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Viral infection

(229 Posts)
tinaf1 Sun 31-Dec-17 17:09:56

Has anyone had / got this, started about 18th of this month with sore throat and just can't seem to shift awful cough and stuffed up nose and head ( feels like I am swimming under water) wake up with mouth like the bottom of a bird cage. Have been taking paracetamol etc but does anyone know how long it lasts

SueDonim Sun 07-Jan-18 18:40:12

Peeling half a dozen carrots and half a dozen parsnips has caused me to need a sit down for a while!

At least I can now do the peeling, I suppose. Wouldn't have been possible last Sunday. grin

silverlining48 Sun 07-Jan-18 19:36:54

I am still waiting to feel better. Havnt been out si.n e Before. Christmas. a.m coughing so much i have hurt my ribs.

Bathsheba Sun 07-Jan-18 20:36:02

silverlining I know that feeling - my ribs have been so painful from coughing and blowing my nose repeatedly. It has eased somewhat now, but I'm not holding my breath because every time I think I've turned a corner, I find myself slap bang against a brick wall and I'm back where I started. Yes, the wheezing which had gone the night before last was back again last night angry. And the coughing fits last night were violent, just as they'd been a week ago. I can't see an end to all this.
Oh, and on top of all this, I'm now suffering from diarrhoea. I had lost my appetite with the virus, but it's been slowly returning - still can't manage big portions, but at least I'm eating. But it's going straight through me shock. Has anyone else found this, or is this just something completely separate?
Pleeeeeease let this all come to an end!!

NannyTee Sun 07-Jan-18 20:44:10

My poor Mum of 84 is in hospital. I've been there all day. She's had a horrid chest infection and she fell going to bed last night. Broke her knee and hip. She's normally a galivanter. Goes dancing every week. It's that virus that's knocked her for six. So sad .

SueDonim Sun 07-Jan-18 20:45:24

My tummy is...er...temperamental, too, Bathsheba. I think it's partly due to the amount of gunk I'm swallowing. (Sorry, TMI!)

It's certain listed as one of the symptoms of Aussie flu.

I didn't sleep too badly last night but every time I wake up, I just lie there rigidly immobile in case any slight movement starts off the cough again.

SueDonim Sun 07-Jan-18 20:46:09

Oh NannyTee! I'm so sorry. Your poor mum. sad

Bathsheba Sun 07-Jan-18 20:52:08

Oh I did wonder about all the stuff I'm pouring down my throat SueDonim. Also I eat at least one if not two satsumas a day, mainly for the Vit C, so that's probably not helping either. Perhaps I'll switch to Vit C tablets. And I hadn't realised it was one of the symptoms of Aussie Flu - at least that makes me feel a bit more relaxed about it, i.e. it's not another, separate issue!

So sorry to hear about your poor mum NannyTee. That's just not fair sad

NannyTee Sun 07-Jan-18 20:58:25

Thankyou. I know. It's such a worry x

SueDonim Sun 07-Jan-18 20:59:44

There's a list here of symptoms. It doesn't mention the lack of taste/smell so many of us have experienced, though.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/australian-flu-prevent-virus-symptoms-look/

WilmaKnickersfit Sun 07-Jan-18 21:15:49

My heart goes out to to everyone and your family and friends affected by illness.

I had a scare last night. When I was coughing I lost consciousness for a few seconds and my husband said I was jerking as if I was having a seizure. I slept on and off until about 4 o'clock today and feel a little better, so I would like think I've turned the corner. I will ring my MS nurse tomorrow to talk to her about whether or not I need to have a course of steriods to boost my immune system to prevent a relapse. Scared the wits out of us.

Maggiemaybe Sun 07-Jan-18 23:11:45

Oh, Wilma, that sounds scary! I pop onto this thread occasionally to see how you’re all doing and some of you seem to have been suffering for ages. flowers and a brew with a slug of whiskey/lemon/opium for you all.

WilmaKnickersfit Mon 08-Jan-18 00:55:08

It really shook us up Maggie. I actually can't stand being ill and I know I've been in denial most of the time since I was diagnosed with MS in 2015. Saturday night made me realise that I had to face facts for the moment. It's easy enough to take everything in your stride and just deal with the current problem, but I don't like looking at the big picture when you have to talk about everything that's going on. That makes it more real if you get what I mean.

Maggiemaybe Mon 08-Jan-18 07:56:37

Indeed I do, Wilma. I hope your nurse is helpful and maybe she could get that appointment with your doctor brought forward? Of course we all know how precious our health is, but it’s seeing the accounts on here that really bring that home. flowers

kittylester Mon 08-Jan-18 08:02:13

And we, well at least I do, feel we are completely invincible and it's a shock when something floors us. It's horrid to discover that I am now in a vulnerable group - ie, old.

WilmaKnickersfit Mon 08-Jan-18 09:55:36

Thank you maggie I might not be able speak to someone today because the system is you leave a message and they ring you back (there's more than one nurse). It's a very good service though.

Invincible is a good word kitty. Even if you do catch a bug or something, you expect to bounce back and the reality seems to be it takes longer the older you get.

Sending get well wishes to everyone who needs a virtual boost flowers

tinaf1 Mon 08-Jan-18 10:12:10

Sorry to hear what happened Wilma must have been really frightening for you both , with regards to your GP as I said in an earlier post our doctors has an on line service on their web site where you can e mail your symptoms by filling in a form and they send you an e mail as to when they get back I did this and someone got back within two hours and gave me an appointment to see a doctor, hope you and everyone else soon feels better, your right Kitty something like this does bring home to you we don't bounce back as we did when we were younger

Lazigirl Mon 08-Jan-18 12:09:59

Wilma do you think you need to see a doctor? It sounds a frightening episode that you had. My DH has been ill with this cough and high temp for 10 days, and managed to see a GP today who diagnosed pneumonia and given him antibiotics and steroid tabs. I felt a bit mean as I kept telling him lots of people were in the same boat and doc wouldn't be concerned!

WilmaKnickersfit Mon 08-Jan-18 13:34:56

tina and Lazygirl flowers
I have a Drs appointment booked for next week in case I was not feeling better. The MS nurse will tell me if she thinks I need to see my GP or come into the hospital for a check up (the neurology department not A&E) . If she wants me to see my GP now, then I will be seen straight away (because of the MS). I do think I've turned the corner, but I won't ignore what happened on Saturday.

justrolljanet Mon 08-Jan-18 14:24:24

My husband and son went out to an evening football match the Thursday before Christmas, next morning both feeling really ill, husband was diagnosed after a week with a chest infection, I thought I had escaped it, New Years day I felt really unwell, 2nd January diagnosed with a chest infection, reminds me of having the same symptoms in 1999 when I suddenly had flu, all still coughing well, the 2 men have gone back to work, I am really struggling, the funny thing is my 88 year old parents had it before Christmas and recovered quickly , thankfully with no complications.

Vonners Mon 08-Jan-18 14:44:25

Pleased to have found this thread, makes me feel 'normal' as I've had most of these problems since 22 Dec. Friends have been the same since 19 and 20 Dec.
Struggled to do small family lunch on Xmas day but didn't clear the glasses from the table for 3 days, tablecloth was still there complete with crumbs when partner came back from his family 2 days later. Found the carcass I used to make stock when I smelt something odd in the utility room a week later lol.
I've been sleeping in the spare room owing to coughing and night sweats.
Not been out since 23 Dec and have just slowly eaten all the Christmas food and everything in the freezer. I haven't cared what or when, porridge mid afternoon, mince pie in the middle of the night, apple for dinner......... Didn't fancy wine, beer or cider but have polished off a bottle of delicious sweet Kahlua.
I haven't been to the Dr as assumed it was a virus, unfortunately can't offer anyone any advice - it just seems to go on for ever.
Partner unsympathetic, he can't believe I'm still feeling poorly. However this morning he woke with a sore throat so maybe he's got it after all.

SueDonim Mon 08-Jan-18 14:55:12

So much misery. sad I'm so sorry for you all, I really am. Wilma, that sounds very frightening, I didn't know you also have MS.

I totally agree about the invincible thing! It's horrible to feel so vulnerable.

I am getting better, no doubt about that but my youngest dd, 21, is still suffering. She's had a sore throat for over two weeks now and can barely speak. She's decided to stay in bed today.

WilmaKnickersfit Mon 08-Jan-18 15:44:37

SueDonim I don't really like mentioning it TBH (fits in with hating being ill), but a sure sign I must be feeling better is I've eaten two toffee crisps from the multi pack DH bought (to add to all the stuff not scoffed over the holiday! grin

WilmaKnickersfit Mon 08-Jan-18 15:50:22

A friend who drives doctors to home visits says they've never experienced anything like it, especially in care homes where the doctor is seeing several residents instead of just one.

SueDonim Mon 08-Jan-18 16:15:29

grin Wilma! That's progress, at any rate! I hope you start to get much better much more quickly. Ikwym about the 'ill' label. It's not part of our image of ourselves when something like that occurs.

I forgot to say, my ear is now blocked on one side and I'm getting this weird sensation of hearing my heart beat/pulse through that ear. I suppose it's proof I'm still alive. wink

NfkDumpling Mon 08-Jan-18 16:53:25

I do hope I come under the 'recover quickly' bracket - we're booked on a cruise (expensive) to Norway in three weeks time and have paid extra for several trips - whale watching and stuff. I need to feel WELL!