How long is this virus going to last? (Not Covid)

[Heather37231]

Work up Saturday morning with what I assumed was a bit of a hangover from half a bottle of wine the night before. Aching body but I’d been exercising so thought nothing of it.

By lunchtime it was clear it was some sort of virus, throat felt raw and sore and by evening I was coughing and sweating and feeling nauseous.

Since then I’ve had a constant throbbing headache that paracetamol/ibuprofen doesn’t quite get rid of, wheezing and coughing (I am a bit asthmatic anyway) and I am sweating all the time, despite having a normal temperature. I can get out of bed long enough to make a light meal but am completely exhausted and have to lie straight back down again afterwards. appetite is shot anyway.

I have had a flu jab so I wonder if this is a milder version of flu- a doctor once told me that you know you have flu if someone put £10k on a table across the room and said you could have it if you could go and get it. I’m not that bad! And no fever. But my nose isn’t blocked so this doesn’t feel like a standard “bad cold”.

I figured that it was just a case of rest and wait, but I’m on day 5 now and my head hurts as much as it did on day 1. I’ve got work to do and need to get back to sharing school run and all the other parenting stuff with my poor husband, who has been doing it all.

Covid test was negative.

Not sure what I am hoping to achieve from this post really-similar experiences I guess?

I have the same as you. Started Thurs with chills and sneezes, thought just a cold.
Since then been in bed / sofa. So ill. Too exhausted to wash hair etc.
COVID tests Sun and Tues both neg.
Killer headache. Insomnia.
Anyone know how long I'll be bed bound? Worst I've felt in 40+ years, apart from 2019 COVID.

I was like this for about a week, bad head, hot and cold, aches. The only thing that touched the headache was codeine. The sweats were horrible.
My sympathies to you. 💐

That’s it exactly, apart from the sneezes for me. I am very tired but my sleep has been bad, and I’ve felt quite delirious at times, not sure if asleep or awake really.

Do you feel hot but no fever?

a doctor once told me that you know you have flu if someone put £10k on a table across the room and said you could have it if you could go and get it. I’m not that bad!

That dr is an idiot. Flu (like covid) can range from asymptomatic, to mild, to severe, to fatal.

I’m 3 weeks into this now. I was really ill for the first 10 days, now I just have “normal” cold symptoms and I feel really tired but I can sort of function.
Hope you feel better soon OP.

I hate to tell you, I started on December 15th and lost Christmas week to it.

I am up on my feet since, but I am exhausted.

You are not alone, loads here on the thread I started thinking I was the only one.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4977762-i-was-in-bed-for-a-week-before-christmas-details-in-post-anyone-else-flattened-over-christmas?reply=132000184

Wow, that thread! Solidarity to you and everyone on there..I can relate to the poster who said she doesn’t even want to eat chocolate any more.

It's everywhere. I live in Spain and so many people, my daughter included, have been sick for weeks and weeks, with a cough that lasts even longer.

@Heather37231
The sneezes were only sporadic on the first day at work, when I didn't expect anything more than a sniffle, but by bedtime, no sneezes, no appetite and temp headache.
Re chills sweats - in first three days I veered between the two - could suddenly feel sheen on my skin, v yuck. Or wake up freezing. But mostly now I'm running a dry hot. (Bonus is I keep turning off the heating, kids come home and point out it's freezing outside and in!)

We all got this over Xmas - Covid tests also negative
Dp got a cough with his and lasted 3 weeks
Me and ds were only 2 weeks

I started Friday before New Year and DH on New Years eve

Last week was what I'm calling the lost week - all wee've done is sleep and try to eat and fail. I've had to get up to work (WFH in IT) but have thankfully had a very light workload. DH is retired.

A week later, we're up and functioning but have no appetite and even just doing the shopping feels like a cross country run.

We're off on a cruise next week so hoping that will allow us recuperate fully (shame its all inclusive and we're not eating properly but a week is a long time)

Main symptoms: aching, headache, throat like sand paper, cough fever and chills

DH, DD and I all got this the very last week of November. I think it's been 6 weeks now? Every time we think it's going, and feel better for a couple of days, it then comes back. It's awful. Covid tests negative but I've never known anything last so long. Constantly exhausted, aching, never ending cough and I've lost getting on for a stone as my appetite has just vanished.

Gosh this sounds so similar. When you say fever, do you have an actual temperature higher than 37? I’m amazed I don’t, to be honest, feel like I do. But readings are consistently about 36.6.

I think I have similar - really swollen throat came on Friday, woke up Saturday with everything hurting, pounding head, nausea, sweating and chills (but thermometer read only slightly higher than normal 🤷‍♀️). No appetite to speak of, but physically really hungry (rumbling stomach etc) after a few hours. Negative Covid test. It sounds as though I’ve got off lightly though, as I started to feel better on Sunday and now I just have the swollen throat, occasional headache, and a cough that I think I may have had on and off since mid-November. Oh, and the bloody insomnia! It feels as though I’ll never shake this off properly if I don’t get a decent night’s sleep

Much sympathy to everyone else who’s suffering with this, it’s a stinker

Yes, this exactly! Ours normally reads about 36.6, I reached the giddy height of 37.8 when I felt at my worst!

I know exactly what you mean about the rumbling stomach but no appetite. You really have to force yourself to eat. I’ve pretty much had cereal and soup for 5 days, scrambled egg on toast is the largest meal I’ve had. Felt a bit nauseous (and exhausted myself) cooking sausages for DS yesterday.

My taste has gone, which is why I was really surprised when the Covid test was negative.

YEs. DH hasn't been able to taste anything for over a week. Mine is not too bad. But literally its been some toast or an adventurous cheese toastie and that's it for the day.

He's lost nearly a stone and I've lost half a stone in 10 days. We both need to lose it but I would not recommend it as a diet method.

If you're using rapid tests, you need to test for Covid every day for 3-4 days to get a reliable result. False negatives are very common.

It's probably Covid. According to the latest ONS figures about 1 in 20 people in the UK had Covid before holidays and it should be worse now. It's by far the most widespread current virus.

Both MIL and brother have this convinced it was covid but tests all neg . Mil went to Gp Monday after 2 weeks, as very breathless and barely eaten having no appetite .
Checked over and told a bad strain of flu going round lasting around 3 weeks . Some days they think their over it but back feeling rubbish by evening.

I'm 5 weeks into this now and it is a killer! Most symptoms have gone now, apart from the cough and the extreme fatigue. It's been much worse than any time I've had covid (last time in October), mine ended up in a chest infection after about a week.

I’ve had this horrible never ending constantly evolving virus too except I did have Covid too.

I started with what I thought was a sniffly mild cold
on 4 December. One week later my symptoms changed quite suddenly and drastically, like fine in the morning then high temperature by afternoon. Tested positive for Covid. COVID was horrible, my worst yet.

Since then I’ve been having various cold symptoms and have an annoying cough for weeks.

Started Xmas Eve for me, made it through Xmas Day with a lot of wine hardly any dinner.
Now on Day 17 after 2 loads of antibiotics. Slept for 10 hours on and off today now onto earache and congestion. Can't function for daily tasks let alone work!
And I'm accidentally doing Dry Jan
Be gone now.

Yes MIl can’t remember ever feeling this bad and said the fatigue is awful . I was worried about my dad , he caught covid last week but feeling much better after 4 days.

I'm another one suffering from this. Worst ever cold/flu ever. Covid test neg. Keep falling asleep, slightest task too much effort.

Oh no I think I am starting with this been awake all night with a headache sore throat and felt really hot all night. Got up this morning with a snotty nose and my coffee tastes horrible. Have decided to try and work from home but just want to go back to bed really