Really terrified about this flu going around

Start wearing your face masks

The local authority of the school I work in pays for us to have the flu jab. Would he do that if it was free?

I hear what you’re saying and personally wouldn’t mind wearing one but think we’d be in the minority. Culturally, mask wearing has been a thing in some Asian countries for ages whereas here it’s linked to covid and I think a lot of people would be reluctant to comply or see it as a governmental control conspiracy type thing.

No masks is our normal and after Covid the message was get back to normal - not, ‘this is actually a sensible long-term precaution for seasonal illnesses’. When I see someone in a mask now it’s notable as it’s unusual. I think lots of people would feel self conscious wearing them unless it was a direct instruction (even if they quietly agreed) and lots of people would outright refuse to wear them especially if it was a direct instruction.

If mask wearing was ever to become a thing here I think we’ve missed the boat.

@Caramelbarrel Don't worry. Just because other people are ill, it doesn't mean you will be, too. When pregnant, people tell horror stories about giving birth and we just ignore them. Well, ignore these horror stories too. Stock up on otc meds and relax.

I’ve had the flu jab and started with a cold today. I worked from home looking dreadful, but if I hadn’t had the flu jab it might have been worse.

Being completely oblivious is fine if you are confident you have enough home remedies and supplies to cope with being incapacitated for about 5 days if you are hit with something. Being slightly concerned and keeping informed helps you to have a little control of outcomes, not a bad thing.

in my opinion.

Doesn't anyone else wonder why we can't be more like some Asian countries and just go with masks in public spaces like transports , airport , docs waiting rooms and anywhere crowded?
Just for a short while ?

I don’t read about flu on-line so I am completely oblivious. You should try it.

I felt pretty grim over the weekend, but some time today it lifted and I think I'll be back to normal tomorrow - just as well, I need to get cat food and cat litter and replenish my stocks of paracetamol and ibuprofen, despite my cheerful assurance to the pharmacist last week that I'd bought enough to see me into next year.

Other useful things to have in stock were seven-up (with real sugar) useful for rehydration and energy when not up to eating anything, and those little tubs of fruit salad and similar, tolerable when real food, even fruit, was repellent.

Various health professionals on the radio were stressing that getting the jab will immediately give some immunity and reduce severity of any infection, so go for it.

@Comeonbabyblue Well if she was mildly worried before, she’ll be bloomin terrified now! 🫣
But genuinely that sounds awful, hope you’re all feeling better soon.

@Ladybridgerton25 have you had your flu.jab

I get you're nervous but I honestly dont even think it matters now, get the jab if it makes you feel better though it may offer some protection.

My husband and I had jabs mid to end october
Ds1 had his spray on 27th November and since wed 3rd December until yesterday hasn't been able,to hold himself up, screaming in pain, cough, temperatures, light sensitivity, pain everywhere, vomiting for 24 hours last week, no appetite.
DS2 started on Friday just gone hes none verbal but appears the same. Hasnt took a step since Friday, cant sit up and is in pain, temp spiking 39+ was 40+ at one points. (Hasnt yet had his spray)

I got something on Saturday presume its what the kids have got except i can lift my head up, walk just about now and only today can I eat and be in light.
Hit husband last night and hes absolutely floored. Seen a doctor for both kids who believe its flu for both but dont know really 🤷‍♀️
I believe the flu jab is protecting against a different type of flu thats going round or so ive read / heard but im not an expert. Just if that is true Id like to believe its still gave some protection and we've got off quite lightly compared to some people so maybe it is worth getting.

@Ladybridgerton25 We can't believe all that doctors tell us, clearly. Like HPV only being transmitted sexually. As you've proved, flu can be mild. Good to hear none of you are suffering badly, and hope you recover completely very soon.

My DH and myself had the flu jab and still had flu really badly 3 weeks ago. I ended up on steroids. We were both bed ridden for 4/5 days. I returned to work a week after contacting it because my boss isn't very sympathetic and it was easier to traipse in, but I still don't feel right - fatigued and just out of fettle. Bear in mind though, we both have underlying health issues so that didn't help us.

Because the symptoms we get from the flu and similar illnesses are mostly created by the immune system's response to the virus, rather than the virus itself, they can vary a lot from person to person or the same person at different times. It depends on things like your overall health, genetics, age, viral load, and previous exposure.

I never thought you could get it less seriously either, I was always adamant people were wrong if they weren’t too bad and said it was flu. First time I had it, it hit within half a school day, I was hallucinating, high temp, awful throat and headache and I was coughing up so much stuff I could barely speak without setting off a coughing fit. It took months to recover properly. And I’ve always held firm on the line “if it’s flu you wouldn’t go outside to pick up the winning lottery ticket on your doorstep” This has also been said countless times on tv shows like this morning and Lorraine by their on air doctors.

But we were all swabbed for it at the hospital when our little ones swab came back positive for flu A, it came back positive for us too and we were put in a private room with another family whose little one had it whilst she was being monitored. I wasn’t even unwell when it came back positive (it did hit the next morning though) and DH was displaying cold symptoms but nothing worse.
Whilst I don’t feel great now and I’m wide awake at a stupid time, I’ve only had symptoms it for 48hrs and I’m already feeling better. My sore throat is nearly gone no headache and all I’ve really got is crackling in my ears with the congestion. If I’d not had the doctor tell me we’ve got it, I’d have thought we had a standard cold virus. I find it very very odd.

Very interesting post. So you can get it mildly? I hadn't realised that and, like you, have always been dubious about people claiming to have flu but being up and about. I've had 'real flu' only twice, though from what you've found I may have had it at other times but mildly. Both times I was in bed for 9 days. Bad headache that got even worse when I lifted it from the pillow; aching all over; hot; unable to eat; legs wobbly when I got up to go to toilet; and that indefinable but well known 'fluey' feeling. Counted the hrs until I could have more paracetamol. Something that marked it out as being different from other viral illnesses was the suddenness with which it came on. Only a couple of hrs between feeling slightly unwell and going right down. Recovery equally sudden. One day after getting out of bed had fully recovered, as if there had never been anything wrong.

I had proper flu about five years ago and because of an ongoing health condition it took nearly a year before I regained energy and really felt well again. So I now pay to have the flu jab every year. Depending where you live it's sometimes possible to get it done at a pharmacy on a 'walk in' basis if you choose a time when they're not busy.

Op, I must admit I’m feeling similar. Flu isn’t something that really crosses my mind, I don’t think I’ve ever had proper flu (I am 34!) but with all this talk of it being rampant right now and particularly bad I feel a bit anxious, I’ve not had the flu jab since I was pregnant with my eldest - 15 years ago when I believe we were still being jabbed against swine flu, ds has had his flu spray last month, but dd missed it as she was off school and there aren’t any apps available straight away at the catch up clinics so have to wait for an app - they’ve both had it every year for many years with no issues at all.

both my children have Sen, I mean being ill as a parent sucks regardless but mixed in with two very dependent kids being teen and pre teen 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️I had a text end of August/early September offering me the jab being a carer but I never booked it because it wasn’t a priority at the time for me! I’ve got to pop to get a prescription tomorrow so I may ask if they are still doing them this side of Christmas!

Actually, at first glance I thought it WAS a pic of mince pies

It's virulent. All my family have had it including the children of 2 and 3. The only one not to get it was the 8 yr old who had had the flu sniff and nana who had the vaccine. It is horrendous - please get the vaccine or flu sniff for children

Just have the jab. As PPs have said; it's about £15: you can certainly book it online at Boots and probably Tesco and many other places too.

I've been having it for about 10 years. What prompted me to start having it is that my 2 closest friends had it and I was absolutely shocked at how ill they both were. Essentially they were both out of action for about 2 weeks and then gradually rejoined real life very slowly after those 2 weeks.

Coincidentally, I bumped into another friend today who swims for England (in her age group) and according to her a bout of flu she had a few years ago impacted on her athletic performance for about a year!

Your prerogative. I didn't notice if OP had said she had vulnerabilities, but that's not really how health anxiety works.

My comment was directed to the pp because it sounded like they didn't realise flu's worse than just feeling shit for a couple of weeks, for some people.

Just wear a good mask.