Anyone else gotten sick recently?

Sorry I didnt make this clear: the first and second options refer to being sick, not just the symptom, however the last three refer to the symptom specifically. The symptom I'm referring to is severe pain when swallowing. This may be accompanied by other symptoms but this seems to be the main identifying one.

Hi guys, i know ive been off for a while but im back now (well, for a little while).

Anyways, has anyone gotten sick recently, and the first symptom being terrible pain when swallowing? im asking because this seems like a new, serious illness going around and i want more evidence that it needs to be investigated. i got it and i ended up with two severe ear infections (the doctor said one of my eardrums looked like it was about to rupture) and a minor sinus infection. Now this doesn't sound too bad but i haven't gotten an ear infection since i was like 6, so for out of nowhere to get 2 severe ones is really odd, plus it made me horrendously sick. It really makes me think that this is more than just another cold, so if anyone else is reporting this let me know.

currently, multiple teachers at my school are gone, they have the same thing and it seems like everyday there are less kids in class, probably sick with the same thing, its pretty freaky but people are just treating it like another cold.

Yes I caught something Monday night probably walking at Walmart, I saw other people coughing and tried to avoid their airspace but I got it and am still fighting off the last of it, sore throat, a raw cough that hurt, lots of brown yuck/phlegm, body aches and a fever of 102 that broke Thursday but rebounded a little today at 100, pretty nasty cold it seems.

It seems there is a flu epidemic here in holland as well. By flu i actually mean the common cold, not influenza, which is a far more dangerous virus.

These common cold rhinovirusses can be pretty nasty too though, as they cause upper respiratory infections that can spread to the ear and such. As the ear is directly connected to the respiratory tract it's not that uncommon for a virus to infect it once it has infected your lungs. Usually this is not dangerous, but it can be -very- uncomfortable on your ears once it makes it there, especially when you have a lot of flights to take (i remember the agony).

RedCowboy said:

Yes I caught something Monday night probably walking at Walmart, I saw other people coughing and tried to avoid their airspace but I got it and am still fighting off the last of it, sore throat, a raw cough that hurt, lots of brown yuck/phlegm, body aches and a fever of 102 that broke Thursday but rebounded a little today at 100, pretty nasty cold it seems.

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thats too bad, but thanks for the info. does it hurt especially bad to swallow?

Benm said:

It seems there is a flu epidemic here in holland as well. By flu i actually mean the common cold, not influenza, which is a far more dangerous virus.

These common cold rhinovirusses can be pretty nasty too though, as they cause upper respiratory infections that can spread to the ear and such. As the ear is directly connected to the respiratory tract it's not that uncommon for a virus to infect it once it has infected your lungs. Usually this is not dangerous, but it can be -very- uncomfortable on your ears once it makes it there, especially when you have a lot of flights to take (i remember the agony).

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Yeah. It was just very unusual for me so get an ear infection, so im slightly concerned because of that. are you noticing that people complain about severe pain when they swallow?

A very good friend of mine had such a long term bad sinus infection that it affected their sight, hearing and sense of smell. It moved into the front part of their brain and was causing stroke like symptoms and very painful stabbing headaches.

My throat was very sore and dry at night and the cough was so painful that I would cough softly when the urge hit, I felt like I got hit by a truck I was so stiff and sore and my fever was cooking at 102, massive headache, my heart rate felt elevated, I could only sleep in naps but I'm coming through it now.

Kinda intense for a cold I thought, but I didn't take anything except advil.

You guys are making me nervous. Most of my school is getting sick and classes are pretty sparse. I'm afraid to miss class since this semester's made up of too many difficult classes.

My first semester in college, I picked up pneumonia after a bad outbreak. Doc didn't think I had it and didn't give me antibiotics at first. I ended up bedridden for almost three weeks by the time I got them. Was not a good semester.

Pretty sure it's norovirus going around here currently though.

Rivem said:

You guys are making me nervous. Most of my school is getting sick and classes are pretty sparse. I'm afraid to miss class since this semester's made up of too many difficult classes.

My first semester in college, I picked up pneumonia after a bad outbreak. Doc didn't think I had it and didn't give me antibiotics at first. I ended up bedridden for almost three weeks by the time I got them. Was not a good semester.

Pretty sure it's norovirus going around here currently though.

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Wash your hands all the time, avoid touching your face, and try to avoid breathing through your mouth. Don't worry about getting sick is most important, avoid stress,
And get good sleep. Eating well also helps, but don't worry too much about that. Stress and sleep are most important.

micheal rosen said:

Wash your hands all the time, avoid touching your face, and try to avoid breathing through your mouth. Don't worry about getting sick is most important, avoid stress,
And get good sleep. Eating well also helps, but don't worry too much about that. Stress and sleep are most important.

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Yeah, luckily I'm pretty good about this most of the time. Sometimes, the stress can get to me though. Very occasionally, I'll get sick, but it's usually the worst it can be when I do.

I had the severe sore throat deal a month ago. Woke up one morning with a bit of an annoying scratchy throat, then it just got worse over the day into the next. By the next day it was the worst sore throat I ever had, i wasn't coughing, nose was stuffed up though. It took me over a week to clear it up completely. By the 3rd day I was nervous and thought I might have to go to the hospital. It would wake me up while I was sleeping it was that bad. I just kept warm salt water gargling ever few hours and taking every sore throat lozenge and OTC medicine I could find. Finally went away completely about 9 days later. But for about 3 days I could barely swallow without wincing pain. It was definitely something I never experienced before. I hardly ever get sick, I might go a year or 2 without even getting a cold. This was scary to me. Glad it did not return.

Rivem said:

Yeah, luckily I'm pretty good about this most of the time. Sometimes, the stress can get to me though. Very occasionally, I'll get sick, but it's usually the worst it can be when I do.

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Yeah I understant. There are a lot of things you can do to avoid stress, so if you ever have real problems with it try some muscle relaxing techniques to reduce muscle tension.

Last 3 years, whenever I start to feel even slightly sick, I take 25mg of zinc twice a day, vitamin C, 1000mg 2-4 times a day. Also use greens first powder at least once a day, and up my water intake to 4 liters or so, and try to get somewhat more sleep. Compared to years past, pretty much all colds/sore throats/etc, seem to resolve much faster. Prior to 2014 I used to need 5-10 days off for being sick... now, maybe 2-3 days a year tops.

A lot of people where I work have been sick, something seems to be going around, missed me so far.

InfinitusEquitas said:

Last 3 years, whenever I start to feel even slightly sick, I take 25mg of zinc twice a day, vitamin C, 1000mg 2-4 times a day. Also use greens first powder at least once a day, and up my water intake to 4 liters or so, and try to get somewhat more sleep. Compared to years past, pretty much all colds/sore throats/etc, seem to resolve much faster. Prior to 2014 I used to need 5-10 days off for being sick... now, maybe 2-3 days a year tops.

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I may try that. My wife got me to try Echinacea a few years ago but only this brand seems to work for me. When I'm just starting to feel something coming on, a couple pills/day for 2-3 days tends to stave off either getting or getting a bad case of colds/flus quite well. Only place I can find it is Whole Foods.



EDIT: And OBTW, not sick so far this season.

The weather I assume has alot to do with it at least on my side of the map. Going from -10 F to 55 F in just 2 days. You just cant prepare, it really confuses you. You go out bundled up in the early morning freeze and by 12:00 your sweating with to much clothing. Like all of you now i'm feeling awful and don't even want to type. I did notice that one of my ears has been hurting and that hasn't happend in a while. For us on my side it's most likely weather related but i'm not ruleing out a infectious strain doing its rounds. Hope everyone feels better:tired:

Alaskan said:

A lot of people where I work have been sick, something seems to be going around, missed me so far.

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Alaskan how do you battle weather fluctuation where you live? Forgive me if i'm being ignorant as thinking its common in Alaska but you do seem to travel its huge area due to work.