I am an 18 year old male, overweight and a
smoker for two years but otherwise in good
health. Four days ago I came down with a
very severe cold that left me unable to
speak for two days. The cold was so
severe I slept for almost 18 hours a day
and took quite a bit of nyquil and
dayquil, sometimes combined (about two
bottles of each). Nothing would stop the
coughing and aching. Finally today I was
able to go back to work and I can (barely)
speak, but I can get around. Anyway,
today at work it occured to me that I had
not eaten *anything* in four days. I was
extremely shocked by this because I was
*not* hungry at all. I felt completely
normal. I went and bought a large
sandwhich on my lunch break and forced
myself to eat it even though I wasn't
hungry. About 3/4 the way through the
sandwhich I felt pains in my stomach. Not
being full, just a sort of dull ache, so I
stopped eating. That went away after a
couple of hours but I still have not
become hungry!
This is very strange, obviously, and also
I obviously need to eat even if i'm not
hungry so I can function. I think the
appetite loss is related to the severe
sickness and the large amount of medicines
I took, but i'm not sure. Keep in mind
i'm still really sick, nearly constantly
coughing.
I should mention that about a week before
becoming sick I started a very rigid but
effective diet of 1,500k/cal per day and
an hour of exercise per day. I lost about
11lbs in that week and an additional 5lbs
since I got sick. That makes 16lbs in the
last 12 days, which I hear is very
unhealthy?
I'm hesitant to eat right now because if
it's for example a neurological problem I
don't want to mess up any sort of test
results or whatever. Anyone had anything
similar to this ever happen?
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fatfamily02
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 3050 Location: Georgia, USA
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Posted: 02-10-06 03:48am
Sometimes when I am sick I am like that.
Not often though--but sometimes, I have to
make myself eat.
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JoshM
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 5
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Posted: 02-10-06 03:52am
One other thing, just now I was coughing
really hard and got extremely dizzy and
then had a strange tingling sensation all
over my body, it feels just like that one
time I blacked out, but I didn't actually
black out from the coughing just now.
Could this be due to not having the food
or am I just not getting enough air to my
brain?
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Amber28
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 75 Location: Australia
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Posted: 02-10-06 07:04am
Sounds like youve had a really bad bout of
influenza. It is similar to a cold but
has additional symtoms of fever,
tiredness, aching muscles and malise
(general feeling of being unwell). Ive
had this once before and it really knocked
me around. It can take up to a week to
recover from the influenza virus.
Although influenza may cause a cough I
also ended up with a secondary infection
of bronchitus (inflamation of the airway)
which sounds like what you may have. Iam
a smoker too which makes us more
succeptable to airway infections
expecially bronchitus. I was told to not
smoke as it could delay my recovery for
weeks. Your symtoms of becoming really
dizzy after coughing may be a result o
thef lack of oxygen and the fact that you
have hardly eaten. Please whilst you are
sick like this take it easy, drink plenty
of fluids. If your symptoms get any worse
(you feel like you can catch your breath,
faint, collaspe) you must seek medical
advice. Are you hearing any 'funny'
noises when you inhale or exhale (like
wheezes, crackles) your doc may prescribe
a bronchodialater (like a puffer) to help
open your airways. Keep your fluids up
even if you cant eat. When you need to
stand do so slowley. If you do feel dizzy
elevate your legs above the height of your
heart (eg on some cushions etc) as the
flow of blood does not have to work so
hard against gravity. Again seek medical
advice if these symptoms do not resolve or
you get any worse. Cheers amber
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JoshM
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 5
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Posted: 02-10-06 12:48pm
Thanks so much for your advice, friends.
I had a particularly bad night last night,
but after waking this morning I feel much
better! This is about day five, so the
timeframe is about right. I also
remembered that I had my influenza
innoculations this year as well, they said
they got the wrong strain of the virus on
the news or something but maybe it could
still help a little?
Anyway, aside from a cough which is not
worse than my normal smoker's cough, I
feel pretty much normal, appetite
included. Maybe this experience will give
me the willpower to stop smoking, eh?
Let's hope so.
Thanks again for your support, I was
really concerned about myself for a
while!
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