Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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:
Bighugs88 · 02/01/2023 16:17

@SaturdayGiraffe

Sinusitis is absolutely s* ( sorry for the language but having that was the worse alongside with nausea). You have my complete sympathy, oh my god the electric/sharp pains were all over my head especially both temples, jaw and even my teeth were aching, couldn't bend down and suddenly turning my head would cause sharp pain - was in tears 😭 at the gp surgery. I was given a nasal spray (mild steroid) to help reduce the congestion.
Hope you feel better soon x

Has anyone else experienced anxiety with this. Seriously with the ongoing symptoms I kept thinking I am seriously ill with something else going on. I do suffer from health anxiety and this viral infection made that 10 times worse

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 02/01/2023 16:30

Bighugs88 · 02/01/2023 16:10

@OnTheRunWithMannyMontana

Sorry to hear that you are unwell, but for 6 weeks 😥you must be so tired of this. I have recovered after 2.5 weeks but just feel very tired and weak. The symptoms were dragging on, but my daughter was prescribed antibiotics in the end as she developed a chest infection. The 2.5 weeks were literally like crap and I became so anxious with the symptoms and just wanted to feel normal again.
I think its best to see the gp asap as 6 weeks is a very long time, sending you hugs, look after yourself x

Thank you. Yes I do need to see the GP again. Back to work tomorrow though and I'm disabled so need DH to take me to any appointments so it's fitting it in!

I had a week of antibiotics when the nasty virus triggered a sinus infection but it's just this sodding cough now that I can't seem to shift! Plus feeling tired all the time.

I'm going to miss my afternoon nap tomorrow lol!

Seeriously · 02/01/2023 18:31

@Bighugs88
i have health anxiety too so know where you are coming from, although my anxiety actually usually is better when I have explanation for why I have symptoms - ie having flu like lots of other people.
it’s unexplained symptoms that freak me out.

checkedcloth · 02/01/2023 22:25

I am on day 14. Still coughing, feel totally wiped out. I’ve developed severe neck pain that is absolutely agony and also having extreme skin reactions, covered in huge welts. I can only assume my immune system is just all over the place.

Adarajames · 03/01/2023 04:36

Week 9 I think now, and finally got rid of the last of the cough! There is light at the end of the flu tunnel people, rest lots, plenty of fluids, and hope you all feel better soon

warofthemonstertrucks · 03/01/2023 04:53

I'm entering my 5th week if this now. Just exhausted

Eurydice84 · 03/01/2023 07:58

Just posting with an update. Got this bug at beginning of December, had antibiotics for a chest infection. I was still fighting it off at Christmas. DH and my mum also got it and developed pink eye/conjunctivitis as well. DH wasn't given antibiotics and he's still coughing all night

Jackiewoo · 03/01/2023 12:09

In week 4 of this, still coughing, still deaf, still have bouts of sudden temperature rocketing and the shivers, still not sleeping more than 2 hours at a time. Posting in solidarity to other sufferers (hands round boxes of tissues and warm fluffy socks).

SaturdayGiraffe · 03/01/2023 13:09

Thanks @Bighugs88 - I got a nasal rinse kit off amazon today and have done my first cleaning. Also more antibiotics.

Commiserations and hugs to everyone going through this thing, whatever it is.

Meltinthemiddle · 03/01/2023 18:39

Does everyone have a dry or wet/muscus cough? Mine is still a wet cough.

Moonlightdust · 04/01/2023 23:29

SaturdayGiraffe · 03/01/2023 13:09

Thanks @Bighugs88 - I got a nasal rinse kit off amazon today and have done my first cleaning. Also more antibiotics.

Commiserations and hugs to everyone going through this thing, whatever it is.

In my 4th week of it after it developing into sinusitis (had a course of antibiotics) and I ordered a sinus rinse which arrived today too. I think I’m nearly back to normal now. Occasionally coughing up mucus.

PlantDoctor · 04/01/2023 23:33

It's spreading like wildfire down here in Cornwall now. I'm not usually one to get knocked down by colds too badly, but this knocked me out for a few days (worse than COVID). Especially hate this neverending cough!

ILoveMyBedTooMuch · 05/01/2023 01:37

PlantDoctor · 04/01/2023 23:33

It's spreading like wildfire down here in Cornwall now. I'm not usually one to get knocked down by colds too badly, but this knocked me out for a few days (worse than COVID). Especially hate this neverending cough!

Cornwall was on a map I saw yesterday of being the highest with this new Covid strain.

PlantDoctor · 05/01/2023 07:22

ILoveMyBedTooMuch · 05/01/2023 01:37

Cornwall was on a map I saw yesterday of being the highest with this new Covid strain.

Show quote history

Oh no! I've had several negative tests, so I'm assuming it's not that unless it's not picked up on lfts?

Meltinthemiddle · 05/01/2023 18:06

I'm beginning to wonder if it's another strain of COVID.

GettingStuffed · 05/01/2023 18:09

I had it and had to go A&E as I had difficulty breathing turned out I had both a chest infection and a virus. I feel a lot better after finishing my antibiotics but I still can't talk.

Lilibert456 · 05/01/2023 18:17

Sore throat,cough no appetite, extreme lethargy. Husband tested positive for COVID but I did not, even though our symptoms were identical.

DinkyDaisy · 05/01/2023 21:58

Mine started end of November. Throat, violent cough, sinuses. Awful.
Hard to get to see a doctor. Not gone back to work yet after Christmas and feel so guilty as impacts others. Now on antibiotics. Suspect bronchitis and now sinus infection. The pain in my head! Left side, shooting pains and neuralgia. Crying with it. Painkillers not working really and worried overusing them. Lost weight I didn't need to and feel fragile.

Ihavedogs · 06/01/2023 12:22

We have all had it. DH was the last to come down with it and at the moment is really quite grim and spent most of the last 2 days in bed and again today. High temperature, swollen glands and sweating are his worst symptoms. I have faired much better than everyone else and not had the extremes of temperature or such bad coughing etc.

Currently DH (elderly) is being somewhat stubborn and doesn’t think he needs any clinical input. As its a Friday and I am not so well myself, I would feel happier if he at least spoke to 111.

Twins3007 · 06/01/2023 12:49

I came down with a bad head, face ache, temp on and off , cough and tmi I know but was suffocating in snot like a tap had been turned on , I really don't know where it all came from, anyway after a week or so that has subsided but I am left so tired and with a chest and ribs that are so tender to touch , I dont have a chest infection as not coughing up any phlegm, anyone else have a sore chest ribs ??

DinkyDaisy · 06/01/2023 13:09

I had a tight chest for ages. Ribs OK but pulled muscle in side with coughing.
Keep eye does not develop into something else.
I am on antibiotics now and banging headache we think caused by sinusitis. Check doc thinks was bronchitis.

DinkyDaisy · 06/01/2023 13:10

Chest not check

Pickledprune · 07/01/2023 23:23

Yes I started on the 28th Dec with it and still coughing now. Started with a severe sore throat, feeling hot. Then feeling out of sorts, no appetite, nausea. Cough started day 2 and has been horrendous, the coughing fits and relentless dry cough, mucusy in a morning, I keep peeing myself and I have pelvic floor prolapses down below so scared I've done more damage 😓.the last four days I've felt like I've been kicked everywhere, in my ribs, back, side the pain is awful 😓😓 I Def think this is COVID variant that tests aren't picking up. My taste and smell went also on day 7. Negative covid tests.
My DS 12 has just started with it, he's been in bed all day yesterday and today, temp and now coughing
Sending hugs to all with this. I've not been this I'll for years, and even when I did have COVID last April it was nothing compared to this

IceStationHorse · 09/01/2023 09:12

My H had this once very badly in Nov and then milder in Dec and this morning he has woken up the same again - raging temperature, chills and raging hot. Will covid test him later once some paracetamol have settled him down a bit. He was out of action for about 10 days the first time with exhaustion. Last year's tests were negative.

Adarajames · 10/01/2023 02:31

I’ve now got a sore throat and awful ear ache and that cold / fluey yuk feeling, having finally got over flu after about 8 weeks only a couple week ago! I don’t want another blast of feeling like crap! 😩