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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:
Sunshinegirl82 · 01/01/2023 21:28

I'm really struggling with coughing fits still, my chest is killing me from all the coughing and I've coughed so much I'm sick. Into week 3 now, I think I'll call the dr when they open on Tuesday although not sure I'll get anywhere!

So bored of this now!

CoffeeBoy · 02/01/2023 08:43

Another terrible night of non stop coughing and next to no sleep. I’m exhausted. And now have the added complication of terribly heavy nose bleeds so can no longer blow my nose so struggling to breath. Getting quite panicky when I have a coughing fit as I’m choking.

CoffeeBoy · 02/01/2023 08:44

@Sunshinegirl82 dh says I’ve also got to ring the gp tomorrow but I don’t see what they can do. Though at this rate I’m going to need a sick note.

Original poster
NameChangedAMillionTimes · 04/01/2023 17:54

update - Day 21 for me - finally got an appointment with nurse - got antibiotics for sinusitis. They've made me feel sick and given me an upset stomach - side effects - but fingers crossed it will clear it up. Feel like Ive been run over by a bus. Urgh. worse flu ever.
Hope everyone else is turning a corner with it. x

OP posts:
CoffeeBoy · 04/01/2023 18:15

I’m glad you’ve got some antibiotics.

funnily enough it’s my sinus which are the worst and why I think I’m coughing at night. Because I’m fine all day and then at regular intervals in the night it’s like the back of my throat has been pinpricked which causes a coughing fit. Google suggests it’s shit in my sinuses dripping into my throat. I’m sleeping as upright as possible but it’s several times a night and I’m exhausted.

maybe I’ll try the gp tomorrow

Jmb6 · 04/01/2023 20:05

I am around the same timeline as you both- mine was sinusitis - just finished my 5 day course of antibiotics and I feel absolutely amazing - 4 days ago I was sleeping all day and still had a fever and the antiobiotics cleared everything up so quickly- fingers crossed it’s the same for you too!

Original poster
NameChangedAMillionTimes · 04/01/2023 21:29

@CoffeeBoy definitely that’s where my cough was coming from. Get it checked out. Won’t heal on its own. I’m already feeling a lot better and the coughing has stopped. She also said do regular hot water inhalation do you could do that for the moment until you get drugs.
@Jmb6 thanks, that’s good to know, yes I’m feeling better already, hadn’t realised quite how ill I was, first evening without a temperature and coughing uncontrollably in three weeks . Yay.

OP posts:
Original poster
NameChangedAMillionTimes · 05/01/2023 09:06

Urgh didn’t last long, probably placebo effect. High fever in the night, night sweats again, back in bed 😢

OP posts:
ellebelli · 05/01/2023 09:26

I feel back to normal now(thank god)
Still coughing during the day and having to blow my nose...getting rid of horrible stuff so feel it's all coming away now(sorry tmi)
Oddly still wake up in thr night drenched but so much better...its been a rough ride and at a rubbish time

middleager · 05/01/2023 09:30

It's been 2 weeks for me. The cough remains and I am permanently exhausted - feels like post viral fatigue.

Typo22 · 05/01/2023 09:32

I'm on day 20 now and bloody fed up. The first week was awful, could barely eat and didn't get out of bed. Then started with awful sinus pain, horrific headache and pain in all my teeth on the right hand side of my mouth.

Then that went away and I was just left with the cough and snotty, blocked nose but felt so much better so thought I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. 10 days later I am exactly the same and have started having fevers in the middle of the night and leaving my sheets damp with sweat.

Lovely.

99point9FahrenheitDegrees · 05/01/2023 10:11

Mild version of this going through our family too. Nasal rinse and salt water gargling has helped the coughs and headaches and dizziness a LOT - it seems to be a very sneaky sinus based life form that gets you on all fronts from its secret skull fortress ...

Original poster
NameChangedAMillionTimes · 05/01/2023 14:34

@99point9FahrenheitDegrees how do you nasal rinse? Salt water gargle even if no sore throat?

OP posts:
TheLastDreamOfTheOak · 05/01/2023 15:00

Into week 6 and feeling better but wake up then occasional day feeling crap again . And still exhausted

Jmb6 · 08/01/2023 11:14

I was feeling much better for a full week- and now im Back to a chesty cough, mild fever and feeling ill again- what is going on??

schnauzerbeard · 08/01/2023 11:17

I've had it since the 18th December It started all of a sudden, I was fine one minute and the next I could my glands were swollen when I tried to swallow. I had 3 weeks of coughing, fatigue, chest crackles, runny nose, sore eyes, sinus pain. Feel better now but still have a cough and a really sore right shoulder /neck. Hope everyone feels better soon.

Original poster
NameChangedAMillionTimes · 08/01/2023 11:24

back in bed today, general fatigue, blocked nose even though on day 4 antibiotics for sinusitis. Honestly say never felt so run down, almost a month for me. 😞

OP posts:
Abraxan · 08/01/2023 11:31

A lot of the viruses, flu, nasty colds, rsv bugs, covid, etc seem to be lasting for ages and a lot of people I know seem to get a bug, it die down and then it either comes back, or it's a new one, a week or two later.

Dd had a very definite flu virus mid December which left her in bed for a few days and coughing continuously. She even pulled a muscle in her back due to the cough. This seemed to die down and then she got poorly again over Christmas, and she still has a mild cough now.

I got a nasty cold type bug beginning of December, again after a few days it seemed to clear but I felt really lethargic with a mild cough, two weeks later it returned and I felt dreadful, coughing was awful, and resulted in a horrid chest infection which has taken two courses of AB to clear. Still not 100% now, a few weeks on.

Seems to be really common this year.

Abraxan · 08/01/2023 11:35

I ended up going to the walk in gp centre to see a doctor as couldn't get in at my own surgery. Said 5.5 hours when I got there but was seen in 2.5 hours in the end. I just sat slumped against a wall alternatively shivering and sweating, whilst coughing continuously wishing I was at home in bed. But my breathing was so painful and tight I just knew I needed to wait it out.

Finally saw my own gp a week and half later, after the walk in made me an appointment referral through them with my own surgery, who then prescribed the second course of ABs. Have a follow up appointment next Monday - that was earliest my gp could book me in for it when I saw her before Christmas.

Abraxan · 08/01/2023 11:39

Of and 20y dd has now developed a hard lump behind her ear following her first bout of flu in December, initially the advanced practitioner she saw said it was a cyst but not convinced - it doesn't feel,like any other cyst we've known- dh and dd are prone to them.

She's finally got an appointment at her surgery later this week to have it checked again. I think it's likely her gland/nodes or something linked to the virus, as she still not fully better a month later and it wasn't there before she got poorly.

Anyone else had similar?

Newestname002 · 08/01/2023 13:27

I've had this for about three weeks now. Cough is much reduced now but throat was extremely sore, had a deep terrible earache, congested chest and no energy. Had lots of hot non-dairy free drinks, including manuka honey in hot water with a dram of whisky, plus red tiger balm chest rub. Light easy meals when needed; slept in huge chunks of time. I'm much better now but my energy levels are low and lots of time sensitive jobs undone... 🌹

Pickledprune · 08/01/2023 22:44

Omg the bruising pain in my ribs and upper back Is horrendous anyone else struggling with this? I think it's intercostal muscles strain from coughing. So so sore 😞 still coughing, and feeling awful, now DS 12 has it too

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 08/01/2023 22:45

I’m three weeks in and just pulled a muscle in my groin coughing
you couldn’t make it up…

ellebelli · 09/01/2023 17:49

Jesus!!!! I have been feeling better for just over a week.
Tonight I feel cold and shivery but hot to the touch and plan to have a bath after my tea and then go bed.
I am hoping I do not become properly ill again.
I am never usually ill,and if I am I can usually shake it in a few days,

HowDoYouOwnDisorder · 09/01/2023 18:03

@Newestname002 exactly where I am

weirdly, I felt almost better last week but still cough a lot, and throat hurting again

this winter bug just will not budge! Despite taking proper rest, home remedies and lots of patience

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