I've had a virus for 7 months now. What can I do to shift it?

[NeverQuiteSure]

Our GP said there were a number of nasty viruses circulating back in January (when it all started). Blood work shows low something or other which pretty much confirms this.

I overhauled my diet back in March and cut out caffeine. I have an active lifestyle and get 8 hours sleep most nights, 7 as a minimum. I am struggling with fatigue, particularly in the afternoons, and aching arms, hands and legs.

I was wondering whether taking some sort of multivitamin might help speed things along a bit ? I just can't work out why it's hanging around so long.

You had blood tests done, what did it exactly show and why has the GP not seemingly followed this up properly or with you?.

This could all be down to thyroid problems, if it is due to the thyroid gland then a multivitamin will not cure this problem.

NQS I have had the bloody thing since April. Throat/glands blocked nose and mouth ulcers for me, every few weeks. So strange.

It could be CFS or ME. The body can take ages to recover after a virus.
Maybe try something alternative like reflexology, acupuncture or a natrapath. Take 1000mg vit c, zinc , vit b complex & a multi vit.

Thanks for your replies.

Attila - I saw my GP in April and he thought it sounded very much like Glandular fever or similar viruses that had been doing the rounds. The blood tests I had taken a couple of weeks ago included thyroid (both serum tsh and serum free t4 - both very normal at 1.25 and 11, respectively) and tests for anemia, liver and kidney function. Lots of the fbc results came back borderline and the neutrophil count came back under range. GP recommended no action, as I'm guessing there's not really much more he can do other than wait for my own immune system to do its job. Being the cynical type I did get a print out of all the results and checked and googled and it all seems to fit.

I haven't had mouth ulcers LongGone, so hopefully yours is something else and will clear up sooner than mine.

Goodness tabby, I really hope it's not CFS or ME The blood work seems to show that my body is still actively battling the virus, so I'm just trying to 'optimise' my health as much as possible to give my immune system the advantage. I'm not really sold on alternative treatments (this may change if I'm still poorly in another 7 months!!) I have taken a note of the vitamins you suggested, do you know of any multivitamins that contain them all?

ME or CFS is usually the term given if no explanation is found. There is no actual test for it but it was just a thought.
You need to take separate vits that I suggested. A multi vit only contains enough to supplement your daily diet. Vit C & B are water soluble & the body takes what it needs & excretes the rest. You can not over dose. Zinc also needs to be taken separately. You can take all these together with a daily multi vitamin.

I am in Australia so I'm not familiar now with brands but I'd say Boots or Superdrug would do their own or any good make.

I hope that you feel better soon.

NQS, it doesn't sound like CFS. I had that following glandular fever (so obv freaking out a bit, but this is nothing like that).

If its any consolation quite a lot of people I know have had this virus that goes away and comes back, and it is a bit glandular fever like in that respect. Hope it goes away soon!

It does tend to go away and come back - although it never completely goes. I know/have known 2 people with CFS and 1 with ME and they are/were all quite disabled with it in varying ways. One described CFS as like having the flu all the time. I'm certainly not that ill! I'm more 'the week after the flu' ill; functional but very tired and achy. My brother was one of the people with CFS and it took him 3 years to get over the worst of it

Tabby; thanks so much for all that information, I had wondered if it was possible to OD and so that's very reassuring. I shall see what Boots have. It certainly can't hurt anyway.

LongGone; I really hope yours starts to shift soon. It must be very worrying after having had and recovered from CFS.

Take heart, this has been the absolute worst spring for bad bugs; my doctor said it's the worst he's seen in ten years. Hope it goes soon, for both of us!