What is this virus?!

[ginyogarepeat]

I get the flu jab annually as I'm asthmatic. Have never had anything worse than a bad cold or chest infection over the years.

Two days ago I started to get very achy in every muscle and limb. Worsened yesterday and today I've been bed bound all day as everything hurts so much - including the worst headache that painkillers can't shift. I'm alternating between being shivery and feverish (temp was 38.5 when I last took it).

BUT I don't have any cold symptoms - no runny nose or sore throat at all. A bit of a tickly dry cough but nothing else. My appetite was ok when it started a few days ago but today I've only had a bit of toast and felt nauseous for hours after eating it. I'm starting to feel a bit hungry now but am scared to eat in case it makes me so queasy again!

So what does this sound like? I know the flu jab won't cover every strain; is it likely that I'm experiencing a mild dose?

It's just a random virus.

We all have one, the most random symptom of which is nausea when walking around. And it lasts over a week.

The whole house is prostrate!

It could be flu. If you look at the NHS website it gives a list of symptoms including the dry cough...

Arrrrggghhhh!! Never had a virus that made me as bloody sore as this, every muscle hurts so much even when completely still. Not looking forward to another week of it!

Thanks ineednewshoes.

I did a post earlier bout my symptoms.... I literally ache all over it's painful to move ... mine started with a sore throat on Friday but now has seemed to clear up but the aches are still on going ..... It's horrible I feel your pain op

I’ve got flu and as a complication got a peritonsillar abscess which burst last week.

I had the flu jab two months ago and have no tonsills! My parents have been around me in the infectious stage and not caught it but they had a different flu jab as they are older and it protected against more strains. I’m guessing I had the strain that they were protected against OR my jab didn’t work. For the first time ever, this year I had no side effects from the jab.

It sounds like it could be flu that you have to me.

Yeah I got a bit of a chesty cough, and im aching all over and feel generally a bit crap. I sneezed a couple of times yesterday, but I've not got any other symptoms, no runny nose nothing

I work in a shop and some arsehole came in yesterday with glandular fever and proceeded to cough and sneeze everywhere, so thanks for that so I'll see if I get that from them sneezing in my direction.

Have had a virus since Christmas Eve. I’ve had every symptom going. Aching, headaches, sore throat, sore eyes, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, painful ears, joints, sinuses. I feel crap. Christmas was a write off. DH is four days ahead of me and is no better.

I had the flu jab too.

Sorry to hear that you all have been ill over Christmas :( I do feel sorry for myself right now, I've never known aches like these!

GreenThing I have the nausea! Been worried it’s morning sickness!

Shady that's interesting. DD (19m) and I have both had flu tol which started the day we arrived at my parents for Christmas. My mum ended up doing a lot of DD's care as I was bed bound and yet she and my dad haven't caught it which suggests to me it must be flu and must be a strain covered by the over 65 jab.

This has come at the end of a long run of illness for DD and I (she started nursery in October) and clearly it's taken its toll on me as I've now got shingles

@INeedNewShoes You poor thing, what a nightmare! Hope 2019 is better health wise for you both.

I really think it’s luck of the draw on whether we get the flu virus or not, but having the jab is supposed to lessen the effects if you become poorly with any of the many strains. Btw it takes up to 3 weeks to build up antibodies and get protection after having the jab.

What’s interesting reading some of these posts about over 65s not catching a virus that under 65s have succumbed to, is that the overs have not actually been given a jab protecting them against more strains of the virus.

The overs get the adjuvenated trivalent vaccine which protects against three of the flu virus strains which are most likely to be around. Adjuvenated basically means something is added to boost the immune response to the vaccine. This is important because typically, older adults’ bodies do not respond as well to the flu vaccine due to their naturally weaker immune systems

The unders get the quadrivalent vaccine which protects against four flu virus strains

I received the vaccine in October so should be well protected by now. After a night where I alternated between shivering cold and soaking the bedclothes with sweat, I've been fully awake from 5 am and am waiting on DH to wake (he slept in spare room to give me more space) as I desperately need a drink and painkillers but can't face the stairs!

The flu vaccine often doesn't provide protection against all the strains circulating in the community though. It's made way in advance of flu season.

It does sound like the fluey thing that done the rounds in our house, floored us for about two weeks, still feel rough but back on our feet and on the mend now.

My husband has been like this since Friday night but he also has a hacking cough. The out of hours doctor over the weekend thought it was a chest infection (even with the aching legs and back) and gave antibiotics which he is taking and does seem to think has sped up his recovery but he's still miserable, at least the fever has passed now. Just hope me and ds don't catch it as ds has been sick loads this autumn/winter already and deserves a break fgs.

Ugh and now have woken up today to cough up lots of dark green phlegm and a sore chest. My temp had started to go down last night so I thought maybe I was over the worst, but it's now higher than ever.

I'm asthmatic so might phone GP tomorrow as I don't want it settling in my chest. Happy feckin new year!

That’s an infection. You need antibiotics, get thee to a GP, walk-in centre if possible today. Take it from one who knows, 24 hours could make a huge difference especially if your asthmatic.

My GP is closed today, would have to be out of hours at a nearby hospital, but I can't face sitting there for hours with a raging fever and so weak I can't sit up straight!

Dh has had this for 5 weeks, weirdly no cough.
Bullied him into ooh docs at the weekend due to chest pain.. turns out he has a partially collapsed lung, chest infection and pericarditis from the infection. The idiot has been necking flu tabs and working through it for weeks. He’s signed off for two weeks and got lots of follow ups scheduled! Whatever this virus it is it’s horrid!

Oh goodness that's awful puffy! Hope he makes a quick recovery from here. My GP practice reopened this morning- I was able to speak to a doctor and he gave me an emergency appointment later this morning.

Sorry to resurrect this post, but wondered how everyone is doing now? I had the chesty virus, a short course of steroids but no infection, and not sure now if it's post viral or another virus, but since last Thursday have now felt very fatigued, achy and glands seem to be sore (not swollen just achy). Want to start exercising again, but don't want to set myself back - I did this last week and look where it's got me....

Mine started with a little tickly cough then aches all over and a temp 40 on Friday.
I can go longer between meds now so hopefully it's working it's way out now.
But my chest is crackling now so have made a go appointment.

Mine started with sore throat and metallic taste in the mouth last week Today I’ve got a temperature, snotty nose, cough and achey muscles.