People saying they’ve never had flu?

I’ve had it twice and am still deaf in one ear from it. It’s not much fun.

I’ve only ever had it once, when I was about 20 at university. It was December and lots of Christmassy fun things were going on and my housemates tried to encourage me to get up and join in but I could barely make it to the loo let alone help make a house Christmas dinner or go to the students union for the annual Christmas Ball - in fact two of them had to help me get to the loo on one occasion.

I am fortunate to be generally very robust and I don’t often feel unwell but that floored me. Those who’ve never had it are most fortunate!

How did you test her?

Flu
Comes on suddenly
Feel wiped out
Fever, muscle aches, exhaustion
Need bed rest
Dry cough

I've definitely had these kind of symptoms multiple times in my life.

My son had them recently and needed 1 day off school.

It’s almost funny (but more infuriating) that every time anyone points this out, the next post says something about being close to death and leaving £50 notes lying about the place. Not a single poster, not one, has said ‘Oh, I didn’t realise you could have mild symptoms or no symptoms. You learn something new every day.’ I used to believe all that stuff too. It was passed down for generations. But I think it’s about time, in these days of having facts at our fingertips, and having been through a pandemic caused by a virus, that we all understand how a virus operates.

But if you are ill and have no choice but to get out of bed, looking after young children etc, then it could be flu that youre just powering through with strong pain medication?

I'm 62. Never had flu. Had flu jags since swine flu time. I was a GP so exposed to a lot but really only ever got one cold a year throughout my working life.
My parents were similar...think my dad had flu once and rarely got colds.

My first husband had horrible flu one year and I didn't catch it.

I haven't had a cold since late 2024.

You clearly haven’t read the thread because it has been stated multiple times throughout, that flu can range from mild to severe enough to kill and can even be asymptomatic. It’s a myth that it cant be flu unless you are literally unable to get out of bed.

Yes I heard another one once: if someone was at the door with a million pounds for you, would you get out of bed to get it or would you roll over and not give a shit?

Too many people conflate colds with flu, it always annoys me when people say they’ve got the flu yet they’re managing to text, get up, eat etc.

I had flu as a child and again in my 20s. Never known anything like it and wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

Somebody referred to a colleague having flu the other day. She was back in work two days later.
Not flu

I've had it twice in my early 20s when I burned the candle at both ends and vaccines weren't a thing for the fit and well. Never had it since I've taken the yearly vaccine.

Mid 60’s, had it twice, once in my 40’s and last year.

I’ve never knowingly had flu, nor has DH or DS.

We’ve all had low level coughs and colds but never got that ill that we were incapacitated. I’ve never had a day off sick from work and nor has DH since I’ve known him which is about 20 years. DS has also never missed a day at school.

I think we must be lucky as we lead a very average lifestyle so no factors that should impact health anymore than for the average person.

She was fine when she came back in after those 3 days - still had a bit of a cold but it wasnt flu.

How on earth could you possibly know that? Some people get over the flu very quickly. It’s a virus. It affects everyone differently.

Anyway, I officially give up. People will continue to peddle the myth that it’s only ‘real’ flu if you can’t so much as blink. It’s ingrained in people’s psyche now. Even though it’s wrong. I suppose eventually it will go the same way believing that leeches could cure all ills. Or that smoking was good for asthma.

I've never had the flu.

I've had really bad colds and been laid up in bed for a couple of days but not flu. I had 3 days off work in October with a cold and that's unheard of.

I work on the basis that people say, "You'll know if you've got the flu because there could be £50 on the floor and you couldn't pick it up/wouldn't care."

The only time I've felt that ill was when I had Glandular Fever when I was 17 and was ill for months not weeks.

I haven't had covid either. Even when my daughter had it and we sat watching films together on the sofa, I didn't catch it.

I think a lot of people say they've had it when they have just had a bad cold though. Eg I had a child in my class off for 3 days last week whose parents called to say she had flu. She was fine when she came back in after those 3 days - still had a bit of a cold but it wasnt flu. Every year, parents say their child has flu when they've got a cold and a temperature.

I've never had flu. I've never had the jab either. I'm more prone to getting heavy colds and coughs that shift to chest infections.

oh i did have something when i was a teenager - 1982

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly1rryv2ryo

I just always hear about how terribly awful it is

I don't actually think I've had it

Just did a bit of googling about how you tell the difference and one of the quotes I found was "if you are well enough to wonder about whether you have a bad cold or flu, then it isnt flu". Which pretty much fits with what I have been told about having flu (which as I said above, I dont believe I have ever had).

I have had the flu quite a few times. As a child/teen, I had it loads and it was often followed by tonsillitis.

I had something recently which started very suddenly. Fevers, aches etc. Took me down for a few days and I was not right for a few weeks after.

I had swine flu in 2009, I've not knowingly had flu any other time though.

Almost 47 and never had flu. I've had bad colds, meningitis, covid, fevers, but never the flu!

I’ve had in once in 55 years in my early twenties
Completely different to any cold.
Not had anything like it since.

I’ve never had flu and I’m 58, I’ve also never had Covid. I don’t get vaccinated and work closely with children and adults, I think I just have a good immune system - plenty of outdoor exercise. I haven’t been off work sick since 2010