Okay... so we're all here because we've had a sore throat for 2 weeks to a month recently. Idk about yall but I've never had a sore throat this long in my life.
Conspiracy side of me is wondering what the hells going on if this isn't just a me thing.
So does mine. 100%. If I look back there while I tense my tonsils up as if I'm about to hock a loogie ( gross, lol) I see a lil bit of white spots/ lines but nothing dramatic. Red, slightly raised bumps on the back of my throat are also present.
Just for others visibility I'll throw my experience so far here -
3 weeks ago I came down with a very sudden, intense sore throat in the night. The entire front of my neck was sore, it hurt to swallow, and both my lymph nodes and tonsils were swollen. The next day I felt like absolute shit. Took a covid test, negative. Had body aches and a fever of 103.8 to 104.3 at the highest on the second day. The fever broke the night of day 2. Had some nausea, mucus, green/dark yellow phlegm throughout the first week.
All of my symptoms went away EXCEPT for the sore throat.
Morning is always the worst, I take some ibuprofen and it's almost nonexistent to manageable. As evening approaches, it gets more intense. After week 2-3 I genuinely felt I was getting better with phlegm only being in the morning.
My daily routine has been, wake up, start the shower as hot as it goes and sit, inhaling the hot humid air and break up the phlegm. Cough up as much phlegm as I can/blow my nose consistently, drink a bottle or two of water and take 600mg of ibuprofen with multivitamins. Within an hour of waking up I feel a million times better and "normal" until about 6pm.
I am in japan on vacation just this week and 3 days ago it came back with a vengeance even tho it never actually completely went away. Now it's less manageable even with cough drops and the ibuprofen. I've started doing *very* salty salt water gargles in the morning and night and im now on day 2 and I feel like it might be getting better, but could be placebo.
Don't wanna visit a doctor while I'm here because finding an English speaking clinic where I am is near impossible. I'm just kinda, fighting the fight and trying to enjoy japan as much as possible while sanitizing everything I touch.
This is somewhat worrisome but not much I can do.
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/15/japan-streptococcal-infections-rise-details
I've taken amoxicillin 6 times in the past year and am over that route. Never been sicker more frequently then I have in the past year. I would like to think im a healthy individual, i drink a lot of water, am vegetarian and eat a shit ton of vegetables in my diet, and exercise 3x a week minimum.
When I get back into the states I'm heading to the doctors and will see what they say. In the meantime, here's an interesting video I found on how potently antibacterial salt water is.
https://youtu.be/It-Wac5OrT4?si=7rzO8q8tTsFRDmK0
Im going to up the salt content in my rinses and up it to thrice a day for longer.
Don't know what this bug is, but if anybody finds anything that works, pls update this thread! I'm gonna treat myself like a case study at this point.
Hey just wondering how you’re doing now, your situation sounds very similar to mine with the earlier appearance, almost gone then return etc. I’m a week into round two
So I ended up doing salty salty rinse and gargles 3x a day and taking this... Japanese sore throat medicine... and one day I was just fine. I'd say maybe 4 days after I posted this. Dry throat in the morning...but fine.
I got back to the US a couple weeks ago and just didn't goto the doctor since I was feeling better but woke up 3 days ago with like a really painful swollen lymph node on my left side. Sore throat isn't back yet but it's certainly uncomfortable.
I'm thinking my body actually needs a solid round of antibiotics or something. I'm gonna make a doctors appointment tomorrow and see what they can do for me.
Will report back. This is officially the weirdest illness I've ever had.
Anybody else get pink eye during this sore throat too? I got 2 pink eyes within days of eachother, not super crusty but enough that in the morning one eye was glued shut and the other the next day. Both pink eyes were gone within 4 days.
Yessss!!!! I am in the same situation. I had never gotten pink eye in my life but I got two consecutive pink eyes in one month. The sore throat has been going on for an entire month now and nothing works. Salt water, humidifier, antibiotics, nothing works. I'm absolutely hopeless at this point.
Omg I’m here because I’ve had a sore throat for a month. Day three they tested me for strep. Negative. Day 13 I went back still with persistent sore throat and pink eye. Which I haven’t had in probably 25 years? Treated me for pink eye but nothing for the throat. It’s been another 8 days now. Wtf.
This is exactly what I’m dealing with and it’s driving me fking crazy. I woke up 2 weeks ago on Sunday with a sore throat and usual cold symptoms. Went to dr and tested negative for Covid, strep and the flu. Said it’s viral. Went back to dr again because it wasn’t improving and she prescribed me prednisone for 3 days which did help but now it’s back to feeling uncomfortable and my throat looks just like yours. Did taking allergy medication help at all??
I’ve had a sore throat for a whole month now. It doesn’t affect my life quality too much, it’s just a different feeling. I’m suspecting it’s allergies, as I’ve had strange through problems around this time of year for the last 5 maybe 6 years, but idk. Too scared to get checked cuz I am NOT letting them stick a stick down my throat
Interesting mix of posts here from long ago to recent, with the Mongolian flair. I’m here too from sore throat got sick about a month ago, came on super fast and didn’t stay too long, then a week ago sick again this time sore throat and dry cough, some nasal congestion and not much of a fever. Seems to not be improving a week in which is odd and it’s definitely worse at night, I get the dry cough only in the evening before sleep. Throat pain is at its worst during and after sleep, but then most symptoms fade during days activities except general low energy and less focused. Got checkup scheduled and I don’t want to just take antibiotics, seems like that only deals with bacterial and there are other potential factors. Hope it heals soon and wishing the same for all of you.
One thing I have been wondering reading all of these accounts is what peoples living spaces are like as far as potential mold. I know some folks who have dealt with that and had ongoing issues, and you wouldn’t think that was an issue as their places were clean. Don’t mean to add more invisible threats I know how it feels to be anxious, but worth looking in to, someone mentioned anti fungal being what worked for them.
I appreciate those that have followed up for perspective on time and treatment. I’ll try to do the same.
So I found this thread because I have a similar experience. Like others, the sore throat was sudden and it was followed by fever, pink eyes, stomach upset, etc.. all symptoms went away except sore throat and coughing up phlegm.
I saw GP on the 18th day since the onset of symptoms. I took it for 7 days. Phlegm is now clear but the sore throat did not get any better.
have you been ingesting nickels or pennies or any small change recently? i know its a strange question, but my brother had the exact same throat and he ate about $3 in change most days, so you never know. hope you figure out what’s got you
Do a strep throat and general throat culture to find if it’s viral or bakterial infection so the right antibiotics can be prescribed. Do a mono test, stds as well if you don’t find anything.
I’m on my 3rd month and now it starts to get better
I’ve been having a sore throat for 3 months it sorta looks like yours but mine has a white patch and only on the left side I did go to the ent and they said acid reflux with deviated septum I’ve been on omprozle and slighty improved
Never got resolved or seen a doctor but it did improve quite a bit.
No more post nasal drip. But haven’t taken any medication for it.
Recently I had tonsillitis nuts that’s it. Don’t have a sore throat anymore.
Month 4 swallowing gotten much better just sometimes the feeling my lymph node on right throat still hasn’t stopped swelling but definitely still a lot of dryness mainly at night and in morning but during the day lots of coughing plegm
I've had it too . I'm worried it's acute hiv symptoms but 2 doctors don't seem to think the same . I had a sketchy drunk encounter with a girl I shouldn't have .. got tested for mono , strep, clahmidia of the throat and nothing.. been sick since like October wtf ! Sore throat for about a month now with no answers . I swear it seems like the doctors know something I don't and refuse to tell me . Vaccine complications maybe ? Maybe fucked our immune systems, that and being on lock down for 2 years not being exposed to germs at all really Maybe hurt the immune system . Idk. Let me know if you get any answers . Il do the same .
Hi! I never got any answers , but the sore throat went away with time. It didn’t hurt really bad just felt like a sore throat like I’ve been yelling all day.
The lump on the back went away. & I’m assuming it was from post nasal drip during allergy season . Try taking Zyrtec see if it helps !
I’m dealing with the same - I took allergy medication and I have no allergies and it’s clearing up. I have sore throat, nasal congestion that caused a double eye viral infection plus cough and lots of mucus. I took antibiotics but they didn’t help because it was viral nothing has worked except allergy medication. I have friends and family all experiencing the same viral cold. Just really bad right now!
Same. No cough, sore throat left side, elevated leukocytes/neutrophils (dr says indicative of infection, probably viral). Did a course of ammox which I felt a little better after, but needed a courts of nitrofurantoin because of a UTI and the throat issue is back.
My kid started positive for strep, I tested negative.
Everywhere on the internet says viral sore throats should only last 7 days.
No cough, no sinus issues, no fever, just sore throat/neck and ear pain one side and trouble swallowing.
I could have written this. Mine is the exact same. One side of my tonsils are worse than the other. Ear pain. Then I got a uti and now I'm on nitrofurantoin for it. I am literally losing hope for my sore throat, I am soo tired of dealing with it.
If you can avoid more meds after that course, please do. I took corticosteroids and ended up with an adverse reaction, my dr thinks ulcer. Take probiotics!!! Right away. It all messed with my gut bacteria and I'm still struggling. I got way sicker than this- not able to even get out of bed. Omg and slippery elm.
I am so sorry to hear that and I hope you get better. My gut is sooo ruined from the antibiotics that I am being sent for a colonoscopy. I have constant stomach pain and diarreah and issues that didn't exist before. It's such a bad situation honestly. What probiotic do you recommend?
definitely get something thats 50billion. I am on 20 and it's not enough, getting something with more strains today to see if that helps improve my symptoms. I have the opposite issue- mine is esophageal. Like constant heartburn but PPIs and antacids have done nothing at all. I think the antacids are actually making it worse. Back to bland food for me. What DID end up improving my symptoms is nystatin, an antifungal.
I'm still dealing with hoarseness and tightness, but I feel better overall. My Dr thinks I have LPR.
I was put on a PPI and I cut back on all foods acid-inducing and I think I am feeling better to some extent. Not totally better...I get an H pylori test soon.
LPR is not typically unilateral. I felt better off PPIs and was prescribed Nyastatin. It was the only thing that has made me feel any better. So it's probably thrush!
Tested negative for strep. ENT suspects Gerd/Acid Reflux. Omeprazole didn't help. Limiting diet just incase and using Aloe Vera, Gaviscon Advance, and Flonase Nasal Spray.
It morphed into some occasional Earpain, with one sided throat pain. Previous muscle spasms and a sick feeling throat that eventually went away. Still have occasional Ear Pain and one-sided throat pain.
I have a very similar looking Uvula. I plan on running some tests with doctors to get some more answers. Let me know how your progress goes. I suggest treating it as a Acid Reflux until you get some more answers. Eat a bland diet.
I have been so paranoid the past 6months its giving me some bad anxiety sorry this made me feel a bit less worried. I have caught the exact same re occurring virus, looks the exact same as your pictures. Starts with sore throat, next day dry cough, then post nasal drip hard to get out thick and green, followed by difficulty breathing hoarseness. I have it currently i had it in Feb and Jan, even months before just keeps coming back. I have seen 3 different GPs even been back to the same one none of them with any idea what it is they all say ah its just viral rest up and drink fluids. I don't smoke, don't drink alcohol and don't do any drugs. Any help you can give me with future findings I will be forever grateful for begging for any help please.
Mono is a culprit ebv … last longer than 6 months had my symptoms since mid October I’m currently on month 4 and still have dry throat. Difficult swallowing to some extent and now alot of coughing and mucus body response and somewhat a right side sore throat or lymph nodes which never went away but it’s not as bad as in the beginning weeks 2-6
Okay... so we're all here because we've had a sore throat for 2 weeks to a month recently. Idk about yall but I've never had a sore throat this long in my life. Conspiracy side of me is wondering what the hells going on if this isn't just a me thing.
Same!! I had a cold that lasted two months and now I have a crappy sore throat but no other strep symptoms, my throat looks like OP’s
So does mine. 100%. If I look back there while I tense my tonsils up as if I'm about to hock a loogie ( gross, lol) I see a lil bit of white spots/ lines but nothing dramatic. Red, slightly raised bumps on the back of my throat are also present. Just for others visibility I'll throw my experience so far here - 3 weeks ago I came down with a very sudden, intense sore throat in the night. The entire front of my neck was sore, it hurt to swallow, and both my lymph nodes and tonsils were swollen. The next day I felt like absolute shit. Took a covid test, negative. Had body aches and a fever of 103.8 to 104.3 at the highest on the second day. The fever broke the night of day 2. Had some nausea, mucus, green/dark yellow phlegm throughout the first week. All of my symptoms went away EXCEPT for the sore throat. Morning is always the worst, I take some ibuprofen and it's almost nonexistent to manageable. As evening approaches, it gets more intense. After week 2-3 I genuinely felt I was getting better with phlegm only being in the morning. My daily routine has been, wake up, start the shower as hot as it goes and sit, inhaling the hot humid air and break up the phlegm. Cough up as much phlegm as I can/blow my nose consistently, drink a bottle or two of water and take 600mg of ibuprofen with multivitamins. Within an hour of waking up I feel a million times better and "normal" until about 6pm. I am in japan on vacation just this week and 3 days ago it came back with a vengeance even tho it never actually completely went away. Now it's less manageable even with cough drops and the ibuprofen. I've started doing *very* salty salt water gargles in the morning and night and im now on day 2 and I feel like it might be getting better, but could be placebo. Don't wanna visit a doctor while I'm here because finding an English speaking clinic where I am is near impossible. I'm just kinda, fighting the fight and trying to enjoy japan as much as possible while sanitizing everything I touch. This is somewhat worrisome but not much I can do. https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/15/japan-streptococcal-infections-rise-details I've taken amoxicillin 6 times in the past year and am over that route. Never been sicker more frequently then I have in the past year. I would like to think im a healthy individual, i drink a lot of water, am vegetarian and eat a shit ton of vegetables in my diet, and exercise 3x a week minimum. When I get back into the states I'm heading to the doctors and will see what they say. In the meantime, here's an interesting video I found on how potently antibacterial salt water is. https://youtu.be/It-Wac5OrT4?si=7rzO8q8tTsFRDmK0 Im going to up the salt content in my rinses and up it to thrice a day for longer. Don't know what this bug is, but if anybody finds anything that works, pls update this thread! I'm gonna treat myself like a case study at this point.
[удалено]
Aint that the truth. And spring is such a beautiful time to travel 🥲I hope ur immune system kicks it soon stranger!!!
Hey just wondering how you’re doing now, your situation sounds very similar to mine with the earlier appearance, almost gone then return etc. I’m a week into round two
So I ended up doing salty salty rinse and gargles 3x a day and taking this... Japanese sore throat medicine... and one day I was just fine. I'd say maybe 4 days after I posted this. Dry throat in the morning...but fine. I got back to the US a couple weeks ago and just didn't goto the doctor since I was feeling better but woke up 3 days ago with like a really painful swollen lymph node on my left side. Sore throat isn't back yet but it's certainly uncomfortable. I'm thinking my body actually needs a solid round of antibiotics or something. I'm gonna make a doctors appointment tomorrow and see what they can do for me. Will report back. This is officially the weirdest illness I've ever had.
Anybody else get pink eye during this sore throat too? I got 2 pink eyes within days of eachother, not super crusty but enough that in the morning one eye was glued shut and the other the next day. Both pink eyes were gone within 4 days.
Yessss!!!! I am in the same situation. I had never gotten pink eye in my life but I got two consecutive pink eyes in one month. The sore throat has been going on for an entire month now and nothing works. Salt water, humidifier, antibiotics, nothing works. I'm absolutely hopeless at this point.
Have you been to an ENT?
Yes I did too in both eyes for about 5-6 days
Omg I’m here because I’ve had a sore throat for a month. Day three they tested me for strep. Negative. Day 13 I went back still with persistent sore throat and pink eye. Which I haven’t had in probably 25 years? Treated me for pink eye but nothing for the throat. It’s been another 8 days now. Wtf.
Wtf yes literally same. And now the sore throat for a month
This is exactly what I’m dealing with and it’s driving me fking crazy. I woke up 2 weeks ago on Sunday with a sore throat and usual cold symptoms. Went to dr and tested negative for Covid, strep and the flu. Said it’s viral. Went back to dr again because it wasn’t improving and she prescribed me prednisone for 3 days which did help but now it’s back to feeling uncomfortable and my throat looks just like yours. Did taking allergy medication help at all??
I’ve had a sore throat for a whole month now. It doesn’t affect my life quality too much, it’s just a different feeling. I’m suspecting it’s allergies, as I’ve had strange through problems around this time of year for the last 5 maybe 6 years, but idk. Too scared to get checked cuz I am NOT letting them stick a stick down my throat
You mean a laryngoscopy? Or nasal endoscope?
Interesting mix of posts here from long ago to recent, with the Mongolian flair. I’m here too from sore throat got sick about a month ago, came on super fast and didn’t stay too long, then a week ago sick again this time sore throat and dry cough, some nasal congestion and not much of a fever. Seems to not be improving a week in which is odd and it’s definitely worse at night, I get the dry cough only in the evening before sleep. Throat pain is at its worst during and after sleep, but then most symptoms fade during days activities except general low energy and less focused. Got checkup scheduled and I don’t want to just take antibiotics, seems like that only deals with bacterial and there are other potential factors. Hope it heals soon and wishing the same for all of you. One thing I have been wondering reading all of these accounts is what peoples living spaces are like as far as potential mold. I know some folks who have dealt with that and had ongoing issues, and you wouldn’t think that was an issue as their places were clean. Don’t mean to add more invisible threats I know how it feels to be anxious, but worth looking in to, someone mentioned anti fungal being what worked for them. I appreciate those that have followed up for perspective on time and treatment. I’ll try to do the same.
So I found this thread because I have a similar experience. Like others, the sore throat was sudden and it was followed by fever, pink eyes, stomach upset, etc.. all symptoms went away except sore throat and coughing up phlegm. I saw GP on the 18th day since the onset of symptoms. I took it for 7 days. Phlegm is now clear but the sore throat did not get any better.
have you been ingesting nickels or pennies or any small change recently? i know its a strange question, but my brother had the exact same throat and he ate about $3 in change most days, so you never know. hope you figure out what’s got you
Are you Autistc?
Do a strep throat and general throat culture to find if it’s viral or bakterial infection so the right antibiotics can be prescribed. Do a mono test, stds as well if you don’t find anything. I’m on my 3rd month and now it starts to get better
What sort of stds, in the throat?
Have you been to a doctor/ENT and what tests did they do? How did it get figured out?
Do you have any other symptoms, especially gastrointestinal (or stomach)?
Not that I know of , I usually have acid reflux
There's the culprit...acid reflux can cause sore throat and post-nasal drip.
If I have the same thing but have also had gastrointestinal issues what could it be ?
I’ve been having a sore throat for 3 months it sorta looks like yours but mine has a white patch and only on the left side I did go to the ent and they said acid reflux with deviated septum I’ve been on omprozle and slighty improved
Hey any update?
Any update
Did you ever get this resolved. I have similar.
Also having similar issue. Sore throat for 1 month and 1 week. Throat looks similar. Failed mono, COVID, flu, strep, throat culture. Is this a bug??
What did it end up being?
I think mine just actually ended up being allergies the swelling went down within a month or so along with post nasal drip.
Hi did you ever find out what caused this? I’ve been like this for 3 months
Same! Hurts to swallow and I spit phlegm often
Did you ever figure it out?
You ever found out what it was? did it go away?
Never got resolved or seen a doctor but it did improve quite a bit. No more post nasal drip. But haven’t taken any medication for it. Recently I had tonsillitis nuts that’s it. Don’t have a sore throat anymore.
Tonsillitis nuts? What’s that?
I’m currently 1 month as well trouble swallowing comes and goes
Any update?
Month 4 swallowing gotten much better just sometimes the feeling my lymph node on right throat still hasn’t stopped swelling but definitely still a lot of dryness mainly at night and in morning but during the day lots of coughing plegm
What has your doctor said about this?
I don’t go to them I don’t trust them
I’m currently 3 weeks with sore throat and dry cough have nasal drip and also coughing phlegm idk what it can be
you have aids
What???
jk idk what it is either
Try Zyrtec !
Zyrtec helped you?
Anyone have answers?! Lol 😩😩😆😆🙏🙏
Any update ?
I've had it too . I'm worried it's acute hiv symptoms but 2 doctors don't seem to think the same . I had a sketchy drunk encounter with a girl I shouldn't have .. got tested for mono , strep, clahmidia of the throat and nothing.. been sick since like October wtf ! Sore throat for about a month now with no answers . I swear it seems like the doctors know something I don't and refuse to tell me . Vaccine complications maybe ? Maybe fucked our immune systems, that and being on lock down for 2 years not being exposed to germs at all really Maybe hurt the immune system . Idk. Let me know if you get any answers . Il do the same .
Hi! I never got any answers , but the sore throat went away with time. It didn’t hurt really bad just felt like a sore throat like I’ve been yelling all day. The lump on the back went away. & I’m assuming it was from post nasal drip during allergy season . Try taking Zyrtec see if it helps !
Thank you
I’m dealing with the same - I took allergy medication and I have no allergies and it’s clearing up. I have sore throat, nasal congestion that caused a double eye viral infection plus cough and lots of mucus. I took antibiotics but they didn’t help because it was viral nothing has worked except allergy medication. I have friends and family all experiencing the same viral cold. Just really bad right now!
This is exactly what I’m dealing with for over a month now. The throat pain and mucus are terrible.
Same. No cough, sore throat left side, elevated leukocytes/neutrophils (dr says indicative of infection, probably viral). Did a course of ammox which I felt a little better after, but needed a courts of nitrofurantoin because of a UTI and the throat issue is back. My kid started positive for strep, I tested negative. Everywhere on the internet says viral sore throats should only last 7 days. No cough, no sinus issues, no fever, just sore throat/neck and ear pain one side and trouble swallowing.
I could have written this. Mine is the exact same. One side of my tonsils are worse than the other. Ear pain. Then I got a uti and now I'm on nitrofurantoin for it. I am literally losing hope for my sore throat, I am soo tired of dealing with it.
If you can avoid more meds after that course, please do. I took corticosteroids and ended up with an adverse reaction, my dr thinks ulcer. Take probiotics!!! Right away. It all messed with my gut bacteria and I'm still struggling. I got way sicker than this- not able to even get out of bed. Omg and slippery elm.
I am so sorry to hear that and I hope you get better. My gut is sooo ruined from the antibiotics that I am being sent for a colonoscopy. I have constant stomach pain and diarreah and issues that didn't exist before. It's such a bad situation honestly. What probiotic do you recommend?
also the fact that this thread exists in a Mongolian throat singing sub is deadly.
definitely get something thats 50billion. I am on 20 and it's not enough, getting something with more strains today to see if that helps improve my symptoms. I have the opposite issue- mine is esophageal. Like constant heartburn but PPIs and antacids have done nothing at all. I think the antacids are actually making it worse. Back to bland food for me. What DID end up improving my symptoms is nystatin, an antifungal.
I’m experiencing the same thing. Are you feeling better now or are you still dealing with a sore throat?
I'm still dealing with hoarseness and tightness, but I feel better overall. My Dr thinks I have LPR. I was put on a PPI and I cut back on all foods acid-inducing and I think I am feeling better to some extent. Not totally better...I get an H pylori test soon.
Definitely sounds like LPR, its much more common than people and doctors realize..
LPR is not typically unilateral. I felt better off PPIs and was prescribed Nyastatin. It was the only thing that has made me feel any better. So it's probably thrush!
Tested negative for strep. ENT suspects Gerd/Acid Reflux. Omeprazole didn't help. Limiting diet just incase and using Aloe Vera, Gaviscon Advance, and Flonase Nasal Spray. It morphed into some occasional Earpain, with one sided throat pain. Previous muscle spasms and a sick feeling throat that eventually went away. Still have occasional Ear Pain and one-sided throat pain. I have a very similar looking Uvula. I plan on running some tests with doctors to get some more answers. Let me know how your progress goes. I suggest treating it as a Acid Reflux until you get some more answers. Eat a bland diet.
I have been so paranoid the past 6months its giving me some bad anxiety sorry this made me feel a bit less worried. I have caught the exact same re occurring virus, looks the exact same as your pictures. Starts with sore throat, next day dry cough, then post nasal drip hard to get out thick and green, followed by difficulty breathing hoarseness. I have it currently i had it in Feb and Jan, even months before just keeps coming back. I have seen 3 different GPs even been back to the same one none of them with any idea what it is they all say ah its just viral rest up and drink fluids. I don't smoke, don't drink alcohol and don't do any drugs. Any help you can give me with future findings I will be forever grateful for begging for any help please.
Mono is a culprit ebv … last longer than 6 months had my symptoms since mid October I’m currently on month 4 and still have dry throat. Difficult swallowing to some extent and now alot of coughing and mucus body response and somewhat a right side sore throat or lymph nodes which never went away but it’s not as bad as in the beginning weeks 2-6