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Original poster

How long are people having this flu virus for?

121 replies

NameChangedAMillionTimes · 28/12/2022 14:04

Hi, I've had that flu virus thats going around for two weeks. It went away for Christmas Eve and Day and then came back. Feel really rough, no energy, temperature every night, coughing like a donkey, just feel like Ive been steamrolled. I'm a single mum and am struggling a bit now. Just looking for some hope really. How long are people generally having it for? I am doing all the right things, drinking water, resting, sleeping, I havent had kids for 4 days so I haven't had stress either but STILL feel like sh*te. They're back tomorrow so I'm worrying a bit how I'm going to cope. Looking for a bit of hope? Could I be on the home run now? Doesn't feel like it. Went to see GP before Christmas as chest was rattling but she said it was a virus and nothing to be done. The rattle has subsided a bit but am still hacking. Not covid, and have had flu jab.

Any ideas on the timeline? Thanks a lot. x

OP posts:
blackberrytea82 · 31/12/2022 14:47

On day 13, mine morphed into a very nasty sinus infection and I've (luckily) managed to obtain some antibiotics through a private GP today.

CoffeeBoy · 31/12/2022 15:18

I feel unbelievably sick now, nausea all the time and my head is killing me.

ellebelli · 31/12/2022 17:44

Well since posting and saying i felt better, i have come home(we went out for lunch) and laid on the sofa,i am still here now and have not even taken my bloody coat off.
really getting pissed off with the head aches and the just general not feeling "right" and the total lack of motivation!
Hope you feel better @CoffeeBoy coffeeboy i did have a day or two of nausea

DramaAlpaca · 31/12/2022 17:50

I'm only a week in but feel worse today as the cough has now moved down onto my chest. That never happens to me, I normally fight things off very quickly and I haven't had so much as a sniffle since before the pandemic. It's just miserable.

AuntieMarys · 31/12/2022 17:51

6 weeks on I've still got a bloody annoying cough and catarrh.

MarthaBlue · 31/12/2022 17:53

Yes I was the same, sick for about 2 weeks really ill the first week then felt better then seemed to get terrible congestion again after a week of seeming to be better. I still have congestion now and have been sick pretty much continuously since the start of october.

Jmb6 · 31/12/2022 21:15

this is so helpful to hear (although sorry so many of you are suffering)

im just over 2 weeks of feeling ill and cannot shake the low grade fever and exhaustion. I honestly feel like I’ll never feel well again but it’s reassuring to hear it has lasted this long for others too- I’ve never had an illness last so long before!

limitededitionbarbie · 31/12/2022 22:02

About two weeks till I felt normal

Numbat2022 · 31/12/2022 22:09

I'm at 2 weeks today and am definitely feeling better, but still coughing and utterly exhausted. I can power through the day but by the time my kid's in bed my eyes are gritty and I can't concentrate. I'm in bed now, absolutely no chance of seeing the new year.

The weirdest thing for me was that three days ago I had a day of what felt like a horrible new cold - endless huge sneezes, streaming nose, just like the first day of a cold. Gone the next day though, and I haven't been anywhere to pick one up (because I've been ill). So I can only assume it was the tailend of this flu.

Thepeopleversuswork · 31/12/2022 22:26

i am 12 days in and still feeling absolutely rubbish, sweaty, shaky, exhausted and appalling cough which wakes me up.

I’m never, and I mean never, sick for more than 3-4 days at a time. Have never been this unwell in my life and I was starting to worry that I have post viral fatigue it’s so bad (in fact I have posted about it on here).

Those of you who are on the mend, when did you feel you turned a corner?

Original poster
NameChangedAMillionTimes · 01/01/2023 10:05

OMG this flu is the weirdest illness I’ve ever had. Day 18 fever of 38.5 and now got conjunctivitis! Cough a bit better. Raging headache again. When is it going to end?? 😱😱😞😩

OP posts:
CoffeeBoy · 01/01/2023 10:37

Well my sore throat seems better. Coughing is worse, snot is worse, feeling totally wiped out, still bad nausea, headache a little better.

CoffeeBoy · 01/01/2023 10:39

It’s day 16 for me with a weird 3 day window in the middle where I felt a bit better and managed to get out of bed for those three days. But it’s really been a fortnight in bed, even flu doesn’t last this long surely?

Numbat2022 · 01/01/2023 11:22

Anyone who still has a fever (or has a new fever) after two weeks - I would assume you have an infection and need antibiotics.

Jmb6 · 01/01/2023 12:03

Sorry yes I should say I am now on antibiotics for sinus infection which I think happened around a week after I first got ill- I also had a day or 2 in the middle where I felt better then got worse again and I think this is when sinus infection took hold- so for anyone who got better then worse again you may consider whether it has become sinus infection?

Lollipop999 · 01/01/2023 12:12

How do you know if/when you need antibiotics? My dd has been poorly for 8 days now. Was really flu like for first 2 days, then seemed to improve but has stayed like that for the past 6 days with awful hacking cough and low energy. Sounds extremely congested, nose bleeds, and aching if not having regular paracetamol.

HumptyNumpty76 · 01/01/2023 12:27

Into the 4th week now. Still coughing (though more phlegmy than it was) and nose still stuffy. Was really bad in the second week.

Original poster
NameChangedAMillionTimes · 01/01/2023 14:54

@Numbat2022 yes, GP wouldn’t prescribe. Said wouldn’t help a virus. I’ll try and ask again when they open. Chemist also said 3 weeks with a fever was the time frame to return to GP 😩 just want to feel better. Getting very depressed with it now. Been in tears all morning. Now feel even worse.

OP posts:
CoffeeBoy · 01/01/2023 16:01

I feel slightly better this afternoon and have made it onto the sofa, mainly because dh turfed me out the bed so he can change the sheets. 🙈

HowDoYouOwnDisorder · 01/01/2023 19:08

Same here OP

A friend told me to stop fighting it, accept and take to my bed for a few days

I did that and it really helped

Rest a lot

Like you, I got conjunctivitis after 2 weeks of flu/cold just to add to my misery

A few of my friends have the same, it started with sore throat, then laryngitis then coughing, then conjunctivitis. Must all be the same virus...

Twizbe · 01/01/2023 19:15

NameChangedAMillionTimes · 01/01/2023 14:54

@Numbat2022 yes, GP wouldn’t prescribe. Said wouldn’t help a virus. I’ll try and ask again when they open. Chemist also said 3 weeks with a fever was the time frame to return to GP 😩 just want to feel better. Getting very depressed with it now. Been in tears all morning. Now feel even worse.

I got to the depressed stage too. That was just before starting to get better though.

It was the abscess on the back that really did me in though. I'd totally had enough by then.

CoffeeBoy · 01/01/2023 19:33

I’ve come back to bed after a coughing fit on the sofa where I threw up and pissed myself again. Have so had enough

sunlight81 · 01/01/2023 19:35

I started on 9th Dec ... missed all my works Xmas outings. Still got random sore throat that comes and goes, night sweats, headaches and feel wiped out

grievinggirlneedsadvice · 01/01/2023 20:31

Numbat2022 · 31/12/2022 22:09

I'm at 2 weeks today and am definitely feeling better, but still coughing and utterly exhausted. I can power through the day but by the time my kid's in bed my eyes are gritty and I can't concentrate. I'm in bed now, absolutely no chance of seeing the new year.

The weirdest thing for me was that three days ago I had a day of what felt like a horrible new cold - endless huge sneezes, streaming nose, just like the first day of a cold. Gone the next day though, and I haven't been anywhere to pick one up (because I've been ill). So I can only assume it was the tailend of this flu.

I had this! Literally one day of constant sneezing after three weeks of misery! The sneezing was awful because I have injured my intercostal muscles coughing. So wierd

purplecorkheart · 01/01/2023 20:34

Just over two weeks. I get a few hours where I feel utterly fine. Then a lot of bone ache, chesty cough and block sinus. Also crippling insomnia.