I thought it was flu, as I had every symptom listed on the NHS website, except for vomiting. I missed the flu jab this year - won't make that mistake again.
I started off violently shivering. I was wearing a tshirt top, a fleece and my Oodie and was under a winter weight duvet, but was so cold. My whole body was shaking/shivering.
That passed and I went to the opposite extreme and was feverish and sweating. I have a clear picture in my mind of me typing a very detailed text message to my manager telling him my symptoms. I also have a very clear picture of me typing a similarly detailed message on Mumsnet. Neither message happened.
In fact, even the light from my phone screen hurt my eyes too much to look at it. I was either hallucinating, or having vivid dreams.
And the cough - OMG. Awful. Coughing until sick, and I actually got DH to go and get me some TenaLady as I was peeing with every coughing bout.
The flu symptoms passed in about 6 days, but having not eaten anything in that time, I had no energy, and was off work for 3 weeks. I'm still not 100%, 5 weeks later.
When I saw the GP, she said it's being called "the 100 day cough", and when I googled it, it said it's what they're calling whooping cough.
Whether it's psychosomatic I don't know, but the best night's sleep I got, with relief from the coughing, was when I put Vicks Vapour Rub on the soles of my feet, with a pair of socks over. If it's real - Vicks are missing one hell of a marketing opportunity!