Anyone else struck down with a horrible winter virus/flu thing?

[DruidKnight]

There was a thread on this somewhere but I can't find it now. I've lost track of how many days I've been feeling shit, but it started before Christmas and no signs of improvement. Achy, weak, throbbing sinuses, fever over 38. I survived hosting a family Christmas on ibuprofen and coffee but I just want to feel better now!! Tell me how you're doing and we can moan and groan together... 🫂

Yes, it's just using sterilised water and salt and some sort of syringe.

We’ve got influenza A 😔 I’ve been vaxxed so hopefully mine will continue to stay milder than the others, but it’s a horrible thing. It started with a burning temperature, extreme headache and dry cough, some were sick too (presumably due to the fever). The aching joints and muscles and sweating are awful.Temperatures of 39+, which paracetamol and Calpol didn’t help. Just hoping we all get better soon.

I suspected flu as it was clearly something nasty and a Covid test was negative. What I didn’t realise was that you can buy flu tests that test for both influenza A and B. So I ordered some online and got an immediate positive for influenza A. Knowing what we’ve got doesn’t make it physically better, but I find it helps mentally and also means we’re more careful about resting.

I highly recommend the flu tests to anyone feeling really ill. They’re by Flowflex and available in Boots and some supermarkets.

Hoping everyone here gets well soon x

Do all of the people suffering with flu not consider getting a flu jab every year? They are really effective, but not 100%. They cost about £20.

My DH since Christmas Eve, I feel sorry for him as he hasn't left the house since then...but he is being a miserable cunt.

I haven't had a fever so not as ill as many, but I have had a cold and cough that just won't go away. Had it three weeks now. Cough is so bad I keep thinking I'll be sick. Very tired and fed up with it.

I had the flu jab free at work. Still feeling awful. Apparently it wasn't very effective this year.

The flu vaccine is not 'really effective'. This year they reckon it 'may' reduce symptoms in up to 36% of people exposed to the virus, so not very effective at all as is evidenced by all the sick vaccinated people around us and the full hospital wards. I didn't get round to getting mine and I'm the only person in my family and workplace to avoid it 🤷

Anyone, hope everyone feels better soon.

I had the flu vaccination and I still have flu. Maybe it would have been worse without the vaccination, but even the best flu vaccinations (ie ones that correctly predict and cover the relevant strains) are nowhere near 100% effective.

I get the flu jab every year, have done since I was a child due to a chronic health condition.

I'm on day 19 here. Now on antibiotics as was getting a lot of sinus pressure, that seems to be easing but still fatigued, weak and unwell. Immune system is definitely still revved up, not fun!

Feeling awful today . Head and throat killing be from coughing . Painkillers don’t seem to be doing much .

It's been horrific. The worst of it is my dd has ended up hallucinating at night with fever. So far managed to get her temps down with cold flannels and calpol.

The first 2 days i just lay there unable to do anything but the bare minimum. I'm finally a bit more functional after a week. It feels like covid in some ways, symptoms moving about, but I've no tests and we're not going out so it wouldn't solve much to know if it was or wasn't.

Anyone getting stomach pain with it?

Update: 6 of 6 of us in our nuclear family (me, DH, 4 kids) all have the cold. Thanks MIL. It's dragging on and on, I am day 8 and still sneezing.

I think it might be RSV. No fevers, thankfully, so probably not flu. I don't think it's covid as I usually lose my sense of smell with that and haven't this time. It's just a horrible cold that lingers and lingers.

I'm on day 13 . Feel a lot better but cough still bad .

I’m 3 1/2 weeks in now. It started with flu symptoms, full body aches, temperature and fatigue. Then severe sore throat the week after. Now I’m just completely blocked up and I can’t smell or taste anything. I saw the doctor for the sore throat and they said it was viral so couldn’t really do anything. I’m gradually getting better but it’s taking ages. Getting really fed up with it now.

Am I the only one suffering continence issues with the cough? My pelvic floor is usually sound and isn’t affected by running or jumping but this cough is like my whole insides are trying to get out and I just can’t hold my wee when I have a fit. What can I do? Is it just temporary?

You are not @museumum I am also suffering with this. It's a nightmare.

I’m on day 10 of this whatever it is. Feeling absolutely rubbish and painkillers doing nothing. Just feel weak and ill.
Anyone managed to get this to shift? I’m desperate!

I've only just started to feel better yesterday.

My colleague who was in hospital is still poorly and off work. She's had the flu jab as well.

Really hope people who have it feel better soon.

I’m still suffering what a cough and feeling blocked up but a lot better than I was

All the usual symptoms but now the cough is dry and tickly and no matter what I do I cannot stop coughing. This is day 20. Every few days it seems to get better and then it comes back. Tried every different cough syrup going. Lem sip. Steam inhaler.

My 10 year old had a terrible fever mid December which lasted 3 days, then went and left cold symptoms, which were reducing. 2 days before Christmas she then developed sore throat, cough and really bunged up nose. Sore throat and cough have gone, but she was still so congested, snotty and says everything tastes of phlegm - barely touched any of her Christmas sweets, which is most unlike her. She was so worn out by not sleeping properly as having to be propped up on pillows and constantly blowing her nose. Her face ached, ears kept popping and her nose so sore. As it wasn't improving and she was looking paler and more exhausted we've been to the GP who's treating her for a bacterial sinus infection now. His view was this if it was viral, he'd of expected some improvement given how long it's been going on. 3 days in on antibiotics and she's much improved. I felt bad going to the GP as part of me felt it was just a bad cold that needed to run it's course, but the lack of any improvement and the impact it was having in general health tipped it for me, and the GP agreed.

@museumum
Me too, never had this problem before. It's awful.
I bought some tena lady pads and they do work, but never thought I would need them.
And there is so much choice it took me ages to read all the packets and decide on a sanitary pad protection.

Useful to know. I’ve not left the house since the coughing started so just have ordinary period pads available. Day five today and the cough is less “full-body” but I need to make sure my bladder is never fully full.