Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People saying they’ve never had flu?

434 replies

Cumbrianlassie · 17/12/2025 18:00

I find this incredibly strange. I’ve had flu several times in my life and I’m 36, I mean the ‘proper’ flu - body aches, fever, skin pain, headache, cough, no appetite, fatigue for several weeks and weakness.

I had it in January, as did my DS and DP.
Havent had this new strain yet but feels inevitable!

Are some people just immune?

OP posts:
ImFckingMattDamon · 17/12/2025 18:13

I'm 39 and never had it. To be fair I don't really get any respiratory infections. The odd mild cold and I've had covid a few times but never been seriously ill with it 🤷🏼‍♀️

OneTipsyDreamer · 17/12/2025 18:12

I’ve never had flu, never even had a really bad cold. However if there is a sickness bug going around you can guarantee I will get it

Disturbia81 · 17/12/2025 18:12

Mid 40s and never had it

snugasabug75 · 17/12/2025 18:12

I've had it once. I was so unwell for about two weeks. Couldn't get out of bed for a few days. Soaking the bedsheets with sweat. Everything hurt even my teeth and hair.

No87 · 17/12/2025 18:12

Late 30s, never had the flu, never had a flu jab. My DH had it once, pre covid, I decamped to a hotel for a week, dropping of daily supplies for him and making sure he was still alive!

BigAnne · 17/12/2025 18:11

Cumbrianlassie · 17/12/2025 18:06

I don’t have the jabs as I’m not eligible.

You can pay privately at most pharmacies.

Funnywonder · 17/12/2025 18:11

It’s very unlikely that anyone has completely avoided the flu. Some people have only a few symptoms or may even be asymptomatic. So they might not realise they had it. I was knocked out by flu a few years ago, but DP and DS1 only had very mild symptoms. We were convinced they must have had something different from me, but having read a bit about viruses, I realised they probably did have flu. They both had the vaccine though, but I wasn’t entitled to it and it never occurred to me to get it privately as I hadn’t been really ill with flu since I was a child. I always get the vaccine now. My mum used to say you would know if you had flu because you wouldn’t be able to move off the bed and I believed that for years. But it’s not the case at all.

RaininSummer · 17/12/2025 18:10

63 and never had proper flu. No jabs. Have had COVID at least four times though and do get nasty colds which often go to my chest.

TooWittyToWoo · 17/12/2025 18:10

I’ve had it twice and was floored for 2 weeks both times. Hallucinations, fever for days on end, no food to speak of and there was no way I could have got up for anything other than going to the loo (and I had to be helped there on occasion).

I’ve had heavy colds similar to the OP but the flu was totally different in intensity to those.

Baby2duejuly2026 · 17/12/2025 18:10

I’ve had it once about 2 years ago. Was absolutely horrendous. I’m in my 30’s.

Dreamin4685 · 17/12/2025 18:10

I’m mid 30s but I’ve never been so unwell that I can’t get out of bed for weeks. Max length of time in bed would have been 1-2 days and then just generally feeling a bit rubbish and unwell but not on deaths door style in the way people seem to describe flu. I have other friends that seem to be unwell every month or 2 and I find that quite strange.

TheDandyLion · 17/12/2025 18:09

I've never had it. I haven't had a cold since 2019.

EuroTour · 17/12/2025 18:08

Cumbrianlassie · 17/12/2025 18:06

I don’t have the jabs as I’m not eligible.

You don't need to be eligible, you can pay to have it if you don't qualify for a free one.

Jc2001 · 17/12/2025 18:08

Cumbrianlassie · 17/12/2025 18:06

I don’t have the jabs as I’m not eligible.

You can pay for it. I'm sure you knew that though.

Crumptes · 17/12/2025 18:07

Apart from fatigue for weeks, that could very much be a bad cold. And the problem with fatigue is I think a lot of it comes down to how willing you are to just get on with things. I don't think I have fewer sick days because I'm inherently healthier than nearly all other people, I think I just get on with things even if I don't feel 100%.

Clychaugog · 17/12/2025 18:07

Stinkers of colds, yes. Flu no.

I'm well old too.

cariadlet · 17/12/2025 18:07

I'm in my late 50s and have never had flu.

I hardly ever get ill eg I can go a few years without needing time off work. I'm not sure if that's down to a good immune system or just luck.

Or it could be 30+ years of teaching. Maybe mixing with loads of ill children has given me a bit of resistance.

Hollowvoice · 17/12/2025 18:07

Mid 40s and had it once about 8 years ago, was worse than COVID for me

Original poster
Cumbrianlassie · 17/12/2025 18:06

I don’t have the jabs as I’m not eligible.

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 17/12/2025 18:06

I do think some people have more natural immunity, but also different lifestyles. If you WFH, don’t go out often, have no small children, your chances of avoiding it are definitely higher.

TooHotWaterBottle · 17/12/2025 18:06

Late 40s - had it twice.

Mapletreelane · 17/12/2025 18:06

I'm 52, think I've had it 2x, I can remember both vividly as could hardly move for days with fatigue and I've never been so wiped out. I'm pretty healthy and very rarely get poorly. Last time I had antibiotics was tonsillitis after my 30th Birthday so over 20 years ago.

DappledThings · 17/12/2025 18:05

46, never had it. Only had the jab when it was offered to me in pregnancy.

Don't know anyone who has had it that I'm aware of. Don't think my parents ever have. DH thinks he might remember it when he was quite young but isn't sure.

ScrambledEggs12 · 17/12/2025 18:05

I'm 44, never had it. Only vaccinated the two years I was pregnant.

TheBirdintheCave · 17/12/2025 18:05

I’ve had bad colds before but the only illnesses that have flattened me for a week or more have been Chicken Pox, Tonsillitis and Strep A. I don’t think I’ve ever had flu.