This "cold". Week 3 and feeling it will never end. Still coughing up gunk.

[lborgia]

I've got so many drugs I'm rattling - antibiotics,puffers, eye drops, I've been coughing so much my throat is raw as if I've got a new bug. Have had temperature, green gunk, conjunctivitis, my breathing is still tight, and my eyes are still not fully cleared after a week of drops.

If this is what the queen has had, I'm not surprised she bloody opted out.

Btw, know 5 others who have it, just not the breathing probs.

Thanks for amy advice, light at end of tunnel etc.

I know it's not interesting but quick bump as I really am feeling horrible. ...

I have had cough nearly 6 weeks! It isn't awful...i am doing allot...vit c...herbs...homeopathy...but every now and then choky and gaggy. Feel for you. First week this week i haven't had sore throat. It has been shocking!

Thanks for that - feel slightly less flattened knowing you've felt it too - but another six weeks. .don't want to even contemplate that!

I've got the cough and green shit as well (not literally but y'know, phlegm ) I've been blessed with a horribly sore throat as well which has developed over the last couple of days.

It's been going on since the week before Christmas which I guess isn't that long compared to some but it's not nice Refusing to even contemplate the doctors, and I don't like taking lots of medication so just trying to ride it out for now.

If I've still got it next Christmas I might make an appointment

I've got a weird virus. All I have is bad chest/cough/toxic phlegm symptoms. I haven't had a runny nose or headache like one would expect with a cold.

Its bloody annoying not knowing what I'm dealing with. At least with a standard cold you know it'll be gone within days!

Signing in... I had it from the beginning of Nov and am only just starting to feel normal. Temperature, sandpaper throat, sounded like I'd been smoking 60 woodbines a day, pink eye and worst for me the most debilitating sinus headaches. If I press the sinus area above my left eye it still hurts.

I feel you OP.

OP - have you had your lungs checked by the GP?

If your breathing isn't getting any better I'd think it would be a good idea to have your chest listened to in case its something that won't go away by itself.

Me too! I actually felt the virus 'land' in the corner of my throat .(might not have been that but thats what it felt like)

One minute i was fine and the next coughing as the raspy feeling took hold.Couldnt stop coughing for long enough to get a proper breath for hours.Ive not been well ever since.This was 4 weeks ago . Every day is slightly different though.Ive had variously ...sore throat /tickly cough/chesty cough/sinus pains/ear pain/ shooting pains in the head/ choking ,phlegmy cough/large lymph nodes /deafness in one ear .
With a normal cold you can ride it out knowing it will be gone in a week.

Poor Queen if shes had this virus. Its no joke when youre relatively young,fit and well.For a 90 year old it must be a huge drain.

Whoa, where did you all spring from? ! Yes, I ended up at hospital where I had a chest xray which excluded pnuemonia...

NewShoes you've def got TQC, welcome. I'm pretty sure this is all down to some scary mutant mucous. ..nothing will clear it! It's stickier than normal and i feel as if I've been slimed a la Ghostbusters.

Flip - I'm already whinging, and it's been a fraction shorter than yours. .I agree on the medicine front, but, tbf, if they didn't exist, this bug would've been the end of me so I take the ones I have to!

Justine you've described it to aT, welcome, sorry you can join us. In the middle of this I've stayed in 5 different places, flown between Oz and London and back, and managed Christmas, children etc. I'm pretty sure that if the virus moves out of Europe, it will be tracked to one sad vector that has travelled when she should've rested.

Back to gp tomorrow. And ds1 has just started so more fun to be had. Plus jetlag and laundry of course.

Good luck! The pharmacist took 4 months to recover apparently.

Youget me I'm v slow at typing, yes I've had relatives from 4 to 80 struck with this.the 4 yr old ended up in hospital, and we'll see tomorrow about the eldest.

Yy to constantly changing litany of symptoms. V lucky i left work at Christmas so I can hide now till I'm better.

Ok, this is what I have been force feeding Dsis, Dnephew and myself. Short term pain but medium term much much better. Dsis balked at nos two and three and is still suffering. Dnephew didn't and got better much more quickly, though refused a full teaspoonful of 3 so didn't get better as fast as me. I obeyed my friend immediately and got better in three days. Can't swear it's magic, but helpful. All recipes common to Far East and Caribbean , funnily ( or not) enough.

Theme 1
Hot ginger drink. Chop up root ginger reasonably finely, including skin. Simmer in a pan with water fir at least 20 mins, pref more. Strain water into mug, ( retain ginger) sweeten to taste, drink. Soothes, relieves, good fir coughs. Pour more water into pan

Variation 1
Add honey and lemon.

Variation 2
Add fruit juice of choice, spirits if choice ( or none) , nutmeg, cinnamon. Stir. It will look vile. Drink. You will soon feel better about having a filthy cold and will go to sleep.

Theme 2

Slice a clove of garlic finely , put into a mug. Let infuse for 15 mins. Drink. Others will keep away. You can sweeten to make marginally more palatable.

Variation 1
Chop garlic, put in pan with water, as in Theme 1. Simmer for 20 mins. Strain and drink, sweetened if threat v sore.

Theme 3, really the coda, very powerful ending. Only for the brave and desperate.

Chop clove of garlic plus twice volume of ginger. If you have a food processor, whizz them together. Add honey. Put in fridge for 30 mins. Remove, take teaspoonful every 12 hours or so. Brought up oceans of green gunk for 24 hours but then they disappeared.

I can't say you'll like them...

Oh whoops, end theme 1, obv repeat process I , Theme 2, , pour boiling water on top.

Ugh I've suffered with this OP. Breathing problems too. Had three different courses of antibiotics, 3 courses of steroids (have you tried those?) and numerous inhalers. Ruined my wedding day :(
I first fell ill at the beginning of November and only the past couple of weeks have felt human again.
Was sent for X-rays and was told there was "a little bit of pneumonia" (which I suffered from a few years ago...I'm only 29 )
I found the steroids were a huge help as I was struggling to sleep with the tightness in my chest.
Still feeling the after effects with slight wheezing and tightness, but inhalers help with that.
Hope you're feeling better very soon!

To add to the suggestions above:

Pineapple is a natural expectorant (loosens the phlegm) as is ginger.

Ha! It shows how revolting this is that I just looked at those recipes and thought "no problem". I'm def at the "whatever it takes" stage.

I think the flixitide puffer and in the nebuliser is steroid. .I'm just cautious because I know the taking them orally suppresses immune function. . But will ask tomorrow. Yes, once you've had pneumonia it seems you're marked .

So sorry about your wedding day ain't nobody did you have a honeymoon? Can you plan a special weekend at easter? I know, not the same. ..

I'll wait til I've seen the doc then do the ginger and garlic theme 3, followed by some pineapple. ..

I don't think the amount of steroids in inhalers is enough to have much effect on the immune system and I would have thought that the nebuliser drug would most likely be salbutamol (not steroid). So I wouldn't worry too much - its more important that you can breathe than anything else!

Had it since mid December
Still coughing up gunk despite 2 lots of abx
Have used cough mixture, throat spray, shedloads of painkillers!
Now I'm dead in one ear and sinus issues
Xmas was pretty much a non event tbh as ds2 was ill the week before and ds1 came down with raging tonsiltiis on Xmas eve

I've been ill for 5 days. I have one of those dry tickly coughs which makes me sick if I cough too much and my ribs hurt

I did have a fever that was nearly 40.C, but thankfully it's gone down now. I still feel horrible as I can't stop sweating and I've barely been able to move from my bed.

I don't feel like I'm getting any better either, apart from the fever going down.

My sympathies to all of you. I had this for two months. Chest x ray booked but I'm better now and couldn't make it anyway so had to cancel. I was ill for about two months and mine did go away eventually but lots of different symptoms. I snorted and gargled warm salt water.

The first two courses of oral steroids I had were 5 day courses, so not enough to have any major effects. They helped a lot. I remember finally being able to sleep was just heavenly. I think getting a good rest helped my body to recover. Maybe it's worth asking your GP, they can only say no.

I feel your pain though OP, you begin to forget what "normal" feels like!

Yeah my wedding day was just a struggle to be honest, ended up in bed early then at the walk in centre in the early hours. We do plan on having a little mini moon somewhere then a family holiday later in the year

Sending get well vibes your way

I'm so tempted, it's 3 am here and i stop haven't been to sleep. ..something about falling asleep changes my breathing and I start to cough. .

I have the tablets already, will look it up, i have a feeling they keep you awake.

Lborgia,

Have you got pillows to prop yourself up , have you steamed yourself (bowl of v hot water, a few drops of eucalyptus or tea tree oil if you have it, towel over head, inhale,) and have you got a bowl of v hot water to make the room hot and steamy after you've inhaled?

Sleep well,

ThanksOrlando but I've done all of that and the sun has risen and I haven't fallen asleep yet. ..

I ended up getting in a bit bath and the steam was great, but the nebuliser and puffers are also good. ..but the minute i drift off something happens. Don't know what.

Sods law says I'll fall asleep in the next couple of hours and find it impossible to get to the doctor on time! Alarms are set. .

Btw, article about this bug in the DM. Apparently doctors have said virus could lead to PNEUMONIA (their caps). Imagine! Anyway, I guess we've arrived

A hot bath!

So sorry.