Flu - tell me I'm not alone

Gusser09 · 01-01-2023 1:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052138#Comment_120052138

Ok thanks doctor. I was 20 at the time. It was a flu.

phormium · 01-01-2023 1:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120052150#Comment_120052150

Test centre locally was definitely still open couple of weeks before Christmas as family member went for test, something to do with job and can't get sick pay if not confirmed by pcr, anyway they were negative as it happened.

01-01-2023 2:35pm

I have a mild cold, constant tickle cough, no fever, no bone pains, chest mildly congested. One of the more trivial of the viruses doing the rounds.

KrakityJones · 01-01-2023 9:32pm

Last update, 100% there was a bacterial secondary there alright, day two of antibiotics and steroids and holy hell the difference, fever and shivers gone, been out of bed, showered even managed a small dinner. Still a bit to go yet, weak as a baby but man I'm amazed at the speed that turned around. Slightly annoyed at myself I left it go so long without going to the docs but hey, I'm happy.

Stay safe and hope everyone recovers soon.

And take or leave this fools hard learned advice - get the flu jab!

Nigel Fairservice · 01-01-2023 10:32pm

Had what I think was a chest infection over Christmas. Unpleasant enough for a few days but I'm over the worst of it now. Did a few Covid tests over the few days and they were all negative. Can't really taste or smell much at the moment so not really sure what's going on. Nose is still a bit blocked so could be linked to that.

Naid23 · 02-01-2023 12:50am

I’ve been the same since stephens day. Whole family has been sick pretty much since last week in November but I managed to avoid it til now. Pretty much bed bound the last few days. Horrendous dose. Got my kids the flu vacc but stupidly never got mine, kept saying I would but never did. Seriously regretting that now

02-01-2023 1:36pm

My cough started to come is big spasms last night, very tight chest, getting a bit difficult to breath.

This morning woke up coughing bright orange sputum, which looks like secondary bacterial infection. Very dizzy when I try to get out of bed. Might seek an antibiotic tomorrow.

greasepalm · 02-01-2023 3:10pm

Try and get some Bronco Stop lozenges.

https://www.bronchostop.co.uk

Cluedo Monopoly · 02-01-2023 6:22pm

There doesn't seem to be a family that wasn't impacted by illness this Xmas. I haven't seen it this bad before.

L1011 · 02-01-2023 6:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120055692#Comment_120055692

"active" ingredient in Bronchostop is thyme. There is no evidence of it being beneficial to anyone.

Its a commercial placebo.

You can get that placebo effect from something much cheaper and not requiring a trip to a pharmacy, e.g. honey and lemon.

02-01-2023 6:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120056441#Comment_120056441

There are many either useless or borderline dangerous pharmaceutical products. A good example is Alkaseltzer, which has aspirin as the active ingredient, in some variations I have seen other unhelpful combinations in various instances of this product. After a massive binge of alcohol the last thing a binge drinker or alcoholic needs is a dose of aspirin to dissolve the already inflamed lining of the stomach. Fast way to potentially dangerous erosive gastritis or stomach ulcers.

One thing people need to watch out for is that they do NOT take more than one product that contains paracetamol. It’s important to read labels of medicines.

McSween · 02-01-2023 9:51pm

I started feeling off last wednesday 28th. From Thursday to date I have had shivers, phlegm, headaches. They seem to be rotating as for the first time in three days I was freezing going to bed last night. Today that is gone and had a terrible headache and sore cheekbones, and over the eyes. That has now passed. I think my attempted induced vomit helped. This is an awful experience. I owe my wife big time for the last five days

Cluedo Monopoly · 02-01-2023 10:17pm

Major incident declared in Limerick hospital (UHL) due to record attendances.

03-01-2023 8:35am

I’m on this site much earlier than usual as I literally couldn’t breath lying down, particularly on my right side. Absolutely suffocating with crackles and pain in right side of chest. Time to email GP for a €65 phone consultation:

Doc: ”What are your symptoms?”

Me: ”Cough, chest tightness, difficult to breath lying down, particularly right side, soreness in right side of chest, crackles when lying in back or right side. Covid negative, very little fever, taste retained, very little nasal congestion.”

Doc: ”Are you allergic to penicillin?”

Me: ”No”

Doc: “Prescription for that and a steroid sent to chemist. Receptionist will phone you back at our convenience to take the €65”

Me: ”Doc, as I want the paper receipt for claims I’ll pay when I’m well enough get down to the surgery.”

fits · 03-01-2023 8:51am

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time with it.

we all had it but only my son who is six was really bad. all of us had flu jabs. He still has significant hearing loss. GP said it could take 6-8 weeks to resolve. I’ll have to tell his teacher.

keithb93 · 03-01-2023 9:23am

This is the second time I’ve had the flu in my life. Been very sick over the past week. Weakness, blocked nose, serious coughing and sneezing fits. I think I’m starting to develop a secondary bacterial infection based on the colour of my tissues. We caught covid this time last year and it wasn’t as bad as this flu.

beansie · 03-01-2023 11:18am

Just getting to the end of this dose now. Went to bed night of the 28th feeling totally fine - the next morning my throat was so sore, I couldn't get out of bed with the fatigue, and I had that shivering/hot fever. Still can't believe how suddenly it appeared. My appetite isn't fully back yet and sinuses have been on fire but getting better now. Paracetamol did basically nothing but ibuprofen helped. Pseudoephedrine made it worse too!

When do you decide to call the doctor over this dose? I have a deep chesty cough now for the past two days which is starting to get really painful although other symptoms are easing so I might just wait it out? Interestingly my partner hasn't picked it up at all - few sneezes but that's it!

03-01-2023 12:08pm

Absolutely bolloxed at the moment. Main problem for me though is the eyes. Look like I've been on a 20 year bender. They are insanely red. Cold compresses, drops, antihistamines, sleep. All no good to me.

Online GP app at 11:40

Bit of a balls considering I hold a Medical Card, but needs must.

03-01-2023 12:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120058905#Comment_120058905

Sounds very like influenza, its hallmark is a remarkably abrupt onset. The only other respiratory infection I’ve had with such an abrupt onset is bacterial lobar pneumonia. An example is when I returned from a new year holiday in Portugal and was writing my usual email blog to the relatives & friends. I started the moderately long email feeling perfectly ok, just before I clicked send I had started shaking violently with an abrupt chill and had to take straight to bed, coughing purple blood. Next morning I felt suffocating, got a taxi to hospital where I was admitted as both lungs widely affected by a bacterial infection. At least IV antibiotics, oxygen, steroids & nebulisers dealt with it, had it been an influenza the misery would have had to be endured to remedy itself. I was on immune suppressant medication at the time.

03-01-2023 12:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120058905#Comment_120058905

Pseudoephedrine nearly always makes things worse in these cases as it spasms the tiny blood vessels, which is one of the causes of the fierce face and head pain.

I made the decision to consult a doctor by phone this morning after having difficulty breathing on one side, which gave rise to crackles on that side, and I had to turn around on the other side and only my belly to breath freely. That’s called baso-basilar crepitations and usually means there’s either a pneumonia or bronchiolitis present in at least part of the lung. That needs to be addressed with an antibiotic and usually a steroid to reduce inflammation in the airways, so it can clear without complications.

Hoop66 · 03-01-2023 12:31pm

Oh f*ck yeah. Daughter got it first. Passed it to me, I started to feel bad on the 22nd, and only just starting to feel OK now. Worst dose I can remember having. B-i-L and family were even worse, a couple of them had a relapse of it after they thought they were OK.

03-01-2023 12:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120059069#Comment_120059069

Conjunctivitis with fever is typical of an adenovirus, almost always self-limiting, but unpleasant.

03-01-2023 1:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120059172#Comment_120059172

Was prescribed with 625mg of Augmentin by a doctor from MyClinic.ie. 2 daily I think. Will pick them up tomorrow.

03-01-2023 4:37pm

left the apartment to collect my antibiotic prescription at pharmacy, absolutely no breath in me when I got to pharmacy, couldn’t even speak in a complete sentence. You only realise how unwell you really are when you try to move out and about.

04-01-2023 12:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120059400#Comment_120059400

Make sure to take pro-biotics after. A heavy dose of Augmentin can have your gut in shreds.

04-01-2023 12:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120058542#Comment_120058542

Emailed receipts are perfectly fine for claims.

ottolwinner · 04-01-2023 1:05am

You can also request an annual statement from your GP that will work as a receipt for claiming medical expenses

04-01-2023 1:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062784#Comment_120062784

They don’t do emailed receipts at my practice. Paying them is a pain in the h0le, after doctor consult the receptionist phones you back some time over the next few days to take your card details, and it’s never at a convenient time. IME much simpler just to pay in person when I am passing that way anyhow. Every time I have to cajole a receipt from them, they are very unprofessional on the admin side there.

McSween · 04-01-2023 1:42am

Felt ok on Tuesday. Went to doctor anyway. Felt more normal for the evening. However, before bed temperature rose again, freezing in bed, headache came back. It woke me up at 12. Tried to induce vomiting but it didnt work. But i think the minor wretching may have helped a bit. The medication is not working for the headache when i have it. This is horrible.

04-01-2023 1:50am

Never have found it as hard to shake a dose before. Currently 11 days in. You think your getting better then bam smashed again. Taste and smell currently gone, sore throat and lingering bad chest cough. Painful.

FREDNISMO · 04-01-2023 3:36am

Same as that, done a covid test today and tested positive. First time getting it.

phormium · 04-01-2023 9:25am

First night of kind of decent sleep since 12th Dec! I did not cough last night that I can remember anyway, coughing a bit since I woke but not as bad as usual. I'm not out much obviously so not having conversations other than the odd phone call as it's still a guaranteed way to bring on coughing but hopefully that will improve too.

Now just to get rid of the exhaustion!

mojesius · 08-01-2023 8:33pm

This arsehole of a virus is back again. It never really cleared since before Xmas but felt more sinus-related than anything but the last few days, I'm getting a more dry and painful cough and chest is getting sore, the bright yellow phlegm still persistent. Husband described himself as feeling like 'a duck choking on a furball' last night, we're both not well. I was back working and exercising last week thinking 'ah sure it's nearly gone, be grand' and I've felt like utter crap the last couple of days.

greasepalm · 08-01-2023 9:24pm

Why do people not try Bronco stop pastilles for coughing and Vicks First Defence for nasal and sore throats ??

mojesius · 08-01-2023 9:35pm

I think I'm past lozenges and Vicks. I've been taking a lot of different OTC stuff for 4 weeks at this stage and it's not working, at least here anyway. Going to try to get a doc appointment tomorrow as I'm getting fed up and have two small kids so can't really be 'sick'.

shesty · 08-01-2023 9:47pm

Have avoided so far (thankfully).Three friends have had flu in the last 4 weeks and they have been absolutely floored by it.Took over a week to get over for each of them, it sounds hideous.Hoping I stay clear of it.

Recommend an expectorant called Casacol for helping break up the tight phlegmy chests.It's OTC, take it easy as with any expectorant (avoid overdosing as it basically causes coughing) but I have found it works wonders to help open the chest up.

greasepalm · 08-01-2023 9:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120083391#Comment_120083391

They were the only things i bought and not had to buy cough syrup by the gallon and 5 years since buying Lemsips.

My cousin was told about those pastilles and surprised how they worked.

Doctors and surgeries are under extreme pressures at the moment as i was in there on friday and loads of people in waiting room.

fits · 08-01-2023 10:28pm

Or you know… flu vaccine might help too.

KrakityJones · 09-01-2023 3:09pm

Well this is just getting silly now. Sliding backwards again and thought no way, I cannot possibly be getting this crap back again. So did a covid test. Positive. Ffs. I have no idea where I got it though, I've not left the house in a week, maybe at southdoc but that was nearly 10 days go, then again been feeling crap again a few days.

cj maxx · 09-01-2023 3:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120048922#Comment_120048922

I take flax oil to supplement vitamin D due to lack of sunshine at these latitudes. It’s recommended for MS .

L1011 · 09-01-2023 4:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120083337#Comment_120083337

Because they (broncostop) do nothing. They have no active ingredient with any proven benefit

They are a commercial placebo. You are throwing money away buying them

Flinty997 · 09-01-2023 4:15pm

"cough drop can increase saliva production to help reduce coughing."

https://quantumhealth.com/blog/post/throat-lozenges-vs-cough-drops#:~:text=A%20cough%20drop%20is%20a,same%20and%20have%20similar%20functions.

IMO You'd get the same effect from a sweet. Some sweets/drop get saliva going better than others. The problem wit coughing, is that makes you cough more. So anything even a hot drink that reduces coughing, even slightly all helps. Even if only by a tiny bit.

greasepalm · 09-01-2023 4:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086127#Comment_120086127

I have found they work for me and for my cousin , if they stop you coughing did they stop you ??

cj maxx · 09-01-2023 4:21pm

Have a mix of sweats and chills. I can’t find a nice temperature. And I got the flu shot in October.

Riesen_Meal · 09-01-2023 4:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086194#Comment_120086194

That's how my Covid started...

Managed to avoid it until Xmas completely, get a test if you can to rule it out...

L1011 · 09-01-2023 4:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086193#Comment_120086193

The placebo affect worked for you

There is absolutely nothing in them that helped.

cj maxx · 09-01-2023 4:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086209#Comment_120086209

I have tests somewhere, if I can figure out the instructions.

Riesen_Meal · 09-01-2023 4:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086263#Comment_120086263

Wipe around the aul snot cavity and rotate it about 10 times in each nostril...

Stick it in the yoke with the fluid, swirl it for around 30 seconds, put the dropper top on it and put 4 droplets on the spot for it...

Then wait 15 mins

L1011 · 09-01-2023 5:56pm

Check the number of drops, on some tests the dropper is bigger and 4 will flood it out.

Dial Hard · 09-01-2023 7:55pm

Swabbing your tonsils before you do the nostrils will also give a more accurate result than nasal swabbing alone.

Flu - tell me I'm not alone

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