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3 Days Ago, I Began Feeling Body Aches. I Had
Question: 3 days ago, I began feeling body aches. I had a runny nose and sore throat. 2 days ago I woke up with a very strong headache and pains in my neck and upper shoulders. The muscles felt extremely tight and sore. I had a fever and chills. My fever subsided later in the afternoon. My stomach has been gassy and my stools have been soft. I am feeling better than I did 2 days ago, but my neck and shoulders are still extremely stiff and sore even after a warm bath, ibuprofen, light massage and cbd salve. I was very stressed in the days leading up to those symptoms. What could this be?
Brief Answer:
Influenza or other viral illness
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask a Doctor'. The symptoms you describe would be fairly typical for a viral illness, such as influenza, which often has symptoms of fever, body aches, and upper respiratory symptoms such as runny nose and sore throat. Some stomach upset would also not be unexpected. The fact that you are still stiff and sore would also not be too surprising.
Of course, the COVID 19 virus can also cause similar symptoms, and is often indistinguishable from influenza and other viruses. Especially if you are in a community that has had COVID-19 cases or have any other risk factors (travel to a high-risk area, contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19), you should self-isolate at home and contact your regular doctor on phone for further guidance on whether you should be tested.
Otherwise, I would only recommend that you continue your current treatment with Ibuprofen and the other things you are doing, and it should improve over the next week or so until it is completely gone.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Influenza or other viral illness
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask a Doctor'. The symptoms you describe would be fairly typical for a viral illness, such as influenza, which often has symptoms of fever, body aches, and upper respiratory symptoms such as runny nose and sore throat. Some stomach upset would also not be unexpected. The fact that you are still stiff and sore would also not be too surprising.
Of course, the COVID 19 virus can also cause similar symptoms, and is often indistinguishable from influenza and other viruses. Especially if you are in a community that has had COVID-19 cases or have any other risk factors (travel to a high-risk area, contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19), you should self-isolate at home and contact your regular doctor on phone for further guidance on whether you should be tested.
Otherwise, I would only recommend that you continue your current treatment with Ibuprofen and the other things you are doing, and it should improve over the next week or so until it is completely gone.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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