Aa
Flu going on 6 weeks now.
About 6 weeks ago I had the typical symptoms of a Flu.
-Runny nose
-Shortness of breath
-sore throat
-Fever
-Aches in back, left rib, pain in upper chest, aches/swelling in left ankle and right toes
-Harsh, dry cough that lasted 3 weeks
Then the last 3 weeks have been just the aches in same places and pain in chest. It's odd because the fever, the cough, the sore throat and runny nose are gone. All the respiratory symptoms are gone except I still have shortness of breath.
I've been taking a lot of Ibuprofen/Advil in the last 6 weeks but I feel that no longer is really a solution.
My real question is this. Can a Doctor really do anything if I go or is this flu just a bad one and I need to wait it out?
I do have a history of getting the flu harshly when I do get it. Perhaps that's it? Did not take flu sho this year but did last year
-Runny nose
-Shortness of breath
-sore throat
-Fever
-Aches in back, left rib, pain in upper chest, aches/swelling in left ankle and right toes
-Harsh, dry cough that lasted 3 weeks
Then the last 3 weeks have been just the aches in same places and pain in chest. It's odd because the fever, the cough, the sore throat and runny nose are gone. All the respiratory symptoms are gone except I still have shortness of breath.
I've been taking a lot of Ibuprofen/Advil in the last 6 weeks but I feel that no longer is really a solution.
My real question is this. Can a Doctor really do anything if I go or is this flu just a bad one and I need to wait it out?
I do have a history of getting the flu harshly when I do get it. Perhaps that's it? Did not take flu sho this year but did last year
If you are still experiencing the upper chest pain, get checked out by the doctor. As you are experience shortness of breath still, you do also need to get checked out. This may be asthma.
The doctor tried to persuade me to have the flu vaccine the other week, but I have refused (I have refused to have it over the last few years and I am none the worse for not having the vaccine). I have mild asthma and diabetes so that is why they try and push it. I developed asthma after 3 close bouts of flu when I was 40 that left me with a persistent cough so the doc sent me to the hospital for a lung function test that confirmed the asthma.
The reason I choose not to have the flu shot, is because since the Swine Flu, the flu shots contain the Tami flu vaccine in them - and I am pretty sure that when the Swine Flu was bad many years ago the info was that 1 shot against the Swine flu was enough. Not sure if it meant for the year or what. Few years ago I did get a bad reaction to the normal flu shot that had no vaccine against the Swine Flu in it anyway.
There are lots of viruses and bacterial infections going around at this time of the year and it is more than impossible to avoid exposure to the bugs.
Having a healthy and well balanced diet can help to keep your immune system strong.
Hope you get much better soon so that you can the enjoy the holiday festivities.
Best wishes.
The doctor tried to persuade me to have the flu vaccine the other week, but I have refused (I have refused to have it over the last few years and I am none the worse for not having the vaccine). I have mild asthma and diabetes so that is why they try and push it. I developed asthma after 3 close bouts of flu when I was 40 that left me with a persistent cough so the doc sent me to the hospital for a lung function test that confirmed the asthma.
The reason I choose not to have the flu shot, is because since the Swine Flu, the flu shots contain the Tami flu vaccine in them - and I am pretty sure that when the Swine Flu was bad many years ago the info was that 1 shot against the Swine flu was enough. Not sure if it meant for the year or what. Few years ago I did get a bad reaction to the normal flu shot that had no vaccine against the Swine Flu in it anyway.
There are lots of viruses and bacterial infections going around at this time of the year and it is more than impossible to avoid exposure to the bugs.
Having a healthy and well balanced diet can help to keep your immune system strong.
Hope you get much better soon so that you can the enjoy the holiday festivities.
Best wishes.
Yes I've read that flu's and colds are viruses and cannot be treated by a doctor ultimately.
I do think I will just wait it out. I'm just shocked that of all the symptoms that remained it was the aches and pains that stayed. I've never had that occur. It's always the cough, the sore throat or the runny nose that stays, never before have I had the aches and pains be the last remnant of the sickness.
Oh well. Also yes, the shortness of breath is always bad for me when I get the flu or cold as is the upper chest pain. I've never understood why. I don't believe somethings wrong with my lungs but then again who knows. I simply think it has to do with the fact that I rarely am in public places and so when I am I tend to get the worst of any flu I come down with. I did notice last year when I got flu shot I didn't get near as bad a flu at all. It lasted for only a week. Oh well. I'll always get the flu shot from now on every year. Not going through this again ever.
Thank you for response.
I do think I will just wait it out. I'm just shocked that of all the symptoms that remained it was the aches and pains that stayed. I've never had that occur. It's always the cough, the sore throat or the runny nose that stays, never before have I had the aches and pains be the last remnant of the sickness.
Oh well. Also yes, the shortness of breath is always bad for me when I get the flu or cold as is the upper chest pain. I've never understood why. I don't believe somethings wrong with my lungs but then again who knows. I simply think it has to do with the fact that I rarely am in public places and so when I am I tend to get the worst of any flu I come down with. I did notice last year when I got flu shot I didn't get near as bad a flu at all. It lasted for only a week. Oh well. I'll always get the flu shot from now on every year. Not going through this again ever.
Thank you for response.
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As you are still experiencing shortness of breath, you may have a chest infection.
Colds and flu are caused by viruses and antibiotics will not help for that. The doctor will make the decision after listening to your lungs if you need a course of antibiotics should he hear any problem with your lungs.
Having had a flu shot last year will not help you with regard to any flu viruses going round this year. There are different variations of the flu virus and the vaccine every year is changed to kill off the 3 most prevalent flu viruses that is thought may be prevalent in the year. There is no guarantee that you would not have got a flu virus even if you did get the flu shot.
Taking a lot of Ibuprofen is not a very good idea. I trust you have been following the directions on the packet how to take this medicine. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication and should be taken after food or with a medicine to protect the stomach. It can cause stomach bleeds.
Make sure you eat a healthy and well balanced diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and lots of fluids, especially water. 2 litres is usually recommended, but you may need to drink more if you sweat a lot.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.