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Original poster

To expect a common cold to sod off after over TWO weeks?

32 replies

NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 12:12

I came down with a stinking cold on Nov 23rd. I remember it vividly because my birrthday was coming up, and we had made plans, so I had several days to get over it.
Come my birthday, the cold was worse, now at the runny nose watery eyes stage, so I suffered a night out with all that.
Then a weekend break was coming up on 5th December....should be over it all by then I thought...nope, just got back, and still suffering, now at the endless blowing of nose trying and failing to clear blocked up junk (sorry) feel like my head in a bucket stage.

I feel well apart from all the above, so it's not flu or some deadly virus, but when did a common cold last so long?
Has anyone else had similar recently...how much longer does it last??

OP posts:
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Original poster
NovemberMorn · 10/12/2025 12:38

JillyComeLately · 10/12/2025 00:25

Covid affects so many people in different ways. As far as I know I have never had it, even though everyone in my family, apart from my husband, has had it more than once.
I don't test anymore, rightly or wrongly.

Show quote history

I think the majority gave up testing ages ago.
People are being advised locally to start wearing face masks again as the winter bugs are spreading thick and fast.

OP posts:
JillyComeLately · 10/12/2025 00:25

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 09/12/2025 23:08

I had that for a bit, with a very mildly rattley chest (only when actually running)

Anyway I looked it up and apparently you don't get wheezy with a cold, so I concluded it was Covid. Around that time it went an away.

Covid affects so many people in different ways. As far as I know I have never had it, even though everyone in my family, apart from my husband, has had it more than once.
I don't test anymore, rightly or wrongly.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 09/12/2025 23:08

I had that for a bit, with a very mildly rattley chest (only when actually running)

Anyway I looked it up and apparently you don't get wheezy with a cold, so I concluded it was Covid. Around that time it went an away.

JillyComeLately · 09/12/2025 23:06

I don't get many colds, but the one doing the rounds at the moment, in my area at least, is lethal. It's not helped by people openly coughing and sneezing in public places without restraining their germs.

Original poster
NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 16:05

Mauhea · 09/12/2025 14:47

I've had what I think is the flu that's going around - razor blade throat, fever and muscle aches for a few days which has turned in to a chesty cough and constantly blowing some unholy gunk from what feels like the back of my brain. I came down with it last Friday and I'm genuinely annoyed that it still hasn't cleared off! My toddler has had about three snot free days since he started nursery in September so I'm hoping the Christmas holidays will finally break the cycle and we'll both enjoy some semblance of good health!

Some mums, and I know because I was one of them, seem to catch all the bugs going when they have little ones in school. Here's hoping you are both well soon.

It seems, at least reading through this thread, that colds last far longer than they used to, for everyone who is feeling rough right now, here's hoping we feel better soon, no one wants to feel like crap during the Christmas festivities.

OP posts:
Mauhea · 09/12/2025 14:47

I've had what I think is the flu that's going around - razor blade throat, fever and muscle aches for a few days which has turned in to a chesty cough and constantly blowing some unholy gunk from what feels like the back of my brain. I came down with it last Friday and I'm genuinely annoyed that it still hasn't cleared off! My toddler has had about three snot free days since he started nursery in September so I'm hoping the Christmas holidays will finally break the cycle and we'll both enjoy some semblance of good health!

Agix · 09/12/2025 14:12

Came down with it Sunday before last, so just over a week now. Every time I think it's going away it ramps back up again with some new symptom.

MiddleAgedDread · 09/12/2025 14:12

oooh that could have been related @NovemberMorn ! Mine feel like I need to scratch right inside them, it's driving me mad. I think my throat is sore from post nasal drip. Might have to start back on the steam inhalation.

Original poster
NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 14:06

MiddleAgedDread · 09/12/2025 13:42

I've had something since the 12th Nov. started in my ears / sinuses, progressed to epic amounts of snotty sneezing, then got a cough, it's all better than it was but I've still got a weird feeling in my left ear like there's liquid running around in it, my chest isn't 100% and I woke up with a terribly sore throat this morning. I'm sick of it now!

Thanks for all the replies and advice, I will definitely follow some of it, see if it helps.

MiddleAgedDread, thinking back, trouble with my ears was the start to this horrible cold.
I have never had trouble with my ears before, but a couple of night before this started, I woke up with the most horrendous vertigo, I have not had it before. I was bumping into walls and furniture on the way to the bathroom, where I was sick on and off for hours, I wondered if I had eaten something, it was unusual and pretty awful. I was deaf in one ear for a day or two...then the cold started.
No trouble with my ears since, and thankfully no vertigo, but it could be connected.

OP posts:
MiddleAgedDread · 09/12/2025 13:42

I've had something since the 12th Nov. started in my ears / sinuses, progressed to epic amounts of snotty sneezing, then got a cough, it's all better than it was but I've still got a weird feeling in my left ear like there's liquid running around in it, my chest isn't 100% and I woke up with a terribly sore throat this morning. I'm sick of it now!

ToffeePennie · 09/12/2025 13:42

Apparently everyone’s getting it. It’s not nice at all and my family are pressuring me to go to hospital to visit a sick relative before Christmas, but at this rate I won’t be able to!

ldnmusic87 · 09/12/2025 13:41

I've had my current cold for 7 weeks now

Anonna123 · 09/12/2025 13:40

My colds always last a couple of weeks. The average is 10 days. We just don't expect it to last so long every time. A cough for up to 3 weeks after a common cold is usual.

KitsyWitsy · 09/12/2025 13:38

I flew to america a few weeks ago. On the plane my throat felt a bit scratchy. I was then dying of cold for 3 weeks!! The whole time I was there! Saw more of Walgreens for remedies than anything else!

WalkDontWalk · 09/12/2025 13:37

NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 12:12

I came down with a stinking cold on Nov 23rd. I remember it vividly because my birrthday was coming up, and we had made plans, so I had several days to get over it.
Come my birthday, the cold was worse, now at the runny nose watery eyes stage, so I suffered a night out with all that.
Then a weekend break was coming up on 5th December....should be over it all by then I thought...nope, just got back, and still suffering, now at the endless blowing of nose trying and failing to clear blocked up junk (sorry) feel like my head in a bucket stage.

I feel well apart from all the above, so it's not flu or some deadly virus, but when did a common cold last so long?
Has anyone else had similar recently...how much longer does it last??

Snuffles and a lot of sneezing since late September. Don't feel awful. Just snotty.

Mulledjuice · 09/12/2025 13:31

NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 13:11

No, but I know I should be.
I am taking paracetamol 3 times a day, because I know I have a temp,sucking lozenges and drinking hot and cold drinks when I can.
I am dreading getting a chest infection like 'Mulledjuice' I hope the antibiotics work fast for you)
That's the one thing that would floor me, as I said, so far (touch wood) I don't feel ill.

I just think the common cold, as it's always been called, has never lasted like they seem o nowadays.

Show quote history

Defo worth doing steam/saline to help clear it all out. Keeping hydrated helps to loosen it all up

snoopythebeagle · 09/12/2025 13:28

NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 13:17

I don't regularly, but I eat very well, what some refer to as a Mediterranean diet, and apart from arthritis am usually very fit and well.
I have dabbled in vitamins, last ones I tried were NMNH, which people raved about, they didn't seem to make any difference.

Show quote history

It may be worth looking at Vitamin D - everyone in the UK should be supplementing it in winter anyway, but I've found my immune system has improved massively since I started taking it regularly. I just get it from Tesco.

Original poster
NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 13:25

YankSplaining · 09/12/2025 13:17

I had a cold like this. Same thing - felt well otherwise, kept waiting for it to go away, blowing my nose all the time. I still don’t know why it lasted so long, but it turned into pneumonia and I was laid up in bed over Christmas, taking several medications multiple times per day and doing my best to breathe.

Oh that's scary, especially as you felt well.
Hopefully this Christmas will be a lot better for you. x

OP posts:
Original poster
NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 13:17

snoopythebeagle · 09/12/2025 13:13

Do you take regular vitamins?

I don't regularly, but I eat very well, what some refer to as a Mediterranean diet, and apart from arthritis am usually very fit and well.
I have dabbled in vitamins, last ones I tried were NMNH, which people raved about, they didn't seem to make any difference.

OP posts:
YankSplaining · 09/12/2025 13:17

I had a cold like this. Same thing - felt well otherwise, kept waiting for it to go away, blowing my nose all the time. I still don’t know why it lasted so long, but it turned into pneumonia and I was laid up in bed over Christmas, taking several medications multiple times per day and doing my best to breathe.

Nutmuncher · 09/12/2025 13:15

Perhaps Covid? Also how ‘healthy’ are you? If you’re low on vitamins or have a nutrient poor diet then it can slow down your recovery time from bugs. Vaping, smoking, obesity, alcohol indulgence can take a toll on immune systems too.

snoopythebeagle · 09/12/2025 13:13

Do you take regular vitamins?

Original poster
NovemberMorn · 09/12/2025 13:11

Mulledjuice · 09/12/2025 13:06

It's grim isn't it - i ended up with a chest infection on top of whatever bug i had been battling, and the rattling chest prompted the GP to ptescribe me antibiotics.

Are you doing lots of steam/saline rinses to help clear the phlegm?

No, but I know I should be.
I am taking paracetamol 3 times a day, because I know I have a temp,sucking lozenges and drinking hot and cold drinks when I can.
I am dreading getting a chest infection like 'Mulledjuice' I hope the antibiotics work fast for you)
That's the one thing that would floor me, as I said, so far (touch wood) I don't feel ill.

I just think the common cold, as it's always been called, has never lasted like they seem o nowadays.

OP posts:
HatStickBoots · 09/12/2025 13:09

Same. I don’t know if it’s one after the other as I think I had a brief window that lasted two whole days when I thought it was over! It came back again even worse! I’ve had fatigue and headaches because of the constant phlegm production. One eye waters, the other doesn’t. My allergy tablets aren’t doing a thing. It’s just a damned nuiscance and so irritating.

Mulledjuice · 09/12/2025 13:06

It's grim isn't it - i ended up with a chest infection on top of whatever bug i had been battling, and the rattling chest prompted the GP to ptescribe me antibiotics.

Are you doing lots of steam/saline rinses to help clear the phlegm?