Has anyone had this flu that's going round or got it now?

[TheHillIsMine]

I'm interested in all the symptoms and how long one would be infectious for. TIA.

We’ve all had it since Boxing Day. Still chesty, sinussy and feeble, but the temperatures have gone back to normal. I don’t think we’re still infectious, but we still feel like crap.

Very difficult when told I can work. I work all evening and then spend all day resting. Did say no to extra middle of the day shift though.

Has anyone actually pinpointed what this virus is? I am on Day 12 and my nose is STILL running all the time, along with chesty cough and wheezing. Really, really fed up with it!

I'm on week 4, and I've got progressively worse. I've also had periods of feeling better.

I'm starting to think it's the new Covid variant, as a bad cold wouldn't last 4 weeks in an otherwise healthy person I don't think. I've looked on line and the symptoms seem to fit with the new one.

I feel so ill, and I'm so bored of it.

Day 6 for me. I felt totally wiped out and this cough is exhausting me. 😭

You might be best to go and get checked out. I’ve had it since Boxing Day and went to the GP on NYE as I thought it had turned into a chest infection. Got sent to hospital and following blood tests and a chest x-ray I actually do have pneumonia. Normally fit and healthy 37 year old who’s never even had a chest infection, this is brutal.

I had a chest infection about 18 days ago - I thought I was better but still had the cough, then, suddenly, half way through work on Wednesday the horrendous cough is back but stronger and can't stop. Bringing up a bit of blood and chest hurts. Can't get out of bed and feel absolutely grim. I will try to see the Dr tomorrow.
Wishing you all well through this awful illness.

I've had it for a month, started early December. I can't beleive it has gone on so long. I felt better for a few days just after Christmas but now it is back again as bad as ever. Horrible cough keeping me awake at night, sore throat, blocked nose, mild earache and a general feeling of exhaustion.

That's exactly my experience. I've just done steam inhalation and it has eased the cough a tiny bit, but my ears feel much better.

@PistachioTiramisu Apparently there's more flu than covid around just now, and like covid you can be not very ill or really poorly, and everything in between. I paid for a flu jab in December (lucky to be able to get one, really difficult locally) but covid jabs are around £100 so I didn't get one. I suspect I had flu but was protected somewhat by the jab, which isn't such a good match this year but should protect against very severe illness. I had quite an active day yesterday and am shattered again just now - only just made it out of bed! But I'm far better now (day 10). If you're in the throes of it still, it's possible to get a flu/ covid combo test or separate tests. I did have an old covid test knocking around but it was negative. Didn't test for flu. I guess there are other viruses around too? Not sure if any others would be this nasty though

Yeah I'd say mine is flu rather than covid. I know covid mutates with different symptoms but I've had it twice, confirmed positive and both times the initial symptoms for me didn't last beyond a few days. I also lost my smell and taste completely both times. It also came on very quick whereas with my current illness I had a slow build up.

A lot of people round here (Ireland mid-west) got stricken with this in late November/early December, and the GP and hospital tests all came back as flu, not Covid. I haven't been tested but assume it's flu, and I know that that pattern of feeling better and then discovering that even quite mild activity triggers a relapse is very typical of flu. As is having few or no cold symptoms.

Nearly 2 weeks for us - I can't remember feeling this ill for so long. It's hideous.

I am pregnant and had had the flu jab but still got a horrible bug before Christmas with the main symptom a productive cough and fatigue. Cough still lingering now and my exhaustion is def worse than it was before. Look after yourself!

I saw an out of hours Dr yesterday who said I'd had COVID, said he'd just had it himself and the symptoms currently are like a heavy cold followed by a cough that doesn't go away. I thought I'd just had a cold. Felt nothing like the COVID I had a couple of years ago which was more flu like with no respiratory symptoms for me.
I've been coughing for 4 weeks and woke up in agony yesterday, I've pulled a muscle in my ribs which feels like I'm being stabbed when I cough or breathe deeply 😭. I have some pleurisy too so I've got steroids and antibiotics, which doesn't help the rib pain. He said flu is pretty much over as it came so early this season.

I'm now convinced mine was/is covid. Flu symptoms plus complete loss of taste/smell and 24 hours of V&D.

Nausea, gut upset (and lack of appetite) has been a big part of it for me. Now (in week 5) I'm trying to re-establish healthy gut bacteria by way of eating blue cheese.

Over 30 years ago I had a nasty virus that went on from late January until early November. I got secondary infections every time I tried to get back to exercise. Eventually the GP stopped prescribing antibiotics and put me on a mineral and vitamin tonic. I got a chest x-ray and an armful of blood was tested. I did not have pleurisy, or flu, or brucellosis, or TB, or mono, but did have 'an infection' Gee, thanks.

The thing that eventually cleared it out of my system was an old-fashioned, normal, head cold. Three days of stuffed nose etc, followed by - I'm cured!

Has it messed up anyone else's period? Dragging on with the virus 🙄

Pushed mine out by a week alright. On day 3 now and its hitting hard 😭 so tired, cramps way worse than normal and doesn't seem to be letting up.

Convinced it was covid but tested there and it's negative so who knows.

If its what we've had, we're all unwell, been unwell since before Christmas.
Ive been given steroids and antibiotics
Sent 2 hospital 2 days later coughing up mouthfuls of blood.
Second set of antibiotics given
Now I have a throat infection- tonsils are coated in puss.
Shattered and I can't keep down food there's so much crap on my chest.

If it is, its jumped my vaccine. Having said that, Ive had a whole raft of symptoms and its been miserable but it hasnt completely floored me - so maybe the vaccine took the edge off of it?

I agree it doesnt seem like a cold at all. The illness.sort of twists and turns. Colds just come...get worse...then slowly get better.

daY 10 here. Still feeling tired and weak but at least brighter in myself. My appetite isn’t back much and so I am really forcing myself to eat.

Have been drinking ginger and lemon drinks, lots of water and then Kefir and beet juice too. Have been taking floradix as well and Greek yog.

The worst was day 4-6 where my fever would come and go and I felt really sick. I also got my period (2 weeks early) which was horrible.

I feel like I am getting better but it is SLOW. defo a covid/flu variant I think.

Anyone else struggling to stop the fever even alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol? I’m ok but my husband is still shivering regardless! He always gets things worse. I’ve never felt so weird… like my eyes and head are wading in treacle!

Day 6 here. Thought it was getting better - went out to buy some food and now feeling much worse. One ear got suddenly blocked and is now very painful. Taste seems to come and go - my whole mouth feels strange. Not had a fever.

Me! I’m currently Day 5 in hospital with Flu A. I’m a bad asthmatic and have needed some aggressive treatments. Only now 5 days later and I'm breathing without supplementary oxygen. So thankful I’ve been vaccinated as I very much doubt I would have survived this strain otherwise.