Is there a virus going around?

I haven't been sick at all since February of 2022. Last Sunday night, sore throat. Really bad sore throat that night.

Finally feel pretty good today.

I think it was either strep throat or a virus / cold. I didn't see a doc so I treated for both.

Anyone else been down?

**Edit 2/23/25**

No flu shot since (guessing) 2010???
Pureblood

 

Nasty flu went through all the elementary schools around here 2 weeks ago. 1/3 of the students sick, tons of the parents too. All 3 in my house had a little bit. Dad who doesn’t believe in germs never gets sick

 

I am not around a lot of people right now.....did go to a Valentine's Day dinner at church last Friday. I think that's where I caught something.

 

Funny you suggest some vitamins. You guys remember that thread "I just inhaled a vitamin or two, will I die?" or whatever I called it?

Because of that misadventure I basically stopped taking all vitamins. Well......might have been a factor in getting sick since a big part of what I used to take was the IMASK Protocol vitamins (D3, Vit C, Zinc, Quercetin) daily or every other day at least since August of 2021.

Last Sunday night I was going to start treatment but fell asleep---when I woke up sore throat was worse. I consulted a book I have on the subject and suspected strep throat or a flu virus; maybe both. I started with a dose of Ivermectin (horsey paste) and 500 mg Amoxicillin. Cough drops had little to no effect. Each day it's IMASK (for when sick), two doses Ivermectin based on weight, plus 1000 mg of Amoxicillin. I've been using a Kroger generic Theraflu powder up to 3 times a day. I think that tended to make me tired / dizzy but helped a great deal with congestion. I basically feel "well" now but with some minor congestion lingering. Will continue treatment for at least 5 more days.

No doc visit since I don't have insurance and the local immediate care would put me on an antibiotic anyway without a throat swab and culture. I could request it (I have before) but that'll cost me another $200.00 or so.

Neighbor is also sick and his doc diagnosed "upper respiratory infection" and put him on 875 mg of Amoxicillin.

 

I haven't been sick for like ten years, but my wife who works in the medical field brought home both variants of the flu A/B. Was sick for like 4-5 weeks. The B variant is the real ass kicker though.

 

I appreciate that TJ. In keeping with lessons from that event I swallow each vitamin singly now.

One more quercetin to take here in a bit and my "meds" are done for today!

 

I have a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!

 

It’s gotta be ManFlu. That stuff will get you every time.

 

Steven Crowder will be along any minute..... LOL

 

I had a touch of priapism this morning but the missus pulled me through.

 

this.

i take that protocol every morning

 

Literally everyone I know has had it. I’ve not been sick in years but yeah…102.5 fever, cough, ridiculous body aches, etc.

I was diagnosed with influenza type A, and it took a solid week or two to get back up to snuff. According to the news it’s the worst flu season in 15 years.

Had plenty of fluids, the iMASK protocol, and elderberry syrup. I’m good now but yeah…wasn’t a fun time being sick.

 

We've been sick pretty much non stop since our daughter started preschool in the fall.

 

I started with a runny nose last Sunday and by Monday morning I had the chills, nasty sore throat, and felt like a turd. By midweek I felt like I had the full blown flu. Yesterday I woke up drenched in sweat and felt good for about 3 hours, then right back to feeling like a turd. I actually made it through the night sleeping and feel better today. Whatever it was kicked my ass pretty good. My wife turns into a nurse and keeps me comfy, lol.

 

Today has been my best day although I've slept most of it. Got the real deal Theraflu powder mix and I think I've downed two today.

Still keeping with IMASK, horsy paste, and Amoxicillin routine. Still blowing my nose a bit but not much coming out. I think my voice has almost returned to normal.

I think I can get some automotive work done outside tomorrow but I'll skip church so as not to spread it.

***
I've read some of the latest replies and I haven't had the same symptoms. No chills, no body aches, and I don't think I've run a fever. (No thermometer to check though). I haven't actually "felt really bad" and if a client had called, I would have gone out to shovel their driveway. Since no one called and the snow wasn't that deep, I mainly lied in bed, read a book (Airport by Alex Hailey), and slept a lot.

The comments of others also using IMASK are encouraging.

 

I am still feeling better than yesterday and hope it’s behind me. I do have Amoxicillin for my sore throat after visiting UrgentCare last night at 830. I took two days off from work because of this, which is really rare for me. Been binge watching Netflix the entire time while in bed.

Heres hoping to better health for all

 

Hit me on the 02/09

In Quick care on 02/11, Flu A and strep.

Off work 2 more days. On 02/10 I left work early and came home thinking it was a bad cold and I would sleep it off, got worse as the day went on, no sleep that night, usual cold meds had no effect. On 02/11 is when I found out just what I had, anti biotics and a z pac of prednisone and home for 2 more days.

Bad cough stayed around until 02/21. In the mean time I coughed so much I injured my lower right ribs and upper abdominal muscles. Just now starting to heal from that.

All in all, 4 days missed work, and a overall miserable 2 weeks.

 

Yes, the Flu-A and to a lesser extent RSV has been raging out west for 6-8 weeks now. It's a bad year. I got my flu shot for this season last November and was mildly sick for a few days in January when I got the Flu. My wife chose not to and felt like dogshit for a week and has had a lingering cough for a couple weeks since then. I know vaccinations are now a hot button topic but it worked for me. Docs really shouldn't prescribe antibiotics unless there's a positive bacterial infection. They won't do anything for the flu beyond provide a very strong placebo effect. Now if you had strep sure but they should still do a strep test first.

 

If I had the spare cash to pay for a step test I would certainly have taken it. However, I did look up the signs and symptoms in Alton's Antibiotics and Infectious Diseases, 2018, and it appeared to me, using a flashlight and mirror at about 1 AM, that I had white spots on my tonsils.

I would have had the wife depress my tongue and had her look but she goes to bed at the insane time of about 8 PM. I know the sooner I get started with meds the faster I'll get better and people do kinda depend on me. I really can't be down for long as someone will call needing something the wife can't do alone.

I used to teach ski lessons and by that I mean almost all my students were little kids. That means you ski backwards holding them up as they cough and sneeze into your face for 8 hours a day. Back then I took a flu shot a year and still got the flu every year.

The one year I didn't get the flu shot but instead lost 25 pounds I skied nearly every day, taught more lessons, had kids sneezing in my face nearly every day, and never got sick once. At that point I came to the conclusion that the flu shot is crap and fitness is what is key to staying healthy.

So far, wife has not gotten ill. We have slept in same bed throughout, kissed on the lips, hugged, and she's eaten after me with same utensils. Dad is in same house, has black lung, and has so far, not gotten ill either.

Wife and I have not had a flu shot and I believe dad hasn't either.

****
RLHULK,

What antibiotics are you taking? What cold meds did not have an effect?

 

Doc had me on Amoxicillin and prednisone z pac.

My normal go to for colds are nyquil and alka seltzer plus severe cold and flu.
Monday night the 10th, I downed a bottle of nyquil over the night and had no relief, alka seltzer plus was not helping during the day.
For the cough I was hitting robitusum adult DM and it no effect.

Normally a couple hits of nyquil and I sleep for a good 5-6 hours, this stuff laughed at everything I threw at it.

After the first day of the meds from the doc I was able to sleep at night and started to feel a lot better.

The cough lasted until the end of this week.

 

Welcome to the next decade of your life. Kids will bring every damned disease home and slather you in it.

 

I've had one rough cold I got from grandkids at Christmas, so far, that's it (knock on wood.) Wife & I are both retired, so luckily we aren't around many people like we were while working, that's good and bad. I usually do grocery pickup as well to keep away from sick people that won't stay home.

 

Really? Vomiting? Unusual sign for flu.

RLHULK,

Seems Amoxicillin is the go to this time. It appears I guessed right.

One more dose of horsey paste and I'm finished for the day.

 

Today I would bet I have a sinus infection, nose is providing plenty of yuck.

 

I was in Charleston, SC the first week of Feb for work... Woke up Sat the 8th to fly home and had a sore throat. That only got worse as the day went while traveling back to AZ.

Spent the next 3 days in bed, 2 sick days and felt like absolute dog shit with ZERO energy. The wife got sick a few days later. It took me 2 full weeks for me to feel over it and still have a very slight cough...wife is just about there.

 

Funny thing is that my Mom (who's like mid 70's) is constantly like 'OMG you get sick all the time, when *I* was your age that never happened.'

Revisionist history must be nice. I distinctly remember them being sick at least once or twice a year.

 

@Bought2Pull
Sore throat: find a dentist that will Rx you Cholorhexidine gluconate .12%; (probably look for the same attributes as your doc that Rx'ed you the horsey paste); It's a prescription antimicrobial mouth rinse that is typically used to help with gum disease, and is often part of your Rx pack when you have any sort of dental surgery.
Usually a blue-ish solution with a strong clove taste/smell. Gargle with it 2-3x day for a 30-60s, and your throat will be in good shape after 2-3 days if you start early enough. Ok to keep beyond expiration as only potency is affected. Extended, consistent use can result in taste alteration and brown staining of teeth and tongue (both of which are reversible when discontinued). But "extended" is months of use, not days. Local honey, lemon, hot water (and some of Kentucky's finest if so inclined) as a night capper is also encouraged.