What the hell is this throat/coughing bug that's going about?

[Beauregard]

My lungs and stomach hurt from days of coughing

Doc said she'd have given it to me on prescription, but was cheaper to buy. Think it was £1.29.

I've got that, have taken some tonight. It's good stuff, the only thing that seems to stop the coughing. I think I'll leave the docs then.

Not just us then? DH the DCs and I seem to be taking it in turns to come down with something over the last 5 weeks or so. Last night was DSs turn to have a high temp and the week before it was DD. Its a nightmare.

Yep, here too. DS seems to have had a hacking cough for the last 2 weeks, DD following closely behind - I spent the weekend with a feverish toddler clamped to me . Oh and she combined hacking cough with vomiting up mucus, yuk!

If you cough up something green it is viral, if you cough up something yellow it is bacterial. Generally if you are really coughing something up it is better not to use pholcodeine as it suppresses the cough and hence the phlegm stays in your lungs, not what you want.

I have had this for several months now (asthmatic) and it is finally getting less bad, dd had it to. The only things which helped me were:

• over the counter anti-histamine (like loratadine) which I take at the moment daily
• beconase in the morning and evening
• otrivin spray in the morning and evening
• sleeping as upright as possible
• humidifier switched on during whole night
• sipping warm tea (have thermosflask next to bed ...)
• Manuka honey
• and I have to take asthma inhalers of course.

GP wanted me to take prednisolone (which suppresses immune system, not what I want at present ...)as she thought it was asthma. I have had asthma for more than 20 years and am certain that it is not asthma. I think (at least what I have) is horrible post nasal drip, I have a very blocked nose, and it is so bad that I had to vomit many many times a day (basically coughing attack ending up in vomitting), GP first didn't believe it, but as it happened I had an attack whilst I was there ..

I'm on week 3 and the cough has gone from a phlegmy one to a tickly one. Am exhausted and on my second lot of antibiotics. Have been off work for three weeks and am bored and fed up.

pandemic h1n1 is back I'm afraid.

i came down with fever and aches and pains all over body thursday night. Have been in bed since, and since yesterday my nose and eyes have been running like a tap and today im coughing away and its starting to get chesty! im trying to avoid coughing as it really hurts!

I feel less alone! Have had a horrible cold and now a hacking cough which feels like I'm trying to cough up something sticky from my lungs. My head is throbbing from all the coughing.

I came down with this cough/flu thing last week - the day after having a c-section. I can not describe how horrific it is after abdominal surgery.

Poor DD has been suffering with the cough for 2 weeks now and doctor says there is nothing they can do. Baby DS and husband have escaped it so far.

My sinus' are filling up as we speak.
DD1 has croup.
DTs have just normal coughs.
DH is ok.

But I can literally feel my nose starting to run! Oh joy, I hoped I would get it over and down with before christmas!

God Lcy, it must be an absolute nightmare after a c-section. My stomach muscles (such as they are after two c-sections) are in agony as are my ribs. What is working for you?

I couldn't take anything for cough because breastfeeding but inhaled eucaluptos in boiling water (towel over head) every few hours and that really helped. I feel much better now but can't walk fast without having a coughing fit! Poor DD is up all night coughing so with that and baby permanently on boob I am an exhausted wreck.

I feel better in a way knowing there are others the same. I started coughing just under a week ago. Thought I was getting better but today I have cold symptoms on top. Have been living on lemsip and feel really awful. My stomach and ribs hurt so much from coughing. Sometimes I'm coughing so much it makes me actually sick which I've never had before. Will stay on this thread for tips! Please tell me I won't feel this awful forever. It's my birthday tomorrow and I've had to cancel the family get together.

I had it, got better; then DH got it and passed it back.

Really struggling to shift it now. Had it over a month. :( I've got chronic upper back pain, and this cough is really aggravating it.

poor u.when i am ill i get deaf ears.i had a cough recently and was wondering why my stomach hurt.u would think i had been doing 2000 press ups.not fun being ill.hope u all get better soon.xx

I'm on week six and still in need of Tenaladys! Nice to know I'm not alone.

It's so annoying! Just got up in search of cought sweets, because I've been coughing and haven't bloody slept all night.

It's alright when I'm mnetting sitting up, it's just when I lie down that it's constant.

Sukie1971 6 weeks! You poor thing. I really hope that's not typical.

DS has it too.

Oh no. I see lots of you have had it for ages. Bugger! This really isn't fun

dikkertjedap I understand what you're saying about not working against your body, but my cough is completely dry and pholcodeine linctus really works!

My good mate has chronic asthma which presents itself as a cough rather than a wheeze, and swears by it. It would be OK to take at night, to help me sleep wouldn't it?

Your symptoms sound horrible BTW

So, if this lasts for weeks, will we be infectious for all of it?

Sorry, at 35 you'd think I'd have worked this out by now! But if anyone could enlighten me I'd be very grateful.

We're meant to be visiting lots of people over Christmas including elderly relatives and little ones. Will we be spreading this to them? We will have to rethink at least some of it if so.

DS has had it 2 weeks so far, and I've had it a week. DP is sick too, but no coughing so I;d assumed it's something else.

We've all got it here too. Dd2 started with it and she kindly shared. Have felt utter pants with it still coughing over a week later. Chest hurts lungs hurt in fact everything hurts. Just hope it's gone for Christmas.

I was recommended to take the pholcodeine only at night. Literally couldn't lie down without it. Steam inhalation did help with the blocked sinuses/ears, but the cough was definitely the worst bit. It is gradually easing, but is always worse first thing in the morning. Bleurgh.

Another night of no sleep here
I cannot stop coughing
Hopefully the Pholcodeine will work when i get some for tonight

lowrib-I am worried about being infectious too