How to manage if I get this flu?

And dd1 had her jab, dd2 didnt qualify for one.
They seem to have had the same symptoms tbh

It's hit our house.
Older dd was at ooh dr on Sunday.
Dd2 last night.
Very high temps, body pains, rigors, dd2 had hallucinations.
It seems that 24/48 hours are awful then it becomes like a urti - cough, sore throat, snotty
Horrid.
I've stocked up on every otc painkiller, difflam, honey etc
Just waiting for it to get me now...😬☹️😷

It's not just "what if I get the flu" - you could equally catch norovorus. Or fall down the stairs and break both your ankles and have to go to hospital for surgery to pin them. It is worth thinking these sorts of worse case scenarios through and thinking, right if I'm being loaded into the back of an ambulance, is there anyone I could call. Or will the police be getting an emergency foster placement for a weekend situation.

Stock up on medicines and fill the freezer. Buy paper plates and cups. 5 and 7 is thankfully much more manageable than toddlers and babies. TV on, whatever it takes to entertain them. If they have to miss school because you can't take them, so be it. It's not forever and you are only likely to be very incapacitated for a few days. I have it at the moment, it's horrible. I'd be worried if I had babies and toddlers on my own but kids would be just about manageable.

When i had covid very badly, some other school mums agreed to collect DC from house& take to school. I try wherever I can to offer favours and I find people tend to rally round and offer help when you need one back.

I had a medicine cupboard well stocked, literally everything - paracetamol, ibuprofen, cocodamol, aspirin, sudafed, loads of lemsips.

Don't panic until it happens either, some groups tend to be more vulnerable than others, older people, those with chronic conditions like asthma & diabetes.

As a pp said, what tends to make a lot of viruses tricky to avoid is the number of people walking around carrying them who are barely affected

This.

Like everybody else, just get on with it.

that's the one occasion when you leave the kids in front of screens all day, feed them crap food. At worst, they'll eat crips and biscuits for 2 days if you are REALLy that unwell, which is unlikely.

People always exaggerate. You can feel like death, but you can always drag yourself out of bed and crash on the sofa. If you are really awful, ask someone for a lift to and from school or just keep the kids home

The flu jab is far from 100%, I don't know why people think it's a magical answer.

I would like to get the flu jab but I've heard that it can make you poorly.

Is that nonsense?

The current wave of flu has mutated away from the vaccine strain and so people are not being protected by this year's vaccine. It's a particularly nasty year for flu and the outbreak hasn't peaked yet. Flu is disabling and can be dangerous - it's understandable to be concerned about it.

It’s very different to Covid, which, according to the GP I spoke to yesterday, is considered a mild strain this year.

I’m coming out the other side and it is grim. I’ve never had flu before, so I had no idea, but I’ve been almost incapable of anything for over a week now.

There is some great advice on this thread, the only thing I would add is that, even if you do get it, it may be mild or even asymptomatic. You may have already had it. Keep stocked up, I thought I was getting rid but then the symptoms returned with a vengeance earlier this week (which is why the GP wanted to see me.)

Definitely make sure you are in the class WhatsApp for both dc.

I recently ended up in hospital and dh had to go away before I was up and about. I was able to send up a flare in the WhatsApp groups and other parents ran a rota to get my kids to and from both school and clubs.

Mine are older now so can easily sort food and pets etc but definitely worth stocking up with easy things and essentials. Have emergency bread and milk in the freezer.

If you have pets look into a dog walker service etc. I just threw money at this.

Oh that's really late! Ds got his in September i think.. DH has had his because he's asthmatic, and i called to pay for one but everywhere seems out of stock round here now 😏

Get the flu shot. I assume the kids have had the nasal spray at school, if not arrange it ASAP and you can probably pay for yours privately at the pharmacy if you aren’t eligible on the NHS or get offered it at work.
I know little kids are gross but do what you can to encourage handwashing, keep hand santizer on you.
Stock your medicine cabinet with everything imaginable for you and for them.
Make sure you have your freezer stocked with lots of easy food and pantry full of snacks the kids can grab themselves.
If you do get unwell, probably unlikely I haven’t had flu since I was 13 it’s not THAT common, then suspend your usual rules and let them binge watch TV. Needs must.
I wouldn’t be panicking before it’s even happened.

Talk to other parents at school and make sure you have some connections you could message if you had to who could do something like checking on you daily, perhaps taking the children occasionally. Even if you have family connections as well, there are a lot of people out there who would give you some forms of help.

The didn't do it until the end of November, by which point the reception class had already been hit by flu. My two year old had the vaccine and she got off with one day of high temps and a week of grumpy snot. Me and my son were crippled, two weeks on and I still can't walk to school without stopping for breath and I normally run 35 miles a week plus the same again walking.

Why do I keep seeing threads from panicked people about flu. Seriously if flu scares you this much get vaccinated. It’s straightforward, it’s not expensive and free quite often and it would save a lot of this upset.

So they were toileting in the bed?

Sorry what?

You are in panic mode for something that is not actually happening to you right now?

Wash your hands
Keep your distance from people who are symptomatic
Get a flue jab
Stock up on easy prep food

As long as your child is safe and fed you will cope fine.

Might be wise to have the flu jab, I have had it every year bar one when I got the flu and totally wiped out my entire Christmas holiday (teacher) being poorly and unable to do anything, never risking it again .

1. Get the jab
2. The next few meals you cook, make extra and freeze portions so worst comes to worst you have decent food you can pop in the microwave for the kids. Also make sure you have a stash of fish fingers, chicken nuggets, frozen bread, baked beans, cereal and easy snacks available.
3. Stock up on nuromol (an amazing ibuprofen and paracetamol combo), calpol, microwaveable hotties, tissues, loo roll etc
4. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. I'd happily collect my kid's friends from school for a mum who was struggling or pick up something she needed from the shop.

Fingers crossed none of this will be necessary!! 🤞

Wondering if I'm just exceptionally lucky as at 44 I haven't had the flu yet. Only been vaccinated when I was pregnant. The children get vaccinated and haven't had it. My partner is 49 and has never had the flu..

This is not helpful. Everyone is different and OP might manage fine. Did your sister's family all lie in bed soiling themselves and get hospitalised with dehydration? If not then they were able to take care of essential needs and hopefully most people can do the same unless they do need hospital, in which case help is available.

Stocking up in advance may help OP and find a neighbour or friend who could drop basic supplies in an emergency. It would be hard but you will get through if needed. Fingers crossed it won't affect you.

There seem to be so many people on MN with irrational anxiety about normal winter bugs these days. I think the government’s approach to the pandemic really did a number of some people and has impacted their mental health.

You’re unlikely to catch a debilitating version of any cold or flu. I’d worry about it if it happens rather than stressing yourself over it now. Most people have basic meds and food supplies in their cupboards don’t they?

@vaccinationnation great list there I especially like the idea to have a pen and pad near the meds so you can remember when they have been taken !

Surely just the same as if you catch flu or another awful virus any other year? Yours are at an age they will be ok. My worst illness was when mine were just turned 4 by a couple of weeks and just over 1. I literally couldn’t move and had to crawl to the toilet but would have to lie on the floor before and after to summon the energy to use it or get back. Older dd sorted picnic type food, thankfully had some in, changed nappies, changed dd2 in to pj’s. I slept on the sofa and they watched tv and played. It can happen anytime, not just when the msm makes a big deal. Dc will manage