EXCLUSIVE: Have a cough that won't shift? Feeling anxious and exhausted? You're not alone. So many of us are experiencing what some are calling 'long flu'
“I just can’t shift this cold; I’ve been coughing for weeks; I feel exhausted; My brain fog is unreal.” Does all that sound familiar? Even if you dodged the worst of the lurgies doing the rounds this winter, cancelled diary dates and work sick notes are a reminder of just how many of us are still feeling the effects of what some people are calling long flu.
“This year’s flu has been difficult,” adds Naomi Watt, respiratory nurse specialist at Asthma + Lung UK. “Plus there was a triple threat this winter with a bad flu season, rising Covid-19 cases and dropping temperatures.” Of course, post-viral fatigue syndrome is nothing new and exhaustion after an illness can sometimes drag on for weeks or months. But if you really can’t shake off your winter lurgy it might be worth checking with your GP so they can rule out other potential health issues, such as low thyroid function. And if you are unsure whether your “long flu” is actually long Covid, your doctor can refer you to a long Covid service for tests.
I thought it was the usual sort of heavy cold/flu I was used to in previous years, but then it came back with a vengeance every time I thought I was better.
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