Flu - tell me I'm not alone

Probably a cold virus rather than the flu, I’d imagine a lot of people’s immunity has declined with the lack of exposure over the past few years so the severity is worse than usual.

I'm panned out again, bed ridden the past 3 days, bearing in mind this started 3 weeks ago I'm getting pretty fed up of this. This relapse is the worst though.

Anyway has anyone experienced this? The weirdest thing I've ever encountered with sickness/fever.

I go through the exact same cycles - temperature starts rising and my hands and legs get frozen, shakes and chills along with it, can't warm up. Then I take Panadol, and I slowly start to feel my hands and legs warm up. But the weird part - for about about a half hour my temperature goes up, (pre Panadol sitting maybe around 39.4,post Panadol 40.4 and has gotten higher). Eventually it all evens out and I can get an hour sleep but within 2 hours I'm back to the freezing and creeping temperature until the next dose of Panadol. Anyone ever have that? I certainly haven't and I've have fevers, flu etc in the past.

How many people posting here have had the flu vaccine or are in the age group that should be getting it ? I have been getting the vaccine for the past four years, it does work.

Some years the vaccine is not well matched to the strains in circulation.

I dunno what hit in winter 2019. It wasnt covid but I and multiple colleagues got hit with chest infections. All vaccinated v flu. Lot of boards posts about it.

I got both the Flu and the Covid booster as immune system is fecked up.

Aye might have to soon alright, it's going on way too long now.

Got flu jab in early October .

Have been sick for the last 10 days or so. Missus and kids had variations of it as well.

Initially put on Tamiflu and steroids which cleared my chest, but head was still very congested and was achey, tired etc.

Barely left the house tbh and daytime naps were very much en vogue.

Just finished a 5 day course of antibiotics and feel finally halfways normal today.

Can't wait to take the Christmas tree down...sick looking at it as this stage 😂

This isn't a lecture, & I know all of you are probably doing this, please don't take offence but for those that don't... vitamin D tablets in the winter every day, lots of fruit, veg, nuts, berries & honey. Particularly oranges, peppers, grapefruit, salmon, oysters, beef, lamb, mushrooms, cereals, eggs, dairy, beans & legumes. Try to keep the family diet to things you can pick, pull out of the ground or sea, kill & cook. Keep the house vented, open the windows, let the air in and out for a couple of hours every day & try get out for a couple of hours.

If you're sick try and get your hands on Dioralyte (there's a shortage, try and get some or similar) and follow the guidelines.

I've a rake of kids of all ages from creche to college that are mixing, we're fastidious about the above and it's working (so far).

The stories are pretty awful on this thread, my heart goes out to you. I caught swine flu in 2010 and it was horrible, I had a quinsy on a cross channel boat delivery that had to be lanced when we hit shore, but not as bad as what some of you describe.

If you’re getting sunshine every day, outside of peak sun hours, you won’t need Vitamin D tablets. Get walking or cycling, and you’ll sort your Vitamin D and your general fitness.

Myth busted

No flu for me but I’ve had a lingering cold for about 5 or 6 weeks now that’s moved from head to throat to chest. It’s an absolute nuisance. I must have a gammy immune system. My throat was really bad and had to get antibiotics for it. Finished them about 5 days but have the remnants of a cough now

With regard to vitamin D above, it may not be that there isn’t enough daylight to get our vitamin D naturally but most are more inclined to stay indoors where it’s warm in the winter weather

Is anyone getting bouts of diarrhoea with the latest flu/cold viruses?

That was on the list of covid symptoms, I think.

Well just back from docs, possible secondary infection there alright so it's all the drugs - steroids, antibiotics andsolphadol to try shift it. Goddamn this plague.

Whoever mentioned about diet earlier in the thread, I am with you on that, I will be honest in that my diet was gone to pot in the past 2 months and I'd been drinking too much as well. My immune system paid the price. Proper changes ahead for me. On the plus side I've lost so much weight my fatdad belly has dissappeared so that's somethint I guess.

If you work indoors during the day you might not get any chance to go outdoors between dawn and dusk in winter

Bust this 'myth' then - a quote from your link...

Bit of a sore throat and cough earlier in the week but over 48 hours it's become more a dose of the sniffles and a mild chest infection (as is always the case for me) now.

Been treating it with rest and Benelyn Day and Night.

No, I didn't bother with tests. What's the point? Not going to change anything and I refuse to get into a habit of running for a PCR anytime I feel a little off. How did we survive before 2019?

My flus are usually mild enough. 3 days in the bed and id be back to something near to normal. Getting older now though so wouldnt like to experience it.

You are definitely not alone. I felt it coming on just before Christmas and did a pre-emptive strike with a course of antibiotics. I finished those on Christmas Day and I've floored since then. I haven't been outside for 3 days. The worst this is the cough, I sound like a walrus barking. None of the cough medicines seem to work. I'm sore all over from coughing. I've tried the hot honey/ginger/lemon drinks too. Looks like I'll be going back for another antibiotic 😥

But why would you use antibiotics to combat a virus? I am very surprised your GP gave you 'preemptive' antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is already a massive problem without the scattergun approach.

Are PCR tests still being done? I thought all those test centres had been closed. I might be completely wrong there - I guess I can't see the point in testing anymore. Obviously antigen tests are still available.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have a chest infection. I'm asthmatic so my GP thought the antibiotics would prevent the infection from getting worse. Didn't exactly go to plan