I thought I did, but it turned out it was the mold in my apartment. As soon as I was out of that place, it cleared right up.

My friend did have it, though. Took three rounds of antibiotics and an antiviral and it still lasted 2 months.

DD and I both had the cough thing (we live in different homes so it wasn't an environmental issue). The main symptom WAS the cough--very little runny nose, etc., so not really sure if you have the same thing or not. Either way though, get yourself some Delsym--it's the best thing for controlling a cough I've found in years. And you only have to take it 2 times a day.

I started with a sore throat a week ago yesterday and started taking Zicam.
I felt pretty bad for three days but I am fine now....an occasional cough now.
I think the Zicam really reduces the severity of a respiratory virus.
Drink lots of fluids, run a humidifier or vaporizer by your bed at night and get lots of rest.

it took me 2 months to get the conjested sound cough away...we won't even go near the uti...

Alisande, Considering that you are dealing with a compromised immune system, I hope you will see your doctor right away. You could have a bacterial pneumonia which could be helped by antibiotics. It's one thing to gut it out when you are completely healthy, but it's better not to take any risks when your system is immuno-compromised.

I had it this year, about a month ago. I lost my voice too. :0( It was really bad for 2 weeks then tappered off...

All my co-workers had it.

Then everyone got the stomach flu, but none of us ate the same things...so it must have been carried on our hands...???

Carol, I thought the FDA had pulled Zicam from the market, but I must be wrong about that. I've avoided it because of the lawsuits. I did take three doses of something I can't spell: oscillicoccinum? Something like that.

Fun2BeHere, if I still a fever tomorrow I'll definitely call the doctor. I'm pretty sure my infection is much higher than the lungs--the discomfort is just below my throat. Some of my coughs sound croupy. At least it's a productive cough (although I've forgotten whether that's good or bad).

Anyway, thanks everyone. I'm headed for bed.

Hope you nip this in the bud. My DH and I have declared this nasty virus one of the worst we have had in years. Mine lasted about 6 weeks and I am still coughing at times but a whole lot better than I was. It left me weaker than a newborn kitten.

Carol, I love Zicam! I once worked through the Christmas rush at Wal-Mart with the flu thanks to Zicam extra strength, which they don't make anymore (maybe that's what they took off the market?). Still, when I feel myself getting a cold, I reach for the Zicam immediately.

Yep. Had a nasty bout with a flu bug the last week of April. It put me down for a week.

I had a flu shot last November, but this flu must have been a different strain. The flu shot last fall in 2011 was the same as the year before (2010).

Alisande.....get to your doctor FAST. I was immune suppressed with Medication for my RA, had your same symptoms, and thought it was just a bad cold. I got worse and worse, and eventually could hardly breathe.
It was Sarcodoisis - a very dangerous lung infection that can develop from any respiratory virus (like the common cold), and those who take immune supressive drugs(like Emberel, Humera, Remicade and others) are very vulnerable.

It took months of high dosage steroids to get over it, and I lost 50 lbs.

I had it too and also lost my voice. It lasted at least two weeks and left me feeling like a limp rag for another ten days. Don't remember what I took. Nothing much helped as I recall.

I vote that you try to see the doctor asap too. Feel better, Susan!

Thanks, everyone. I was all prepared to call the doctor this morning. I went to bed with a fever last night, and woke up in a sweat very early this morning. Had barely enough energy to strip the bed and do laundry. But as time passed I realized I felt somewhat better than yesterday. Every little bit is still progress!

My head is thoroughly stuffed, and I can't smell or taste a thing, plus I'm still coughing. But the cough is not nearly as bad as it was yesterday, and my temp is very close to normal, so I'll wait and see how it goes tonight. I was on antibiotics from mid-March to early May, so I'm reluctant to take anything unless I absolutely have to.

Meanwhile, I'm doing very little. Gotta love Netflix. :-)

Pertussis (whooping cough) has made a comeback and peaked in 2011. In many adults it has the symptoms of a bad cold with a cough but not the "whooping" cough associated with children.

Adults who live with infants and young children are being urged to get booster vaccines because the vaccine from childhood doesn't last.

I caought a bad cold from my 2 year old grandson two months ago. I finally went to the doctor, and she said I had a sinus infection, and the post nasal drip from the sinuses was what had me coughing. I am a lot better, but I am still coughing a little every day.

You know, I wondered yesterday if I might have whooping cough. I looked into getting the vaccine a couple of weeks ago. Found that it's given as part of the tetanus shot. I'll have to get it when I've recovered.

Two months. TWO MONTHS of coughing and hacking and lung congestion and sinus pain. I finally got over it, and guess what is back?

Sigh. There were times today when I considered lying in the yard and letting the robins peck me to death.

Dances - I feel for ya!

I called the doctor this morning. My fever is down completely, and my cough isn't nearly as bad. But my chest feels so congested, my head is beyond stuffed, and my throat is still awful. I had to walk across the road to the barn this morning, and that little bit of exertion was enough get me out of breath and in a cold sweat. So I called the doctor.

The nurse said I definitely need an antibiotic. I think she based this on the stuff I had been coughing up for the first four or five days. They'll probably give me Zithromyacin, which is what I was going to get for the Babesiosis before I came down with this. Zith has been in the news lately for causing heart attacks. Normally that would put me off, but the risk is low and I would like to get both these things cleared up, or at least improved, if possible.

Thanks, all!

I had that. The 2nd visit to the doctor and he prescribed predisone which cleared it right up. I had to take 6 pills at once, then 5, etc.

Sheryl - NJ

Luckily, I haven't had it but I have a friend who is a teacher and she has been sick now for 4 weeks. She went to the doctor and got antibiotics, then when it didn't clear up, she went back and got steroids. She has what she says is a "wet" cough and is worn out by the end of the day. She doesn't look sick now but if she starts coughing - you can tell she isn't well yet. She ran the gamet of high fever, headaches, white coated throat but not really sore throat (wasn't strep though), earache, trouble breathing, etc.

She is still using her inhaler that she has for asthma. She will be traveling alot this summer (overseas) and I am concerned for her being exposed to alot while in new locations. Hope she gets over all this before she leaves mid June.