Current virus

I had shingles in early September, I didn’t feel that bad and the rash was in my arm, just itchy. By mid September I was feeling ill with heavy cold, cough etc. tested negative for covid. A month later my cough is still here, with very heavy catarrh. I keep feeling I’m in the mend but then feel I’ll again. I feel that the shingles has left me feeling low and susceptible to catching viruses.

I succumbed to it last week.
On a very full train the week before, I'd sat opposite a girl with a constant, irritating cough. I knew I should've moved but there were no other seats.
Sure enough, dreadful sore throat, very queasy stomach and same dry cough. The most frightening thing tho was in my head, I genuinely felt terrified & doom filled most of the time, not like me at all.
I have a clip on oximeter from my GP from COVID first time round and a couple of times my blood oxygen level fell to 88, I was seconds away from dialling 999.
I'm still very weak and tire so easily. It's a vicious virus whatever name it goes by.

Bohemian started with croak sore throat, head and muscle ache, nausea stomach not right and extreme tiredness
My d was getting married four days later 200’m away. I kept going till after the wedding went to bed at 7pm and admitted overnight to hospital the next day. Diagnosis heavy viral load. In normal circs I’d have gone to bed but ……. I’m four weeks on still tire easy but ok

No cough as yet with this virus glammagran but had something that sounds similar to what you have a couple of years ago, another nasty virus to cope with.

I’ve had a cough following a heavy cold since the 2nd week of August. Heartily fed up with it as it’s quite unusual for me to ever get a cough. I imagine if this 100 day cough that I’ve heard about which I believe is whooping cough but without the whoop.

Thanks for response Iam64, it's rather scary, not knowing what I'm having to cope with. Am drinking lots of water and have no energy to do anything other than bed rest. Did your symptoms start very suddenly?

Bohemian you can get test kits quite cheaply online including Amazon.

Yes bohemian I have. My lateral flow test was negative but the doctors said my symptoms were like the new Covid strain
I’ve never felt so ill, out of it, exhausted -rest and fluids helped. I genuinely lost time and have gaps in memory. I gradually improved over three to four weeks. No cough sore throat breathless
Get well

Am writing this propped up in bed after having to give in to overwhelming exhaustion and think it may be the new covid strain I've picked up, so seek re-assurance. I don't have a test kit and am on my own, so have no one to send out for one.

It's strange as at the moment I don't have a cough - that was a couple of weeks ago. I can't get out of bed through feeling so weak. No appetite, headache, temperature - which paracetamol seems to be keeping at bay. Am drinking lots of water and can nap for England. Dr. Google says the main symptom of the new strain is a cough/strange vocal cords.

Has/Is anyone else experiencing the same or similar thing?

Meant to say day and night

I went down with something a week ago and have never experienced anything like it. I've had hacking cough with a dry throat which went on all through the night for a week. I managed to get an appointment at my surgery and he suspected adult whooping cough. He gave antibiotics which after three days are making me feel slightly better, I slept through sitting up last night! Today have a bit of energy. I did do a covid test but was negative but didn't do another one which I suppose was wrong so I'll never know if it was covid. The doctor said if the antibiotics didn't work he would send me for blood test for whooping cough and I asked him what happens then and he said nothing, just wait for it to go!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'

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.

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.

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!

merlotgran

^Plenty parrots & water.^ Rested in bed for a few days

Are you sure you weren’t suffering from psittacosis?

Parrots (paracetamol) 😂

RosieandherMaw

^Plenty parrots & water. Rested in bed for a few days^
What part do parrots play in the recovery? .

Paracetamol ha.

Plenty parrots & water. Rested in bed for a few days

Are you sure you weren’t suffering from psittacosis?

Plenty parrots & water. Rested in bed for a few days
What part do parrots play in the recovery? .

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.