How long does it take to shake off flu

[Proofer]

I've been off work for a week already, today is the first day I've actually been able to walk downstairs and I still feel like boulders are dragging me down any time I get up.

I never thought it was possible to feel this ill! When will I start to feel even more human? The worst is definitely over but the fatigue is scaring me a little. I can't eat anything either.

Please tell me it gets better

Took me about 2/3 weeks from the start to feel normal again. Sorry! At the risk of sounding like my mum, I think you need to force yourself to start eating something now, doesn’t have to be much but not eating won’t help with the fatigue. And take it easy too! Hope you feel better soon.

@Piffpaffpoff I know, I really need to. The trouble is that I have a very small appetite in the first place and lose it very easily. I'm trying very small bits - up until a few days ago I was bringing it straight back up (sorry!) but I've stopped being sick now. It's so hard

it does but for us middle age types it will take a few weeks.

have the jab, no guarantee but reduces the odds.

I’m getting the jab this year for sure. Never have before but lost basically the whole of January this year and will take every opportunity to not have that happen again this winter!

It’ll probably take 6 weeks at least OP until you’re feeling better. By that I mean having strength, having an appetite back etc.
I’ve had flu 3 times (lucky me) and once you have had it, you know why it kills people. It is awful. And really takes time to recover from. You’ll start to feel better in next few days, but do take it easy. It will take weeks to fully get over it.
Eat what you can, calories first, don’t worry too much about healthy eating, just whatever you fancy or can manage. Drink plenty of fluids.
Good luck.

It took my (then) 18mo 2 full weeks. First week very ill, high temp, sick, shaking etc an second week very lethargic and clingy and sleeping all the time.

Sorry, OP. Flu is the nastiest thing.

From what I've seen, it'll take about 4 weeks for you to feel kinda "mostly" normal again. But, hopefully, some strength will start to sneak back in over the next few days.

Just keep drinking loads and being kind to yourself.

(Incidentally Have you been diagnosed by your GP? They keep a register so they can spot flu epidemics.)
Proper actual flu is a really nasty illness that can send you to your bed for at least 2 weeks and take several more weeks to fully recover from. It's really nasty. I've had it many times as I seem to be susceptible to it. Follow nhs advice and try to eat eg soups and drink plenty. I echo the advice above, eat anything you can manage. If you have any secondary infections eg productive cough you may need to see doctor for antibiotics if it doesn't shift. But antibiotics don't work on the virus itself.

And once you are well get a flu jab.

Yep a good week and a bit to be anything like functioning for me (am genetically more vulnerable to it than some people- the downside to the amazing ‘cannot get norovirus gene’. Last time I got it I had my fit bit on. The first few days recorded my heart rate as being in the fat burning zone for 15 hours a day and I was recording 18 hours of sleep. I’m pretty fit and healthy and those stats really shocked me. It’s easy to see how it totally wipes people out and is a killer of so many.

At least a fortnight. Usually the first week or so you’re unable to nothing but sleep. Then another week of fatigue.

I recommend having milkshakes if you can’t eat much. I lost my appetite when I was ill for a while and milkshakes were the only thing I could tolerate.

Yes got diagnosed by the GP who had to come out as I couldn't walk even to the car to get a lift to the doctors.

It really is awful. I'm probably prime age to fight this off as well, I can't imagine how damaging it would be for a child or an elderly/less well person.

Its a bugger alright. Its like aliens taking over your body.
Can I suggest miso soup with some added seaweed. I found dried bits of seaweed on ocado and I pop them in the soup.
It sounds gick, I know, but they are handy ways to get a shot of vitamin c, protein, iodine and I think B vits. Not as unpalatable as you might thing, easy to digest with the soup and warms the parts of you that need some TLC.
Don't push it, rest up and let your body catch up with itself.
Bless you, take care

I was wheezing for 3 months at least after my last flu, four ish years ago, It really was awful! It took me ages to get back to normal for dog walks and stuff.

I survived on hot juice, usually apple topped up with boiling water, and lemon curd yogurt. I did get antibiotics after almost two weeks...the GP did not seem impressed when I said I had the flu and had been like it for a fortnight and was coughing up stuff that looked like chopped liver....and then he listened to my chest and took my temperature and did that sucky teeth yikes noise as he backed away proffering all sorts of prescriptions.

I hope you start to feel better soon OP.

Day 1-3 - nasty cold and cough, fever getting worse.
Day 4-6 - Utter misery, can't eat, drink, sleep or stand. Too ill to read or watch TV.
Day 7-10 - shaky, weak, no appetite, unable to leave the house without codeine. Cough so horrendous it pulls all your stomach muscles.
Day 11-14 - Gradual recovery. Steroids prescribed for asthma.
Day 15- 21- cough finally recedes. Depressed and miserable.

This all sounds horrendous!! Funnily enough I haven't really had cold symptoms apart from cough and a little bit of a sore throat, it's all been temperature, intense headaches, extreme fatigue, dizziness and vomiting. I didn't think it was flu but the doctor said it was.

I'm horrified hearing all of these stories and think it can't be true. Then I try to get up to go to the loo and realise oh yes it can 😩

6 weeks for my son who had proper flu when he was 9.

@proofer - that sounds like swine flu to be honest. You can still get it. Hope you feel better soon.

2 weeks off work. Probably 80% after 4 weeks. About 3 months to get back to 100%

I’ve had ‘flu three times. Toddler (I don’t remember) mid teens and mid twenties and now I religiously have the flu jab after the last time. It’s so so so awful.

Had flu once when I was a very fit and super healthy 21 year old...I was as weak as a kitten and struggled to get out of bed for a wee....no appetite at all for about 3 weeks...then at least 2 weeks before I started to feel remotely normal...had post viral fatigue for ages after as well...my mum was buying individual Christmas puddings topped with clotted cream for a while after to help build me up again that and veg soup helped a lot. Hope you'll be better soon Op..would not wish flu on my worst enemy x

I had it whilst pregnant. I was 7 months gone and I never fully recovered till I had the baby.

I worked with nurses at the time, they said there is rarely a stuffy nose or cold symptoms. The biggest give away is a spike in temperature, a sore throat and fatigue. They were so lovely, they let me start my maternity leave early so that I could just get better.

I was signed off work for a month when I had it. And took another couple of week to feel normal again.

I also didn’t have cold symptoms as such, vomiting, lethargy, dizziness. Awful!!! And it came on very suddenly, a couple of hours from feeling fine to feeling like I was dying. You have my sympathy OP, please don’t try to do too much too soon.

@IamPickleRick yes, DS didn't have any cold symptoms at all. Sudden temperature (up to 40), sickness and some bad nappies, very clingy shaking and obviously in pain. Sleeping a lot.
It's very different from a cold, I don't know how people mix them up.

I caught flu as a 20yo. I was working full time, came home from work early as struck very quickly. I didn't go back to work for 6 weeks and when I did I was a stone and a half lighter (7.5st).

I don't remember anything of the first 2-3 weeks. DM had to look after me, she said it was like having a baby again.