Hello! I have been sick since Wednesday. It started out with a horrible sore throat, that was bad enough to be strep, so we kept an eye on it. But then the cold like symptoms started setting in. Stuffy nose, aching body, sneezing, etc.

Well, at first I thought it was just a cold, but I've had some pretty nasty colds before, but this one is really bad. I have a lot of trouble breathing, I can't sleep at night because I'll wake up having difficulty breathing, I have a constant headache, and my whole body is just tired and weak, more so than it usually gets with a cold.

I've also had a mild fever starting recently and I've just been so out of it, I really can't do too much. Cold medicine isn't helping me much either. I also have asthma, so I've been taking my inhaler a lot recently as well.

I am also starting to develop a cough. It's not bringing up mucus, but I read with "walking" pneumonia, it doesn't have to. It also hurts when I breathe in, in my chest area.

So, my question is, how can you tell if it's just a cold or if it's turned into something more? If I remember correctly, "walking" pneumonia is usually brought on gradually, yes? I'm not sure. I had it once before, but I was little so I don't remember.

I'm thinking I should just keep watching it, and see how it progresses. I can't go to the doctor unless my parents think that something is SERIOUSLY wrong, since we've spent all our doctor's expenses for the year already.

Like I said, it's only been since Wednesday, so I'm going to keep watching it, but I was curious to know how you tell when it's turned into something more?

And any ideas how to help me try and sleep at night?

Thanks!