Anyone else have this awful virus?

[LEMtheoriginal]

Day 3 and I'm fucked! I have never experienced a sore throat like this. It's agony.

Dr prescribed naproxen and co-codimol. Can't take the naproxen yet as it's bid and I have already taken ibruprofen.

Not slept at all for 48 hours as my throat is too painful. Had to write a note for the Dr as I couldn't talk to explain symptoms.

He said there is a particular nasty virus that is poleaxing people for up to two weeks . I can't afford to take that time off work.

What I'm really after is self help for my throat - it is AGONY and I am besides myself. If I cough it feels like layers of skin being ripped from my throat. Strangely I don't think my tonsils are affected as it's more central roof of mouth.

The most impressive nasal drop you've ever seen.

He didn't say the f word though - just rest and fluids. Pain relief etc.

Anyone want to join my pity party?

@Bowerbird5

Those that say they are already five days in have barely got to the end of the preface with umpteen chapters to wade through.

How is everyone today. Day 33 and I don’t like to tempt providence but that horrid spiky tumble dryer ball feeling in my throat seems less. And although I woke up with a bad throat it has gone off considerably since drinking.

I’ve just got antibiotics for a chest infection. The Doctor was very keen to tell me ‘not to expect to feel better’ though as it would only be the chest infection she was helping with - the rest of the evil virus can just carry on sorting itself out.

I'm on week three and am now just very congested in my chest, and barking like a seal. Still very tired though it's hard to sleep as lying down makes me cough.

Vicks on my chest and Olbas oil on my pillow helps a bit.

Me33 - yes, twice, and had a chest Xray.

I've had a cough since last June, so in Jan I went to the GP and she could hear rattling on my chest but decided not to send me for an Xray at that point, but gave me broad spectrum anti-b, Amoxicillin. They gave me raging thrush which made me want to rip my own labia off. And an upset tummy.

She said to go back if they didn't work. Well, they didn't, so I booked to go back two Fridays ago, but on the Tue I started to feel really ill and by the Thu I was aching from my hair to my ankles and could barely move. So on the Friday I called the GP to say I was too ill to come in and cancel but the actual GP called me back and said no, come in. She could still hear the rattle, temp was 40, so she sent me for the Xray and gave me more anti-b.

That was when I went to the chemist to get the script and asked for thrush cream 'just in case' and when he asked when I last used it I told the truth and he refused to sell it and I burst into tears!

Luckily, this one didn't give me thrush.
The Xray didn't show anything.
I'm going back in two weeks if still coughing as I reckon the original cough is still there and the ill feeling was flu on top. Though GP said it was pneumonia and to go to A&E if I didn't feel better within 24 hours of the anti-b starting, but I didn't go even though I don't think I felt better.

Luckily I work part time so have plenty of time to rest.

outtogetyou any time you are prescribed an antibiotic, request a thrush prescription. I need to do this. I'm so thrush prone that I can't have baths or wear skinny jeans.

I've come down with something that started weds night- feeling really tired hot and shivery. Thursday- malaise all day aches shivers and feeling faint. Now today other symptoms ha e gone but have had constant diarrhoea all day. It's unrelenting. Any ideas ?

outtogetyou any time you are prescribed an antibiotic, request a thrush prescription.

I did. Well, I did the second lot as I had got it so bad the first lot. She said "you can just buy it".

I should have just told the chemist I'd not used it for ages. I wasn't thinking as I was really unwell that day. But, you can order online anyway. It's cheaper to buy it than pay for a prescription.

The reason they ask when you last used it is to check if there is any underlying condition that needs to be investigated, but obviously the underlying issue was the anti biotics!

dontbesillyhenry - rest and keep the fluids up, paracetemol every 4 hours, On The Dot.

I know I've been there outtogetyou. Hope you are feeling better. This is a miserable dose. I'm day 10 ( I know tree dragon, I know!). My voice is just a croak.

Antibiotics finished today and I'm heartbroken that I don't feel better. Definitely got rid of terrible chest infection but this damn flu. I can't stop feeling tired and irritatable. Whole body aches. Ducking fed up. Day 32 for me. Remember it well as first thought it was down to coming off a plane.

I've forgot what healthy feels like, it's getting me down

I have been non stop coughing for almost a week now. I have coughing episodes for 15-20 mins at a time and nothing is easing it at all my Dad has the same thing too!

Nothing really helps a cough - but try pholcodeine linctus. Don't take other codeine with it though.
Vick on the chest at night helps a bit.

So I'm 5/6 weeks On the mend but some days worse than others. Yesterday I got a cramping feeling in my stomach and it got worse to the point I was vomiting last night. Cramps continued through the night. This morning sickness has gone but tender round my abdomen.
Is this part of the bug? Or what??

Has anyone here found that their skin looks dull, dry and lifeless with this virus? I feel and look like I have aged beyond my years.

The fatigue is really debilitating and depressing. I’d like to go places but have resisted because of its relapsing nature as I don’t want wobbly legs and or stomach cramps when out.

How horrid this is.

A lot of people seem to have come down with this for over Christmas and new year and commented on its recurring nature. Had to go for a blood test yesterday and the nurse said “oh yeah and it comes back when you think it’s gone”. So it’s obviously known about.

@MaggieMay23

I’m now on day 33 and it’s a bit of a roller coaster for me. Yesterday was a “better day”. Today I now have more of a persistent cough and the nausea came on about half an hour ago.

Will this ever end.

I’m naming this the never ending virus. Nearly 5 weeks on and still crap. But a far cry from the week where my life involved lying in bed, struggling to the toilet and forcing water and toast down now and then to stay alive.

oh yes this virus is horrible. I had it end of November and only started to feel better mid january. The sore throat was the worst I've ever had and I suffer from many sore throats. it got to the point I was almost hospitalised because I couldn't swallow for 2 days due to the pain. I then developed a cough which bought the pain to a whole new level I wanted to rip my throat out. The only way I survived was drinking lots of very sweet tea (I was drinking 1 after the other to the point that my teeth felt weird as fuck and started tingling) and Lidl own brand throat lozenges along with ibuprofen.
that lasted about a week but then my cough turned to bronchitis again almost hospitalised with possible pnemonia due to the pressure in my chest everytime I took a breath. that lasted 4 weeks, but then there was the ear infection that anti biotics wouldn't shift (possibly cos I'm allergic to penicillin so have to have a different kind??) so was going around saying 'what? I didn't here u' and 'sorry didn't realise I was shouting' alot.
Lasted about 7 weeks in total.
this bug did seem to stop me from getting noro that both my dh and dd were struck down with though so I suppose that's a plus 🤔🤔
Hope u feel better soon. I did find that in the last week I was able to sleep alot better so the tiredness didn't last too long xx

Started 21 December with me - all the family have it. We are self employed and paid by the day so our finances are really, really ropey as we can't work (very technical contracting) much. Really worried about my son's GCSE's as he has been unable to study/cope with school.

Starting to feel very low as it just never ends!!! Thought I was getting better a few weeks back and went to a meeting in London (2 hour commute) - nightmare day, really wasn't sure I could make it home. It came back with a vengeance - sore throat, congested chest the lot. All 5 of us here are weak as kittens still. I did some cleaning/hoovering yesterday and had to go to bed in the afternoon. Even the bones in my toes are sore and my teeth are sensitive (tap water too cold). Please let it end!!

+1 regarding this teeth and toes @Kikashi

I have had difficulty with gums and teeth with this. The symptoms are just so widespread, varied and far reaching.

I am beginnig to feel like a hyperchondriac or like I am developing some sort of chronic health anxiety over it. I actually know now I feel depressed with this too spawned by the fact (a) when will I feel well again, if ever and (b) what awful symptoms will develop within days of feeling relief from it (c) I dare not ventrue too far for too long in case the fatigue, malaise, pain, stomach issues start up or worsen.

It's doing my head in now.

It's as if the immune system is so overwhelmed by it and can't cope or the bloody virus mutates inside you to create a new virus that has to be fought off.

Treedragon, can sympathise with the health anxiety. I'm worried about further complications and fear pneumonia (my mum developed it but is ok now thankfully).

Feeling very low, thought February would bring better health but look like it will be a write off too.

Kikashi, It is a pain being self employed when ill. I am on a zero hour contract and was paid for a full 2,5 hours (will work out about £75) for January. No sick pay at all so finances not great.

How are other people coping with work or are you all signed off on sick pay?