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?

What a horrible nasty virus. DH has it for a week now; he is a bit better but still very congested and with a nasty cough that's worse at night so we are not getting much sleep. I have been given him all sort of teas, honeys, throats lollies, putting Vicks, equinacea, I am not sure is helping but makes feel better for doing something. He is taken one week off work which is unheard off. He is very frustrated he can't sleep. I have to go to work too so not time to catch up on my sleep.

2 months in now for me and I'm feeling a lot better - still lacking energy and my chest tends to get tight in the evening causing me to have a dry cough. I have no get and go though. I have to really force myself to do simple things like housework or take a walk and I'm not enjoying them. I just feel I have to push myself a bit more each day. My ears still feel full and I felt a bit shaky at the local shops today with the bright sun and wind blowing. My self employed work has dried up - no income since Xmas so really need to get my game face on.

My DC have been ill but "only" since the end of January. My twins went back to Uni yesterday - they have had almost a month out and are not quite better. They still have that bad taste in their mouths so their chocolate stash is lying untouched and they seem to be cured of their cocoa cola addiction - so that is something to salvage from this.

So - to all those starting on the journey there is light at the end of the tunnel!

How are you doing treedragon?

I didn’t mention in my last post. My dad had all of these symptoms and also went completely deaf.
My mum and me had to ring a ambulance for him as he was having a severe headache. He wasn’t making any sense and obviously couldn’t hear us.
When we got to hospital they did all the routine checks and thought it was just sinusitis so they pumped him full of pain killers.
After a night in hospital he was no better, a senior nurse came in and said he needed to do a lumbar puncture. 12 tries later they got the lumbar puncture and he had meningitis. Bacterial and viral, everyone please go to the doctors just in case!
He is a lot better now but not back to normal yet!

It has been most of the last two months for me. After 2 or 3 rounds of antibiotics (I forget exactly now) I seem to have cleared the throat infection, my sinuses are much better, not getting many headaches and my cough isn't sore or nearly as frequent. The phlegm has lessened but I'm still hacking up throughout the day, although it's mostly clear. My energy levels are still well dodgy though and I'm in quite a lot of pain in what feels like my left lung, but most of my back if I'm honest. I get anxious feelings that are quite uncomfortable too, largely because my breathing isn't right yet. I find I'm quite conscious of it and often feel like there's fog in my lungs or I have to concentrate on trying to breathe better. My mood is overall brighter but I haven't been out for two days and knowing I need to go for groceries tomorrow is making me quite apprehensive. Everything feels like a massive exercise still, and daunting, but I'm really hoping this is the tail end and the back and lung pain-numbness-discomfort and breathing effort will eff orf soon!!

Can anyone else identify with this, or are you all mostly experiencing it differently after 6 or 7 weeks?

Lots of warm healing wishes to you all, take it very easy

avuncularis - your description of having fog in your lungs is really descriptive. When my chest is tight and I'm not breathing right I have felt a bit anxious too - I can be comfy on the sofa watching TV and will just not be able to concentrate and feel strange.

My DP and I have had it for 2 months as well. The GP thinks we may have had 2 viruses - the one in late December/January that seemed to be clearing and then the on we still have. My DP has asthma so was sent for an X Ray - the GP said he had "mild" pneumonia whatever that means..

Week 5-6 and ducking sore throat is back! Felt fine most of the week as well and just didn’t see this coming (even though it is common amongst the folk on this thread).

I'm not sure if it's encouraging or not that other people are going through this!! I was struck down by flu on NYE, spent three days with the worst of it (shivers/ sweats, coughing, aching etc) then thought I'd get better... but almost two months later and I still feel yuk! Cough's still there (with plenty of gunk still being coughed up too), temperature is up and down, and I can't walk without slippers/ shoes as it hurts too much.

Visited the GP yesterday and have had blood tests and a chest x ray today. DP is away for the weekend leaving me with two small DCs, which physically is very tough. I discovered his stash of strong painkillers though which has helped!

Kikashi I'm sorry you and your DP are both down with these horrid 'bookend' viruses And having the complication of asthma, no wonder your DP's has turned into some kind of pneumonia. I'm wondering if mine is now pleurisy, going back to GP next week so will keep you posted.

I get exactly what you're describing with the breathing and anxiety - a kind of restless discomfort at times which makes it hard to feel soothed by the sofa and telly. The anxiety morphs a bit into depression and I have to wait for it to pass.

avuncularis you have described exactly how I am feeling. I am over the worst of this virus but still bad sinus problem and coughing up and have had this weird anxiety feeling. In fact last night, I woke with a "start" in the night, unable to breathe and heart racing. I had to get up for a couple of hours then went back about 5.30 with an extra pillow. Thought it just me with the anxiety and I have been feeling quite low also. Have cancelled two social events this week as can't be bothered.
I think this virus affects the nervous system as well as lungs etc.

+1 to the nervous system and possibly the muscular system too.

I am still clinging on and will be entering week 7 on Sunday. Still have the on and off bad taste and some recurrent gut disturbances and intermittent dry cough. Also aches and pains that seem to ease in one place and spring up in another.

Spoke to GP today by phone and again was told its a nasty thing that will take time but they want to see me again next week if I am still not right.

And also +1 to the anxiety and depression with this.

I actually cried last night over it and I am a guy.

HonkyWonkWoman (fab name!) I've had at least a couple of those nocturnal attacks during this horrid affliction. Last night I woke up with really bad reflux and can't remember the last time that happened. Seems like this virus just does its worst anywhere it can find the smallest chink to crawl into! I think treedragon said as much further up the thread. Feels like anywhere my body has ever suffered before gets hit and at the moment it's my spine and back muscles, which is why I wonder if it might be pleurisy now or if it's just working its way agonisingly slowly downwards. I broke my T8 vertebra a few years ago and that has now become particularly painful, even though the obvious flu-like symptoms have decreased (finally!?!?!)

I totally get why you cancelled - who wants to go out feeling like this? Hope you get a better night's sleep at least.

hug @treedragon

I'm also a guy and I've cried a fair bit over the last few weeks. Someone else up the thread said she had found herself bursting into tears a lot because it just makes people feel really weepy and emotional.

@avuncularis

At the moment it is my back and muscles that are suffering the most. Including leg calves, upper and lower back and shoulders.

Sorry to hear so many people are feeling awful still. End of week
3 for me. I've been back at work this week and today I'm feeling absolutely exhausted. I went to this morning and really struggled, I seem to have lost all a lot of muscle strength.

Been in bed for days and days now. Maybe 2 weeks??
No voice. Fever. Cough. Headache. Nausea. Loose bowels. Aches and pains sll over. Feeling of impending doom. Zero energy.
I want to cry but can't because it hurts and takes too much energy.
Will I ever leave my bed again?

Awww! Invisible your symptoms are identical to the majority of people on here.
All you can do is try to relieve the symptoms with whatever medication seems best.
I know the feeling of thinking that you will never get better again and the Doom!
I'm just about the other side now, was really ill for probably two weeks and then two more weeks of feeling weak with mild symptoms coming and going.
You're doing the right thing by resting, drink enough fluids, take some co-codamol or whatever for aches and pains.
It will go eventually but it's a bastard to be sure.
Keep your chin up!

Bee Propolis is amazing. Don't buy the cheap stuff though.

Thank you HonkyWonk. Thst gives me hope. I was considering downing the whole bottle of night nurse because I just don't want to face another day feeling like this!!

I've stuck to the adopted 20mls again tonight and hope it brings me sleep tonight.

God I feel like death. Started last Saturday with general feelings of meh which changed over the week into fever, sore throat and horrible blocked up sinuses. On Thursday an ear infection began and I was put on antibiotics. I am feeling worse day by day. This morning I've woken up with a blinding headache, my ear is pouring with gunk, my neck is stiff and my throat is agony.

I want my mum!

Awww! Bless you Franny, take some painkillers for your headache and stiff neck. Keep up with the antibiotics, don't miss any, in fact set an alarm on your phone to make sure you spread them out and don't miss any.
Keep warm, rest, warm drinks (blackcurrant cordial if you can). Try to eat, if you can, keep your strength up.
Your immune system is fighting it, so you will get better soon.

This virus has basically caused me to have a really really low mood. Can anyone relate?

I feel anxious using my body in case something else crops up.

Entering week 7 today.

Has anyone here also lost weight. I’ve lost about 6 pounds

Stupid virus caused my asthma to flare up resulting in a hospital stay. Back home but now entering week 5!! It definitely causes low mood; it’s so frustrating when all you want to do is feel normal again. for all.

I can definitely relate* to the low mood treedragon*. Not sure if it's the virus though or just feeling so crap for so long - entering week 9 here! I had a few days a fortnight ago where I thought great, I'm getting better - then it hit me all over again

Haven't lost weight though as I have such a horrid taste in my mouth that I'm craving sweet things all the time!