Viral illness still going strong after 10 days...

[IncaAztec]

Anyone else struggling with viral illness be it COVID/flu/any other variation? 10 days in and still going strong.... sympathy available to fellow sufferers.

yes me, I think its been suggested it is the flu but in a more lingering less severe form.

I've been told similar. And that it is allegedly self-limiting....but it's awful!

@IncaAztec Yes it's grim I am on day 16 and starting to feel a bit better, have actually been able to get some housework done today.

I’m a week in, it’s definitely flu - did a LFT.
I’m better than I was but still tired and coughing

I am 7 days in with a slight improvement. I am not having to meticulously write down every dose of Paracetemol and Ibuprofen because I can go longer between doses now.

I did have the flu vaccine this year.

10 days is rough and long for you. Are you improving at all?

Slow improvements. Seen GP who felt it was self-limiting and viral. If it's not my nose it's my ears or my throat or fatigue....it seems I am not alone in my plight.

I think the worst thing is that at this time of year your pushing yourself to get stuff done when perhaps at another time you'd have less on and rest more and get over it quicker.

I had it for 3 weeks, days 7-14 were the worst. It ended up with me coughing up brown and red blood so they gave me antibiotics.

Apparently the colour of the phlegm tells them if it’s viral or bacterial?

I had this a few years ago but the red was just trauma to my windpipe from coughing so much (I was sent for x-rays) but yeah might as well have antibiotics at that point!

Yes, it’s covid for us because my husband lost his
sense of smell. Mine started monday last week. I am so effing sick of still having temperature. Even 37.4 makes you feel miserable and unable to cope
without meds. So so fed up with it.

My thermometer broke but agree, hot/cold and repeat....

One of my kids was ill, got better (although tired) and is now ill again. It has been about 3 weeks. She has gone back to having hot and cold spells, fatigue, nausea and sickness. Not fun.

Just be prepared for it to linger. The virus I started with at the beginning of October is now finally starting to slowly improve....never had anything last 8 or 9 weeks before.

I’ve had it 7 days now, I couldn’t eat without vomiting till today and now everytime I eat I get diarrhoea all while coughing my guts up I’d feel normal if my cough wasn’t so harsh

Yes and the random gastro symptoms are adding to the fun...

I’m now on day 19, most symptoms have improved (not been sick since Saturday) but have put my back out with coughing, still very tired and achey and can’t stop F*ING COUGHING which is drives me mad. I just want to be able to lie down to sleep but have to sleep sitting up. I suppose it’s good that it is no longer making me throw up but I am totally fed up with it now.

I had it all of last week then it went and then it came back With a Vengeance. I have a Walrus cough with brown phlegm and a banging headache and earache and tummy issues

Similar to PP. felt better for all of 2 days after suffering 2 and a half weeks prior.

Now the barking cough is back, aches, chills, fatigue so hope I haven’t got another couple of weeks ahead. I never had the flu vaccine but not convinced it would have helped as my mum who always gets jabbed is bad, and isn’t it a different strain anyway?

Its DD’s first winter in nursery so had been blaming the bugs on her but seems to be doing the rounds regardless.

Yep, I'm on day 14 of flu and have no energy, sore throat and aches and pains everywhere.Signed of from work. I have auto immunes issues too and this has absoluely floored me. DH has similar but with a hacking cough to boot and I need to sleep but can't sleep in the same bed so I'm in the campbed in spare room. It's not comfy 😩😩😩😩

Flu, started Saturday 6th. I was vaccinated so it is 'mild'. Very nasty, paracetamol helps. I feel slightly better, but it is a total pita. I was relieved to hear a medic on the radio yesterday say 10-14 days is standard, so hope that the end (of it, not me) is in sight.

It's a long time since I had flu and I'd forgotten about the depression bit.

Sending sympathy to us all. 10 days plus is horrible and everyone seems to think you will be better by now

A couple of obvious tips for anyone still struggling is; keep on top of paracetamol and keep eating.

I have been guilty of not doing both today as thought I was feeling ok, but by lunch was on my knees. A bit of soup and a couple of tablets and I can at least walk around the house.

Have had zero appetite so it’s easy to not eat but that bit of energy it gives has definitely helped me this afternoon.

Day 20 now and feeling better overall (brain fog finally lifted so was actually able to WFH today properly) however cough still as bad as ever and now think I may have done something to my rib as have a really acute pain whenever I cough.

That's wise advice, and encouraged me to prepare food well in advance of the time for cooking it so I didn't run out of energy and end up not eating.

Which never happens in normal life, but has happened repeatedly in the last week.

Anyway, home-made burgers topped with cheese, served with salad and followed by jelly and cream. All sorts of trace nutrients in that lot.

Earlier last week I deployed that well-known Irish cure-all, flat Seven-up; a friend whose mother was English assures me that flat Coca-cola works too. I suppose it's possible.

@badkitty any chance of a phone consultation with your GP? That sounds slightly scary.

I don’t know - maybe will call in the morning if no better. I really don’t want to be sent to a& e though! I have convinced myself it must be muscular rather than a cracked rib or anything as it doesn’t hurt when I press it. Fingers crossed it will be a bit better tomorrow! Jealous of your homemade burgers!!