This Is Just Me Getting Old, Right?

[Anonymous]

3 things that never went away: 1) had a viral infection 3+ weeks ago that required 7-day antibiotics after lying on bed for days, yet i am still coughing and having chills everyday especially in the afternoons and can feel the virus is still living inside me... 2) not sure when or what i did to it but every morning when i wake up my right hand just feels swollen and still and i can't hold a fist without pain in the ring finger knuckle... 3) it feels like i've lost the taste of foods to some degree or in certain parts of my tongue.

so i'm just getting old?

[Anonymous]

Go see a doctor.

[Anonymous]

Covid?

[Anonymous]

I am not a MD but if your infection is viral, then antibiotics will not improve it.

So that has nothing to do w/your age.

Btw how old are you?

[Anonymous]

Not COVID or flu tested for both

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a MD but if your infection is viral, then antibiotics will not improve it.

So that has nothing to do w/your age.

Btw how old are you?

49+

[Anonymous]

You likely did have covid (loss of taste is classic sign) and now have a secondary infection, which sounds like pneumonia from your description. You should return to the doctor for stronger antibiotics. The hand thing is likely due to cervical disc degeneration, due to age, combined with shoulder tension. Chills and coughing after a course of antibiotics is not good. Go to the doctor.

[Anonymous]

OK thanks. it's just i'd never needed antibiotics for a long time and was always able to fully recover from the cold/flu/infection whatever within days in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK thanks. it's just i'd never needed antibiotics for a long time and was always able to fully recover from the cold/flu/infection whatever within days in the past.

When is your doctor's appt? You are sick longer this time because the treatment didn't work. You need different medicine. That can happen if you are 50, 80 or 10. Get over yourself and get into a doctor's office.

[Anonymous]

I had flu last month and still haven't recovered all my hearing. It's weird.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a fever?

Antibiotics are for *bacterial* infections, not viral infection. If you still have a fever and feel sick, then it means you still have the bacterial infection and need to be evaluated and given different antibiotics. You are likely resistant to the first one they gave you.

[Anonymous]

Answering my own question: Yes you're getting old, and now you have shingles for the first time.
Getting old sucks.
--OP

[Anonymous]

No doesn’t sound like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had flu last month and still haven't recovered all my hearing. It's weird.

Use Flonase sensimist 2x a day.

[Anonymous]

You might need more antibiotics to kick the infection fully. I had pneumonia last winter and needed 2 courses, which was 3 different antibiotics total.