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What on earth is this virus?

(41 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!

Esmay Mon 12-Feb-24 20:21:33

Hi icanhandthemback ,

You really learn who your true friends are when you aren't at your best .
I used to be active , but now it's obvious that I'm not .

I pace myself :
Some yoga .
A gentle walk .
A garden potter .
Lots of sleep .
I'm watching a lot of TV - having not watched it for years and quietly doing my handicrafts .
I've been making healthy soups though I struggle to drink them and have bumped up my vitamin intake .
Echinacea is helping .

I'm acutely disappointed with the reaction of my friends .
When they have been ill , I always take flowers , chocolates and Get Well cards to them .
My family have always said that I'm far too trusting of people !

icanhandthemback Mon 12-Feb-24 19:45:40

Esmay, I am sorry that you are feeling so poorly. Friends who don't or won't understand that you need time to recuperate aren't good friends. It is absolutely essential that you take care of yourself by only doing what you feel up to doing. Yes, it is good not to sit around all day because you become deconditioned but gentle movement is the key.

Esmay Mon 12-Feb-24 18:46:55

I have had mature onset asthma for a long time maybe 25 - 30 years .
It was completely under control and I was able to stop my preventative inhaler and emergency Salbutamol - now since these insidious viruses kicked in since early November I'm back on them again .
This week , I have an asthma review with the practice pharmacist .
I used to have it with the specialist nurse .
I despair of getting an appointment with my GP .
I had to get a taxi to church yesterday and do a shop - but spent hours sleeping to recover from the exertion .
I managed to do chair yoga today ( it was hard ) and visit one sick parishioner , but I crashed out all afternoon and into the evening .
I feel as though I've run on a marathon .
Trying to explain to friends that I don't feel up to going out falls on deaf ears .
I actually feel tearful .

Anneeba Mon 12-Feb-24 16:45:31

Yes Esmay, possibly. After 4 doses of antibiotics I finally seemed to hit Moxella bacteria on the head, but the inflammation of my lungs remained. They now are saying maybe I have asthma, having never had it before, but I think this is because they've run out of ideas. Swollen glands, fatigue, the list goes on. Fingers crossed I keep going in the right direction now, four months on .

Esmay Mon 12-Feb-24 08:45:20

I'm wondering if this isn't a new virus which isn't Covid , but is serious .
I have now been ill since the beginning of November and I'm having a problem getting another appointment with my GP .

ruthie2 Mon 12-Feb-24 04:00:05

Yes, I've had it too - dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps, no appetite. And as several of you have already said, it keeps coming back. At least I know I'm not alone -it would be scary if I were!

Sasta Sun 11-Feb-24 20:57:10

Katek

Any more fellow sufferers?

Yes Katek. Mine started on Christmas Eve, had an awful Christmas week and tonsillitis either as part of it, or in addition and have been getting over it since though I have no temp now. It’s the longest lasting thing, dragging on and on. The lumps in my neck are still there all these weeks later and the awful sore throat has reappeared just yesterday along with another cough. I didn’t see a doctor. I hope you feel well soon. 💐

FarTooYoungForThis Sun 11-Feb-24 19:46:26

Your inflammation markers are raised and so whilst they are raised you will feel ill until your body has managed to fight the inflammation. As you say all other tests are fine then increased levels of inflammation can be due to unhealthy lifestyle so look at your diet, alcohol consumption, excercise, stress, weight etc. Get them checked again in a couple of weeks, consult your GP for proper diagnosis and treatment.

NfkDumpling Sun 11-Feb-24 19:38:27

I think this may be the same or similar virus to the one I developed at the end of September. I thought I had Covid but no temperature and tested negative. Really ill for a couple of weeks and lived on tinned main meal soup. It was the cough which was really debilitating, especially for the first two or three weeks. It hung on and on.

I hope you and all those who're suffering feel better soon.

Mt61 Sun 11-Feb-24 18:43:39

Taking a good dose of vitamin D! Get well soon.

petra Sun 11-Feb-24 17:13:41

Dormouse123

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

It’s amazing stuff 😀 It’s the only live pro biotic that is not damaged going through your stomach.

Anneeba Sun 11-Feb-24 17:03:02

Also, breathe not breath 😕

Anneeba Sun 11-Feb-24 17:02:29

I meant to say the COVID type virus began in October and I'm just getting a bit of strength back now...

Anneeba Sun 11-Feb-24 17:01:37

Started with COVID type symptoms, loss of taste etc, but I thought it wasn't too bad. I've just started to feel better, enjoy taking the dogs out etc over the past couple of weeks. I still need a steroid inhaler, but thank goodness don't need the tablets anymore. I honestly thought I was going to die several times because I couldn't breath. Absolutely horrendous virus. I had varying care from GPs, finally got a brilliant female one who has got me to where I am now. Also, praise to the dreadfully overstretched but caring A and E department that I had to visit repeatedly. I hope all people suffering at the moment recover soon.

queenofsaanich69 Sun 11-Feb-24 16:09:24

Sorry you feel so unwell,definitely take a probiotic,they say everything is about your stomach so should help.

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

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.

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.