We've had a virus going round our house for the past 2wks. It started with DH saying he felt he was getting a cold, fast forward a few days and he had a streaming cold, hacking cough and a headache. By the end of the week I was also having the same symptoms and we did a Covid test as it was our granddaughters 18th Birthday Party the next day. Both tested positive, so had to cancel going to the party.
We tested again on Sunday morning as son and his family are going on holiday and obviously we didn't want to go and visit them if we still had it. DH tested negative but I still tested positive so we stayed home.
Haven't had Covid before and have to say it's been really awful, not just like a cold which is how so many describe it, least not for us. DH keeps feeling short of breath and we are both feeling absolutely wiped out and exhausted. Have no appetite, can't taste anything, can't smell anything, just feel awful.
Poor DH made us both a plate of toast with a cup of tea for dinner earlier as neither of us felt like eating much. He then managed to drop the tray as he put it down on a table and we had a river of tea under the sofa and slices of buttered toast on the sofa itself 
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Health
Current virus
(112 Posts)I came come down with what I think is a virus that I have heard is currently‘On-The-Go’. That was Monday this week so early days yet.
How have GN’s coped with this? I know it sounds trivial with what I see some posting on here are living with but I’m usually pretty healthy and ‘fair scunnered’ at catching this. Am 71 live alone but my sister is nearby and brought me fresh milk today. I’m usually reasonably active and healthy.
Things were bad in the Tuesday as I attended a hospital appointment long planned. At this stage just felt had upset tum and mild headache.
Walking uphill back to car I had to stop 3 times in a short period and thought I would collapse. Got to car though and made it home ok. I felt quite safe once seated and when driving
Symptoms are fatigue, dizziness/lightheadedness on exertion ie climbing the stairs, muscle aches, headaches,( not as bad as in first 24 hours ), stomach upset at whatever I try to eat but have tried to keep to plain food , toast ( I did add some butter as it was my first food in 36 hours). A few spoonfuls of home made lentil soup, quarter of unbuttered cinnamon bagel. Everything seems to upset my stomach tho doesn’t cause any V or D.
I realise I need to eat something. I’m drinking very dilute blackcurrant juice and have managed tea with milk. The thing is it all makes me feel ‘like I have a tummy upset’. Any suggestions or advice gratefully received.
I’ve tried the NHS app but nothing seems to fit. You only have to choose one symptom and mine cover more than one. And I didn’t think I was bad enough to call 111.
This will probably go in time . Just needed some food/coping advice as am sure I’m not the only one who has had similar or is feeling like this now.
I absolutely second all of this!
In a way it was reassuring to test + as it meant I didn’t just feel I was making a meal of a summer cold.
2 weeks on and I am now testing negative (I had day surgery on my back on Saturday so I had to be sure I could go ) and I am beginning to feel more normal. But it turns out that my sister in law who was in France with me also went down, as did one D and SIL. The younger ones have shaken it off but sis in law (74) has had a very similar 2 weeks to me.
So I’m in favour of testing and judicious isolating. Yes Covid may be with us like flu, but we ought to do what we can to minimise contact with others and not brush it off.
PS the same applies to flu and of course Norovirus the infamous “winter vomiting bug”
I have something too. Thought it was the shingles jab on Thursday but started with sore throat and generally not feeling great yesterday and today much worse. The main symptom is sneezing. I must have sneezed 100 times today and constantly blowing my nose which is just watery mucus. All my teeth were aching earlier so took some two cold/flu caps but they’re wearing off now. I’m hoping it’s a bad cold which will only last a few days.
I had Covid in April. I agree with Littlebrook and Rosiesmaw, it’s horrible and far more than a bad cold. I’m beginning to feel I’m in the mend from my current (not Covid) virus. An odd thing, the breathlessness I had with Covid has recurred even tho I’m not chesty or cold symptoms. Dr Google tells me this isn’t unusual
I've had Covid twice. I agree, it's more than just a cold. I was very ill the first time, second time, bad enough but not as bad as the first.
When my daughter had covid she was extremely ill and im great pain.
To date she's had covid four times.
She's NHS so gets it from patients' in spite of taking precautions.
I’ve been really quite ill. I got quite scared last night as felt so ill and was struggling for breath. I have never sneezed so much - it was exhausting. I called my daughter today and asked her to buy some Covid tests and decongestant. Test came up negative so will do another tomorrow. I’ve had a humidifier on all night in my bedroom and now have it in the lounge. Drinking lots of honey and lemon and the sneezing has stopped now. Whatever it is, it’s really nasty.
Hope you are feeling better today surfsup. It's not nice feeling so ill when on your own is it. 
About a month ago I caught a virus (first illness since COVID on NYD, 2024). Sore throat, mainly a head cold and awful congestion and a wet cough. Only the second time I’ve ever needed decongestant spray in my life which did work. Covid test was negative. 3 days before we went to Crete on 08/09/25 symptoms went away only to reappear a week later before we returned home. I’ve now got a really dry cough this time which is driving me nuts but I don’t feel ill. My chest though feels really tight and I keep heaving (I don’t mean feeling sick).
Anyone else had similar?
Well you would, IOMgran- especially as it was a post surgical ward- TBF, nurses did have on masks, I thought for precaution, but covid patient had been admitted. I would have stayed away tbh, had I have known.
glammagran
About a month ago I caught a virus (first illness since COVID on NYD, 2024). Sore throat, mainly a head cold and awful congestion and a wet cough. Only the second time I’ve ever needed decongestant spray in my life which did work. Covid test was negative. 3 days before we went to Crete on 08/09/25 symptoms went away only to reappear a week later before we returned home. I’ve now got a really dry cough this time which is driving me nuts but I don’t feel ill. My chest though feels really tight and I keep heaving (I don’t mean feeling sick).
Anyone else had similar?
Very mild apart from the extreme tiredness. Yes I bought sprays last time For my throat & decongestant sprays so used them to nip it in the bud.
Plenty parrots & water. Rested in bed for a few days.
I have had worse colds. So really lucky this time.
I think it’s all to do with hand hygiene. Think that went out of the window as soon as people went back to work.
Most stores & shops don’t bother now with hand sanitiser.
I alway carry little bottles around with me & still have them dotted around the house.
glammagran
About a month ago I caught a virus (first illness since COVID on NYD, 2024). Sore throat, mainly a head cold and awful congestion and a wet cough. Only the second time I’ve ever needed decongestant spray in my life which did work. Covid test was negative. 3 days before we went to Crete on 08/09/25 symptoms went away only to reappear a week later before we returned home. I’ve now got a really dry cough this time which is driving me nuts but I don’t feel ill. My chest though feels really tight and I keep heaving (I don’t mean feeling sick).
Anyone else had similar?
I’ve got exactly the same. DH has been unwell for the last two weeks but his symptoms are different.
Plenty parrots & water. Rested in bed for a few days
What part do parrots play in the recovery? 
.
Plenty parrots & water. Rested in bed for a few days
Are you sure you weren’t suffering from psittacosis?
RosieandherMaw
^Plenty parrots & water. Rested in bed for a few days^
What part do parrots play in the recovery?
Paracetamol ha.
merlotgran
^Plenty parrots & water.^ Rested in bed for a few days
Are you sure you weren’t suffering from psittacosis?
Parrots (paracetamol) 😂
On returning from holiday a few days ago I came down with Covid, most likely caught on the plane I think , as the person I was sitting next to had a truly hacking cough . This is my second Covid attack and I’m feeling much,much worse than when I had it in 2022. Streaming nose , hacking cough (all night) raised temperature , aching all over- even my teeth!
Has anyone else experienced this lately? I know there are two new variants going round now. I was due my booster jab this week- too late!
I'm currently in bed with a hacking cough, I've had it for three days starting with just a tickly throat. I had the best night's sleep last night but this morning I'm coughing so badly I feel I will do myself some damage. I feel washed out and just want to lie here. Tested for Covid which is negative.
I have tested positive for covid for the last two days so at least I know what to watch out for re breathing difficulties etc.
My stomach muscles have added to the fun, really hurting with all the coughing last night!
It really, really makes me appreciate feeling well, we can so often take good health for granted.
Mt61
merlotgran
Plenty parrots & water. Rested in bed for a few days
Are you sure you weren’t suffering from psittacosis?Parrots (paracetamol) 😂
I thought it was a typo for 'carrots'
Time to start avoiding busy places again: public transport, restaurants, shops, etc. I am not an unwell person, get a cold once in 10 yrs, but I have had COVID twice and it demolished me both times. I have had my flu and Covid vaccinations today (though I am not yet 75) and, unusually, am already feeling shaky with two very sore arms. Off to bed with paracetamol, and the cat who is scared of the wind.
My voice went like a robot, tinny and echoing, very strange, people were commenting on it, now sore throat and all the other symptoms. Facial pain too & any dairy is causing nausea. Will do a Covid test later today.
There seem to be a couple of new strains, I wondered if the home test kits actually picked them up. Lots of covid going round here, a friend recently admitted to hospital.
glammagran
About a month ago I caught a virus (first illness since COVID on NYD, 2024). Sore throat, mainly a head cold and awful congestion and a wet cough. Only the second time I’ve ever needed decongestant spray in my life which did work. Covid test was negative. 3 days before we went to Crete on 08/09/25 symptoms went away only to reappear a week later before we returned home. I’ve now got a really dry cough this time which is driving me nuts but I don’t feel ill. My chest though feels really tight and I keep heaving (I don’t mean feeling sick).
Anyone else had similar?
I’ve now had a cough since the 3rd week of August. It ebbs and flows and is currently bad again. I’m not a person that generally ever gets coughs with colds. I don’t feel ill with it, so fairly confident I don’t have a chest infection. But getting very fed up with constantly coughing.
Why don’t more people wear masks especially in crowded places and on public transport? Surely this would help. It should be commonplace especially if you think you may have a virus or if you are recovering from one.
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