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Original poster

What does flu feel like?

40 replies

Thisnamechanger · 04/01/2019 15:08

As far as I know I've never had the flu, although I tend to get a few colds a year that make me snotty and tired for a few days.

Yesterday afternoon I started a bit of a dry cough but thought maybe it was my new air freshener. Felt really tired so went to bed at 9.30 then woke up pouring sweat and shivering madly at about 3...couldnt get warm at all, even under three blankets. Arms hurt, legs hurt, even skin seems hypersensitive, feel queasy and dizzy...I'm freezing (clothed, in coat and under blanket) but face is burning. Cough is relentless and really, really painful. WTH is this??? 😱 Paracetamol does nothing!

OP posts:
MitziK · 04/01/2019 15:29

Sounds like a mild case of the flu.

People often say that a bad cold = being able to drag yourself up to pick up a tenner on the ground outside and flu = nah, it can stay there.

Having had flu a few times (and been borderline for hospital admission in the view of people who saw the state I was in), I'd say flu = you wouldn't notice it in the first place and if somebody told you there was three million quid sat six inches away from your head, you'd wish somebody would come and pick it up and use it to pay for a hitman to come and put you out of your misery.

If you were even conscious and not tripping the fuck out with hallucinations that meant the three million quid had become a multifanged, eleven thousand tentacled demon that was currently ripping your head, chest and every nerve ending apart whilst sitting on your heart and lungs, that is.

This is what the yearly flu jab is for, people.

SushiMonster · 04/01/2019 15:30

If you were even conscious and not tripping the fuck out with hallucinations that meant the three million quid had become a multifanged, eleven thousand tentacled demon that was currently ripping your head, chest and every nerve ending apart whilst sitting on your heart and lungs, that is.

Yes. This.

Original poster
Thisnamechanger · 04/01/2019 15:35

Dear God.

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Original poster
Thisnamechanger · 04/01/2019 15:36

What will help? Drugs? Which ones??

OP posts:
willdoitinaminute · 04/01/2019 15:44

It sounds like flu. Regular paracetamol and stay in bed. The fact you are able to post on MN suggests mild case so will hopefully recover quickly if you rest.

Miljah · 04/01/2019 15:46

It does sound like flu, but hopefully not a bad case.

It's horrible and I hope you recover quickly.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 04/01/2019 15:48

Flu varies. For some people it's no worse than a bad cold. I work in healthcare and have seen people test positive for flu whilst not really being very ill at all.

Original poster
Thisnamechanger · 04/01/2019 15:48

Ibrobrufen maybe? I don't usually use it because of gastritis. Can't believe how much joints and neck hurt after paracetamol!

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Crunchymum · 04/01/2019 15:55

Proper flu rendered me to the sofa for a week and my mum had to take me to the loo as I couldn't walk.

I was 13 and we had the Dr out twice (back in the day of home visits). Was off school for over 2 weeks and wasn't back to normal for a good 6 weeks. Never had it since though. And I have my flu jab as I'm on medication that weakens my immune system.

Original poster
Thisnamechanger · 04/01/2019 16:01

I must be a total simpleton for not realising flu jabs we're for non-high risk groups! My brother was always made to have one as a child but he has asthma.

Gutted. Really hope it's not. SIL is due to give birth soon (first baby in family for a generation) and I wanted to meet the little chap. Sad

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NewerMoreBoringNameFor2019 · 04/01/2019 16:06

When I had proper actual flu I honestly thought I might die from it. I have never felt so ill in my life. Took me a couple of months to fully recover.

ManicUnicorn · 04/01/2019 16:12

Every inch of your body hurts, from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. It feels as though you've been run over by a bus driving at 60mph. I physically couldn't get out of bed and has to be helped to the toilet as well. DM had to force panadol down my throat as well.

Pisses me off when people claim to have flu when just just a bad cold!

Topofthehills · 04/01/2019 16:14

Both times I had flu I thought I had meningitis, and kept obsessively checking myself for a rash - the fever and aches were so sudden!

First time I was out of action for about a week, second time more like three weeks.

Lots of fluids, rest, and paracetamol is all you can do.

ShadyLady53 · 04/01/2019 16:18

I had the flu jab and might have flu currently, it’s either that or glandular fever, just waiting for blood tests so don’t beat yourself up for not having the flu jab.

Get it in future though, I’m sure you never want to feel like this again!

WakeMeUpWhenGoodOmensIsOn · 04/01/2019 16:18

It sounds like you have a relatively mild dose of flu. As pp said, you can have very mild flu and feel just a bit poorly. The only way to tell for certain is with a swab, but those symptoms sound more like milder flu than a nasty cold.

And for the “it’s not flu if you can move” brigade, I hope you’re not one of those people who claims that their spotty child has “chickenpox” when they’re not even in intensive care like my child was when he had actual chicken pox.

ShadyLady53 · 04/01/2019 16:19

Ibruprofen is really helping but I hate taking it!

GreenThing · 04/01/2019 16:19

It really varies.

People have had proper, tested for, flu, and only really had mild cold symptoms.

Flu tends to have a relatively rapid onset.

Original poster
Thisnamechanger · 04/01/2019 16:19

the fever and aches were so sudden!

That's what scared me too! I went from a tiny cough and a bit sleepy at 9pm to the most violent shivering I've ever done in my life. Under a duvet, PJs a d lnd thick wool blanket. Every single bit of me hurts. How long after I feel better should I wait to visit the new baby? Anyone know? I'd be devastated if I passed germs on to baby or SIL.

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ShadyLady53 · 04/01/2019 16:23

I’d give it 10 days from onset of symptoms. Two weeks to be really safe.

Original poster
Thisnamechanger · 04/01/2019 16:24

Oh shit SadSadSad

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IRememberSoIDo · 04/01/2019 16:32

Stay away from your SIL and a small baby. You have a lifetime ahead of ye. I've had flu twice in my life and will never forget it. Both times it came on very quickly and I went from fine to unable to move within hours. I couldn't get out of bed. Please rest, lots of fluids and stay on top of paracetamol and ibuprofen spaced out at regular intervals. There's not a lot more you can do.

ManicUnicorn · 04/01/2019 16:33

Yes. I was in bed for a week, felt rough for much longer though and it took weeks for me to feel properly well and get my appetite back.

Aragog · 04/01/2019 16:36

Flu can vary in its symptoms and severity. It's even possible to have some forms of flu without really knowing. People have just had it picked up on blood tests/investigations for other stuff. This was the case for some with swine flu.
It's also possible to have a very heavy cold with similar symptoms to flu and be just as poorly.regardless of which it is, most of the treatments are similar and the best remedies are usually time, rest and fluids.

MNOverinvestor · 04/01/2019 16:38

Yup - real flu is horrendous but even so, you might be able to post on Mumsnet. Day Nurse and Night Nurse gets this household through it best...

WakeMeUpWhenGoodOmensIsOn · 04/01/2019 16:41

“Real flu” can be horrendous or can be nasty or can be relatively mild.