Does this sound like covid or the new flu?

[Croque]

Symptoms: started with a splitting headache, period suddenly started a week early and is quite long, complete exhaustion (not brilliant when you are on an overseas trip) , tastebuds doing funny things (chilli sauce tastes and smells like strong gunpowder!), zero appetite for any food.

However, no cough, sore throat etc

I have managed to go through the motions of walking a few miles a day, living/flying/entertaining DC and it may have turned a corner now.

I have not taken any OTC medicines. GP was not interested in testing

Def not flu is you were up and walking a few miles a day.

Teen DD and I were floored for 10 days by something flu like, covid neg but definitely not THE flu.
Sofa to bed, bed to sofa, repeat on loop, lose 10lbs - yippee!

It's though because we both had a dry cough and taste issues. I lost sense of smell too.

*odd

I was forcing myself to do the whole walking/socializing thing because I was abroad. I reached a point of exhaustion which actually felt dangerous. Since returning home, I have had several hours of naps a day.

I have also had nausea and vertigo and my body has tried to vomit several times a day (except that I am not eating).

I have not weighed myself yet. In regular times, it would have been great pre-Christmas but I was not anticipating indulging this year anyway!

My experiences of flu in me and by kids over the years (one dd had flu 3 times by age of 5!!) - is that the symptoms come on very suddenly. I remember the sudden muscle aches and fatigue and temp with quick onset. Not sure if that helps....as family not had flu for several years so not sure on newer variants.

Why not do a test, but one from boots , how can anyone on a website know what you’ve got?

The changes in taste sound like covid. Have you tried doing a lateral flow test? You can usually buy them for under £2. Ask someone to drop one through your door or order some through the post (don't go shopping if you think you might be infectious). Either way, take it easy because post viral fatigue or complications are more likely if you don't rest up. Hope you feel better soon.

Just buy a lateral flow test if you want to know. Could be either.

Sounds like covid to me. Not sure where you have just travelled to but covid is circulating much more widely than flu is at the moment in the U.K.

Just do a test, Covid is the thing at the minute. Media are sitting on it .

I have had flu twice in my life and each time could hardly move, temperature of 40c and it come on very suddenly. I have something at the moment which I suspect is Covid, temperature of 38c, headache, cough but it is not as bad as flu, I am mainly sitting on sofa with blanket watching TV, it is worse than a cold though which generally has not much of a temperature. I will probably test this afternoon but I have had nosebleeds which is absolutely normal for me but may make testing difficult. Hope you feel better soon OP

Thanks. I will look into where I can order some really, cheap tests. I flew in from Sweden (their liberal attitude towards covid is well known!). My appetite is returning very slowly but there is still the vertigo if I try and push myself to go faster (which is my natural way of moving around and doing things).

Are you in the UK? Most pharmacies round my way are doing them 5 for £5 or 1 for about £1.25-£1.50

Yes, flu hits very suddenly in my experience,no run up to it. Can't you rest yourself?

Sorry, test

Maybe I am over thinking but if you had an early period and your body is trying to make you vomit several times a day. I would be thinking maybe pregnancy could be a possibility?

Well, that's odd. I came on here because I also have some kind of a bug, including headache and early period (both extremely unusual for me). Also feeling feverish and no appetite or energy.

Will do a LTF later.

Did you have Covid previously? I had covid in September, 2 weeks later came up with something stronger than covid itself, feeling very weird, no fever, now and then 37.3, hot chest (feels like coming up with the cough,but there is no cough at all), doing everyday things its a real battle, feel sweaty after few steps. Went to a&e(gp advice),all blood test came up negative and xray too, the only answer I got that could be reactivation of covid. Wondering if anyone got throu this too 🤔

Also,If you are registered with covid NHS app, and you have been near someone positive,they will send you a link to order nhs test for just 99p(postal charge). This is how i received

You definitely would not have been able to if you'd really had flu. People bandy flu around as if it's a bit worse than a cold.