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Original poster

Something strange is going on… winter bugs

310 replies

Hazless · 23/12/2022 14:50

Is it just me or is something strange going on? Nearly everyone I know is sick. Levels are off the chart. My son had 10 in his class last Friday.

I’ve just had a really awful respiratory thing. It started with an awful sudden sore throat (not the usual place, lower down) then progressed to fevers for 3 days (I never get a fever, I’m an adult and can’t recall the last time), pain all over, chills, body tingles, the worst headache of my life that two types of painkiller didn’t touch.

Day 5, Now I’m left with a lingering cough and snotty nose and everything smells and tastes disgusting. Even air from outside stinks like the inside of my rotting nose! It’s gross. I’ve lost weight because everything tastes so disgusting. I look awful… grey skin and dark Circles. All my kids are poorly too but seem not as bad as me.

i also felt extremely delirious and depressed during this bug. I’ve never felt so down. It was like something switched in my brain. It was very sudden and hit me like a train. I’ve not had that before.

not covid as both tests I took negative.

im not one for conspiracy theories but is something going on? Is there a new strain of covid? I’ve never had a bug like this before. And I’ve never known so many people sick at one time. What on earth is going on? It can’t just be from lock downs many months ago.

OP posts:
FlossMeg · 23/12/2022 15:08

I really don’t think our immune systems are like a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to be strong. Not as adults anyway.

I suspect it’s more to do with covid destroying our t cells and reducing our ability to fight other infections. This can last 6-12 and it’s not clear the impact repeated infections will have.

I don’t get ill- ever. But since my first bout of covid, I have never been so unwell so often.

ILoveeCakes · 23/12/2022 15:09

This is about the fourth thread on this this week...........

Watsername · 23/12/2022 15:11

Ponoka7 · 23/12/2022 14:56

There's two types of flu, A&B, unfortunately we've only been vaccinated against type B. They are swabbing in the hospital and most people who have what you describe is type A. There's also more original Corona viruses about, which our immune systems haven't come across for two years because of lock down. These viruses were foretold by infectious disease specialists.

I had the QIVe vaccine which has both types, A & B?? Which vaccine is only type B?

SuperGinger · 23/12/2022 15:15

It has been the worst half term in memory, literally every week one child was off and in the holidays they've come down with temperatures. DH and I have also had the bugs. Truly awful.

User963 · 23/12/2022 15:16

Hazless · 23/12/2022 15:05

Maybe I had flu then. It was not a cold. I guess I just thought flu was more lengthy (more than 6 days) and more severe. Don’t get me wrong I was v sick but there was no gastric component and if there was £50 at end of my bed I could have got it.

the smell of rotting up my nose is a bit weird and made me think of covid. Test says not though.

It was probably flu. We’ve just had influenza a (swabbed with an influenza LFT) and we just had a fever /aches for 1-2 days and then cold symptoms. Flu isn’t always ill in bed for a week. Depends on your prior immunity and a whole host of other factors - just like how people have different levels of symptoms with covid).

Whatdidisay · 23/12/2022 15:28

We had it a couple of weeks ago, never felt so ill, out of four of us only two ever got proper positive lateral flow results (after several days of negatives) a third got a very faint line after a few days but showed negative the day after and the forth never got a positive, despite us all being poorly with the same symptoms at the same time in the same house!
It seems it may well be a new strain that is evading the LFT's?
It definitely is a nasty one as after several rounds of covid, this one knocked us for six!

Heatherjayne1972 · 23/12/2022 15:29

I’m sure I read somewhere that there was a fear that the covid and flu viruses would mutate and sort of ‘join together’ and that this winter would be a bad one.

i also read something about covid weakening our immune systems so that other bugs would make us more unwell -I think that’s the case anyway

well here we are. And the op is right tho pretty much everyone has been ill

Obki · 23/12/2022 15:32

I’m fine 🤷🏻‍♀️

Bluesheep8 · 23/12/2022 15:34

Our immune systems are lower after 2 winters of being extra careful. Ordinary germs are knocking us out more and spreading more easily.

This, basically

Loafbeginsat60 · 23/12/2022 15:34

VerifiedBot2351 · 23/12/2022 14:52

I’ve been wondering if it’s a new strain of covid which the lateral flow tests aren’t picking up.

It's definitely a variant of covid - I had it last week. Same symptoms and now I'm better apart from painful headaches whenever I blow my nose or bend down.

My lat flow was a tiny faint line and gone the next day.

I too feel so depressed and can't get into the Xmas spirit at all!

megletthesecond · 23/12/2022 15:35

Maybe it's people who have had covid having a weaker immune system?

I've not had covid (fully jabbed and am careful), I keep myself healthy and I've not got anything nasty.

Aurea · 23/12/2022 15:35

Possibly just lucky but our family have escaped bugs so far this year.

We take Sambucol religiously at the very first sign of illness and it does the job every time to support our immune systems and stop bugs in their tracks.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sambucol-Natural-Elderberry-Vitamin-Supplement/dp/B001ID092M/ref=sr111sspa?adgrpid=55936009809&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwJWdBhCYARIsAJc4idCVWcEziASUlSvzvMdknvPbrGclbYvPDDbpcWWv4yjqZOd9hpNswRkaAqBDEALwwcB&hvadid=499012868387&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9046843&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11585860892957244982&hvtargid=kwd-10098901&hydadcr=17112344845&keywords=sambucol&qid=1671809505&rdc=1&sr=8-1-spons&spcsd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

DarkKarmaIlama · 23/12/2022 15:36

I have felt like death for over a week. Seriously , seriously bad. An infection has never made me so poorly. Sick of people saying it’s covid and I’m just not testing positive. I’ve had covid three times and it’s never made me feel as ILL as this. I tested positive for influenza on a flow flex LFT that I ordered in.

for the love of god it’s not covid in everyone!

Underroad · 23/12/2022 15:36

OP, I have the same thing. I’m pretty sure it’s flu but is not as severe as a couple of episodes of flu I’ve had in the past. However, it is still absolutely evil and has floored myself and my usually very health teen DS. The fever goes on for days, the cough is relentless, the sinus pain is grim, lack of appetite and I actually sat and cried yesterday evening (day 5 for me) because I felt so unwell and down. It is one nasty virus.

Whatdoyouthinkno · 23/12/2022 15:37

No crazy conspiracy at play. It’s literally because for two winter’s in a row we were advised not to mix socially with others, it was actually illegal to two years ago. Last year everyone was still masked up terrified of omicron, isolating if they tested positive. This is the first winter since 2019 where we’ve all acted like usual human beings so of course our immune systems are having a major shock.

DucklingDaisy · 23/12/2022 15:38

This is a pretty great description of what I felt like and a lateral flow did confirm it was Covid. I only took one around day 5 so not sure if it would have got it earlier

Justwantsomepeaceforchristmas · 23/12/2022 15:40

Agree, op, sickness on and off in our family since Halloween, feels like a weird variation of covid.

AlwaysAuntie · 23/12/2022 15:43

I'm down with the lurgy too. I just put it down to having such mild weather then WHAM winter is here.

Pelo22 · 23/12/2022 15:43

megletthesecond · 23/12/2022 15:35

Maybe it's people who have had covid having a weaker immune system?

I've not had covid (fully jabbed and am careful), I keep myself healthy and I've not got anything nasty.

I've not have covid but am immunocompromised and fine
My dad hasn't had covid either and was full of it last week, sweating/shivering, coughing

Wonnle · 23/12/2022 15:43

Levels of what and what chart do you speak of ?

Fraine · 23/12/2022 15:44

megletthesecond · 23/12/2022 15:35

Maybe it's people who have had covid having a weaker immune system?

I've not had covid (fully jabbed and am careful), I keep myself healthy and I've not got anything nasty.

Not true. Those of us who have had Covid have higher level of antibodies.

Utini · 23/12/2022 15:44

Ponoka7 · 23/12/2022 14:56

There's two types of flu, A&B, unfortunately we've only been vaccinated against type B. They are swabbing in the hospital and most people who have what you describe is type A. There's also more original Corona viruses about, which our immune systems haven't come across for two years because of lock down. These viruses were foretold by infectious disease specialists.

Not true, the vaccines contain two A lineage and two B lineage strains. See page 17 of this document.

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1105068/Flu-information-for-HCPs-2022-to-2023-20Sept22.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj--PXliZD8AhWUecAKHVGkBpcQFnoECEEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0JhU5_PTb8zMwu4i5q4BCy

Wonnle · 23/12/2022 15:46

Watsername · 23/12/2022 15:11

I had the QIVe vaccine which has both types, A & B?? Which vaccine is only type B?

Show quote history

Well that's bollocks for a start
There are 4 types A B C and D

Walkden · 23/12/2022 15:46

"People seem to have forgotten that bad colds and viruses existed prior to covid"

Give it a rest. How patronising can you be? People have not forgotten about cold and flus etc but the op is commenting that her particular illness is quite different to past experience of colds and flu. You keep gaslighting them though. " E.g no you've been that Ill before but seem to have forgotten about it!!

This might be due to so called"immunity debt" or effects of covid on the immune system.

I would add that absence levels on schools do seem ridiculous. In 20 years in the job i can't remember a year ( pre covid) where so many staff and pupils have been off at the same time.

Zebedee55 · 23/12/2022 15:47

Hazless · 23/12/2022 14:50

Is it just me or is something strange going on? Nearly everyone I know is sick. Levels are off the chart. My son had 10 in his class last Friday.

I’ve just had a really awful respiratory thing. It started with an awful sudden sore throat (not the usual place, lower down) then progressed to fevers for 3 days (I never get a fever, I’m an adult and can’t recall the last time), pain all over, chills, body tingles, the worst headache of my life that two types of painkiller didn’t touch.

Day 5, Now I’m left with a lingering cough and snotty nose and everything smells and tastes disgusting. Even air from outside stinks like the inside of my rotting nose! It’s gross. I’ve lost weight because everything tastes so disgusting. I look awful… grey skin and dark Circles. All my kids are poorly too but seem not as bad as me.

i also felt extremely delirious and depressed during this bug. I’ve never felt so down. It was like something switched in my brain. It was very sudden and hit me like a train. I’ve not had that before.

not covid as both tests I took negative.

im not one for conspiracy theories but is something going on? Is there a new strain of covid? I’ve never had a bug like this before. And I’ve never known so many people sick at one time. What on earth is going on? It can’t just be from lock downs many months ago.

There was a report, a week or so ago, that thought that mask wearing had lowered natural immunity to various virus's, and that the flu jab was "the wrong sort" of jab.

Our local hospital gas a surge of flu patients, but very little Covid.