Anyone else fancy a moan? (virus related)

[PoptartPoptart]

I've been ill on and off since the beginning of December. Started with a cold, body aches and pains, headaches, unproductive cough etc. Went to the docs because my chest felt very tight but apparently chest was clear, no infection, just a virus. Started to feel a bit better after about three weeks, but then a couple of days after Christmas all the same symptoms came back, including sinus pain. Back to the docs who prescribed amoxicillin for the sinus pain, but still said my chest was clear and it was viral. It's been 7 weeks now since the start of it and I am officially FED UP. I've been eating copious amounts of fruit and veg, taking vitamin supplements and getting lots of rest but I just cannot seem to shift this thing. What are these bloody viruses these days and why do they take so long to shift? Feels like it's never gonna end

[dikkertjedap]

Do you think your chest is clear? It is difficult for a GP to be absolutely certain that a chest is clear by just listening. The only sure way is a chest X ray.

I have plenty of experience unfortunately with GPs not diagnosing pneumonia. So follow your own feeling and if you think there is something else go to hospital (A&E) or ask GP for chest X ray.

It is also possible that you have picked up one virus and then another. There are various types of flu going round. In December the B-strain was virulent and now it is A again, including what was previously known as swine flu. Whooping cough is also still doing the rounds.

For your sinuses you could consider Sinutab/Sudafed etc. You would expect an improvement between 24-48 hours after starting antibiotics. If there is no improvement, then either (1) you are on the wrong type of antibiotics or (2) it is viral.

Hope you get better soon.

[PoptartPoptart]

Thanks dikkertjedap, no, I don't think my chest is clear because it doesn't feel clear, but then wouldn't the amoxicillin have sorted it out if it was a chest infection? It feels really tight like there is a lot of mucus, except I can't seem to cough anything up despite all the expectorant medicine I've been taking. I had the flu jab back in October too. Also, wouldn't I feel more ill if it was pneumonia? Urgh, this is rubbish, I hate winter.

[dikkertjedap]

It depends on what type of bacteria is causing the infection whether amoxycillin clears it or not. Both dd and I have had pneumonia on a number of occasions. Amoxycillin never cleared it, I tend to need clarithromycin and dd tends to end up on IV antibiotics.

To know for sure ask for a chest X-ray. If they see signs of pneumonia they will probably give you heavy duty (second line) antibiotics and ask for a blood test.

Do insist if you are concerned or simply go to A&E.

[dikkertjedap]

Flu jab gives protection to the main flu strains currently around. However, protection is not 100 per cent as with all jabs. You can still get it, but it will probably milder than it otherwise would have been.

[digerd]

My mother was born in 1913, and survived Diptheria, which many children did not in those days. For the rest of her life she had no viruses, not even a cold, never had a cough. We were all convinced that the antibodies of Diptheria that her own body produced must have remained and been so strong as to combat any other virus going.
I was plagued with colds and coughs until I went to Germany, where I had none for the whole time I was there. In a week/10 days of visiting Uk I would go down with one every time.
I now have the flu jab, and for 4 years never got a cold, but then I did get the flu with raised temperature in 2010 with a chest infection shown on X-ray at A&E. After 6 weeks my body had got rid of the chest infection - probably before then without ABs. But it wasn't a really bad infection.
Where/how are all these new strains developing?

[Twosugarsplease]

Hi, My ds got tonsillitis on 15thnov to be exact, since then we have all been ill, not a day gone by since where one of us (6 in our house) hadn't been ill. We have all had a cold twice too ! Second time round came back with a vengeance on us all. Dp had it what seemed like forever, sinus trouble too, said he felt like his head could explode with it, sudofed helped. Cold wise were on the mend, dsd just came home from her mums feeling sick ! Sleeping in she'd tonight I think
Hope you feel better very soon

[Lollybrolly]

Yes I want a moan. I feel the need for a self indulgent moan cos I feel so crap.

Chest started to feel tight about beginning of December. Like you poptart I feel like I have a congested chest but the GP says no.

I have had really achey joints to the point of hobbling around the house since 2 days before Xmas. I feel washed out and really tired all the time. My chest hurts and the past 10 days or so I have been becoming increasinglly breathless and had pains in my chest as well.

Saw GP again yesterday who says chest sounds clear but he could see from my speaking I was breathless. I came away with a blue Salbutamol inhaler which I am not convinced is doing much atm. I have to go back and see him next Wednesday.

Its awful - just bending over to put washing in the machine or walking up the stairs is killing me. Was planning on starting running again in the new year - here we are on the 12th day and my trainers have not seen the light of day as I can hardly walk let alone run.

Hope some miracle cure comes along soon and make us all better.

[dikkertjedap]

Lollybrolly I would insist on a chest X-ray, as these are pneumonia symptoms and there are many many GPs who are not able to diagnose pneumonia through listening to your chest. My dd was blue lighted to hospital with life threatening pneumonia in both lungs whereas the GP just two hours before hand told me I was an over anxious mother and there was nothing wrong with my dd apart from just a virus. Since then both myself and dd have had pneumonia again, and again GPs did not manage to diagnose it.

[PoptartPoptart]

Oh dear, sorry to hear of others feeling crap too. I hate all these new virus strains, the worst thing is that they are so stubborn and seem to linger on forever. Lollybrolly - I've been using DS's salbutamol inhaler (he has loads of spares) when my chest feels really bad, but to be honest it doesn't offer much relief at all. I think I will take myself back to GP and insist on an X-ray. I too was planning to start exercising in January (Shred DVD) but so far have felt far too ill to even contemplate it. Bleugh!

[Lollybrolly]

dikkertjedap - that sounds scary. I dont feel feverish though. I have once or twice but not in general.

My GP did mention referring me for a chest Xray so I will insist on this.

[dikkertjedap]

Not everybody with pneumonia has fever. My dd had very very high fever, I had no fever at all. Both of us had confirmed pneumonia (X-ray and blood test to confirm type of bacteria causing it).