Thread: Prolonged Man Flu,

My doctor tells me that the season for "real" flu has started early. It could well take weeks to recover.

If it persists much longer I would be getting back to my Dr as Covid isn't the only virus that can cause post-viral syndromes.

Concerns about long COVID and other post-viral illness - National Seniors Australia

I had a virus 25yrs ago that triggered a 'chronic fatigue' syndrome that knocked the stuffing out of me for the best part of ten years. When long Covid was first being talked about I thought the symptoms sounded very familiar! I don't know if early diagnosis can help with the severity or duration, but understanding what you have and reducing some of the symptoms helps.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) - symptoms and treatment | healthdirect

My hope for you is that you start to feel a lot better real soon and can forget about this, but if not I wouldn't hesitate to go back to your Dr to monitor how you are going and to see what they can do for you. And, if they are not taking it seriously I would be looking for a Dr that will. I was very fortunate to have Drs that did, which made a difference for me.

Originally Posted by NeilS

If it persists much longer I would be getting back to my Dr as Covid isn't the only virus that can cause post-viral syndromes.

Concerns about long COVID and other post-viral illness - National Seniors Australia

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) - symptoms and treatment | healthdirect

My hope for you is that you start to feel a lot better real soon and can forget about this, but if not I wouldn't hesitate to go back to your Dr to monitor how you are going and to see what they can do for you. And, if they are not taking it seriously I would be looking for a Dr that will. I was very fortunate to have Drs that did, which made a difference for me.

What Neil said - don't hesitate.

I have had similar for the past 4 weeks. Negative to COVID but positive to influenza A. Can’t be aged related as I’m only 75.

Have you been tested for RSV? It's nasty, I had it last December and it knocked me round for weeks.
Every time I tried to do something like walk my dogs it knocked me over flat on my bed for several days.
Take it easy seems to be the only thing to do.

Thanks everyone, I book into see the local Dr on Monday.

Cheers Matt.

Same sentiment as others here - i'm a little overweight, lifetime asthma, the covid brigade had me convinced I'd die of I got it, and I never have been able to get it. But since then, had lyme (fortunately, caught early, so really only four days of high fever and feeling moderately tired), RSV and bronchitis a few times, as well as a mystery case of the trots that lasted four days at the beginning of this year and then fatigue and poor concentration lasted three weeks.

Bronchitis is my specialty - some people whistle in the major key, or hit a slice off the tee. I have asthma and get bronchitis. this year, it wasn't severe to start but moderate later than normal in the cycle and then lasted more than a month.

turns out, the type of asthma (allergic) is protective against covid. it doesn't eliminate the chance of getting it, just reduces it.

Everything else has reminded me that the asthma is otherwise not an asset - as it's neutral to detrimental (bronchitis for example - every cold or sniffle virus becomes bronchitis, but it has become like an old friend at least to a point and I can live with it because I know what it feels like and it's a familiarity, a safety as long as it varies only in length and doesn't go out of its lane for severity).

what we've been reminded of after the initial phase of covid (which was despite conspiracists, very real, very detrimental and much more deadly than anything else across the population in my lifetime), is that life is a period of being well and unwell for almost anyone. And I hope it flips to well for you soon.

the accounts above about getting a virus and not seeming to ever clear it are something that I began to think of while researching what precautions I should take as someone with asthma - as our government here was well aware that allergic asthma was reduced risk, but has to my knowledge, still listed me as being at risk because of it.....at any rate, when trying to find out about viral persistence, it's quite clear that a lot of the long covid things, and even long vax (when our bodies don't tie an antibody to the spikes that come from the vaccine and they do damage wandering around unattended), are things we should be watching out for with all viruses that persist.

Humorously, when getting lyme, and knowing that it was contracted recently due to a bite mark, I walked around four days with a fever between 102-103.5 with taking ibuprofen. In my house, the wife and kids got omicron covid, were past it quickly and while I was exposed to them (and hopeful to get it knowing new information at the time - that it would be better than getting a fourth vaccine shot, more durable, etc), I was passed by like the fat kid in gym class when selecting a pickup basketball team. My inlaws who were along (the lyme developed on vacation) repeatedly demanded that I take more covid tests, which I did, and then loudly declared "well, at least you only have lyme, and not covid"....to which I replied "you are right, it could've lasted only two days and I would once again have to go along with all of the things you guys want to do on vacation other than sit and relax, but with lyme, I think I will make it to the end of vacation with a solid excuse".

This post finds you a week out from your first one - hopefully that's long enough that things are improving. I'm about a week removed from bronchitis and starting to forget that it happened - and blaming the long term with it coinciding tree pollen season here. Which for some reason has been bonkers, leaving a bright dense green film on the cars every day, regardless of wash frequency.

if today still leaves you feeling drained, hopefully tomorrow will leave you with something to feel thankful for.

Interesting that David. I'm a week back from New Zealand (three weeks hiking around the South Island trails), and came down with a cold in the last few days of the trip. The flight back to Perth was Hell as I felt asthmatic and coughed (into a mask). I was probably the most unpopular passenger on the plane ... I could see most preferring to sit alongside the crying babies!

Anyway, I see the GP, ruled out Covid, and was diagnosed with bronchitis. It has taken a week to recover. No energy, decreasing but still present cough, and much lowered interest in the workshop (probably get back to my chair-building next weekend). Just had my flu jab and, for reference, have never had Covid.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Interesting that David. I'm a week back from New Zealand (three weeks hiking around the South Island trails), and came down with a cold in the last few days of the trip. The flight back to Perth was Hell as I felt asthmatic and coughed (into a mask). I was probably the most unpopular passenger on the plane ... I could see most preferring to sit alongside the crying babies!

Anyway, I see the GP, ruled out Covid, and was diagnosed with bronchitis. It has taken a week to recover. No energy, decreasing but still present cough, and much lowered interest in the workshop (probably get back to my chair-building next weekend). Just had my flu jab and, for reference, have never had Covid.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I don't know how often you get bronchitis, but if it's not a familiar thing, i would imagine it can be very unsettling. it screws with your ability to bring in air without strain and pushing anything exacerbates it.

Sitting in an airplane bottled up both from lack of space to move and with bronchitis giving you the reflexive cough that does nothing, can't be stopped really without steroids ....would be pretty miserable.

David, other than some asthma as a child, I only occasionally experience symptoms when the seasons change and the air is filled with pollen. Probably quite common. Other than that, I rarely get a cold and cannot recall the last time I had flu. The plane flight, as you accurately surmised, with the constant cough, was exhausting and stressful. Work was "interesting". Talking with patients was really hard as one ear was completely blocked. How do you do it? Put up with this so often?!

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

David, other than some asthma as a child, I only occasionally experience symptoms when the seasons change and the air is filled with pollen. Probably quite common. Other than that, I rarely get a cold and cannot recall the last time I had flu. The plane flight, as you accurately surmised, with the constant cough, was exhausting and stressful. Work was "interesting". Talking with patients was really hard as one ear was completely blocked. How do you do it? Put up with this so often?!

Regards from Perth

Derek

Well, it sounds simplistic, but I've never known any different. And unlike something like bad vertigo, you can still function with bronchitis - it's just obnoxious - but you can get used to the obnoxious and partially ignore it if you know how it's going to go. The feeling that someone has a finger in your ear with bronchitis, though, is a special treat. As is driving anywhere with changing elevation - you really get the full service treatment from changes in elevation, and I'm sure that was pure pleasure changing to pressure at altitude for you with a flight.

Vertigo on the other hand, nothing good to say about that - look at something, can't concentrate on it, it's moving. Lean over to pick something up, go into the feeling like you've just been flipped upside down on a carnival ride and want to vomit, except even when you're upright again, it doesn't go away. Terrible.

Brother, I'm feelin' ya!

I am, alas, somewhat expert on respiratory illnesses, from direct experience.

It's possible that you actually do have COVID, despite the results of an RAT indicating otherwise. The virus is mutating at a rate that there are variants that will not trigger an RAT positive result, so I am told. The only definitive answer still comes from a test sent to a lab. Get your doctor to order a test.

The lab tests will also look for other viruses such as RSV. RSV is underestimated as a problem for otherwise healthy adults. There is actually now a TGA approved vaccine for RSV. It was approved in January though only actually available very recently. I'm waiting for an order so I can get it.