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.

[IvorHughJarrs]

I have it too. Not too bad with phlegm so far but, oh dear Lord, the cough! I cough until I am purple-faced, dizzy, retching and on the verge of incontinence. If anyone sees a middle aged woman standing with legs crossed, coughing furiously, that'll be me!

I have 3 inhalers and am at max dose of all to no avail

[frostyfingers]

Well I'm on week 3 of something vile - week 1 included a headache like no other with a wheezy chest, week 2 graduated to nausea and gunky cough and week 3 has been temperature, total inability to move out of bed, fainting and massively swollen glands. These latest symptoms are now receding and I just feel knackered, blocked up and headachey. The whole thing has been a nightmare, Christmas was cancelled, god knows how much food was wasted and I STILL feel shit. Sympathies to everyone who is dealing with their own personal bugs, roll on spring.

[lborgia]

Well quick update if anyone is still around. I went to my usual gp and am now on 5 days of oral steroids as well as the "as and when" ventolin, atrovent, and some thing new to me. .flutiform puffer. New eye drops, an expectorant, bathing eyes in salt water, and an antibiotic because she believes I also have mycoplasma. .which sounds like something fungal . Also bothering to use a spacer because it does help. So I guess I wasn't whinging about nothing!

I finally got some sleep last night (apart from the 4 hours spent with jetlagged children), and generally feel less freaked out. The cough is so scary so that's the main symptom gone, and now my pelvic floor can start to heal .

So thank you for the commiserations, and suggestions, that definitely helps!

[aintnobodygottimefodat]

You're like a walking pharmacy

Very pleased you managed to sleep!

Speedy recovery OP

[Olympiathequeen]

I am on day 8 with it going round the whole family. Starts with normal cold symptoms and tight chest then goes into a feverish stage, cough loosens and the endless coughing and retching vile muck starts.

It also started with a pain in one side of my throat.

The generalised ache and the pain from coughing, with headache, sinuses etc have made me near suicidal.

I've got some of DHs steroids do you think I should try one?

[IvorHughJarrs]

Olympia You need a course of steroids for it to be effective, the odd few won't make a difference. The usual dose is 30mg prednisolone daily for 5 days.

[INeedNewShoes]

Steroids can have very nasty mental and physical side effects, even at a lowish dose. Please don't take them unless you've been prescribed a proper course.

I understand the desperation you're feeling. I'm on day 6 and am showing no signs of getting better. Saw my GP today who ruled out anything needing antibiotics so it's just a case of paracetamol to keep my temperature down and a ton of patience!

[Olympiathequeen]

I actually did take 15 mg yesterday such is my desperation! My chest did feel less irritated and the coughing stopped but has now started again, hence 04.43! I've also taken over the counter co codomol which is a bit better than just paracetamol, and gees linctus which is the only thing that's ever worked for me for a dry cough. It's helping but not like it usually does. Day 9 or maybe 10? and the fever feels gone and I think I have turned the corner. Chest drying up. Nose less snotty. Appetite returning. Headache less.

I think I'm going to live! Looks like 10 days for the really bad bit but the cough lingers forever.

Hope everyone else starts recovering soon. X

[IvorHughJarrs]

One dose of steroids is unlikely to have any measurable effect (sorry!)
Steroids act by reducing the inflammatory response, they don't affect the response there already but prevent new inflammation developing which allows it to subside, but that takes some time to enough to have an effect on symptoms.
They do not act immediately so an effect would not be expected for around 2-3 days

[MyChocolateJacuzzi]

I had the flu 6 weeks ago, then the awful cough, ended up on antibiotics, then a trip to A&E as I had been coughing up blood and NHS 111 said it could be a blood clot!! Anyhow I found Sambucol has really helped (got it from Tesco). Hope you feel better soon.

[Badders123]

I hate to break it to you Queen but I'm 4/5 weeks in and have now started with puss on
One tonsil and bad sinus pain and congestion
This virus really is the gift that keeps on giving

[Olympiathequeen]

That's exactly what I've been saying Badders! Brother in law just diagnosed with chest infection from it.

Felt a bit better then woke up feeling rubbish again.

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

It's hideous! Started on 2nd week of Dec with 'flu', 21st admitted to hospital with pneumonia IV fluids antibiotics and steroids discharged 29th, still exhausted, sinus pressure, cough, stuffy nose 😢

[Badders123]

Blimey you've had a bad time fur!
Queen - my Brother is now on antibiotics for a chest infection too

[lborgia]

You know it's bad when you don't have it in you to go on mn...

Anyway, I suddenly felt so much worse this afternoon, i Googled mycoplasma and realised it did fit very well. ..took my temp and actually it was up. So started on the antibiotics. She only gave them to me in case I got worse so I felt that it was time.

Here I am, 12 hours later, knackered, bur already feeling SO much better. I was quite scary this afternoon.

Thanks for the info on steroids pp, I need to take them more consistently then - didn't seem to be helping, and gave me the shakes, but I'll get straight back to them.

Sorry for you all, it's grim.

[frostyfingers]

Now have tonsillitis - bloody marvellous but it does explain why I've been feeling so unwell. Antibiotics and bed rest prescribed with a check up next week, our surgery is fantastic. I feel absolutely awful, last night I would have been happy for someone to knock me out.

[Badders123]

Oh dear
I've got sinus pain and snotty nose now
And a crusty eye
Grr

[Ouchiebum]

I've got it too. Feel like I've been run over by a bus. Cough. Achey joints. Snot. Misery.

Have just made ginger tea in the hope that does something.

[lborgia]

Day 21 and I'm still in bed. Bleurgh.

[Badders123]

Me too 😞
I'm so fed up
Back to dr on Monday I think
I think I now have sinus infection and am hacking up gunge
I've had two lots of antibiotics though
Not sure what else they can do...
I've got to be better by next Saturday!!! Dh is off on a work trip!!
😞😞😞

[SunshineHQ]

I seem to have something slightly different, but can not get rid of it.

Started with sore throat and chesty cough for about 4 days.

Followed by 3 days of desperate runny nose, sneezing, sore throats still.

Now most cold symptoms subsided but desperately painful sinus headaches, and just feel so depressed - I can't face doing anything, and just want to cry.

Throughout the whole time, no temperature, but absolutely exhausted. Sleeping 10 hours+ a night, and most days also needing a 2-3 hour sleep before picking up kids from school. I'm off work, but (single mum) just trying to do the basics with the children and house is more than I can manage.

And I HAD the flu jab, despite hating needles. I'm not meant to catch things like this.

[PotteringAlong]

I've had it for a week. I am 38 weeks pregnant. If it lasts for 6 weeks I'm completely stuffed.

[Badders123]

I had the flu jab too
This isn't flu
However, I do think it is a pneumonia like virus
I'm just hoping staying in bed all weekend will mean I can go to work next week

[Badders123]

Day 30 for me!!

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

I'd read something about it being part of the adenovirus. Mine was pretty extreme and def not caught earlier enough by the second GP I consulted - if you have a temp and a
Cough make sure they check your oxygen and listen to your chest! I wish now that I'd pushed for a second opinion from another GP as I felt so ill and could have avoided Christmas in hospital.