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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Screamingabdabz · 17/12/2025 18:05

I don’t think I’ve ever had it either - mid 50s. Plenty of other stuff that’s floored me but not that. My DH has had it twice.

Cantgetausername87 · 17/12/2025 18:05

Late 30s and never had it. I've had bad colds but never flu and I've worked in schools etc. Just lucky I guess?!

pinkstripeycat · 17/12/2025 18:04

I’ve had it once when I was 32. I only knew it was flu because I couldn’t get out of bed for 2 weeks and had to crawl to the toilet. It was aches, stiff joints, bad headache, dizzy and no appetite. No cold symptoms. As far as I’m aware the flu doesn’t involve any cold symptoms

StrawberrySquash · 17/12/2025 18:03

I don't think I've ever had it. Nasty colds, yes - lots! But it's probably possible I've had it and mistaken it for a cold. I know people say you'd know if it was flu because you wouldn't be able to do anything, but isn't that partly because we diagnose ourselves with flu precisely because we can't do anything. We saw with Covid how some people will be incapacitated and others just feel a bit rubbish.

Luxio · 17/12/2025 18:03

Do you not have the flu jab. Several times in your life at your age seems excessive.

vanillalattes · 17/12/2025 18:03

I’ve never had it - I’m 37.

Bankholidayworries · 17/12/2025 18:02

Do you have the flu jab each year? That sounds like a lot of flu. I’ve only had proper flu once and it was absolutely awful. Do you live/work in the city?

Mumofteenandtween · 17/12/2025 18:02

3 weeks ago I had only definitely had it once. I am now on twice. 😢 I am 46. Generally pretty healthy.

PodMom · 17/12/2025 18:02

I’m late 40s, don’t think I’ve ever had flu. I’ve had bad colds including those symptoms and a temperature though only for a few days/week rather than weeks. But don’t think it was flu.