Anyone else have this persistent recurring virus?

[sthmanclass]

I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I guess just I'm looking for some reassurance that this is just a virus that will eventually pass and not something more sinister.

So all the way back in mid November I lost my appetite, felt a little off, just picking at bits of food throughout the day. Then after a couple of days it escalated to zero appetite, feeling exhausted, and all my skin feeling super sensitive, like it was crawling. I hit the deck and slept for two days straight, only to start with palpitations which lasted quite heavily for a couple of days.

Went to docs, EKG fine, blood test showed slightly low white blood cell count (3.4), said it's probably a virus.

Over the next week, I began to feel a bit better, palpitations slowly subsided, and regained my appetite. Then after a couple of days feeling like I was on the up, boom, feel like crap again.

No sickness or flu-like symptoms, no cough, congestion, etc. Just no appetite, tired, and spaced out.

Then I felt better for a couple of days. Then like crap again for a few days. It's now been 28 days of this, third cycle of the same thing.

Anyone else had this same "virus", whatever it is?

Is it worth going back to the gp? It sounds like you've been feeling rubbish for a while and need some answers. I hope you get them x

Have you visited a sexual health clinic recently? May be worth having a check up inclusive of blood testing

I've been on a monogamous relationship for the past 13 years, so it better not be anything like that otherwise someone's in BIG trouble.

Been twice. Both times he said "it's probably just a virus", but I'm really not a fan of such vague diagnoses. I find it suspicious that it keeps recurring as well. As far as I know most viruses last about 1-2 weeks before being destroyed by your immune system. Even if they can last longer I find the fluctuation in symptoms bizarre. Ill, then fine, then back to ill again!? Can viruses work like that? Like the bleedin' terminator, every time it's looks like he's finally gone, just keeps coming back for more!

Yes.
Can last up to 7 weeks apparently. I'm in week 5 so hopefully this misery will be over soon.

I have had two different viruses that have lasted years. I never worked out exactly what the first was but know what the second was (they were quite different and 15 years apart). Over time the gaps between episodes got longer and each episode became shorter and milder until eventually it went away completely. In both cases GP's and consultants couldn't do anything. My advice is to rest as much as you can and try not to do too much. Your immune system needs to deal with whatever it is!

This sounds very similar to what I’ve had. Back in mid November I lost my appetite. For about 10 days I had fevers, chills, body aches and palpitations. I had a blood test and it showed high levels of inflammation and doctors told me it was probably bacterial and gave me antibiotics. I didn’t improve and ended up in a&e as the fevers made my heart go really fast. They did several more tests and said my inflammation was still high, white blood cells high and liver results were a bit off and concluded it was most likely a virus.

Since then I’ve stopped having fevers and chills etc but I still can’t eat and feel constantly nauseous. I also feel very spaced out and tired all the time.

I went back to the gp for another blood test on Monday and waiting for results. I also have an endoscopy booked for Sunday to see if that give any answers.

I just can’t get my head around this being a virus as it’s been so long and had no cold symptoms, no cough, congestion or sore throat etc. Just praying it’s nothing sinister and the anxiety I have around that probably isn’t helping matters. Just want to be well again now. I have 2 little children and I just want to be able to look after them properly again.

Well hello I'm on here as well! Last September I had some vague symptoms of being unwell plus stomach issues, like a stomach virus I guess, nausea and indigestion. It passed after a couple of days but all that is back now! Is it a dormant virus or a new one every time? I know the doctor would say virus. I'm due for blood tests in Jan so will see if it shows anything.

Hi MoonUnit3000. I had the nurse at the doctor's tell me she had something similar. Caught a chest infection after snorkeling that would die down and spring back, but with decreased severity each time and a longer and longer gap in between each episode. And just like you it took two years before the final episode. I have to say I find stories like that equally reassuring and depressing.

Hi Minai, Sound like we may have caught the same thing. My blood test results from last week all came back normal, but I'm being sent for an endoscopy to check for a stomach ulcer or inflammation. I've been feeling a bit better in myself the past few days, but still not much of an appetite, and coming up on nearly a stone of weight lost. Still feel quite fatigued and can't tell if it's the illness or the not eating that's causing it. I'm kind of on edge all the time now waiting for it to return, because every time I've felt better before, I'll suddenly plunge back into feeling like crap again.

Do you mind me asking how your bloods and endoscopy went? Hope all is good, but then the only problem with keep getting the "all clear" is it doesn't really provide any answers.

@SubordinateThatClause @Lantern19 @MoonUnit3000 @Minai

Sorry guys, I've been trying to reply but forgetting to tag you. MumsNet newbie. You can find my respective responses to your messages above. And thank you everyone for replying so far.

Hi sthmanclass, I'm in week 4 here. It's horrendous. Started with a nasty cough, tiredness, breathlessness, then had a gum infection (course of antibiotics from dentist) felt marginally brighter for 2-3 days and now nausea, tiredness, headache, shivering.
Went to gp today and she said it's viral and to rest.
I'm on my knees with tiredness. Fingers crossed you continue to keep well

Hi all, I've got a nasty one that started weeks ago with painful throat symptoms (including losing my voice - I was the only one not happy about that ) and fatigue, aches and pains, headaches. Fast forward to now and for the last week at least it's been severe migraine-type headaches, aches and pains, costochondritis, aching teeth and godawful tiredness. Wake up feeling like I've been hit by a truck and mouth dry as a bleached bone Feeling down (low mood), nauseous at times, stomach upset. No V but some D (and T,M&I, sorry!)

A bit sneezy yesterday and today but my nose isn't running and my throat isn't sore, although my glands feel a bit tender. Haven't been to GP coz it feels like a virus. That hasn't really gone away for ages now

Fed up, someone please give me an immune system transplant for Xmas...

for you all