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Original poster

Anyone else have a very weird severe flu like illness?

204 replies

Yellowishes · 01/12/2022 14:37

DH and I have come down simultaneously with a strange flu-like illness. It's an URTI but we've both been running over 38c for 3 days now and just getting worse. Repeated negative LFTs. Flu vaccine +
I'm hearing of some weird non-covid flu like illness sending people to a&e (apparently swabbing neg for RSV and influenzas too). Has anyone seen much of this? This is extremely bad.

OP posts:
ScrollingLeaves · 18/12/2022 15:40

It took me three weeks to get better. It is horrible. I am sorry for everyone who has it now.

Dingalingo · 18/12/2022 15:42

I’ve had flu vaccine this year and have been swabbed and confirmed flu A with the symptoms you are describing. So I would suspect flu (I already did before my swab, had done covid tests which were negative, and tbh feel much worse than I did when I had covid in the past).

Tiny2018 · 19/12/2022 10:50

Seems whatever this is, is pretty common.
I started on Friday night with snotty nose and chills, which progressed to absolutely no energy, and flu like symptoms over the weekend. Woke up this morning feeling dizzy and could not stand up straight.

Forced vitamins and peanut butter on toast down me, but still feel incredibly weak. Used what energy I did have to quickly blitz the house and am now having to lay down again. Also, very tearful a d feeling quite hopeless, whereas I'm normally quite hopeful and optimistic.

I hope we all feel better over Christmas.

Meltinthemiddle · 19/12/2022 11:08

I have never felt so ill. It has completely floored me. One minute freezing to my bones and then just sweating with a temperature my sheets have been saturate. My head, eyes, ears and neck all hurt. My lungs feel like they are on fire. Loss of appetite but craving sweet stuff probably for energy.

ethelredonagoodday · 19/12/2022 11:10

I know a couple of people who've had this and felt absolutely appalling.

ethelredonagoodday · 19/12/2022 11:12

And one of them confirmed as having flu by GP.

soundsofthesixties · 19/12/2022 11:26

On day 10, just had a phone appt. with the doctor who has prescribed antibiotics. She did say it was probably a virus but prescribed anyway. Horrendous cough, so congested, such painful ribs.

toomuchlaundry · 19/12/2022 12:43

I now seem to have an ear infection just as I thought I was getting over it

User963 · 19/12/2022 13:29

For the PP who was asking you can buy influenza lateral flow tests direct from flowflex.

Meltinthemiddle · 19/12/2022 14:10

My ribs hurt to. Never felt anything like it! I've managed to shower and move into the sofa today which seems like progress!

toomuchlaundry · 19/12/2022 14:14

I seem to lurch from having one good day to having to spend the next day in bed

Jewel1968 · 19/12/2022 15:53

I had covid a couple of months ago and this is 100 times worse. I feel awful. Can't talk. Hot and cold. Pain. Awful sore throat.

I have painkillers left over from covid for chest pain but they are having little or no impact. My DS had it but only bad couple of days. I think I will take longer.

How do I know when to try and get doc appointment. I don't think I have a temperature. And I can't really speak to doc on phone.

Meltinthemiddle · 19/12/2022 17:56

My ribs are hurting too and I have nausea can't seem to stomach anything even though I've not been sick. Everything tastes funny too. Negative COVID test.

VeryScary · 19/12/2022 22:16

I thought I was pretty much over it now apart from being a bit snotty, but now today my lungs have started hurting. It really is the gift that keeps on giving.

AndEverWhoKnew · 20/12/2022 07:09

This sounds like my DS. It started yesterday. He's been running a fever, shivering, lethargic, etc. I'm going to speak to the GP this morning. He had Covid last month. This is different.

littlerose12345 · 20/12/2022 08:20

DH and I have both had this... awful

We are almost over the worst but wondered if anyone had similar...

At night we are struggling to regulate our body temperature.. no more fevers but going from super hot (sweating and drenching bed clothes) to cold?

Seeriously · 20/12/2022 08:42

I have had this as well. Been over a week now and most symptoms have gone apart from on and off nausea and crushing fatigue…
i had high fevers, body aches, cough, headaches etc last week.

hoping this fatigue thing doesn’t turn into anything longer term!

MrsTag · 20/12/2022 08:54

My H has had this and I tested him twice for covid. Kept his temperature down with paracetamol and he basically slept for nearly 4 days after the initial shivers and sweats. He felt just exhausted.No appetite.

donniedarko89 · 20/12/2022 15:37

I got tested and it was neither flu nor Covid. A bacterial infection most likely, as it finally went away after 3 weeks with antibiotics.

Bighugs88 · 20/12/2022 18:25

Hi everyone,
Me and my 5 yrs old daughter are both fighting a viral infection which gp says is the flu and not covid.
We both have recovered from the fever, but we both still have nasal congestion, passing out yellow mucus from nose, coughing constantly which is like a barking cough. My daughter has just started eating again as she had no appetite previously.
I started getting really bad sharp pain around the sides of my head and cheeks which the gp said was due to sinusitis. But I still have no energy and feel very low and not like myself. I have a very strong sense of taste and smell like rusting metal and my outh is constantly dry. I still feel very nauseous it's like I am on the verge of vomiting. Constantly burping and having upper abdominal pain and my stools are not light coloured but are quite smelly.
But I do think this is due to the flu, as prior to all of this 7 days ago my appetite and stools were fine. The flue is really affecting my health right now and it's making me feel very sick and has caused my ectopic heartbeats to return again in full swing. Please someone say it does get better.

Bighugs88 · 20/12/2022 18:27

Doctors not prescribing antibiotics because 2 different gps said it's viral and not bacterial so far.

SaturdayGiraffe · 20/12/2022 20:28

I'm on day 15. Started coughing, progressed to nasal congestion, sinusitis, itchy mouth, insomnia. Today's symptoms have morphed into streaming clear mucus, huge sneezes and 38C temp.
3yo on day 4 high temps (max 40C), responds to Calpol but not eating or drinking much. No rash. Mulling getting Dh to try A&E, if only because dehydration seems likely by now (dark urine).
I imagine it will be carnage there though.

Bighugs88 · 20/12/2022 20:41

@SaturdayGiraffe
So sorry to hear that you have been really unwell and your 3 year old as well. Keep a close eye because my gp said if child is not eating much which is common with infection but make sure they are hydrated so drinking fluids. If you do think that your child is getting dehydrated as urine output is very very small or the colour is dark then I do think you should contact your doctor but at this time there are urgent care observation centre in A&E. You dong want your child to become dehydrated.

Bighugs88 · 20/12/2022 20:42

Sorry typing error meant to type don't want your child to become dehydrated

AndEverWhoKnew · 20/12/2022 20:52

Our GP is saying it's viral and to medicate with paracetamol and ibruprofen. None of us have much appetite but DC is picking at fruit and drinking.
It's less than a month since we had Covid so I'm feeling very frustrated/sorry for myself.

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