I coined the term for this nasty little sickness when I was deep in its miseries, probably as the result of a fever flash. The best way I can describe it is, it's 'sorta' like the flu, with body aches and extreme tiredness, and 'sorta' like a cold with runny nose, sore throat and cough, and 'sorta' like an intestinal bug with nausea and diarrhea. It's been going through my family and workplace faster than a rumor, and I myself am finally emerging from it after feeling like something the dog dug up for I don't know how long. A week? Ten days? All I know is, I almost never get sick, and given the mildness of the individual symptoms, I shouldn't have been as ill as I was.
So now I'm wondering just what the heck we all have had. Every single person I know who's been affected by it got their flu shot this past fall, and most of us take vitamins and are generally healthy overall; but this thing slaps you flat and leaves you weak, exhausted, coughing, and feeling like you'd have to get better to die.
Anyone else experience the "sortavirus" yet? Inquiring minds want to know, and of course, if anybody has a clue as to what it actually is, I'm listening!:sstrs:
Specializes in Urology, Gyn, Family Practice, HBO.
I have been fighting something like that for almost 6 weeks now. Except I didn't get the nausea. I just can't seem to shake the cough. I almost get rid of it and then the dang thing just comes back again. :angryfire
She said she could SMELL it the second I opened my mouth for the rapid culture. Ooops.
Could you taste it? My doc tells me I am crazy becuase I can taste it when I have strep. That's how I can tell it is strep and not just a regular sore throat.
This sortavirus is nasty. I hate when things linger. I finally got it last week from some of my coworkers. One has had a cough for a month. I can't seem to be able to keep my nose from dripping. Of course this all hits when I go to work and my stomach has it own beat of the drum. Still not over it this week. The world doesn't stop because you are sick either. I hope everyone gets better soon.
The 'sortavirus' has made the rounds @ work; numerous coworkers got and stayed sick for a 2-3 weeks, as did their families. Fortunately, it has not found its way into our house yet. Which is a good thing!! *finds something wooden upon which to knock*
YEP, in the process of getting over this. Interestingly, I quit nursing last March, had not been sick since, went to lunch with a nurse friend who proceeds to tell me about this "bug" going around at work that everyone is getting (her included) and in two days I was sick!. I don't take flu shots (long story) and I have a theory that bugs picked up in a hospital must be pretty strong to first make hospital staff sick (we are exposed to so much) and to keep hanging around. Plenty of rest, fluids, and just when you think it's over, it hits again!!! FUN.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Siggie, I love your "siggy" line!!
I've gotta admit one thing good has come out of being sick on & off for the past couple of weeks: I've lost 12 pounds. Without even skipping meals (although my PO intake has been on the light side because I haven't been terribly hungry). My body's just been craving healthy stuff like fruit and salad and milk, so that's what I've been eating. I knew I was going to have to 'detox' after all the holiday indulgences, but even though this isn't what I had in mind, I'll take the weight loss any way I can get it!
This "sortavirus" is all over, and I bet it does have something to do with the flu shot. I got it the week after I got my flu shot (which we HAVE to get to be able to work in the hospital, or else we have to wear a mask the whole time) and had it for about 10 days, which seems to be the norm. My friend, who is a teacher got it and had it for almost 2 months, she had gotten the flu shot too. Now my brother caught the actual flu. He was down and out for an entire week - then caught pneumonia - and spent the next 3 days in the hospital. He's fine now, but I'd rather get the "sortavirus" then have to deal with what he did any day! Hope anyone who isn't feeling well gets better soon and everyone that's healthy to stay that way!
We had it in my house too. Husband first, for about one day acute w/ fever, aches, fatigue and nausea. Then about a week of just being mostly tired and run down. I got it two days later, same symptoms, same week until feeling better. Kids didn't get it.
We all got flu shots but they were months ago (oct/nov) and so my thought is its just a nasty bug and not vaccine related.
I got it the day after Christmas and I STILL have it. Throat is not as sore but still sore, non-productive cough, my eyes BURN so bad in the mornings I have to put a cold wash cloth on them before I can function, I can barely breath, and to top it off Im asthmatic. I have yet ANOTHER dr appt for tomorrow - they are thinking it has gone into pneumonia now. This is great I have 24 days left of school and Im dragging. I have to do 12 hours peds this week where I have to go to a daycare-I CAN'T miss it or I don't graduate:o. I did an OB clinic today and almost passed out during a patients exam because I got so light headed from lack of O2. But being a student you can't miss. Hope they find something out tomorrow.
Could you taste it? My doc tells me I am crazy becuase I can taste it when I have strep. That's how I can tell it is strep and not just a regular sore throat.
I thought I could; but I've also been losing some weight recently and I thought it was that funky ketones taste you get. I'm just hoping the new boy didn't notice it!
Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.
had it back in November after a strep throat... just kept lingerin on for a couple of weeks; nothing I did made me feel better. all i wanted to do was sleep. even had md do a monospot and thyroid panel; all wnl.
now fighting a sinus thing:angryfire i hate winter~!!!!
What a great name for it: "Sortavirus" Have you reported this Sortavirus to the CDC yet? I bet somebody there would get a chuckle out of it! 
NurseBlueBear
53 Posts
I have been fighting something like that for almost 6 weeks now. Except I didn't get the nausea. I just can't seem to shake the cough. I almost get rid of it and then the dang thing just comes back again. :angryfire