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I feel so ill with this chesty cold

(29 Posts)
Tilly8 Mon 05-Feb-24 10:14:17

I’ve had a chesty cold for nearly two weeks and I’ve been in bed for the last four. I’ve never produced so much gunge in my life and unfortunately think I’ve torn my chest wall muscle barking. I feel so very unwell - totally exhausted with no appetite. I’ve managed to get in to see a paramedic this morning at the surgery. I know there’s all sorts of nasty bugs going round but can anybody identify with me ??

glammagran Thu 08-Feb-24 11:24:55

I did have Covid on NYD. Had a very wet cough, then dry then back to wet. Spent 3 days in bed. Feel fine now but 6 weeks later I am still coughing up gunge though it’s not really bothering me though very tired atm but that is mostly due to miserable winter weather. I guess most respiratory illnesses have similar symptoms. I was very glad not to require antibiotics. Got away without any since 2009 which was for a dental infection. DH is forever on a course. I hope you are on the mend very soon.

Primrose53 Thu 08-Feb-24 11:17:45

The friend I mentioned earlier has finished her antibiotics with no improvement so she is now on Steroids.

Pammie1 Thu 08-Feb-24 09:58:03

Katcoffee

I came on here today to ask GN if anyone had a nasty chest infection. It’s good to know I’m not alone.
Mine started last Monday and on Friday the dr gave me Doxycycline antibiotics which made me sick and gave me hives over the weekend.
I thought I was feeling slightly better but I can’t get out of bed I feel absolutely dreadful.
Wishing everyone well.

I really feel for you having had experience of Doxycycline myself a couple of years ago. It was for a very nasty chest infection but the drug made me horribly sick - I felt as though I was being dry cleaned from the inside !! They evidently cleared the infection, but like yourself, didn’t make me feel any better immediately - it takes a few days. I do hope you feel better soon.

Pammie1 Thu 08-Feb-24 09:51:48

I had something similar over Christmas - was in bed for over a week with horrible flu symptoms. Covid tests were negative. Our surgery advised that there are lots of different bugs going around, and couldn’t suggest antibiotics as they said it was probably a virus. Three weeks later I was still coughing up gunge, got an appointment with the practice nurse, and was prescribed antibiotics because whatever it was had turned into a chest infection. 8th Feb - today - I still have the cough and haven’t felt 100% ever since the original illness. I’m immunosuppressed so vaccinated against pretty much everything, so if it was originally a flu bug, I’d hate to think how bad it would have been without the jab !!

Esmay Thu 08-Feb-24 09:38:14

It isn't Covid .
That's what concerns me .
What is it ?

Jaxjacky Wed 07-Feb-24 13:19:22

Covid is still around too.

Esmay Wed 07-Feb-24 11:12:17

I've had a couple of days of back to the dry cough , headache and complete exhaustion after sorry - drowning in mucous for two weeks .

Age 71 , I thought that I was going to collapse in the garden just putting some bark around my plants - something that I normally do with enjoyment and ease .

I've been trying to catch up on chores , failing to do so and today - some unavoidable social obligations .

I pace myself as much as possible .

One of my friends is in a wheelchair and has the same signs and symptoms .
Comparing our medical history it seems to have started back in the summer and then , in the Autumn through Christmas and New Year it's really kicked in .

I'm just wondering what this bug really is .

Musicgirl Mon 05-Feb-24 19:57:39

I’m glad you have been prescribed antibiotics. Hopefully, they will have started to kick in by the time you need to go for the X-ray. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Primrose53 Mon 05-Feb-24 18:57:18

I’ve had a cough for months on and off. Some days I am quite husky but no sore throat at all.

I am booked in for a chest xray next Sunday.

My friend is the same, even longer than me I think, but she has finally be given antibiotics.

Tilly8 Mon 05-Feb-24 18:42:32

Thank you for all your advice and support. I do have a chest infection and antibiotics have been prescribed. I need to go for a chest xray but the visit to the surgery totally wiped me out so hopefully I'll have some energy tomorrow to go. Been in bed again just got up for a slice of toast. The total loss of energy is frightening at this age (69). We've got alot of living to do !!

Katcoffee Mon 05-Feb-24 13:33:23

I came on here today to ask GN if anyone had a nasty chest infection. It’s good to know I’m not alone.
Mine started last Monday and on Friday the dr gave me Doxycycline antibiotics which made me sick and gave me hives over the weekend.
I thought I was feeling slightly better but I can’t get out of bed I feel absolutely dreadful.
Wishing everyone well.

grannyactivist Mon 05-Feb-24 12:11:24

A week ago I’d have said I was almost recovered from my annual long cough, but it’s back with a vengeance now - disturbing mine and my husband’s sleep. It’s my usual pattern, and, also as usual, I’ve booked a week away soon and hope that a full week’s rest will finally see it off.

Musicgirl Mon 05-Feb-24 12:08:21

Sorry to hear this. It sounds as if you have an infection and need antibiotics. I would advise seeking medical help.

yogitree Mon 05-Feb-24 12:01:07

So sorry to hear you are suffering Tilly8. I too have had a very bad cough with buckets of gunge coming down my nose for months now. First they said lung infections (2 different ones), then slight pneumonia and then last month, after an xray showed clear lungs (!!!!), they spotted I had an enlarged heart! Now, they have me on the meds for COPD - I'm still coughing and wheezing and only now beginning to 'produce' so that I hope to be able to put a sample in. This is since November last year. I'm just SO TIRED OF IT and exhausted with it all and now worried about my heart to boot!

Parsley3 Mon 05-Feb-24 11:53:50

Mr P and I are both suffering from this. I can feel my brain rattling against my skull during the awful coughing bouts. Nothing much helps for long but I find that the facial steamer gives a bit of relief.

SusieB50 Mon 05-Feb-24 11:46:34

Yep I have the same lurgy ! I have asthma so it’s aggravated that too . It’s only been three days so will see how it goes. Living on honey and lemon drinks which does help a bit . Also pulled a muscle in my rib cage All this coughing doesn’t help my weak bladder either !

Jane43 Mon 05-Feb-24 11:44:09

We had this before Christmas and it lasted six weeks for my husband and five weeks for me. I have never had chest problems before but the chesty cough was dreadful, I was in bed for four days and didn’t go out of the house for ten days. My husband was given antibiotics but they didn’t help at all as it was a viral infection rather than bacterial. It does finally go but it left us both feeling exhausted for a couple of weeks.

Luckygirl3 Mon 05-Feb-24 11:38:18

Several members of my family have had this very persistent bug - they all needed antibiotics and one child was put on steroids as well.

I know that there is concern about overuse of antibiotics, but I do think a word with your GP might be a good idea - if you can manage to get a word!

Purplepixie Mon 05-Feb-24 11:38:12

I had the cough from hell after Covid back in October and it is just drifting away now. Cough medicine is useless. Hope you feel better soon.

Whethertomorrow Mon 05-Feb-24 11:33:26

I’m sorry you are all feeling so ill.

I had pneumonia when I was 35 and that was a sit it out job too. The thing I discovered that helped was essential oils in a steam inhalation or a few drops on a tissue stuffed down the front of my bra which I stuck my nose near often.

The oils I still use for coughs are tea tree, Scot’s pine, eucalyptus and rosemary. You can mix a couple of drops of each of them together or use singly. You can buy them online.

I hope this helps and you all feel better soon.

Esmay Mon 05-Feb-24 10:49:28

I began the first bout at the beginning of November .
It left me with a constant dry cough .
I was told that I had whooping cough and ot would go with plenty of rest and fluids .
Then , on a few days ago - a relapse .
How my body can produce so much mucous is a mystery to me .
When I'm not coughing my head aches .
I feel increasingly weak .

On Saturday , two of my friend drove me mad with their constant procrastinating .
I felt exhausted and said nothing .
Now I begin to understand why older people can be so irritable !

lemsip Mon 05-Feb-24 10:32:55

have you tested for covid?

hope you feel better soon.

AGAA4 Mon 05-Feb-24 10:21:57

Hope you feel better soon Tilly. I had a similar problem that started in early January and lasted over 3 weeks. The cough was awful.

BigBertha1 Mon 05-Feb-24 10:21:32

Oh Tilly8 I can I had it for Christmas and it doesn't go without antibiotics. I haven't had those for about ten years for a chest infection but that was nasty. Is there someone to look after you, bring you hot drinks? i drank a gallon of tea its all I wanted so lost some weight which for me is never a bad thing. You may not feel like eating at all but so important to keep the fluids up. As Sister on a chest ward I advised patients to hold a pillow or cushion against their chest when the coughing grips you, it kind of absorbs the pressure. I hope today picks up for you and whatever meds prescribed start working quickly. flowers

karmalady Mon 05-Feb-24 10:20:27

Tilly do you have anything in your room to measure humidity? Air can get too dry because of central heating. Dry air is not good for a bad chest