r/Calgary • u/ange1anya • 7d ago
Question anyone else have this cold/ flu/ whatever that seems impossible to get rid of?
genuinely asking because i called in sick once but kept working thru it thinking it’d eventually get better (plot twist: i was wrong) 😭 wtf is going on? or am i just weak- I’m anemic so I’d believe it
EDIT: thank you guys so much for your overwhelming response to my post! I actually did end up calling in again, which I probably should have done yesterday with the way I was feeling. I still feel extremely dizzy when I bend down for short periods of time, I still have an appetite, and because I took daytime Tylenol cold medicine I don’t have a headache. Still have body aches. The cough took my voice away completely, as I was coughing thru the night. I’ve actually never lost my voice before in my whole 19 years on earth 😭 well… eating lots of mandarins and staying warm for now. I hope we all get better very soon and whatever this is can leave us alone for good! praying for everyone and their loved ones in the comments- colds hit different lately :/ these new colds are diabolical LMFAO
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u/yonghybonghybo1 6d ago
The flu that is hitting this year was described as mild (not causing hospitalizations) but long lasting by those tracking outbreaks in Canada this year.
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u/deewow 7d ago edited 7d ago
It’s quite possibly Covid. Big spike in the City this fall. (Edit per below comment)
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u/-wheresmybroom- 7d ago edited 6d ago
I wouldnt really call that a massive spike, compared to ~ June of this year or this time last years its actually relatively low. Edit: somehow I clicked onto a different graph, but it does still look pretty seasonally normal to me if you look at historical data. Second edit: I love that you changed your comment from "massive" to "big"
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u/deewow 7d ago
Levels almost double from June. Levels nowhere near last year. Change massive spike to big spike, change more than likely Covid to quite possibly Covid, and let’s move on.
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u/_darth_bacon_ Dark Lord of the Swine 7d ago
I might be reading this wrong, but the graph on your link says...
Viral Copies Per Person:
October 6, 2025 - 0.0013 October 4, 2026 - 0.0012
But you're claiming a big spike. Please explain.
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u/noobrainy 6d ago
I love how you’re getting downvoted for this.
2026 and if you’re not fearmongering covid you’re still the enemy, lmao lost cause population
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u/burnfaith 6d ago
And this is why I still mask. Gestures to entire comment section.
Haven’t been sick in 6 years. Y’all should try it. (I’m aware you can still get sick easily if you have kids in school, but generally speaking if people masked in common public spaces, it wouldn’t be able to spread around like this.)
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u/No_Supermarket5384 6d ago
I know I don't understand why people are so weird about masking
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u/kokoko_11 6d ago
Its just very uncomfortable if you do it properly all day long
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u/burnfaith 6d ago
It is. But even doing it for shorter bursts like on transit, grocery shopping, etc. make a difference.
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u/kokoko_11 5d ago
Oh for sure. You're completely right. I need to be wearing one more and I realize that but I just find it very uncomfortable, ears aches, I cannot breathe properly, I get hot, and with glasses it's a whole different battle when they started getting fogged up.
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u/Jolean 7d ago
My cough lasted for 7 weeks 😬. Then I got a week break and then sick again! I think it’s almost over?
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u/SizzlingGrappling 7d ago
that sounds absolutely miserable. my neighbour had the same thing a few weeks back, just a cough that wouldn't quit and then it looped right back around. rest up properly this time if you can, being anemic probably isn't doing you any favours in the recovery department
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u/Dear_External5263 7d ago
Ugh pretty much the same. I was sick for 6 weeks, then better for two weeks now I’m on week 7 (15 weeks total) and I can barely even cough anymore because my diaphragm is so sore. When will it end.
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u/JSammich 6d ago
Oh wow, same as me! Though my reprieve lasted for 2.5 weeks after a 7 week sickness. Now I’m on week 4 of sickness 2 😬
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u/ChaoticxSerenity 6d ago
I just assume everything is covid now. Irrespective of whether it's cold, flu or covid, the "treatment" is basically just to wait it out.
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u/Wise-Living-850 7d ago
Yes. Had covid two weeks ago and still suffering. Was so desperate today I did a YouTube-led lymphatic facial massage and I dare say it might have actually helped.
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u/Ellebee24 6d ago
Bad lungs, out of breath, slightly congested for an entire month. Just shaking it now.
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u/iRebelD 6d ago
I’ve had a dull sore throat for like 2 or 3 weeks now. Gotta be COVID right?
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u/waltzdisney123 6d ago
Same! It's hasn't turned into like a full blown fever/ runny nose, kind of thing for me (which usually happens when I get sick). It's just a sore/ scratchy throat that is just annoyingly persistence and won't go away completely.
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u/Midnight_Ice Cochrane 6d ago
I had that end of August/beginning of September and it lasted FOREVER. Like at least 3 weeks. When I finally got full blown sick it only lasted about 5 days and it wasn't too bad. The constant sore throat for weeks on end was the most annoying part
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u/eldubinoz 7d ago
I had Covid a few weeks ago - the person who gave it to me tested so I know it was. Might be going around.
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u/lornacarrington 6d ago
Covid never stopped going around. I hope you're feeling better!
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u/eldubinoz 6d ago edited 5d ago
Yes of course. I more meant that it might be increasing in prevalence right now, which the waste water chart someone else linked here shows is true.
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u/8drearywinter8 6d ago
covid is absolutely going around now according to wastewater measurements, which cannot lie:
https://wwater.ca/Alberta/Calgary
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u/No-Perspective-5084 6d ago
Get tested for free
https://research.ucalgary.ca/participate/prepared-reb24-1092
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u/Dualintrinsic 7d ago
Been blowing my nose for like 3 weeks now
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u/deekaypea22 6d ago
Same. That's my only symptom and it's aggravating. Oh how I wish for a clear nose...
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u/LePetitNeep 6d ago
I’ve been sick since September 13, thought I was better twice and crashed again both times.
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u/JarOfFlies85 Downtown West End 7d ago
I got sick end of August, got over it, now my husband is sick and I'm feeling it starting with me... 😭😭 And I'm the type of person who gets sick 500x worse than every one else fml
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u/maverickthelabrador 6d ago
SO sick. Guessing I got exposed Oct 2… and have been dying ever since. Took 5 days off work. Went to Dr and did an expiratory flow test: 70 (supposed to be 450). Got an inhaler. I have no asthma or pre-existing lung problems. Dr said likely influenza A- said everyone has it and it’s kicking people’s butts. 9 days later and I’m still in bed all day.
Tested negative for Covid and pneumonia.
Combing this thread for hacks… I need to go back to work.
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u/toiletcleaner999 6d ago
Ive has it for over 3 weeks now. It gets better and then comes back somehow even worse than before. Its exhausting
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u/Numerous_Wish_8643 6d ago
Yes, had this thing for over 2 weeks now. Started with fever and body aches and now I can’t get rid of this cough
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u/TenScentedCandles 4d ago
Late to the party, but I was coughing my brains out with a throat that felt like sandpaper for over two weeks. I tried to wait it out for a couple weeks to no avail. Went to the walk in multiple times, and on the last time was finally diagnosed with a sinus and upper respiratory infection. After three days on antibiotics I felt like a new person. Long story short, I thought I could sleep it off but I couldn’t — get checked out!
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u/NefariousnessEasy629 Southwest Calgary 6d ago
A friend sent me this today about the new symptoms of the Covid variant. It sounds like a real doozy.
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u/2Tun21 6d ago
What the hell is that trash music?
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u/lolo-2020 6d ago
What the hell are the trash comments. No this isn’t a midterm distraction by the democrats. We’re doomed.
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u/jal741 6d ago
Yeah, because Instagram is where doctors usually disclose information right? You can trust Instagram, sure. #sarcasm
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u/lornacarrington 6d ago
There are legitimate doctors on IG but that acct is suspicious
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u/Marsymars 6d ago
There are legitimate doctors at the grocery store but that's not where I go for medical advice.
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u/SkierGirl78 7d ago
I was sick for about a week, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it sometimes is. Slightly congested, sore throat, no cough. Everyone else in my family had something nasty.
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u/Stock-Bobcat2526 7d ago
It took me over a week to stop being actually deathly sick, and I still have a cough a month later… it’s not just you.
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u/Various-Purchase-786 6d ago
Yes and I’m in Ontario. It is awful. Have the cough for three weeks now.
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u/lornacarrington 6d ago
Flu, covid, and rsv vaccines available starting Oct 19 and you can get them at pharmacies now. FYI
Masks do help.
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u/lostwheezy 7d ago
I have been sick since the second week of September. I cannot shake this stupid cough. And I keep trying to figure out if I am new sick again or still dealing with old sick 🤒
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u/CinnaTheseRoles Airdrie 6d ago
Was super sick from Sept 1-20. Was swabbed for all of the major viruses and whatnot (like COVID, all the influenzas, RSV, you name it, they swabbed for it) and all of it was negative. It was so frustrating. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me either (and I was at the hospital for a different reason but happened to be sick as well. Not a good combo lol). I do have a few autoimmune diseases and I get sick a LOT as it is so that doesn’t help but it’s what mid October now and I still wake up congested every morning and have to blow my nose full of the same snot I had when I was sick a month ago. Brutal.
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u/Komaisnotsalty 6d ago
I felt kind of under the weather several days ago but it was just general malaise more than actual sick.
Then 2 days ago I went down like a sack of bricks. Not too much of a fever, but my entire head and my chest were just plugged to the gills and so incredibly tired.
I feel better tonight and hopefully tomorrow, but it hit me pretty hard. I'm not someone who gets sick often, so I'm really not a fan right now.
I'm working the election next week as well, so I just need to be better by then and hopefully not so tired.
But this cold flu, I'm not even sure what it is, has been dogging me now for at least a week if not longer.
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u/deekaypea22 6d ago
My brother had the same issue, it's acute bronchitis for him. Have you seen a dr to rule out an infection?
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u/FlyByNight1899 6d ago
Yup since covid I am usually sick for 3-4 months of non stop coughing and flu. It comes and goes.
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u/AddictedtoLife181 6d ago
I’m lucky that I rarely get sick but it makes me sad watching some of my family and friends going through these colds and flus. I’m sorry you’re unwell too :( Hope you all feel better soon <3
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u/be_you_babe 6d ago
I’ve been sick for a week, symptoms haven’t gotten any better. My son is on week 2, still coughing.
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u/criminalinstincts1 6d ago
I have a kid in daycare so I put up with cold symptoms for 2 weeks in Sept thinking they’d go away. They didn’t so I went to the dr after 2.5 weeks. Tested positive for group a strep, got sent home with antibiotics, proceeded to have the sickest weekend of my life in years—debilitating sinus headache, bad congestion, sore throat. I couldn’t be vertical at all. On top of that the antibiotics gave me horrible GI side effects and didn’t improve any of my other symptoms. I went back to the dr after 48 hours and they said it’s probably viral and I could quit the antibiotics. Now after a month of symptoms i’m finally improving.
The real kicker is that they tested me for Covid at the same time as group a strep but later called and said the lab isn’t running Covid tests?! I bought a bunch online so I have them for next time but jfc.
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u/FabulousVanilla9940 6d ago
2 weeks later and I'm still coughing it up, but at least I can breathe normally now 😓🤚
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u/ColdCelebration2132 6d ago
15 days for me and still counting. Last night I had to sleep on a chair because the second I laid down in bed it was like I was drowning in mucas in my lungs, Scared the wife so we went to the South Health clinic I now have a puffer the first time ever.
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u/Interesting_Sun3420 6d ago
I have had one or more covid shots a year and haven’t ever had it, though surrounded by family that have. I picked up the dreaded sore throat and hacking cough about a week ago after the typical airport, flight,bus trip and 100+ wedding reception. Some ass behind me on the bus was hacking away and blowing his nose for the whole 2.5 hrs so I going to suppose I got it from him. Since it dug in I have been non stop coughing and hacking though nothing really coming up. Sleep is horrible. Have lose 7 lbs is 6 days. I don’t think I have felt this sick before. Have epilepsy so can’t take most cough suppressants unless I want to risk not waking up after taking 3 CNS depressants before bed. 21st is my covid and flu shots - I am going to see if there is an extra strength version for seniors.
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u/blasphemicassault 6d ago
I feel like I've had a minor cold for 3 weeks. Stuffy nose, sneezing, congestion.. no sore throat or cough or anything. It won't go away.
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u/Chubby_Beaver 6d ago
I had the cold a month ago. Fortunately there was no fever, just real bad congestion and cough. The cough is finally starting to fizzle out.
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u/hdksjdms-n Sunalta 6d ago
I honestly believe the common cold has been basically wiped out & replaced with new strains of covid. i wish you luck friend
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u/Machonacho7891 Woodlands 5d ago
Oh wow I feel so seen, i’m also having the weeks long sore throat. It’s absolutely brutal. It went away for a couple days then came back again too :(
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u/Roadgoddess 5d ago
I didn’t go full flu, but I’ve essentially had a cold with a terrible cough and stuffed up runny nose for almost a month now
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u/merlot120 5d ago
I just finished three weeks. 1 EMS trip, two trips to Urgent Care and 2 doctor visits. It’s was just a normal flu and head cold part didn’t get too bad but after the first few days it turned into a stomach flu. I’ve never thrown up so much in my life. I had to get saline and prescription anti nausea a few times. In better now but very weak.
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u/mikesbloggity 5d ago
I live in Quebec, but my friend lives in Calgary and she came to visit and brought Covid with her
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u/iridescentdonut- 5d ago
I got sick Aug 12 which turned into a sinus infection and despite antibiotics, steroids and daily nasal rinses, I still have nasal inflammation, mucus, and post nasal drip. I have an autoimmune condition so that also doesn't help. It's not as bad as when it started but I'm still finding it hard to talk. My doctors say an ENT referral will take over a year, so I feel like I am stuck with this.
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u/Barneyhimym 5d ago
Yep! Have been fighting it off and on since june. Also became a bacterial infection in my tonsils. Antibiotics helped clear that up but I still have leftover congestion cough and just general malaise
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u/Suspicious_Pie9781 4d ago
Have had it 3 weeks. Went into my chest. Still having sweats and chills.
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u/zaraah 3d ago
My kids have had the sickness where they're sick all night and in the morning, but by the mid-afternoon they're perfectly normal again. I'll keep them home first from school because they're SO sick overnight and in the morning and then on I second-guess myself by afternoon. That's happened twice now this week and the week before last. I don't know if it's the same sickness or two sicknesses or what. It's very annoying.
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u/Consistent-Ad-910 2d ago
YES! Been sick since 9/27 and it just DOES NOT flow through to better! Like after a week it’ll slightly ease, and then it’s like it SMACKS ME DOWN HARD AGAIN . . . like I get hit with mega aches, fever, shortness of breath. Just went to the doctor . . . I had a slight fever there, but she said my lungs were clear.
Guess what? I felt EVEN WORSE last night and today! Like I’ve caught a whole entire different thing causing me excessive malaise and severe fatigue and face pain!
As long as I know IT WILL GO AWAY at some point. That’s what I need to know. Cuz’ I’m pretty low functioning atm. 😮💨😕
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u/xGuru37 6d ago
It's fall, happens every year
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u/SnooChickens3681 5d ago
This is way worse than normal fall sickness, a severe cough for 4-6 weeks isn’t typical
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u/Antique_reader North Haven 7d ago
Flu/cold for two weeks. Took time off to recover. This one can’t seem to shake off. And makes you bed ridden and dizzy. Feel better soon! Hoping that for all of us 🤧 🤒
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u/SummerIntelligent659 7d ago
Yes!! I had a cold about a month ago, then a stomach bug lasr week with the cold lingering, had a few days feeling ok and now have a cold again that already moved into my lungs and that I already know will not leave anytime soon. I am exhausted.
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u/SarahLacard Downtown West End 7d ago
I haven't heard of a flu or illness going around, and knock on wood I don't
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u/Suspicious_Bus_893 6d ago
Yes. Up your vitamin D with K2- I started taking 6,000 units per day. Big difference. Up the Magnesium B as well- as they need each other to absorb. Hours apart. Zinc with food for a few days. Mine finally departed after a few days.
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u/the6ixmemeTO 6d ago
Been feeling weak for weeks now had to call in from work 2x. Luckily my body doesn't feel weak and just have sore throat left and stuffy nose
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician 6d ago
No, nothing. Our family has been illness free most of the year.
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u/DramaLlama1984 6d ago
I caught something flying to Cancun from Calgary on Sept 24th that I can’t shake 🙄
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u/Bankerlady10 Quadrant: SW 6d ago
I went to the doctor twice. First time they said maybe it’s allergies. Second time they said maybe it’s viral. They gave me antibiotics just incase and now I’m back to normal. So it must have been bacterial. I was sick from end of August until this week- insane.
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u/Marsymars 6d ago
They gave me antibiotics just incase and now I’m back to normal. So it must have been bacterial.
You can't really make that inference, there was no control case. It could trivially have been something viral that you would have gotten better from anyway.
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u/Bankerlady10 Quadrant: SW 6d ago
After 2 months it’s hard to believe on day 4 of antibiotics that it was just timing. I had a gross throat but tested negative on swabs. Either way, of course I’m not a Doctor. My point is validating OPs concerns there’s a long term illness going around and not to feel crazy. I was sick for over 9 weeks, that’s not typical for me. An odd thing to downvote.
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u/0runnergirl0 7d ago
My kids have been sick since September 12. Congestion and cough and sore throat. I've had it brewing for weeks as an "Am I sick yet or not sick?" feeling. I don't feel like I have actually been sick, but my two germ factories have definitely had it for weeks.