Flu - tell me I'm not alone

Feeling a bit nauseous now myself...could be the alcohol and lack of food....no no it's probably a virus lol...no it's the alcohol and lack of food lol...

Graces7

Someone mentioned M.E aka Chronic fatigue after this flu?

Please be careful to give yourself full time to recover? The main trigger for M.E/CFS is a simple infection an dit is a long lasting and crippling illness.

I was a young teacher decades ago when I had a bad flu. They sent all my exam marking to me when I was ill in bed. and basically I was never well thereafter.

In those days M.E was barely recognised. So it got labelled ?mental illness? As there is no real recognised test for M.E . They term it a " diagnosis of exclusion" .. Tests for all else prove negative but the illness is still there.

It was literally 3o years before , after yet another infection. a top consultant after 3 weeks of inpatient tests got it right. And I was finally formally diagnosed as having M.E/aka Chronic Fatigue ( a name we hate) Still as ill as ever.

and as my immune system is dysfunctional as a result, I live in strict isolation. Happy with that .. even a cold is a danger.

Triggered by a bad flu that was not treated with the respect such an infection merits

Please give yourself all the time your body needs to really recover. Flu is a major systemic illness. Rest!

Action for M.E and the M.E Association are well worth a check... a very informative forum is Phoenix Rising.

ahnowbrowncow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120042790#Comment_120042790

Plenty of people, including so called experts, were calling for lockdowns in the months after lockdown was lifted, they weren't smart enough to see that the costs of lockdown far outweighed it's benefits.

Cluedo Monopoly

A lot of my relations are complaining about a mildish illness giving them (a) tiredness, (b) sore throat and (c) sore lower back. I immediately thought Covid but they were all negative.

De Bhál

10 days into this now. This morning I feel somewhat normal for the first time.

Started with three days where I basically couldn't even contemplate getting out of bed. Chills, the runs, high temperature. Waking up around 4:30 every morning frozen because the sheet and blankets are wet from sweat.

Tested negative for Covid

This bad few days followed with milder symptoms of above, minus the runs, that went the other way. Added was a headache. Overall if that's the flu I can see how it kills off the elderly.

Never had anything that lasted this long.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120042956#Comment_120042956

I'm not going to turn this thread into another boring argument about lockdown and how "worth it" it was.

You're no alone op.

I... personally feel great atm but I'm sure someone else feels flu like symptoms as you do now so you're not alone in that.

Only messing...hope you feel better soon..plenty of rest 🤗hugs

radiospan

Same here, and with a good few people I've met over Christmas.

Got the flu jab a month ago, tested negative for Covid, but I've had this thing for over a week now.

Headaches and cough, no fever, but feeling miserable.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120042801#Comment_120042801

In ours thus far only the unvaccinated kids got a heavy dose. The rest of us got much milder cough/cold. Might be just luck. I've only ever had flu once in my life. Heavy colds often enough.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043047#Comment_120043047

I think that fatigue you describe, where you are completely wiped is most likely a flu.

While I know a lot of people who have got this winter cold/flu none of had COVID as far as I know.

Gusser09

Why in the jaysus would anyone go to the gp with a flu ffs. What do they expect. Rest and fluids is the only thing that will help.

Lockdowns? Nah. They are part of the reason immunity again these doses is dow. I understand the need for the first lockdown thought.

Shank Williams

Dosed since day after I got off, cough ,aches all over body, sinus pain. Think it’s that RSV- thought I’d got away with it as was around and living with people who had various bugs and got away with it over past month.

personally blaming my pre Christmas socialising - think I’ll watch that next year

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043137#Comment_120043137

to claim annual leave back, maybe. the only time i ever had the proper flu, i was on annual leave, and only found out after that if i'd produced a sick note, i'd have been able to claim my leave back.

Flinty997

Also in some places public sector etc very limited uncertified sick leave. So will need a gp note for certified sick leave etc.

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043228#Comment_120043228

When I was in teaching it was three days only without a drs note.

Dyr

Cast your mind back over the last few years and the low incidence of flu with every gimp going on about how great that was, thanks to lockdowns

Apparently you lot didnt know that this would be the result.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043262#Comment_120043262

Some places it's 2 with limitations around weekends and holidays. Also sometimes there's a rolling cap in a single year or across 2 and 4 years. So if you think you might need more than 2 days, or have no uncertified left you go to the gp.

The point is it pushes people to the GP. It's just how the system works.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043287#Comment_120043287

It's also known result of socialising when it's flu season. But that's life.

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043317#Comment_120043317

And folk were so weary of restrictions.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043287#Comment_120043287

I actually remember you predicting this exact scenario on boards.ie three years ago.

Actually, I don't.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043287#Comment_120043287

If you look back on boards to late 2019 you will see threads about a terrible dose going around then... that was before covid. That was before lockdowns.

People have short memories.

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043289#Comment_120043289

And flu often is a far more seriouus illness than many here seem to realise. It is not a version of a cold. I learned that the hard way. Many need medication not available at a pharmacy.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120042386#Comment_120042386

It's very simple really : short days, cold nights, big winter festival (Christmas), tons of visiting, pubs, restaurants and shopping i.e. being northern hemisphere socialising humans tends to just spread respiratory infections and there are a few particularly nasty ones going around at the moment, COVID is really bad and this year seems to have a rather rotten version of the flu and also RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus).

We've a lifestyle of being stuck indoors most for most of November - March.

Miserable colds, flus and so on are just part of life for humans.

COVID is just another layer of more respiratory virus misery ...

For most of it it's just a matter of sucking it up and getting vaccinated. We could improve ventilation systems and so on but... that'd be expensive and meh!

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044224#Comment_120044224

All absolutely true but I wonder if getting off the merry-go-round of work and all its stresses has an impact too.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044274#Comment_120044274

Yeah, I'm always just tired by Xmas.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044274#Comment_120044274

I remember reading something a while back to the effect that your body can only run "full shields" for so long... when you get downtime, either it has to redirect attention elsewhere or it can hold an infection in check for so long.

phormium

Well I got that awful dose, started two weeks before Christmas Day, bed/couch bound practically for first week, went to doc first Sunday, got antibiotics as was afraid it was going to develop into pneumonia which I have previously had few years back and the coughing and crackling felt similar, it was like I had a cat purring in my throat. Was just about upright for Christmas week, zero appetite which is so unlike me, ate a small Christmas dinner but didn't really want it, haven't even opened the chocolate Kimberleys yet!

Anyway I wasn't at work, I wasn't socialising, I wasn't doing anything that involved meeting a lot of people, no public transport etc but it still found me! Went to an afternoon tea with member of houshold Monday 12th, very small numbers there, practically empty, got home around 7 and felt fine, by bedtime I was shivering etc and so it started. Still not right but thankfully definitely getting better and a bit stronger every day, never felt as weak for so long in my life, normal colds etc would knock me back for maybe a couple of days but nothing like this beast.

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120042849#Comment_120042849

Yet they may have had the flu, influenza.

Influenza is a serious issue, and a killer and I can think of several I know it killed well before their time.

Yet not everyone who gets the flu has such a dose.

Cluedo Monopoly

It does seem like there is a lot of flu around. I think it's impacting people differently depending on immune system. Some seen to be able to shake it in 3 days, others 10 days with secondary complications. I wonder is the current prevalent strain covered in the flu jab which is 20-60% effective in any given year I believe. I think we reached the high 50s in recent years on average as they got better at predicting the dominant strain of A.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044679#Comment_120044679

An antigen test for flu and more information on strains v vaccine would be helpful.

I can find news articles re: The CDC in US 3 weeks ago saying the vaccine was a good match.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120044692#Comment_120044692

They are definitely getting better at predicting it.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043637#Comment_120043637

I only experienced Flu once and that was in June 2001, I was bed ridden for a week and ate nothing but a half a slice of toast daily for the entire team, not only was I weak as a kitten, I was hallucinating

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043581#Comment_120043581

I had something very similar to what's going around now over the Christmas in 2019, was in bed for the week

ottolwinner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058277322/flu-tell-me-im-not-alone

Try the Neil Med Sinus rinse, I use it quite a bit if I feel like that with the pains in teeth and face.

Had similar for 48 hours over 23-25th. I got started on Exputex and increasing preventer inhaler to reduce the risk of too much coughing and keep the lungs in best shape as possible. Out the right end of it now but have been text but with the abover mentioned. Best of luck to all feeling the misery of it.

Rmgblue

I am on deaths door. It’s day 3 and both today and yesterday (day time) I stupidly believed I was over it and getting better. Iv now woken up frozen and shivering despite the heating been on. Took a lemsip and now I’m sweating again

.Donegal.

I hadn’t been sick in a couple of years until this December. Got sick 3 weeks ago just your standard head cold was grand and got sick again on Christmas Eve, cough runny nose etc but no fever or body aches. Almost every time I got the cold in the past I’d have aches and pains but none both times. So I obviously didn’t get the flu either. So many different doses going around.

I get the influenza vaccine every year, since the time when I had to go on immune suppressant medication. Before that I recall getting influenza about 7 times in my life, each occasion memorable for its sudden onset in that I remember what I was doing when it hit me. Generally I was out and about, and being swept down with an abrupt fever, nausea & profound weakness, barely able to get on a bus to get home. The illness would be horrible, I’d be bed bound and hardly able to get to the toilet. One time when returning from the bathroom I suddenly blacked out, landed with an almighty thud, my mother finding my face covered in blood from a nosebleed. I’ve had hallucinations when my temperature would hit a peak and the bone and muscle pains Would try and match the ferocity if the pounding headache.

Since I started getting the vaccine, none of that particular scenario. I know of an occasion where I had been in the close company of someone who was developing influenza, a day later I went down with a sudden fever, propelled to the bed. Thought I was in for it only less than 20 hours later I started to recover and 2 days later I was completely normal. The vaccine very likely had curtailed a dose as my immune system knew how to deal with the virus without going into a prolonged overdrive.

Kalimah

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120045502#Comment_120045502

God love you. I hope you’ll feel better soon. It seems everyone I know is sick as a dog between covid and flu. I’m just over covid myself but wasn’t hit as badly as others. I’ve had flu a few tines years ago which was horrendous. Hallucinations etc.

ottolwinner

I was in a chemist yesterday and the shelves looked bare. Chemist said they had sold out of cough bottles and only had calpol for infants in stock at the time.

I think people are just consuming what ever meds they believe will give them some relief right now.

Kalimah

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120045509#Comment_120045509

I had a bad reaction to the flu vaccine in 1988 - that was the last one I had. I’m thinking at 60 it might be wise to start getting it now.

victor8600

I got sniffles on the 16th, then up to 40 degrees fever after 3 days, then very bad cough for few days. Still coughing today + sore throat. Started a course of antibiotics and a steroidal inhaler two days ago, feel much better today, but still like crap.

Purple Mountain

I had it a week ago for 48 hours. The chills, aches in weird places , literally couldn't get out of bed only when absolutely necessary to use the toilet.

Went into my chest with a cough but the chest symptoms were mild compared to the feeling of absolute doom.

A week on and I'm still breathless and flattened. Walking up the stairs is taking my energy.

I'm lucky I'm off work for another week so I can try and recover.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120045523#Comment_120045523

Try to get it when you can take it easy for few days afterwards if you need to and dont have any major plans lined up.

.Donegal.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120045523#Comment_120045523

Did you have an immediate bad reaction to it? Or was it in the days that followed? Better to discuss it with your doctor, for some people who may have reactions they can administer it and keep you in for an hour or so for observation all depends on what your reaction was back then.

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120043581#Comment_120043581

That was when I decided on total isolation. My immune system is down. It was wise.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120045523#Comment_120045523

A bad reaction (presume we are not talking about a life threatening anaphylaxis reaction here), not matter how uncomfortable is better than any 2 or more weeks of being absolutely floored by flu. I had a bad reaction to 2nd Covid vax, but none of the others, on bed for a couple of days, but touch wood, never got ill with covid so presume I had developed a particularly good resistance.

A miserable dose all right. First few days awful fatigue and muscle aches, then the head cold with added cough. Crazy congestion, mucus production and soreness around nose - can't breathe, can't sleep much - and any little bit of sleep, waking up absolutely drenched. Sick of changing bedding! Antihistamines and Nurofen helped, as well as steroid nasal spray (on prescription for chronic sinusitis). Better now but you'd be drained and weak. Lasted more than a fortnight. And once I was able to sleep properly, I was lucky enough to be able to have marathon snoozes, which helped greatly with getting better.

I got the 'flu vaccination in November, but why would that prevent it? It's not influenza - it's the common cold. A horrible strain of it, but still just a cold.

fits

I’d be fairly willing to bet what you had was flu actually.

Well I've had flu three times and could barely get out of the bed. Had to crawl to the toilet because if I stood, the room would spin and I'd need to vomit. It was pain and heaviness in my joints rather than achiness/stiffness. And the chills would have my teeth chattering, and the fever making me feel like I was gonna spontaneously combust.

This dose didn't have me confined to bed like that. I dunno. Maybe there are milder strains of flu but I've always remembered being told by a GP that if you can get out of the bed, even if you feel miserable, you don't have flu.

The common cold is thought of as just mild - and it can be, but it can be severe too, and if ignored can lead to pneumonia or bronchitis.