Exhaustion

Yes, coughdrop and this is going into the 4th week.

I am having to push myself to get on with things, yesterday was busy and today I feel like hibernating again.

I had a coughing bug s couple of years ago. I would be ok for a couple of days but then coughing and tired. I was on and off work for 3 weeks. A nurse friend told me it was a type of flu virus. That flue jab does not cover every type.

I had three winters with more or less continuous viruses so read a book called How Not to Get Sick about cell health, made a few changes and this year (touch wood and fingers crossed) I have been well. Of course this might not be due to anything more than luck but I'm sticking with the changes! I:
Filter my water
Use soya milk instead of cow's milk
Use flax seeds (nearly) every day (good on porridge)
Take a good multi vitamin daily
Less meat, more veg, pulses etc
Walk instead of drive as much as poss

I started with it the week before Christmas, felt really poorly, have been coughing for England, absolutely no energy, but just two days ago I realised that I was walking up the stairs a lot quicker, cough seems to be on it's way so fingers crossed!

Practically everyone I know has had this bug- us included!
Our doctors are calling it The Caterham Cough but it seems to be all over the country.
It just goes on & on. We came down with it 27th Dec & we are still coughing. We both had the Flu jab luckily or it could have been a lot worse.
Maybe the very cold weather starting today will kill it off.

I am now into the fifth week of this virus. Thought I was getting better but two days ago started feeling really chilled inside and then the horrible cough which had been subsiding re-emerged. I feel unwell and without energy. It’s beginning to depress me. Husband has had it too. I had been thinking ‘are we suddenly old?’ like you.

Dear lovely people another thank you to all of you who have taken the time to reply to me. I am relieved to know that this constant tiredness is part of the illness and so is my husband. I hope you all get well very soon and I want to wish you all a Happy and HEALTHY 2020. Thank you all again. Love to all. xxx

Please also be aware of emotional depression. Low mood after a viral infection is common and probably physical in origin so you are not becoming mentally ill.

Really hope you feel better soon. These things really knock the stuffing out of you. Have you thought of taking Floradix, which is good supplement. Contains iron and lots of vitamins. Somehing like that might give your body the kickstart it needs to start making you feel better.

Several people in my area including my husband and I had this last winter. It seemed to take about 3 months to get back to normal.

We had this or similar: total exhaustion but... with a stonking headache which began just after Boxing Day (so we were fortunate to be able to celebrate but rather wonder which 'small' person was generous with their germs.....)..

It has been suggested to me that as we had early 'flu jabs, we actually had 'flu but without the joint aches and pains. Who knows?

I am a a terrible sleeper and the one good thing about this little gem of a virus was that after clearing the diary, it was easy to just drift....zzzzz off to sleep - until the need for painkillers for the headache woke us up again!

Three weeks for recovery, so don't plan on anything too soon!

My bug then morphed into a chest infection (just about recovering from that now) but my husband recovered faster without any complications.

Wish you better but don't rush it.

(Sorry, but I can’t stomach the twee OD, DD twaddle. I’ll refer to mine as what they are).

Both my husband and I had a nasty bug over the holidays and it did take some time to bounce back (albeit I think worsened by having the time to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves). We upped the vitamins (D3 & B12) and have taken a probiotic whilst eating cleanly for the past couple of weeks. It seems to have worked and we’re both back to normal.
We’re perhaps younger then some and luckily are condition-free but have learnt the benefits of nurturing whole body health rather than just treating the obvious current symptoms. There’s an old saying ‘you are what you eat’! Look after your gut and it’ll look after you.

We had this bug over Christmas. It took about 2 weeks after the main symptoms stopped before we felt human again. The post-viral part was exhausting. Just go with the flow.

haven`t had the bug, though several people around here have, and as you describe..
me, grieving, I describe this as though getting over a really serious illness... just so exhausted, weak, crying. and oh my! I don`t like it.. grieving should not be like this... o.k. not really trying to change the thread.. but just saying.. I do so recognise what you say here.

Christmas 2019 both OH & I had the flu from hell, despite the flu jab. In our many decades together, we have not been so ill. OH did not sit up until the fifth day after it started - totally floored.

Despite rest, painkillers (sore throats & aching off the scale), & every sensible remedial action, just going a few hundred yards up the road to the local shop felt as demanding as a hike up a mountain for several weeks. I estimate it took roughly seven weeks to walk further afield & not crumple with exhaustion. Roughly three months until stepping out was easy & energetic.

Friends & neighbours had this as well often given antibiotics & steroids.

Rest up.

Sounds awful but all you can do is give in and rest.

Post flu fatigue is very real, and can go on for quite a long time. I think it is one thing you really shouldn't fight. Just let it take as long as it takes. Eat well, do what you feel comfortable doing and be patient patients.

Sorry, Coughdrop, not sure if this has already been mentioned, but apparently this is the 'European Virus'. I had it for about 4 weeks, then a respite of a few days, before it returned for another couple of weeks, prior to Christmas. I am now taking Echinacea and Vitamin C/Zinc, on the advice of my friend, who is a Homeopath. Pleased to say that I'm now feeling much less tired, more energetic and positive. Get well soon.

You are all so lovely for replying. Thank you so much. It is reassuring to know that this bug causes such long standing tiredness and it is not because we have suddenly become very old overnight. I wish you all well and hope everyone recovers soon. Thank you all again for responding to me. Patience and rest and lots of fluids seem to be the order of the day. Sending love to you all.

Coughdrop, despite having the flu jab, my husband has had all the symptoms you describe and is only just getting back on his feet after six weeks.

We've both had it too and we're in Italy. I went to England a week before Christmas so maybe I brought it home with me. Neither of us have had a cold that's lasted so long. I actually managed to lose weight over Christmas and New year!

I have had this bug since a couple of weeks before Christmas and it has left me feeling exhausted too. I had to go for an asthma check on Wednesday and found the waiting room full of people with similar symptoms to mine, although that was not why I was there.
TrendyNanny is right. Rest and warm drinks are the rule.

Both of my parents-in-law have had this dreadful virus. My father-in-law has recovered, but still tires easily. My mother-in-law's recovery has been much slower, she is finally able to get about a little, but only with the use of a stick and is feeling extremely frail. They both are exhausted by the slightest exertion and fall asleep constantly.

I do hope you soon feel better Coughdrop.

It’s horrible, but you will gradually get better. It’s important to keep your vitamin D levels up too. Try to get outside, but walk for no more than five minutes the first day- so that’s walk for 2 1/2 minutes, turn round and come back. Gradually increase, but no more than you are comfortable with. Even sitting outside - warmly dressed, for five minutes will help. Then eat simple, nourishing foods like eggs, soup, chicken and vegetables. Can someone shop for you? Or can you have a food delivery? Don’t worry about housework- alternatively, if you can afford it, have a cleaner once a week to do the kitchen and bathroom and change your bed. I really appreciated that when I was recovering earlier this year. hope you feel better soon.