Is there a virus going around lasting weeks?

[emilylouisex1]

So I was told I had early stages of pneumonia, I feel ok generally just an awful cold and wheeze. When I wake up in the morning I'm fine but as the day goes on it's like mucus is producing on my lungs??? I've never had anything like it! I have my energy back but the wheeze is scaring me. Not breathless at all.
Is there a virus going around lasting weeks? I've been unwell for a month now but the wheeze started about two weeks ago, I'm worried this has caused lasting damage to my airways..albeit I have asthma but it's so mild you wouldn't even think I have it at all, it's only when I get sick or I'm in cold weather that it's evident I do have a bit of asthma but apart from that you would never know! So I don't think this is asthma related...it's super strange and worrying

I’m on week 6. Horrible mucus cough, feel not ill but not good either. Had antibiotics for an unrelated infection last week that did nothing for the cold so it’s clearly viral. Saw the nurse the other day who said my pulse ox, temp and lungs were all fine, so to just ride it out with steam and that, but she said she’d seen loads of people coming in after a few weeks to get checked as it is hanging around so long this winter.

I've already seen a doctor, already been on anti biotics and all I have is a cough and slight wheeze that comes and goes. It is not pneumonia and probably never was an infection.

Yep! Sounds just like me, vitals are all perfect, even when they said I had an 'infection' no temp, oxygen perfect, heart rate but raised but normal when unwell they said but that has calmed down a lot, this virus is clearly everywhere right now, awful! Resembles Covid

Nah it's not an infection, my vitals are perfect, no temp, I can breath fine, I've already been on anti biotics which made no difference at all

You have an infection, just not necessarily a bacterial one.

Yeah it's just a virus, longest I've ever had one before lol

Me too! I’m on steroids as got a crappy chest anyway and not really helping that much. On week 3 now here - like others, don’t feel that ill but chesty cough mucus that won’t shift

Sounds like me too! I read there's a '100 day cough' going around?!

I’m currently on week 3. Definitely improving but still coughing, snotty, blocked sinus and wheezy

I've had for about 4 weeks now 😭

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/dec/09/what-is-whooping-cough-and-why-are-cases-rising-in-england-and-wales#:~:text=Older%20children%20and%20adults%20can,called%20a%20100%2Dday%20cough.

DH, one of my DC and I have all had a cough that started as a cold-like illness in October (September for teenage DC) and have had an unshiftable cough ever since. I took DC to the GP after 4 weeks and he was given abx but that didn’t make any difference. He just has the occasional coughing outburst now, but DH and I still have coughing fits. Twice I have woken up at night struggling to breath in or out. I am not prone to chest infections and am not asthmatic (DH is). We sound like a right pair. I am wondering if it is whooping cough (adults don’t always have the whoop sound). It takes us completely by surprise and sometimes we can’t finish a sentence. For me, it feels like mucus I can’t get rid off (though not coughing up anything) and a tickling feeling in the windpipe. Neither of us feel ill, just the cough.

See if your GP will test you for whooping cough. It's under diagnosed in adults due to the absence of the classic "whoop" and often misdiagnosed as pneumonia or bronchitis. Any immunity you had from vaccine or previous infection wears off after 10 years.

I'm not a medic BTW, but have just got this and spent weekend researching. Whooping cough on the rise but several anecdotes saying GP won't test.

Sorry for all who are sick, my adult son had for nearly six weeks (he never gets ill) and only went after he went to the doctor and the doctor put him on antibiotics and a steroid spray for the chest/lungs.

I now have the overload of mucus and sometimes I sound like my chest is rattling and then am fine other times.

Everyone has this weird crap. I got meds from pharmacy which has antihistamine in it, paracetamol and caffeine and also use a nasal spray. Hope my chest does not get bad over xmas as obviously docs closed. Weird that everyone has same thing. Ask your doctor for steroids to clear your chest as the only thing that will clear it. All to do with nasal drip.

Zen 1 that is how I am.. Can be fine then that awful tingling, sore throat and cannot stop coughing and when try to clear throat is mucus. Cough sounds like I am a smoker which I am not. Then I am fine and then the cycle starts again.

Chances are that it's covid.

There are several types around at the moment so you can get it twice in short order.

And then of course one of the effects of viral infections is that you get "run down" for a period afterwards - covid is really, really good at this - so you catch other stuff more readily (eg whooping cough, as vaccine immunity does wear off)

The best thing you can do is rest (especially if covid, but also important with anything). And avoid spreading it - whatever it is, no-one else wants it!

It's awful isn't it, I'm currently using a nasal spray which has done wonders for the funny nose, not yet working for the drip though

I've tested so many times it would be strange to be negative every single time if it was wouldn't it? I've also had this for such a long time now, family have all just had covid but again I'm testing negative each time

I know Emily is horrible and when I have to snort to kind of get it all up I sound gross..... an antihistamine is good also. Keep warm and hope you get over it soon xx

@BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants yes I get that too! It makes me feel so icky lol, I hope you get better soon too!!xx

ha!! I think I sound like I think the Gruffalo would sound, is so gross...xx

I'm on week 7 of something similar, I suspect whooping cough because I've never vomited with coughing before.
It's miserable.

I've had times where I've coughed so bad I've urged, it's terrible but it's spreading around at the moment!

Did you ever at any point have covid ?

@Mrsgreen100 never, I've been testing since this all started, consistently negative even in a house full of Covid currently, I'm the only one who's negative I'm assuming because I already have some kind of virus..

My son has a cough and it is relentless. No other symptoms. Worse at night. Really odd. But constant constant coughing. Sounds dry mainly.