Cold or flu

[Lifesagambleisntit]

Aibu to not know which I have, despite googling?! I have temp / as soon as painkillers wear off I just can't get warm, despite layers and making room very hot, hacking non stop cough, very very painful muscles and joints, including hips etc. I just feel really rough but then wondering if this is a bad cold? I don't want to waste dr time as there's nothing they can do and I don't want to infect anyone else. So.... How do you tell? Thanks!

They weren't swabs just from people who went to the GP with symptoms. You are right, you'd never pick up the asymptomatic or mild cases that way. There's all sorts of flu monitoring that goes on.

Here is a report about one study. But this isn't something that is new.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2014/03/uk-flu-study-many-are-infected-few-are-sick

I had swine flu when there was the pandemic - literally didn't care whether I lived or died. No cold type symptoms at all, just crushing exhaustion. Do likewise, I runny nose and aching doesn't mean you have the flu.

Thank everyone, just trying to sleep it off with max pain relief I'm allowed!

If you think you've got the flu - you've got a cild

If you think you're dying - you've got the flu!

Get well soon!

I know there are people that say that unless you're in a critical care unit you've got a cold not flu but I once had doctor diagnosed flu and actually felt better (still awful) than when I had a nasty cold a year later (I assume this was "just" a cold because everyone else had it and managed to soldier on but for some reason I just got knocked out).

Ultimately it doesn't really matter. Just treat the symptoms, drink plenty of fluids and hold tight until it all passes.

sorry forgot get better soon!

It's really difficult. I had flu 3 weeks ago. Not swabbed but spoke to a doctor at out of hours. I would say the difference is with the flu (my second time in 11 years) I was pretty much in bed. I had fever for 5 days. I ate small amounts because I had no energy to eat. I was very very sweaty. Also it was very sudden. No sore throat or cough. A pain in my chest and a very high fever. The GP said flus are very sudden onset wise in comparison to a cold and you'll always get a fever with a cold. I was really in quite a bad way. I did actually MN about it but really did NOT want to talk or see anyone. I just literally wanted to be on my own in bed I was so ill.

Always get a fever with flu! Sorry