For those who have had RSV, how long did it take you to get it out of your system?

[Foxhound3857]

Been sick since last Thursday now, thought I was gettig over the hump around Monday, and then I got hit with new symptoms as of wednesday night, including a wicked cough that nearly threw my voice out.

Why can't I shake whatever this is (not Covid)? I have a good diet (I'm overweight but still), take lots of vitamin C -including a supplement - got my Flu and Covid shots and I get good sleep every night, except for the one where the cough came on. It's frustrating having to go to work with this because it's my probationary period and I cannot call off even if I'm sick. I have to just tough it out, so I'm trying to do everything I can to manage symptoms and kick it out of my system quickly, but it just won't go away...

 

[lanejudy]

DD had RSV twice as an infant -- first year (~6 mos old) she was very very sick and it lasted about 3-4 months before we could stop the nebulizer treatments. The second year (about 16 mos old) I think we only did nebulizer treatments for a month.

If you really have RSV I recommend getting to a healthcare provider and not just trying to treat it with OT cold remedies.

 

[leahgoogle]

When DH went in with chest involvement last month, they said it was human metapneumovirus that turned into pneumonia. It has been widespread in this area. Lots of pneumonia. The rest of us had it, but it didn't turn into pneumonia. It probably took two weeks to get full energy back and I am still coughing occasionally after 3 weeks. Just keep up with the Vitamin C and take Vitamin D if you have some. It is a slow recovery process.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I'm doing the usual. Lots of fluids (Powerade in this case), trying to maintain normal eating habits, still doing daily chores to get some activity mixed with lots of bed rest, cough drops and even some robitussin.

I just want to get to the point where I can go in to work for my normal shift and this crap isn't holding me back because I can't shake it.

 

[MICKIMINI]

My favorite doctor is an MD and a NP. He recommended oscillococcinum many years ago for flu like symptoms. I buy the generic version. DH and I swear by it. People from all over the US and overseas see him. I feel lucky to have been a patient for many years. He is brilliant.

Feel better!

 

[Foxhound3857]

My favorite doctor is an MD and a NP. He recommended oscillococcinum many years ago for flu like symptoms. I buy the generic version. DH and I swear by it. People from all over the US and overseas see him. I feel lucky to have been a patient for many years. He is brilliant.

Feel better!

The one time I had a cough so severe I lost my voice for two weeks, they prescribed me something called Tessalon Perles, supposed to be a controlled cough medication, but it did absolutely nothing for me.

 

[unrequited23]

Try a cool mist vaporizer at night while you sleep. If you don't have one a crock pot filled with water on low and no lid will do the trick. Even a bowl filled with water and naturally evaporating will help a little.

 

[Christine]

Are you sure it's RSV? In watching the news last night, I see that the CDC has reported something like a 300% increase in walking pneumonia. Much higher at this time than it recent years. Part of it was that it was virtually gone during COVID due to masking so no one really got it for a few years. Our immunity is now down and it's exploding.

While you can still function with it, it makes you feel bad for a long time and it needs to be treated with a specific antibiotic.

 

[LuvOrlando]

That stinks, whole family in Florida had it recently, said it wrecked them and the coughing was horrendous plus it seemed never ending. There are those prescription bead things that work really well for a cough & OTC the Cooling Dayquil and Nyquil seem good. Sometimes a Dr gives a nebulizer or asthma medicine with steroids to calm things down.

 

[starry_solo]

OP is in Southern California, in the Inland Empire area. Have you gone to the doctor to make sure what you have is RSV?

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

6 weeks to 2 months, one of the kids is on his 3rd month with incremental improvements.

 

[focusondisney]

I had RSV 2 years ago, ended up needing a steroid after about 7 weeks. It wouldn’t hurt to call your medical provider’s office & ask if you should be seen. My providers do a virtual visit…basically was fill out an online form with symptoms, how long they were lasting, treatments you’re using etc. I did not need to be seen. Although 10 days is not long for a viral infection, so they may not want to treat just yet.

For cough with cold, flu & with the RSV, I always use Mucinex DM. It has a cough suppressant & something to break up the mucus in your lungs so they’re not as congested. It’s a 12 hour med so only have to take twice a day. There are generic versions as well.

Besides Vit C, Vit D & zinc are also often suggested to boost your immune system, as well as B vitamins. And don’t forget good old chicken soup. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

DD18 had it as an infant. She was put on nebulizer albuterol treatments. I recall it was treatments every 4-6 hours for 3 weeks. Considering my friend’s daughter ended up being hospitalized, I guess we were lucky.

 

[Foxhound3857]

Are you sure it's RSV? In watching the news last night, I see that the CDC has reported something like a 300% increase in walking pneumonia. Much higher at this time than it recent years. Part of it was that it was virtually gone during COVID due to masking so no one really got it for a few years. Our immunity is now down and it's exploding.

While you can still function with it, it makes you feel bad for a long time and it needs to be treated with a specific antibiotic.

It could be. My dad and I are both coughing our lungs up at times and spitting up a lot of mucus. Even halls aren't helping the cough that much.

I actually lost my voice again because of the cough. I sound like a lifelong chain smoker right now.

 

[Pooh2]

I started with RSV 6 weeks ago (babysitting grandkids).
It turned into walking pneumonia within 4-5 days, took Zpac and then another 5 day antibiotic a week later.
Still coughing nonstop.
I've got cough syrup, inhalers with steroids, nebulizer, occasional hot toddy, some nyquil, vicks vapo rub, etc.
I did leave the house a few times this week with a pocket full of cough drops to get some errands done.
Hang in there OP, this is a tough one!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

RSV is typically only severe in babies, most adults have immunity or it just presents as a minor cold. Sounds like you have something a little worse. Definitely get checked out, get a chest xray to make sure it’s not pneumonia. You may need antibiotics. And maybe some kind of breathing treatments like an inhaler or nebulizer. Definitely go to an urgent care like Patient First, they can do chest X-rays there and give you medicine. If it’s a bacterial pneumonia or bronchitis it won’t go away without antibiotics

 

[Allison]

You don't know that you have rsv?

 

[Foxhound3857]

You don't know that you have rsv?

I don't. I only know it's not COVID. Tested again and it was negative.

My doctor recommended combining Tylenol and Ibuprofin, that's helped the muscle aches quite a bit. Meanwhile I've got some Robitussin softgels to help with the cough.

I feel like I'm starting to turn the corner now, but the damage is done, my voice is shot now. Just gotta ride it out at this point.

 

[Joycce]

It was near a month I think. Most symptoms were gone after 2 weeks, but I had a cough for a very long time. And I was always tired and having headache. I took ibuprofin as my doctor recommended, and I also added Nutraharmony mullein drops for lungs from cough to my daily supplements and tried to drink more warm water and tea.

 

[tvguy]

My son had it when he was three and was in the hospital for three days. Other than a cough and hearing stuff in his lungs, it never slowed him down, which made being the hospital more difficult.
No idea when he fully recovered because it never slowed him down. He had asthma and was on nebulizer treatments from age 2 to age 5 when he seemed to out grow his asthma. He is 38 now and he mentioned his asthma at his last physical and Doctor said he would have never known he had had asthma.