Flu? I don’t know what to do 😭 medical people please

[Cathbach]

For background I am lucky that I am not often ill. I am very much a get on with it person.

But I’ve been ill since Saturday night and getting worried now because I’m not getting better.
The kids have had it too but they don’t seem as bad. They’ve had high temps, temperature, cough, sore throat, lethargy etc. 3-4 days off school each so quite bad. But followed the usual, ‘ill - very ill - get better each day - well’ process.

But I am just another level. All classic flu symptoms, I can’t do anything. It’s taking ages to write this. I got to the pharmacy yesterday as the pain in my throat was making me want to cry. Can’t cry though it would be agony. The pharmacist said my tonsils looked bad but not terrible, so gave me antibiotics. Started them yesterday and I thought mild improvement, but this morning if anything I’m worse. Temp is back and I just can’t move. Everything hurts.

Is this normal for flu? I haven’t had the jab this year, I usually do due to work but haven’t gotten around to it. I’m just not getting better.

Ive had about 6 hours sleep and 500 calories since Saturday night. If I ring NHS Direct they will tell me to go to the GP because that’s what they tell everyone. I’m too late for tamiflu though so I’m not sure what I’d gain. But I’m just so ill ☹️

Sounds like you have proper flu - your kids didn’t have flu they just had a mild cold virus or similar. Flu wipes you out for weeks and when you’re really bad you can’t get out of bed to go to the loo etc

Totally. All this bollox of flu= death bed 🙄

But OP if you get flu really properly it really is horrible and I did last year. I really could barely get out of bed for 5 days and was properly rough. If you get tonsillitis or something on top that makes it even worse. Rest up and I hope you feel better soon.

I'm sorry you're unwell OP but to the other posters who keep saying that you can't have flu unless you feel on deaths door. This simply isn't true. My toddler was hospitalised with lab confirmed flu 4 weeks back and they also tested me as well for infection control purposes. I came back positive for influenza A despite only having had the mildest of temperatures and body aches a few days previously. DH who is severely immunosuppressed and had been hospitalised with the much rarer influenza B a few years ago then tested positive too for flu but was totally asymptomatic.

Hello Op

Sorry to hear you sound so unwell. Unfortunately with flu it’s rest, fluids and time that you need.

Something to look out for though, I had flu 4 years ago and was unwell for 2 weeks, and it really floored me. As I started to get better I started to get what appeared to be severe allergic reactions - covered in hives, rashes and itching.

The GP diagnosed post viral reactions and I needed a course of antihistamines for a month. Apparently this is common after a period of severe viral infection

Hope you feel a little better soon

Yeah, this isn't right. Plenty of kids get covid. They may not show symptoms as bad as their bodies are stronger and they can get over things quicker, but they absolutely do get it. Not showing strong symptoms doesn't mean it's a "mild version" of the virus either.

If kids didn't get covid, why do you think they had to close schools during the pandemic?

Very true. People seem to get a little bit high and mighty and gatekeepy about flu..

This is largely due to people with colds being dramatic saying they have flu, but yes, you absolutely CAN have flu and be able to get out of bed. I've had it (confirmed) a few times in my life, and have never been bed bound. I may have CHOSEN to stay in bed, but I could get to the bathroom and kitchen to get drinks etc, I just chose to predominantly stay in bed to try and shift it.

Apparently, flu hospitalisations are up 63% week on week. Possibly not the best moment for doctors to go on strike!

You’re a midwife and you work in a medical setting and you think kids don’t get Covid?!

Bloody hell, Op, I’m sorry you’re poorly but you couldn’t be more wrong. Speaking as a parent four years into caring for a (previously healthy, sporty, fun-loving, high achieving) child now permanently disabled by COVID. There are quite a few of them I’m afraid (approx 100,000, I believe at the last count).

You need to rest and take plenty of fluids, hopefully you will be all better by Christmas. Flu is usually about a couple of weeks though I did have it for six weeks many years ago when I was in my 20s. Hopefully you will feel better soon, see if you can manage some soup.

I am slowly emerging! Thank you so much for the kind replies.

Yes I know children get covid. Newborn babies never did. But reading back that’s not what I said at all, however with a temp of approximately 60C I don’t think I should be held accountable.

I have had some CRAZY dreams this last week too. The temp finally seems to have left me though. I’m not better, but I’m better than I was which feels amazing.

60C???, do you mean 40

No, I think 60 is an acceptable fever?

Either that or I was exaggerating for mild comic effect. It’s one of the two…🤔

It definitely sounds like it was flu. I had it once at 18, it knocked the stuffing out of me as a fit young adult so I respect it!
I could get out of bed sporadically, then would usually fall asleep mid 'life preserving tasks' such as trying to drink water. I lost a lot of weight too.
Make sure you really rest up and go easy to get over it. As soon as I felt better I was up and off landed up with a serious chest infection a month later

Get well soon OP. It is hideous.
Whoever has it badly currently has my sympathies. I had that aged 21, I was delirious with fever for the first fortnight, lost my appetite and vomited and was off work for six weeks. I lost two stone and was underweight by the time it finished with me. Thank god my mum looked after me.
I was fine in the morning, by the afternoon I had to be collected from work.

I've had the jab every year since having DC and am terrified of getting it that badly again.

You did! (Second para.)

I agree. I've never been unable to get out of bed with an illness and I don't believe I've never had 'flu in 50-odd years.

I feel for you OP and I hope you will feel better soon.
I had the flu when my children were little. I do not want it again. My DH had to take time off work with some of it was unpaid. We havent a support network with family.
I was so ill, moving was painful. If my DH dropped a £20.00 note on the bedroom floor I wouldnt be-able to pick it up. Going to the bathroom was a nightmare. I was in bed for two weeks and then it took another two weeks to get back to full health. Since then I have had general aches, colds etc but never felt like I did with the flu. You definitely know the difference. My DH was very worried as I fainted when I moved from my bed and the doctor did a home visit at the time. He said I had a bad case of flu. I took some medication and fluid. It felt great when I was feeling 100% and my DH was relieved as things could go back to normal.