post viral syndrome,,,advice please

[evaangel]

I contracted a flu type illness about 6 weeks ago, which knocked me off my feet.

but I have not fully recovered, went back to gp today and a suggestion was made that this may PVS

I had heard of this, any advice would be appreciated

Hi Eva

im very much the same im afraid..but ive been drinking plenty today and started taking vitamin spplements

Hi everyone. I caught a cold the weekend before last, felt rough for a few days, felt better for a few days, then came down again with it again on Saturday. This has been the cycle ever since I had Glandular Fever last February, I pick up every virus I come into contact with and then it just keeps on coming back, again and again. Like my body is fighting a losing battle. Putting all my effort into fighting it this time, I'm so fed up with being ill. In bed by nine every night this week, started taking all my vitamin supplements, cut out all sugar again, juicing, eating well etc.

Hi everyone, started taking vitamin supps today, maybe wont feel the benefits for a while as yet

I have cut out all sugars now, but having my porridge in the morning, just trying to balance everything really, my appetite is not the best atm since the initial flu

hope everyone feels better soon

FWIW..I spoke to my gp surgery today and they said that the current flu virus thats going the rounds can take up to 4 months to totally recover from..apprently symptoms wax and wane but dont go away completely..and its just a case of sitting it out..how depressing

oh drea god really? I was supposed to go back to work tomorrow but after going in to study for 2 hours today I have had to come home and phone in sick again tomorrow, have had this nearly two weeks now, which i realise in comparison to most of you is nothing, but work are not going to be impressed

Even if it is this evil flu virus, please keep taking the supplements as it will feed your immune system and help you to combat the effects of the virus, as well as eliminating it perhaps more quickly than if you run out of the necessary nutrients.

You can also try taking Echinacea, as a tea or a liquid tincture in other drinks. If you have a cough or sore throat, Sambucol is very good.

Can I join in? It's nice to hear I'm not alone (if you know what I mean). I got a nasty bug in October (which I continued to work through) and then caught bug after bug until I pratically collapsed with a chest infection at the end of November. I've been off work since then. My infections have cleared up, but I still have no voice and occasional wheezing. I have no energy, blurred vision, dizziness, general achiness, etc.

I have been seeing my doctor fortnightly, and he has been giving me lines for 'persistent debility'. I am on a reducing course of steroids having been on a constant course and 3 lots of antibiotics.

I don't feel that I'm getting the message through to my doctor about how dreadful I actually feel (my DH reckons that my headstone will say 'I'm Fine') I have no energy at all, and I'm starting to feel really down. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not all in my head, that I am not 'fine'.

Your experiences are hugely helpful - thank you

sure babypowder welcome come join us

blood results came back inconclusive glandular fever(whatever that means)

and borderline diabetic retesting has to be done

but gp has signed me off for a month for further testing after explaining the fatigue and other symptoms tbh gp said the viruses are taking longer to subside this year but she did suggest gentle exercise and fresh air even just a walk to local shop but not overdoing it

spacecadet omg 4 months, well I must be coming into my second month now of feeling like shit
it is a vicious circle as the symptoms get you down so this leads you to feeling low and depressed

4 months I think is the worst case scenario..I hope...Im now in week 5 of being ill..and im utterly fed up..Ive got a constant swollen gland in my neck..which quite frankly..and feel shattered..however today I have

taken multivatimin tonic, eaten lots of fresh fruit etc..had a healthy lunch and tea..drunk plenty of water and drunk a probiotic yoghurt..I will not let this virus win!

evaangel - iirc, the glandular fever test is not always conclusive unless the blood count of white blood cells AND looking at them under the microscope all back each other up.
So - you need to have raised lymphocyte levels, they need to look a certain way under the microscope, and the specific test needs to be positive for a definite confirmation of Epstein-Barr virus (our main cause for glandular fever). If any of those pointers are absent, GF can't be confirmed, only suspected - a repeat test can be requested at a later date to see if all markers are present so that GF can be confirmed.

ah, i see thumbwitch, thanks for pointing that out, I have heard the the GF is hard to diagnose in the early stages of a blood test
I think maybe gp wants to further test but she is also concerned about my sugar levels

I am not going to let this win, the aim is to get plenty of nutrients, healthy food and plenty of rest

Ah mosschops - I was just thinking this thread would be a useful education for some of the people on your thread about the shoes. Sorry you're still feeling rubbish.

hi, my 2nd lot of blood tests should be back tommorow so I will let you know how I get on

How is everyone doing?

Thank goodness I have found this. I got ill at the end of term (I am a teacher) and have basically been either lying on the bed, the sofa or a sunlounger (summer here) ever since.

I'm off to the Doc's again today. I have had some bloods done and a chest xray. But today I want to take my achy armpits, legs and lower back and my throat that is set to permanent gag along with thrush to impress him with.

I have two more weeks before term starts and as I am self employed I need to get well before then.

I'm kidding myself aren't I?

I am sorry to hear you are not well twentypence, I am in my 2nd month of not feeling well, read some posts they have have helped me greatly especially within my diet, the benifits of a healthy eating plan are slowly beginning to show even though most days I feel like rubbish.

get well soon

I am also trying to stay positive

The Doctor took another more comprehensive round of blood tests. 8 bottles should do it - and also a urine test. He checked my body for scratches, asked about travel and pets. He felt my stomach and I nearly jumped off the bed so he gave me something for gastritis.

Did anything come back in your blood tests evaangel?

I am already on a gluten free diet, and ds is allergic to preservatives so our diet is pretty good anyway. Hopefully the stomach medicine will help me to be able to eat normal food. I've felt so nauseous some days that I have to eat what I can face rather than something health giving.

Hi fellow sufferers
I had both knees arthroscoped together last August followed by ankle surgery in October involving microfracture of an area of torn cartilage, a bone drilling procedure which requires 6 weeks on crutches followed by about 12 months until fully healed.

After that rather tiring time I was already somewhat low, then I came down with the dreaded swine flu on Boxing Day - so many people had their Christmas and New Year ruined didn't they. I started by feeling dizzy, then started coughing which rapidly turned into the worst cough I've had in my life. After a week of that I had developed a nasty chest infection and on New Years weekend had to phone the on call docs who prescribed me antibiotics. The pills did nothing and I continued to get worse, temperature into the hundreds every night, 4 nights in a row where I had to sit bolt upright (coughing all night, no sleep) but if I tried to lie down or even lean on pillows my windpipe closed up and I couldn't breathe, so scary. The doc later told me it was laryngospasm where the vocal folds close up in response to excess mucus or foreign bodies etc. I was coughing so hard I brought up some strange things like skin, not sure if it was bits of lung tissue or some very strange mucus. I was so poorly I had to call out the gp who prescribed second line antibiotics, then I had to have another lot as I still hadn't got rid of the bronchial problems plus I only had about 50% lung capacity so I was given steroids for asthma as well.

All in all it took me well over a month to get through all that to the 'recovery' stage, where I was a complete weed, no energy, pasty white face, shaky, felt like sleeping for a week etc. I can really sympathise with the people here who say they can't seem to shake it off and feel well, I still have a recurring post-viral rash which keeps appearing on and off, and periods of bad fatigue, but slowly and gradually I feel like I'm doing a bit more most days and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't catch something else in this post-flu recovery phase. My gp did say that it can take many weeks to fully get over the virus, it's a terrible one and I think I didn't fight it off very well possibly due to the strain on my immune system from all the surgery. In most cases I think it is a matter of time and not trying to push yourself to do too much too soon, easy to say but I found my body would simply make it impossible for me to stay upright if I tried to do too much. I will be trying a flu jab this coming autumn as after this experience I would rather do that than risk being so ill again!

I am sat here nodding my head in recognition! I have felt so ill since September 10, I had a mild flu type thing and have never really recovered. I seem to have spent hours dozing on the sofa, watching crap TV.
I am so unhappy,
I spent years looking after my mother as well as working and since her death I've had time to spend with DP & my wonderful DD and her children. I have made an allotment from scratch, discovered a spiritual side to life that brought true joy and fallen in love with Life.
Now I just worry about doing everything, I pay for a few hours in the garden by having days of exhaustion, I can't see an end to this.
I have spots and cold sores, thrush and my psioritic arthritis is in full spate! The worst symptom is the fog that descends on my mind, it's a real pea souper!!
I'll be haunting this thread just to know I'm not alone, so I send blessings to all of you x

Earthymama, I know of some people who have had this long lingering illness going on and on, but there is light at the end of the tunnel - eventually! Listen to your body, rest when you need to, try and eat well and maybe take some decent vitamin tonic/tablets. Try not to get too low or stressed which probably won't help, say positive kind things to yourself and believe that you will feel better, take things day to day and make a note of progress that you make each day. I hope you feel better soon :)