Xmas flu left me weak

[jinny]

Hi The winter flu bug has left me very weak and tired all the the time, everything is an effort. I really was very ill over the xmas holidays. I'm not looking for medical advice as its not allowed on here, but does any one have any advice how I can pick myself up. Thanks

[vyvyan]

The only thing I can suggest is give yourself time to recover. Look after yourself well - lots of healthy food and rest, and don't try to get straight back into top gear. Be prepared to feel drained for a while you body has got to recover. It's true about flu - you only realise what true flu really means when you've had it properly. That's why it's so serious for the very young and elderly.

[jinny]

Thanks for your advice, trouble with me is I'm never ill and a carer for my son and forget to look after myself, but this has been a wake up call to get some me time. Going out shortly to get some fresh fruit n veg in, might try a juicer too, fruit juice was all I wanted when ill.Regards.

[osmonddiva]

I had "real Flu" a few years ago over xmas and its true, you only know it when you get it. Take time to recover, I remember it took me about 5 or 6 weeks to feel back to normal. Sounds like your doing all the right things, fresh fruit and veg etc and take the time to rest when you can, you will soon be back to normal.

[MrsTine]

Make sure you take extra vitamins too - fruit is great but give yourself a boost! I had it just before christmas and I have to admit I still get very tired quickly and if I am walking the dog I easily get out of breath and have a coughing fit again... Lots of healthy food, lots of rest, have a nap during the day even if it is just 30 mins as a little pick me up will do wonders for you too :)

[purplepatch]

Hi. No real advice but sympathy as I've got it too. I've had a temperature of 39 plus since last Thursday, thought I was feeling a bit better today but tonight it's gone right back up again. Now got an awful cough too that really hurts my chest. Just came on here to google nhs direct and found this article (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/06/nflu106.xml), so seems we're not alone. DH is back to work tomorrow so I'm on my own to get DD to school and look after 14 month old all day. Not been out of the house since last Wednesday. Better get me to bed I think. Anyway, hope you feel better soon.

[debsy42]

I started with my bout of flu round about 20th December and have only just started to feel like my usual self but still not back to 100%. Not much you can do just rest and keep taking the tablets, I've got paracetamol for the temp, olbas oil for the sniffles and loads of tissues for the snotty nose.

[skintas]

ive had it since 21st dec and still have it in my ears

[Codswallop]

Last week I had a terrible cold and today I'm completely free of it. I put it down to the fact that my mother had a large free range, organic turkey which was the best of ever tasted in my life, (very moist and so delicious) because there was a lot left over she boiled the carcass with more organic fresh vegetables. I had a bowl the day after New Years Day, stored it in an airtight container in the fridge and had another bowl for the next 2 days . I'm not Jewish but it seems there is some truth in the old adage about mammas believing that chicken soup is a good natural antibiotic!

I also took 3 grammes of vitamin C divided into 4 hourly doses throughout the day, drank fresh fruit smoothies, took it easy and slept as much as I could and also ate Echinacea chews. Did the trick!

[mundax]

I was feeling a little ill last Wednesday, bit of a cough really, but forced myself out of bed on the 2nd and drove 15 miles to work. Just about managed to get out of the car and into the office, every step was painful. Anyway got to my desk and almost collapsed, got told to go home - really struggled to drive back home but glad I did! Straight to bed, bones ache, coughing made my chest and ribs ache, shivers, cold sweat and absolutely no energy. Today has been my first day without a fever, body still aches a little and the cough has now turned chesty - taken around 5 days to feel a little better.

Only recommendation is bedrest (literally), painkillers, fluids and fresh fruit.

Totally agree with the Chicken soup - I'm not Jewish either (Muslim actually...) but my wife made a cracking chicken soup for me!!

[VickyM]

I'm relieved to read all these as I had flu over Christmas (temperature of 102 and up, couldn't get out bed etc) and thought I should be over it by now... very bored with coughing, snottiness and feeling knackered.

On the plus side, not eating or drinking alcohol for a week over Christmas means I don't have to worry about any new year diet/detox - everything is rather looser than it was!

[skintas]

no alcohol or smoking either, i did find the orange juice made me feel a lot better

[fabsaver]

I'm just getting over it too so you have my sympathy.

I keep reading on here about all the fantastic bargains people have picked up in the sales and I think I'm missing out cos I haven't been able to get out to the shops:(

I couldn't eat anything for about 5 days (but don't seem to have lost any weight:rolleyes: ) I can recommend the vitafit multivitamin fruit juice from Lidls. I have been drinking it all the time but watered down as it is quite thick - about 80% water in each glass.

[purplepatch]

Not really eaten anything much for 5 days but lived on Lucozade. I know it is just sugar in a bottle, but it's a comfort thing more than anything else. I've run out now, so I'm going to have to venture out to the supermarket later for more. Trying to summon up some energy. I walked DD1 to school this morning instead of taking the car, thinking the fresh air might do me some good and I have felt exhausted all morning. Don't know what to have for lunch as I just don't fancy anything. Wish I had somebody who could make me some cracking chicken HM soup like mundax DW. Although DH did a yummy salad last night which managed to tempt me to have a little bowl.

So fed up with feeling like this. Like fabsaver, I needed to get out to the shops last week to see if I could pick up a few cheap bits for the kids, it's such a pain.

[jinny]

Thanks for all your replies, will give the chicken soup a try as my appetite is slowly returning. Im off work this week so just gonna rest up, plenty of sleep seems to help, don't feel like going out much yet and s*d the housework. I'm getting the flu jab this winter, cant go through this again. Anyway hope you all feel much better soon. Hugs

[purplepatch]

Thanks for all your replies, will give the chicken soup a try as my appetite is slowly returning. Im off work this week so just gonna rest up, plenty of sleep seems to help, don't feel like going out much yet and s*d the housework. I'm getting the flu jab this winter, cant go through this again. Anyway hope you all feel much better soon. Hugs

Ha, ha, I'm just browsing the net for chicken soup recipes. Have you found anything good? Actually there is a soup thread on the old style board, off to check that....

[Badger_Lady]

I've been a sufferer of "post-viral fatigue" ever since I had glandular fever... even more important to avoid getting the flu now!

I found that ensuring plenty of Vitamin B complex in my diet really helped (was suggested by an Australian Doctor to help rebuild the immune system). I'm not a great believer in Vitamin supplements, so I just had marmite drinks :) to get the B12.

[wmf]

I'm just getting over it too so you have my sympathy.

I keep reading on here about all the fantastic bargains people have picked up in the sales and I think I'm missing out cos I haven't been able to get out to the shops:(

I couldn't eat anything for about 5 days (but don't seem to have lost any weight:rolleyes: ) I can recommend the vitafit multivitamin fruit juice from Lidls. I have been drinking it all the time but watered down as it is quite thick - about 80% water in each glass.



aaaah but think how much money you HAVE saved by not managing to go to the sales http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/images/smilies/action-smiley-033.gif

Thanks for the Lidl tip. I will look out for that one. I'm back to eating now but still want to drink fruit juice and even water (yes, i know you should, but i don't often think ooooh I need a glass of cold water right now). I'm sure we must get pretty dehydrated with flu/ colds. My skin seems to have aged in a week :eek: . I keep plastering cream on it but will also concentrate on drinking

[TAG]

Glad I'm not the only one then (well I am in our house) that's had this flu type bug.

Got it New Years Eve (triffic) and am still suffering today. Thought it was just tonsilitus to start with. Dr gave me antibiotics. Needless to say they've done nothing except to add to my rattling effect when you shake me. Taken so many tablets over the last week.

But now it's well and truly in my sinuses so feeling hot, sweaty, dizzy can't hear well and I still have the sore throat. But that said feeling a tiny bit better each day. Haven't had something like this for a long time and I'm amazed as to how quick and hard it's hit me. Especially the tiredness.

Oh well off to stick my head over yet another bowl of steaming hot water....

Get well soon everyone x

[dearbarbie]

It's awful isn't it. I'm still ill, really really tired, moving house on Sat almost killed me, and I'm temping so can't afford the time off sick!! Just think of the money we've saved though, I agree!!

[Charlie1986]

I had the flu about 3 years ago and was in bed for 3 weeks, almost had to go into hospital as I couldn't keep food or fluids down for about a week. I couldn't even have the curtains open as the light hurt my eyes too much. I found when i could eat then mashed potatoe was the best thing and orange juice or lucozade to drink. It definately is true that you don't understand how bad the flu is until you actually get it.
Hope you all feel better soon.

[savingmore]

have had it since mid december, bad for 10 days leading up to christmas and recovering since. went to doctor who told me just to take paracetamol and nothing else on the market would help. have been trying to remember to take vitamins and supplements, making homemade veg soup with alot of veg and eating healthily....has been very mse as not out spending money, no alcohol etc....hoping that this will boost my immune system, but discoverd that when i tried to do some things last week i faded really fast and it put me back...so trying to take it really easy now, hope you are better soon....

[JennyW]

I'm just getting over flu after returning back from a ski-ing trip - nothing quite like it - aching joints and sore skin is the worse, racing heart , cold shivers and having to sit on a plane for 9 hours didn't help! Last time was 11 years ago and hardly a head cold in between - bizarre!

I just stock up with lots of good fruit and veg and eat well and sleep and rest. I've just spent the whole weekend in bed sleeping so my body must've needed it. The body just needs time to recover and heal.