Being ill still too months after flu. Should I be feeling better ?

[Dishwashersaurous]

I had flu in September and since then I have been ill.

I’m completely exhausted all the time and have constant body pains.

I can barely do anything and even a short walk means I have to lie down and sleep.

I have children and I job and I am barely able to look after both because I’m exhausted.

I’ve spoken to gp, had bloods and just said it’s a virus and that I will get better soon.

So aibu to think that I should be feeling better by now and is there anything I can do to feel better

I had flu & pleurisy in February '19, it took me around 9 months to fully recover & I was 30 at the time & I'm generally a fit & healthy person, although I do have asthma. I was exhausted all the time & would get out of breath on the walk to & from school. I'd had the flu jab in the November but the Dr said, in her opinion, it hadn't been massively successful in the 25-50 age range that year as the majority of people she'd seen with flu were that age group.

The 90yo partner of my ndn Mum, was ill with the same, at the same time & it took him a little over 12 months to feel completely 'back to normal', so considering our 60 year age gap, not all that much longer.

It happens with the flu, unfortunately - sorry that you feel so rubbish still! Sounds like some post-viral fatigue; i.e. tiredness, aching, concentration issues etc are all normal for quite some time after a virus like the flu.

Do all the obvious things: plenty of fruit and veg to make sure you get all your vitamins, sleep a good amount, lots of water, etc etc. It will go away eventually, although that doesn't help much right now! You have my sympathies, it's really hard: I had it after flu and tonsillitis about 5 years ago, and I felt properly better after about 3 months of chucking back vitamins and being really gentle with myself.

This happens with flu. I had a very nasty virus a couple of years back and did not feel right for months. In fact I ended up with a reactive arthritis which lasted about 6 months.

Sounds like you’ve got post viral fatigue syndrome. See:

www.healthline.com/health/post-viral-fatigue#diagnosis

You sound exactly how I was after glandular fever many years ago. Definitely sounds like post-viral fatigue.

That happened to me last year, my flu turned into pneumonia and I was nearly hospitalised. I ended up with CFS and I haven't been the same since. (Although tbf I've also had long Covid this year.)

I hope you feel better soon, post viral syndrome is really shit.