them.

You might want to check with your OB also, or your GP they might have another solution.

I am 22 weeks and have had the same issues. I take Vemma which has such high antioxidants and seems to help with the inflammation in my nose. It has a 30 day money back trial...so you could try it and see. Also a netti pot helps.

http://www.purenutrition.vemma.com/

Updated

I am 22 weeks and have had the same issues. I take Vemma which has such high antioxidants and seems to help with the inflammation in my nose. It has a 30 day money back trial...so you could try it and see. Also a netti pot helps.

http://www.purenutrition.vemma.com/

Garlic is a natural antihistimine; it will decrease (not eliminate) the histimine responce. I take kyolic aged garlic extract in a capsule form. The kyolic garlic is aged so that it does not make you smell like garlic. I also go to a doctor of osteopathy who is an expert in crainial manipulation. She will drain the fluid out of my sinuses and ears. It's fast, painless and avoids the need for meds.

You could also consider going to a chinese medicine doctor who practices 'nambudripads allergy elimination' techniques. I did this for my daughter and it helped her tremendously.

hope you feel better :)

Hi, E.. Some of your symptoms are surely related to the increased amounts of estrogen and blood in your body caused by pregnancy. I am sure it is only compounded by spring allergies. If you have no other symptoms (sneezing, sore throat, coughing, swollen glands, fever, etc.), then it is probably pregnancy rhinitis. It could be a combination of allergies and pregnancy rhinitis. I used a neti pot, and it really helped. I also kept a humidifier in my room and slept with my head more elevated. (Just be sure to change the humidifier water often to prevent bacteria growth. Also, decongestant nose spray, could potentially make your congestion much worse because it can lead to swelling of the nasal cavities, called rebound inflammation. Once hormone levels even out (usually near the beginning of the second trimester), you may see a decrease in your symptoms. Talk to your doctor to find something that will keep you from being miserable in the meantime. Hope you feel better soon!

There are prescription allergy meds you can take while pregnant. Don't suffer any more than you have to!! Cal; your DR and see what he/she says you can do!

S.

I would see an acupuncturist or homeopathist and make sure to keep up on the vitamin C and zinc. Hope you feel better!

I have allergies and 5 years ago I was taking Allegra D and using Flonase on a daily basis. I was given the green light by my OB and other doctors that I could continue the use of Flonase. It's better for you then Afrin is. They have done tests/studies on Flonase and can not detect any levels of Flonase in your bloodstream after taking it. If its not in your bloodstream then your baby isn't getting any either. It stays in the nose and will reduce the swelling making life/sleep much better. Talk to your doctor about it. Hopefully it helps.

This happened to me when I was pregnant! It was TERRIBLE. I don't if yours is actual allergies or if it is actually pregnancy congestion. Mine was the latter. My nasal membranes were actually so swollen that my nose was completely sealed and I couldn't breathe even a little bit if I closed my mouth. The nasal rinses/neti pot didn't work because 1) the couldn't get past the swollen membranes 2) mucus wasn't the problem--there was nothing to rinse away or blow out. It was actually blood filling the membranes that wouldn't recede. The only thing that works in that case is a decongestant like sudafed or an OTC nasal spray like Afrin. And of course, neither is great to use when you are pregnant. The Afrin is tough because if works at first but you have to keep using it and you are not supposed to. The reason nothing is helping that you listed above may be an indication that you are not actually suffering from allergies (which cause stuffiness, itchiness) but that this is congestion. It does feel a lot like allergies but allergy treatments won't work. Mine was so bad I had to be put on a nasal steriod spray after baby was born because it didn't go away after giving birth. I ended up going to an Ear/Nose/Throat specialist for help. I so feel your pain!

I had to use local honey. If you take 1 tsp a day after about a week you will start to build a natural immunity to the local plants. It must be LOCAL honey, since it's made from the plants you're around each day. ;) I hope you start feeling better soon.

I really feel for you. Had the same problem and ended up having a non surgical nasal drainage procedure done at the hospital. It can be extremely painful but well worth going through. Hope you don't need this but do seek medical help as it is apparently common in pregnancy.
Good luck and hope the rest of the pregnancy goes well.
Mum of 4...

I'm so sorry! I experienced this with my last child, and my dr. told me not to take the "good stuff" like Claritin D, Zyrtec, Allegra, etc. She did sanction Tylenol products, so I took Tylenol Cold pretty much around the clock. I sought advice from several other doctors as well because I was taking it so much, but they all said it was fine (and my child is fine). It was the ONLY thing that provided any relief. It wasn't as good as really good allergy medicine, but at least it took care of the congestion, snot and watering eyes for a few hours at a time. I was also able to get enough relief to fall asleep on it.

I second the neti pot.

Depending on finances and insurance, could you get a midwife to provide concurrent care? A good midwife can help you with solutions to these kinds of things that an ob/gyn will have no insight into!

I suffered from all kinds of things like leg cramps, insomnia, anxiety that were all pregnancy related. The best my ob did was say, hmm....are you drinking enough water? Do you need drugs?

My midwives got me on all kinds of good stuff that was healthy for my baby and helped me tremendously.

I would really recommend seeking some alternative treatment, you don't want to be dosing up on these other things you listed your whole pregnancy.

i went to the doc and had to do 3 perscriptions.go to the doc it makesit harder to control your allergies when you are pregnant. your immunity system is down. I had a sinus infection for 4 months when I was preganat with my second one. GO TO THE DOCTOR

Hi E.,

We only have allergic reactions to natural things when our immune system is not strong enough to fight off the problems. I know your on a prenatal but a lot of them don't effectively absorb. Instead of OTC meds, try an absorbable multivitamin that will boost your immune system so your own body can fight this off. Research the delivery system of the one you are on and if the doctor can't tell you how the nutrients are delivered into the bloodstream, then the vitamin is just being digested and voided. (There are four primary delivery systems. Sulfonate and Gluconate which are poor, Chelate which is better and Oligofructose Complex which is best.)

I removed the synthetic chemicals from my house so my immune system was not worn out from fighting unnatural things and I started on my vitamin. (A detox of the home would be a great thing for your baby as well.) I take one that is guaranteed to absorb. My allergies went completely away and it is freedom! I don't have to make excuses to my family because I can go anywhere and do anything now.

Hope this helps!

M.