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What on earth is this virus?

(40 Posts)
Katek Wed 07-Feb-24 21:41:29

I've been a bit meh since Xmas with a couple of rounds of a cold and/or upset insides all of which appeared to have settled down. Since last week, however, I've been poleaxed by something very unpleasant. Started with slight headache, swollen neck gland, sore throat followed two days later by violent, unpredictable bowel upsets and a raised temp. I've been cold, shivery, can't eat, difficulty sleeping, abdominal pain. My temp has returned to normal but most of my other symptoms are still there to a lesser degree. Even crossing the bedroom to the loo is leaving me weak, shaky and hanging on to doorframes! All tests are fine - only inflammation markers are raised which is indicative of some type of infection.
Please tell me I'm not the only one with this......as they say, it's doing my head in!

Glenfinnan Wed 07-Feb-24 22:32:36

My dear sister has had similar systems since end of Dec … not sure what it is but agree it’s really debilitating. Hope you feel better soon

Katek Thu 08-Feb-24 07:43:29

Any more fellow sufferers?

Aveline Thu 08-Feb-24 08:00:47

Sorry I can't say I'm a fellow sufferer (yet) but just hoping you feel much better soon.

Purplepixie Thu 08-Feb-24 08:16:13

I had similar at the end of October. The first test for Covid was negative then two days later it was positive. Keep on getting tested because there is a horrible strain of Covid doing the rounds. Hope you feel better soon. Hugs.

Esmay Thu 08-Feb-24 09:15:19

Yup !

I really hope that you haven't got the same lingering , miserable illness that has plagued me :
Headache , swollen glands , sore throat , earache , chest infection , upset stomach and nausea with some vomiting and the shivers .

Yesterday , I felt much better and went out .

But today , as I write this , my head has started to thump and the cough is beginning .
I have no energy .
I feel as weak as a kitten .

I've been taking the following :
Vitamin C plus zinc , vitamin D and echinacea .
I drink a lot of fluids especially lemon and honey or orange and cinnamon drinks and I rest a great deal -even if it means watching a lot of TV !

I can't tolerate as much dairy as before and even chicken made me feel off .
I'm eating salmon with vegetables .

One of my friends is wheelchair bound and has exactly the same signs and symptoms .

I do hope that you feel better soon .
Take care 💐 .

harrigran Thu 08-Feb-24 09:31:13

Sounds like the symptoms my GD has been suffering from, she was off school a day or two and appeared to improve but it came back again.

fancythat Thu 08-Feb-24 09:44:47

Some younger relatives also have/had some virus or other, over the last few months.
Not sure symptoms exactly same as on here. And not lasted quite as long.

I hate viruses.
I think they are underrated as to the havoc they cause.

Hope people get better soon flowers

Katek Thu 08-Feb-24 13:12:19

Thanks for your posts - think lockdowns//shielding have left my immune system more compromised than it already was. I'm being very spoilt (although I reserve judgement on the pack of lycheesconfused) Jusr wish I felt well enough to enjoy it!

Turfmop Sun 11-Feb-24 11:08:00

Sounds similar to Norovirus, as experienced by my mum a while ago?

Cid24 Sun 11-Feb-24 11:12:02

Post viral fatigue maybe?

deedeedum Sun 11-Feb-24 11:17:35

They call it the 100 day cold, I have had since just before Christmas. Apparently this "cold" is the reason why Gary Liniker couldn't present Match of the Day last night. You think you're getting better and it comes back to let you know you're not.

Sarci Sun 11-Feb-24 11:31:07

I have those symptoms and tested positive for Covid. I’m still trying to get over it.

icanhandthemback Sun 11-Feb-24 11:54:49

My son went on holiday and half way though the week, he got a similar bug. We thought it might be Norovirus but Dr Google said it would be a quicker recovery than the weeks it has been. He is a usually healthy 32 year old and it has absolutely floored him but he is on the mend about a month later.
I hope you are going to recover soon. flowers. One of the things my son was advised to do was take some Diaoralyte even though his digestive system had seemingly recovered. It helps ensure that your electrolytes are up together which can make a difference. I know a Lupus sufferer who takes it when she is suffering from fatigue and she swears her recovery is quicker.

Summerfly Sun 11-Feb-24 12:17:10

Hi Katek. I can sympathise. I had surgery just before Christmas and I haven’t been well since. I’m in the sixth week of having severe diarrhoea and it’s leaving me weak and unsteady and I’ve lost 22lb in weight. I too have had tests that have all come back clear. I’m at my lowest point, and feel as though I don’t want to go on. I’ll ring the doctors again tomorrow, but they don’t seem to be interested. 😢

Redhead56 Sun 11-Feb-24 12:28:18

I had only a slight runny nose after Christmas with an upset tummy couldn't think what it was. It was on and off for over a week but did eventually go hope you feel better soon.

Pammie1 Sun 11-Feb-24 12:40:35

Our local hospital has closed down wards due to Norovirus. It’s in the community at this time of year and I had it over Christmas. From what you say, your symptoms sound very similar to my own. It lasted about five days and I slowly started to feel better, but it does make you very tired for a while after. I was told there is no treatment - it’s a virus so no antibiotics, but I was told it’s important to keep hydrated.

As other posters have said it could also be Covid - I tested negative but our surgery advised to give it a while and then test again as incubation takes a while. I hope you feel better soon.

Delila Sun 11-Feb-24 13:08:36

You’re not alone Katek, I’ve been the same for around a month (shortly after 2 trips to A&E with someone else). Surely, though, if it’s norovirus other household members would get it too, but there’s been no sign of that?

Cossy Sun 11-Feb-24 13:18:33

I had this for well over two weeks last month. Did test several times for Covid, always negative. It’s very debilitating but does go eventually. I upped my Vit C and Vit D, rested and drank plenty of water/squash and hot drinks.

Wish you better flowers

Dormouse123 Sun 11-Feb-24 14:23:20

Having had c diff leading to major bowel surgery, I can highly recommend Symprove to get your microbiome back to good health. Antibiotics play havoc with the gut. smile

ordinarygirl Sun 11-Feb-24 14:34:24

my friend is in her 6/7 week of this virus. No idea of what it is but her cousin several miles away also had it for several weeks. My friend has other symptoms so has been given 2 lots of antibiotics and an injection of antibiotics as the high temperature etc has stopped her cancer treatment for weeks now. it can't be covid as she has to do tests for the hospital but despite tests at the hospital too there is no diagnosis or any idea of when this thing will go away

nexus63 Sun 11-Feb-24 14:56:09

i had this just before christmas, cleared up 2nd week of january, hit me again on thursday morning after a wednesday app to hospital, we have a lift in the building that needs repaired, it is being manully operated for 2 hours twice a week, so not enough time for me to go out and get back in again, so i have not been around many people since december.
i can cope with the headache but the blocked nose, sore throat and chocking phlegm has had me in tears, i am about to start a course of immunosuppressant medication, now i am not sure with all the colds and viruses about. i hope you feel better soon.

JaneJudge Sun 11-Feb-24 14:59:00

I had a pain in the back of my head/neck which I thought was caused by a cold in my ear but the headache just got worse. No cold but felt heady iykwim neck glands swollen and then as you say, upset stomach. It lasted a couple of weeks. It's definitely a virus as others have it in my family and at work

lizzypopbottle Sun 11-Feb-24 15:12:57

I had that virus! I was tired, had to go to bed for naps, had vicious, low abdominal pain, (especially at the toilet, sorry folks!) and stomach discomfort after eating. I kept telling myself it was probably a virus but if it didn't clear up soon I'd have to see the GP and then, fairly suddenly, it was better!

Cjmobxnc Sun 11-Feb-24 15:27:49

I had something similar to this a couple of weeks before Christmas - no Covid, no Flu, and no Strep. My FNP called it a viral syndrome. I'm diabetic on top of it. I still have days where I feel icky, but not nearly as bad as the first 2 weeks. Hope you get to feeling better soon.