This chest infection 'thing'

[Count Steer]

Quite a few people on here have mentioned having it, friends and family likewise. Local supermarkets pharma shelves look like paracetamol eating locusts have visited. Cold and flu remedies? Not a one. (In a sort of 'displacement shopping' activity, having failed to buy those, people seem to have consoled themselves buying everything from Calpol to suppositories )

The news is all about flu and Covid but there seems to be a 3rd plague going on.

Who has got it/had it?

[MingtheMerciless]

Mrs M had the “child bug” chesty cough, runny nose and flu symptoms for about a month before Christmas, she even had a week off work it was that bad (she’s always bringing germs home as she works with kids). I had a few days on lemsip feeling a bit ropey but fine other than that.

[DefTrap]

My bil and sil have had something grim like that for the past month. Bil has been coughing so hard he thinks he's done himself a hernia mischief.

[Supermofo]

Yup Mrs had it for best part of a month, terrible cough which was worse than when she had Covid and sore throat/cold. Daughter caught it last week of school and lost her voice from it (blessing ) but she recovered within a week. I expected me and the boy to get it but so far so good fingers crossed. Know lots of friends/relatives all with the same symptoms.

[Couchy]

In bed Christmas Day and not out till 6 days later, still not right but good enough to be up and out.
Cough, sickness, temp, headache etc. Gave in and called docs after a few days and they said not a lot we can do just rest as it’s a virus but keep eye on sats.
I’m sure it’s because we haven’t been mixing for a couple of years so our immunity is a bit down.

[Slenver]

Most of our house.

- Child was off school for a week and coughing horribly for 3-4 weeks total

- I've been coughing for about 4 weeks now, also led to sore throat. Didn't eat for 2 days at the peak, but otherwise only felt slightly ill

- Missus was the worst, now on week 5 I think, coughing up blood, A&E, the lot. Also led to ear infection, burst one eardrum, the other almost. Nearly totally deaf for a week or so, slowly improving now.

Not really known anything so lingering before. I'm usually in and out of anything within 4 or 5 days.

[Taipan]

Yup, I have it. Had a cold which I normally shake off same day or next but it turned into this. Coughing so hard I've puked several times and just can't clear the mucus off of my chest. Dunno if its my asthma making thing worse but i have really struggled to breathe. Couldn't sleep or lay down with it so dozed on the settee in an upright position for 2 nights.

Ended up ringing 111 as my breathing is so bad. Got prescribed antibiotics but couldn't get them anywhere that was open and now my wife has mislaid the prescription slip! Hopefully Docs will reissue today? Never taken meds for something like this before but I've really had enough of not being able to breathe properly!

[gremlin]

Mrs. G, her dad and her sister had the same 'thing': sore throat, headache, upset stomach and generally feeling like crap for the best part of a week. Lingering on now in the form of a cough and feeling washed-out.

I can't help but think that nigh-on two years of avoiding any human contact has left all our immune systems distinctly not match fit...

[Mr Moofo]

I have it - had the beginning software it prior to Christmas - but thought northing of it. But it has hit with a vengeance since NYE.

[JamJar]

Have you guys tested for Covid?

[Mr Moofo]

Me too, caught it at the airport I think, my daughter also caught it travelling a week later.

Started just like covid, blinding headache, then a bit of a cold with a nasty chest/sinus infection that seems to be clearing up after 2.5 weeks, but it's left me feeling like I could sleep forever and my first run on Monday was a full two minutes off my usual time and I felt like I was going to puke.

It's defo another virus, but I don't think anyone has the balls to announce it.

the fatigue thing in impressive - walking up stairs is a challenge. And I have had to get out the ventalin for the first time in 3 years

[Slenver]

seems to be clearing up after 2.5 weeks

I'm sure everyone's different, but the thing that's been unusual for me is that mine started to clear up after 2-3 weeks, then just kicked off again and got worse for the next week. Now 'clearing up' again after 4 weeks, no idea if it'll get better or worse though.

That said, it could be sensitive to alcohol

[Slenver]

Have you guys tested for Covid?

We did in the first week as it seemed a good match, but were both negative. Not tested since but seemed no point.

[Taff]

I seem to get this type of illness every 4 or 5 years, I've had for the last month or 6 weeks and haven't managed to get out to do anything fun. No gym or MTB for weeks.

I tested positive for COVID on the 1st and I feel a bit better than I did a couple of weeks ago

[Taipan]

Have you guys tested for Covid?

Yes, twice but clear each time. I've had covid twice and for me, it was a breeze. This is much worse and very debilitating!

[Count Steer]

Me too, caught it at the airport I think, my daughter also caught it travelling a week later.

Started just like covid, blinding headache, then a cold with a nasty chest/sinus infection that seems to be clearing up after 2.5 weeks, but it's left me feeling like I could sleep forever and my first run on Monday was a full two minutes off my usual time and I felt like I was going to puke.

It's defo another virus, but I don't think anyone has the balls to announce it.

The tiredness/fatigue/lethargy thing that seems a reasonably common factor is a definite virus indicator. If people are testing clear for Covid, the next candidate is flu but most that I know that are ill are jabbed so either the flu jab formulation has missed the mark this year (it wasn't like this last winter as far as I can see) or it's something else. I'm not convinced that it's our weakened immune systems because we've all been living like hermits. People haven't seemed to give a toss about mixing and mingling for ages now.

I'm just surprised, given the sample here, that there hasn't been anything apart from flu and Covid hitting the news.

[Demannu]

The ever loving stepson came around xmas day coughing and spluttering after partying in Brum.
Now me and the wife are housebound with it!
I did mention to him at the time that he should have just gone straight home, but no, mother wanted him there.
In my day, when I worked in NHS, first sign of anything vaguely contagious, you stayed home and didnt bring it into work. Not rocket science is it?

[DefTrap]

most that I know that are ill are jabbed so either the flu jab formulation has missed the mark this year (it wasn't like this last winter as far as I can see)

The rumour mill is that yes this year the flu jab is giving little protection. I think normally a severe flu strike would be news but after the horrors of covid it's all a bit meh.

[Slenver]

If people are testing clear for Covid, the next candidate is flu but most that I know that are ill are jabbed so either the flu jab formulation has missed the mark this year (it wasn't like this last winter as far as I can see) or it's something else.

When we were in A&E just before Christmas, one of the doctors told us that flu was out of control. He said it was a far bigger problem than covid currently and the numbers were like nothing he'd seen.

Just one anecdote in one hospital, but interesting nonetheless.

TBH, I haven't really had any fluey symptoms though. Felt a bit rough, but not wiped out by it. Just a really nasty chesty cough for weeks.

[Ant]

I've had this thing since new years eve. Aching all over, fever, sweating, I've been in bed since NYE, only recently just started moving. It's now turned into a bit of a chesty thing now with thick green gunge.

The fever, headache and all over body pain is incredible. No appetite, just living off fever tablets for now, but the shops are empty of them now. I've not been able to sleep either due to the pain, so night time bed time is just torture.