This chesty flu virus thingy thats going round....anyone else

[Elibean]

feel breathless even after fever gone? I'm a week in and still have an occasional cough, but feel like I'm breathing through a sponge which makes me panicky - which in turn doesn't help

If I had a secondary chest infection I'd be coughing green gunk and have a proper fever, no?

[coffeetasteslikeshit]

I've had it too. I thought I was over it so played hockey on Saturday. Bloody hell, I have never wheezed so much... I was like something from a horror movie advancing on the other team!

[LightNC]

If it's what I've got, I'd call it flu-like but not flu. No temperature, no appetite loss, but nasty chest infection which goes on and on.

Just entering the third week of it.

I am an ex asthmatic: it's only a cough, no asthma symptoms. If you feel tight and are struggling to breathe, and you aren't diagnosed asthmatic, you should talk to a doctor.

[Hellochicken]

I think I had same thing. Had fever for 10 days!! Was worst/only flu I ever had and felt breathless/ cough/sore throat for a full 2 weeks. Just now recovered fully at 3 weeks.

[SuperFlyHigh]

No no way... I was just relieved I hadn't got pneumonia as I know you can get that easily and when I've had chest infections (the worst being bronchitis) it was awful.

I was diagnosed like I said with asthma after I had bronchitis and now have to take inhalers and had/have an asthma nurse... It's now under control (I had two attacks) but pneumonia for an asthmatic is scary.

If your DD has asthma then it can be very hard to steer clear of chest infections this winter has also been bad because very mild then very cold about a week ago (last 2 weeks). I'm in SE London but so many people (including my work colleagues!) come into work/on tube/train etc when they're badly ill but I don't do that and if I still feel rough then off tomorrow!

[SuperFlyHigh]

Light yeah I agree re the symptoms but I think I have got a temperature (lucky me!) have got nasty headaches and aches and pains too... The flu sort... But it doesn't feel like flu.

I do strangely enough have slight appetite loss (not overly interested but will eat) - my fridge extras are rice puddings, cheesecake slices and guacamole (none of them healthy I know!). I'm not pigging out on biscuits though.

I did also buy some delicious nectarines and pears though (as well as oranges, apples etc) so they'll be eaten soon.

[sandgrown]

DS and I had horrible flu like symptoms and loss of appetite for a few days . I also looked very grey. The chesty cough is still hanging about after a week .

[TresDesolee]

Don't know whether we're all talking about the same thing, but my best mate had something like this in around November and she's still not right, chest-wise (has been to GP, tested for glandular fever, lung x-rays, the lot). It's an absolute bugger. Gp told her to have complete rest for two weeks (but who can really do that, esp as a single parent?)

[GrouchyKiwi]

I think I'm on my 3rd iteration of this virus. It's no fun.

I'm mildly asthmatic, but had been coping without an inhaler for about 6 months. I'm thinking of asking my GP if having one again will help me kick this thing once and for all.

Hope everyone feels better soon.

[LottieDoubtie]

Im a 'recovering' asthmatic who came off her steroid inhalers 10 days ago under drs supervision. So how much is the bug and how much is asthma I really don't know. I do know I feel like utter shite though.

[WandaFuca]

So it's not just me! I started with this bug about a week ago. Thankfully, I don't have any work or childcare responsibilities, so I've been able to mostly ride it out. Sleeping has been difficult. The cough has been the worse, plus producing enough mucus to float a battleship.

It may not be "proper" flu, but it's not far off it.

to other sufferers, especially those still having to keep on going because they have children to look after.

[zipzap]

I read somewhere that people were more likely to get this nasty flu virus if they'd had the flu jab which was even more embarrassing than it just not having the right cocktail of antibodies in and thus identical flu rates in the vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups...

Touch wood I haven't had it yet this year but dh and ds1 have been pretty poorly this last week (dh) and weekend (ds1). Lots of people at dc's school seem to have been off too.

I last had flu a few years ago - I was in bed with a temperature (despite knocking back paracetamol etc) for two weeks and then had another couple of weeks just pottering around and being feeble at home. Was probably 8 weeks until I began to feel like I was human and able to do stuff again. A sort of silver lining was that I'd not long been made redundant and so was off work so at least I didn't have that to worry about - although I did have to worry about job hunting afterwards obviously.

And at the start of the week I got it, I been doing a course which had lots of people flying in from all over the world to take part, including several people I was talking to /sitting with that had flown in from Asia. Turns out it was the week that SARS hit so I still wonder if I actually ended up with that - dh said he thought about calling the doctor but thought the flat was too messy so didn't

As a result I'm always petrified of getting flu again - it was very scary feeling so so poorly and being knocked out of everyday life for so long. And always feel sorry for others that get it too - hope everyone gets well soon without any complications!

[TiggyD]

Sound like what I had. I'd had the flu jab though. A cough and chest thing that lingers, along with a high temp. Not nice.

[SuperFlyHigh]

zipap I seem to recall the same info heard too, you got this flu virus if you had had the flu jab which sort of defeats the purpose of having the bloody jab in the first place!

However, I've been reassured here that though this can take time to recover from generally it's a 2-3 day in bed at most flu/virus thing so I'm somewhat reassured says she in bed feeling ill

I blame all the mild winter we've had and then in London area at least 2-3 weeks of freezing cold weather.

[SuperFlyHigh]

TiggyD yes that's the thing, flu jabs protect from flu but viruses like I suspect you had and I have are just variations on the flu line and not really flu so the jab does nothing to stop them...

I haven't felt ill in ages... I normally crawl into work with a bad cold, few aches etc but this no way will I risk my London commute which is already tiring enough as it is!

[CharlieSierra]

I've got this I think, it started a week ago last Thursday and I've got up this morning still feeling absolutely dreadful, still full of snot, splitting headache, and the cough! I've never had a virus go on so long; I don't feel at all like I'm 'on the mend'. I'm reluctant to take up a docs appointment with a virus, but I'm wondering if it's normal to still be feeling this unwell.

[Elibean]

I had fever with mine, but not as high as would normally be with flu.

In any case, once I relaxed and slept I was breathing ok - it seems to be when I exert myself (and worse in the afternoon/evening) that the breathing gets tight and tricky. Perhaps I'm just trying to be better too fast, it gets hard to still 'be sick' after a week!

So sorry many are ill with this, reassuring as the posts are to read - hope you all feel better very soon [cups of soup][paracetamol]

[SuperFlyHigh]

CharlieSierra if it's any comfort apparently it takes a week to recover from a cold and up to a month to recover from virus/flu etc!

So personally if I were you I'd carry on as you were and see how you feel after another 2-3 weeks have gone by. If no improvement then see GP.

My fail safe recovery plans are:-

Vitamin C and zinc (I prefer the fizzy drink one) at least once a day.
Try to get your 5 a day - I have an orange anyway but you're low on vitamin C when you're ill so need more, zinc helps fight infection. Other good vit c sources are kiwi fruit, blackcurrants (add to porridge).

I also tend to have soups for lunch, lots of liquid and keep extra warm if I do got out.

[Caprinihahahaha]

I'm just entering week 6 of this. It's a bloody nightmare.

[marriednotdead]

Another member of the feeling shit club here!

Went home from work feeling rough almost 2 weeks ago. 3 days flat out in bed, followed by horrendous cough/cold/loss of voice/dead dog impression for whole of last week. My pelvic floor really struggled under the onslaught too so am now working on that!
Lingering crap on chest now, slightly breathless as if lung capacity reduced though I'm fortunately not asthmatic. Luckily I'm on leave this week as I'm still not quite fit.

Several people I know have had it. My genuine sympathy to all of the afflicted, it's awful.

[Clarella]

9 weeks for me- sorry!

Week 3 antibiotics, week 5 chest X-ray, tried struggling on week 6 inhaler, week 7 steroids (3 days) week 8 more steroids (but think I caught something else) then two days later antibiotics as more green stuff started....

I don't (think) I have asthma but it became asthma like. It's been fecking awful. I'm having to take another week off to recouperate.

I feel a bit better it's not just me though. I've been very anxious in just being a wuss...

[Clarella]

The GP in week 3 did comment I had a small patch of pneumonia at that point though. Like having a swamp in the bottom of your lung. Had it once before but didn't cough much. Since been told it's probably a viral reaction (unless I have mild asthma undiagnosed) and that swine flu caused similar issues a few years ago.

[Elibean]

Sorry, disappeared as was dealing with bad news and life in general....but did see GP last Monday and was told viral bronchitis, and given an inhaler. Nearly a week later and I'm still coldy on and off, occasionally coughing, very out of breath at times and fine at other times. Its certainly reassuring to hear others struggling with breathing in spite of not being asthmatic - though sorry you all are.

I have met others in RL too who have had same bug, with similar ongoing problems weeks later - ugh.

Wishing you all better, and me too, x

[5minutestobed]

Oh I have found the poorly people! On day four of this and showing not much improvement. DH and DS have it now too although I seem to be suffering more than them and they don't have the snottyness. I'm 6 months preg as well, I bloody hope this doesn't last for weeks! I can't even take any good drugs!!

[Sallycinnamum]

Yep I had it last weekend. Spent Friday to Sunday in bed feeling dreadful and I've now been left with a horrible cough.

Today is the first day I've felt better but I did go into work last week.

Doctor said its doing the rounds in the south east and will probably last another two weeks. Urghhhh.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Elibean - so sorry you have viral bronchitis and hope you feel better soon

If it's any comfort I had viral bronchitis over 10 years ago, took 2 weeks to get over but also diagnosed with asthma (not bad though). I had to have an inhaler, see the asthma nurse at GP surgery and get regular peak flow sessions there and they monitored my asthma and how I was doing. I think that went on for 3-6 months total. I also was told I had to have a flu jab every year and then one time I had a pneumonia jab but that apparently lasts a lifetime. I recovered fully after 3-6 months but before that too. I was quite relieved that they monitored my asthma via peak flow and with a nurse because this drummed into me how serious it could get (I'd thought I'd die with the bronchitis as I couldn't breathe at night). I had had two not very serious asthma attacks before but hadn't really wanted to go to hospital and luckily I went to A&E one time but they gave me inhalers but I didn't really want to use them (I was fine then and rarely wheezed etc). I think asthma can improve with proper medical care.

I'm lucky in that I rarely need my inhalers I think my asthma is seasonal if anything. I will say this I now never get flu whereas before I was easily getting it once if not twice a year, awful head colds too. Apart from sinusitis a few years later I don't get flu now and rarely nasty chesty viruses with horrid coloured phlegm.

Re you - if you can try to make sure you see an asthma nurse at your GP surgery and push for your flu jab. Milky/cheese/yogurt causes phlegm so try to limit that. Also for full recovery you need rest so if you can or I hope you have got signed off work. With this weather makes it worse.