Flu advice please! How long should I give it before taking ABS? Just want to feel well again

[messylittlemonkey]

Hi

I went down with some form of flu last Weds -ticked all of the boxes as far as symptoms go.

Some of the symptoms peaked around Thursday/Friday but now almost a week after it started I still feel rotten.

I have a very chesty cough and have been coughing up bloody mucus since Friday. I woke on Sunday night with a dreadul earache and build up of pressure, although the pain has now gone, the pressure remains and my whole head feels fuzzy.

Aside from this I am so drained of energy. I went to GP this morning to get my chest checked as I was concerned about the bloody stuff I was producing. He was next to useless but said my chest seems clear. My temp is still high. He didn't ask me anything about my ear. I was given a prescription for ABs which he said to take in a couple of days if no improvement.

It's all just so horrid. I can't imagine feeling well again and I'm having to rely on other people to do my day to day stuff such as taking DD1 to and from school and more generally looking after 10 month old DD2.

Has anyone else had this recently and if so, how long before you felt well enough to do ANYTHING?

Sorry for the miserable tone, I'm just feeling very sorry for myself :(

You poor love. Personally, I would probably take the ABs sooner rather than later, in the hope they might help any infection just starting - this is the risk period post-flu for infection (ear, chest, etc).

That said, I think full on flu can keep you feeling this rough for a week easily - so hopefully its just the dark before the dawn. That horrid depression of 'I can't imagine feeling better EVER' is also a flu symptom, apparently...give yourself as much TLC as you can and keep reassuring yourself you WILL feel better. Just take it slowly.

Thanks Elibean

Just packed DDs of to bed early. DP has escaped to play his weekly football game for an hour and will be back with the ABs then.

I can't quite believe how dreadful I feel, TBH. It is all I can do to lie on the sofa with the laptop propped in front of me. I'm so weak and have got such a tight feeling in my upper chest/throat area. Couldn't read DD1's bedtime story as I can only say a few words before coughing and then my voice goes. Bless her, she went to bed uncomplaining about it.

Don't worry, she'll forget all about it well before you do! Hope the ABs help, but if not time will...its normal to feel very rough for up to 10 days really, then still pretty crappy for another week or so and tired for a while longer. Lots of fluids and nutritious soups/foods when you feel up to it, and hope youer' better soonxx

You're so kind. Thanks for the reassuring words, I know you're right!

Had a terrible night of coughing last night and we overslept slightly as a result so a rush ensued to get DD ready for school. Anyway, DP has just taken her on his way to work, so it's just me and DD2 home now. My mum's coming over later to help out and collect DD from school.

I need to gather the strength from somewhere to:

-put a wash on
-empty dishwasher
-make DD2's formula
-write a shopping list as we're just about out of food nd other essentials

I think you're right about this flu based depression, Elibean. I shall try and remember that thisn will pss and I'm lucky to be fit and healthy normally :)

Make the formula, make the shopping list if you can do that lying down (or better yet, do the shop online!), but why not leave the rest till your Mum is here? The more you rest the better - chuck guilt out of the window, its part of the depression thing

Glad your Mum is coming later and dh was able to take your dd1 in to school. Are you taking anything at night for the cough?

Well, I had a little burst of 'activity' when DD had her morning nap. The only thing outstanding is putting the wash on, but that involves carrying a BIG load of washing downstairs. It can wait.

I'm taking paracetamol for general flu-iness and now got the ABs too. Not sure what to take for the cough. I'm a bit unsure about decongestant/cough products as I have a borderline high blood pressure at the moment and know that decons can be quite dangerous with this.

I got up at midnight last night after struggling for AGES with the cough. It's a tight/dry/chesty unproductive sort of cough, one of those ones where it catches every time you try to breathe in! The only thing I felt happy taking was a couple of spoons of Tixylix Toddler medicine! I also made a manuka honey and lemon with hot water. I went back to bed and slept a bit better after that I think.

Do you have any tips, Elibean?

Over xmas time I had horrendous cough, with windpipe infection, very sore, was recommended pholcodine which is a cough suppressant, you should ask pharmacist if suitable. Would agree, lots and lots of fluids & (try to) rest.

Thanks Imelda.

I just rang pharmacy and they recommended Pholcodine, so DP is going to get some and bring home later.

Sorry - late in replying. Pholcodine may well help, if not you could always resort to a cough suppressant - Benelyn dry coughs?? Is sedative, so only use at night - but it always works for me in dire cases!

Hi I feel ur pain I have it since last fri I got an antibiotic last monday as my throat was soooo sore...of course I pushed myself doing everyday chores thinking I was "getting btr" not a hope I have been floored all week.I had to drag myself bk into the docs this morn as I was so exhausted from vomiting and not being able to eat also the cough which has me completely worn out!!...I had the flu jab last nov but my doc said theres diff strains of the flu going around she told me to rest up & that there was no miracle cure it can take up to 10 days b4 any improvement. She did give my bucastem anti sickness and it has definitely helped.Today is the first day I stayed in bed all day I had to take help instead of being stubborn and thinking i could manage.I do slightly feel btr from resting today think my temp is finally under control I am taking Cocodamol and they are helping too...so try get as much rest as poss and dont worry bout the house work itll still be there when u get btr and have more energy to do it instead of killing urself while ur sick and only prolonging ur recovery hope u get well soon :)

Don't wish to alarm you but the only time I've had 'proper' flu, I had a temp of 104 for a couple of weeks (despite taking paracetamol etc), then took me about 5-6 weeks to get back to being reasonably functional and a good few months before I felt properly well again...

mind you I didn't have any kids to look after and I'd not long been made redundant so I wasn't having to drag myself into work. Not sure if I would have been better or worse off for having to try to pull myself together more quickly!

unfortunately bad flu can wipe you out for a long time - hope you manage to get through yours and out the other side without it taking too long!