Anyone else with the flu?

[teentoddlermum]

I’ve read and heard about a strain but my goodness I’ve not ever felt so ill!

A week ago I went for walk with my toddler and came home and it hit, coughing, aches, headache and never been so ill where I’ve been in bed or sofa/ blankets

with 2 children and a husband who works and can’t really get time off work, I’ve been unable to even get off the sofa. Absolutely debilitating

I’m just posting for solidarity- anyone else with it?
called in sick, not had a day off in years as I normally battle though but day 6 and I’m fed up

West Wales. And confirmed influenza A.

Had it since the Sunday after New Year. Spent last week mostly in bed. Went in to work on Friday and that floored me. Did nothing all weekend. Went in to work on Monday and was coughing like a 40 a day smoker - proper deep barking cough - came home and have been working from home all week. But keeping having to stop for a nap. I've hardly left the house for 2 weeks which is unheard of for me. DH the same but a couple of days ahead of me....

Headaches, nausea, tiredness, and an awful dreadful cough.

Those of you with terrible coughs, it's much more likely to be COVID. I ended up at out of hours last weekend. Had a cough for 6 weeks following what seemed to just be a cold. Dr told me that is how COVID is presenting this year and he had just had it himself. I ended up with pneumonia and pleurisy which I why I ended up at out of hours as pleurisy feels like you are being stabbed with every breath! I'm on my 2nd type of antibiotic and very strong painkillers.

Gross, I know, but I've just had my first shower since this started over a week ago. 'It'll make you feel better', said DH. He was wrong. Obviously, I feel cleaner, which is nice, but I feel as though I've used up all my energy for the day, and I'm sitting here wondering if I could manage to empty the dishwasher, or whether that would be Far Too Much.

My appetite has vanished, though my stomach keeps rumbling. I have to sit down for a while after the tiniest bit of exertion. Most of the cough has gone, but what remains makes me lightheaded and sweaty. I think Day 3 was the worst, when I needed to cough, but the muscle pain in my chest, stomach and abdomen was so extreme I nearly screamed every time. Compared to that, I am much better, but a long way from total recovery.

On the plus side, I think I've probably shed the Xmas flab, and the Xmas wine habit is a thing of the past, too. The very thought of alcohol makes me feel sick.

I'm retired (66), so am blessed in that I don't have to think about work - I really feel for those of you with kids and jobs - this thing is horrendous. It will pass though, as I keep telling myself. Spring is coming - I might have emptied the dishwasher by then.

My appetite has gone right down and I’ve gone off coffee so I’ve also shed a few pounds on the positive and no alcohol since Christmas! Can’t face the thought. But I feel hunger pains but can’t face food. I’m pretty sure mine is covid. The cough really is something else. I feel I have no much to do but I can’t face it. Work this week is a no go and I don’t feel any guilt, I work in a call centre who could not be any less understanding but I honestly couldn’t even attempt work at the moment. Any little job is wiping me out and it’s awful and yes having kids I feel so terrible - my poor tired husband but like he says he thinks he is next 🙄then I’ll have to play nurse I guess it’s good one of us only is unwell and least it’s not the children x

I think maybe mine is Covid, going from previous comments. I can’t taste or smell anything, couldn’t contemplate doing the tiniest job. I lie down and try to sleep but the chest rattle starts up so I’m in and out of consciousness until I finally get up and go to the spittoon 🤮. DH keeps saying I shouldn’t be lying down as I’ll get bronchitis but I can barely support my own head.
I feel so sorry for anyone with little ones, at least I don’t have anyone else relying on me.

I’m thinking mine may be Covid, I’m testing tomorrow for what it’s worth, just ordered a flu/covid test as would just like to know

OP, I think I have something very similar to you and it’s been going on and on. Started on the 22nd with a bit of a phlegmy throat, turned into a cough on the 23rd. Had to fly to Europe to DH’s family for Christmas on the 24th, was in bed with fever over 102F all through until the 27th, when we flew back to London. I ate nothing during those three days, completely lost my appetite and had the most horrendous cough which was higher up, felt like my throat. Super violent.

Over the next week, GP gave me an antibiotic for five days and had me an additional prescription if I felt I was getting worse (different antibiotic). I felt better, and last Friday, when it was super cold (even in London), I had to go out to do some admin work and it took the whole day. By the time I got home, a new violent cough started and I lost my appetite again. Over the next 48 hours the cough in my throat came back with a vengeance (frequency and it wasn’t dry). No fever though. That has been going on and I still have it today but it is a teeeeeny bit better. I haven’t been able to sleep properly for five nights because the cough has kept me up.

I have felt really tired by afternoon (no kids), but wfh and doing the simplest chores around the house has made me want to lie on the floor and go to sleep. I’ve never had a cough like this and effectively I relapsed last Fri, so in total this whole thing has turned into a 22 day illness!! I too think I have Covid considering the worsening that happened on Friday and the intensity and depth of the cough. My head hurts from coughing.

I hope everyone feels better soon! This is definitely proving to be challenging!

Edit: DH got the same thing in a milder form about a week after me but didn’t have the relapse. He still has a mild tickly cough though and had a runny nose for a month. I have been extra rundown (other reasons) so I think I got more intensely unwell as a result.

DS and I have a horrible virus and I wonder if it's flu - it's very similar to swine flu which I had 15ish years ago. Started with D&V, then high temperature, severe headache, astonishing fatigue, and no appetite. DH is away with work til late Friday, so I'm feeling rather sorry for myself!

How is everyone else getting on today? I’ve just had a bath and am completely worn out

I'm still completely zombified 🧟‍♀️ need to be better by Saturday!

Feel like I’ve plateaued. The cough is still there and driving me mad.

I’m sleeping a bit better (only got up for the spittoon twice last night), but then the cough and phlegm come back with a vengeance! My nose is turning into a tap again in the evenings but I don’t know if that’s allergic rhinitis. I’m taking anti-h anyway.
Dreading even one more day of this but I know there’ll be several as improvements are coming in tiny increments. 😢

Yes! Cough and phlegm are back with a vengeance. I’ve given up on lying down when sleeping and plan on sitting upright tonight. Sure that will go swimmingly.

I have found steam inhalations have helped but god they are tedious to do more than once a day. It has helped the projectile cough because my temples feel like they’re about to explode and I can’t take it anymore.

I’m using three pillows at night, one perpendicular to raise my chest a bit, the other two across the top as normal. Otherwise it just feels as if I’m thrusting my head upwards which I don’t think helps at all.
I’ve just had the first day since last Monday when I haven’t had at least two naps in the day. Fingers crossed that’s a good sign. 🤞

Hope you feel better soon! I’ve increased the heating in the bedroom to borderline uncomfortable (I usually like it quite cold) and it has made an enormous difference. That + 3 steam inhalations / day.

Thanks, you too! I’ll give steam inhalation more of a go today, see if that helps.

How are you feeling?

This is how I feel coughing like mad and absolutely exhausted from it all

Thanks for asking! Got through a full on weekend in London with the kids, thanks to lucozade sport and skittles! Back at work today. Still got blocked sinuses and a pounding heart. It's stubborn but going the right way fingers crossed.

Back at work this week (at home and only because I’ve a huge event), but my cough is still horrific, and I’m exhausted. My appetite also isn’t great and I still feel pretty achey. Just want it to end now!

Also, @Monvelo

Heat has resolved it. I’ve noticed step-change improvements. Still phlegmy (sorry for that detail) but the violence of the cough has abated. It’s a pain to do three steam inhalations per day, but that plus a warmer bedroom (no matter how uncomfortable) has been a game-changer.

Actually meant to @Mammut as well.

Both AI and my mum have recommended steam, sand now Mumsnet. I've done that twice today.

That’s definitive then 😂