How often do you get debilitating flu?

[CharlotteRumpling]

I am hardly ever ill, but once a year or so I get a terrible bout of flu. Got it now and can barely get out of bed. ( have had my flu jab).

DH has flu several times a year but not severe attacks. Can usually keep going but just WFH.

He's always quite taken aback by how ill I get quite quickly.

I've never had flu in my life. Had other things, but not that.

So far, at 60, never.

Never had flu. 53.

I've never met anyone who gets flu multiple times a year. Apart from those who call every cold flu.

I've had it twice in my life and I'm 50. Both times I prayed for death.

About twice in 40yrs

If your husband is able to work from home with it, and gets it several times a year, that’s not flu. It’s a cold virus of some sort.

I have have had it once and it was awful. If your husband can still wfh i suspect its not the flu he has had.

Once in 45 years

I had terrible flu earlier this year. My god the pain! I couldn’t sleep, pain, nausea, fever, shivers, cough, just awful, I lost 5 lbs.

Before that I had it 2 years ago but it wasn’t as bad and before that the last time I had similar was swine flu which was many years ago. I’ve also never knowingly had Covid.

Hope you’re better soon.

Are you sure it's not covid, if you've had your flu jab?

Twice , once at primary school. Broke up for half term and literally didn't get back out of bed until school was back.

Second about 15 years ago and couldn't get downstairs for 9 days. DH had to work full time and manage 3 small children solo, I was literally incapable of anything.

DH had never had it, and only 2 of3 DCs have, youngest DS had as a 1 year old (they thought it was swine flu,he slept and refused food and liquid other than BM for 13 days)

I've had it once in my late 20s (I'm 34)

I think I had it in January although it might have been covid. Either way, I took time off work for the first time ever and felt like death on toast!

How does one tell what is flu or a virus or Covid. Yeah he's probably just had a cold or a virus or whatever.
Astonished at those of you who have never had it!
We both take the Tube so am sure that has something to do with it.

Twice in my life where I’ve been so I’ll with flu that I couldn’t get out of bed for a week or two and could barely get to the loo.

Maybe once a year or every two years when I’ve been feeling really ill for a couple of days and have taken myself to bed for one or two days.

That’s a fair point. I literally couldn’t get out of bed a few months back. Praying for death is exactly right @gamerchick I’d have cried but I didn’t have the energy.

Once in my lifetime almost 50 years ago. Was nursing and almost the entire staff on our ward went down with it. I was one of the last 4 standing,until at breakfast with my parents, I stood up and passed out. Was off work a week or so. Never had either it, a cold, or any other bug loaded thing since! ... I've had/ got plenty of other stuff though!

Twice in 10 years and was I'll for a month each time. In 23 I had flu in February and Covid in September, I lost about a third of my hair and it's only just starting to grow in again. Half a stone in a week weight lost was good though!

Ps if he's working and you're on your phone it's not flu. There's nasty viruses but literally as a PP said with flu you'd honestly gladly accept death

Twice, about a decade apart. I'm almost 40.

Goodness I was going to say you were incredibly unlucky to have flu every year but your DH several times - are you sure it’s flu? Has he a weakened immune system?

Twice in the last 10 years.
The second time I had to lead a 3 day conference. Have never counted the seconds down until home time so much.

Not once in 54 years!

I'm 56 and I've only ever had it twice in my life and both of those was when I was a teenager.

I don't bother with flu jabs either.

I've had it twice in 55 years. It's absolutely awful and I could barely move it was so painful. I've had some grotty viruses, but not as bad as proper flu. I get covid every year though and that's pretty miserable.