To ask how long tiredness lasts after flu?

[PoIlypoppins]

I think I had my first experience of proper flu recently.

About two weeks ago my chest started to suddenly feel a little tight and wheezy and by the next day I was extremely unwell.

For the rest of that week I was in bed, I slept all day and all night, just going to the toilet made me feel extremely sick and drained whatever energy I had, I kept getting chills and a fever which I couldn't shake, lots of horrid phlegm being coughed up, no eating for days etc...

I have never experienced muscle tiredness like it my whole body felt like lead, even my eye lids hurt which sounds dramatic now but really! I felt like I could barely even reply to DH when he would ask me a question. Basically... it was shit!

But anyway, it's now about 2 weeks down the line and I am much better but I still don't feel 100%. Being at work just zonks me out still after 20 minutes and I feel like collapsing into bed, I'm still quite achey and sore and my head feels like it's got an elastic band around it. Food wise I can eat but not nearly enough, I'll randomly fancy something like a slice of pizza at 7am but then want nothing else all day kind of thing?!

I'm definitely better than when I was in the throes of whatever it was but I'm not better yet. When will it happen?! If you had flu badly when did you feel like you again? I miss things like going to the gym and I just can't face it still.

I think I've only had the flu properly once, I remember feeling properly ill for around 2 weeks. And I remember feeling tired, ropey and generally crap for at least another 2-3 weeks, I think it took me well over a month to properly start to feel normal again, I remember it dragging on forever.

Sorry to break it to you but 2-3 months before you’re 100% again. I’m still suffering from January. In 2022 I was sick at Halloween and wasn’t back to full health until mid to late January, same for my fit as a fiddle DH.

Don't rush it, just go at your own pace and don’t force things.

I have a girls holiday coming up in a couple of weeks and honestly I'm worried! I honestly don't think I could do a night out yet.

Obviously, it depends on lots of factors. But I was down with ‘proper’ flu for about ten days in mid-January and was really, really tired for nearly a month. Swam in week thre at about half speed. No motivation and just exhausted. Even when I felt ‘fine’ again, I skied in mid-February and I ached much more than normal (but maybe I’m just getting old!)

Give it time, rest speeds recovery. Eat well. Wishing you well soon.