This is my first post on AIBU and I realise I probably am being unreasonable to post here rather than on the health board, but I'm feeling a bit desperate and need the traffic.
I have been blessed with a super efficient immune system, which means I very rarely get ill and, if I do catch a cold, I can usually shake it off very quickly. I know the difference between flu and a cold - I haven't had flu for over 30 years, but I recall how bad it was. However, I do have some sort of bug at the moment, which has knocked me sideways and I wonder if anyone has experienced anything like this recently. I am supposed to be taking my kids to see my elderly parents in a few days time, and I cannot risk them catching this.
On Friday, I was working at home and was fine until about 2pm, when the most overwhelming tiredness came upon me. Within a matter of minutes, I was in a pretty poor state - terrible headache (worse at the bottom of my skull at the back, but coming over my ears, causing hissing noises, and over the top of my head, causing a heaviness in my eyes), very bad backache, particularly at the bottom of my spine, and chills. I couldn't get warm, even after getting into bed with my clothes on, so I ran a hot bath. Whilst it was filling up, I had goosebumps upon goosebumps and started to shake.
I warmed up only when I was almost completely submerged in the bath and then managed to sleep for a couple of hours. When I woke, I felt worse. My symptoms now included muscle pain and abdominal pain, so it felt a lot like the beginnings of flu, but there were no cold symptoms and no D&V symptoms. These symptoms have continued on and off until today. The nights are bad, as I can't sleep a great deal and I am bathed in sweat. Oh, and I am also incredibly hungry and thirsty. I must be the only person on the planet who can feel this ill and put weight ON!
At the moment, I don't feel too bad, provided I don't exert myself in any way. All the symptoms have subsided a little, but I feel incredibly weak - like I can't raise myself off the sofa. I hate this. I lost money on Sunday as I am self employed and couldn't go in to do work for my client, even though I had spent ages preparing for it. Moving forward, I have a To Do List as long as my arm and I can't sit around.
Does anyone recognise these symptoms please? My guess is it must be contagious, but I would really like to know how long you need to be clear of something like this before it is safe to mix with others, particularly elderly people.