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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about flu symptoms..

71 replies

DefinitelyFlu · 31/12/2017 21:40

I'll preface my post by explaining that yes, I actually have flu, not a cold, and yes, I do indeed know the difference.

I have had this flu for 5 days now. Today I woke up with the Sahara Desert in my mouth, despite drinking loads of water over the past few days...and a disgusting taste, similar to the metallic one I had in pregnancy, which I have never had any other time...but I am 100% not pregnant. Anyone else with flu have this symptom? My tongue hurts a bit too. The taste is making me more miserable than the other residual flu symptoms but nothing is making it go away! Any advice?

OP posts:
TovaGoldCoin · 31/12/2017 21:42

It could be sinusitis, or acid reflux. I always get a foul taste with sinusitis. My partner is into their 4th week of flu..... I'm thinking glandular fever, as they cannot even shower without going weak and grey Sad

Original poster
DefinitelyFlu · 31/12/2017 21:55

4th week? Bloody hell!

OP posts:
goose1964 · 31/12/2017 22:00

I only had a cold but I had a horrible dry mouth,I often get a metallic taste too.when I'm ill

Amanduh · 31/12/2017 22:14

When I had flu I literally could not move. Or type.

I have the metallic taste and sore tongue and randomly cheeks every time I have a bad cold with sinus issues. Or in the days after flu!

Mia184 · 31/12/2017 22:19

I had the genuine flu teice and had no metallic taste though my breath probably smelled like a goat's arse

MyCatIsPlottingToKillMe · 31/12/2017 22:25

Sorry, but if you're on here it's very doubtful you have 'flu. I had it once when I was 22. I was in bed for 3 weeks and made it downstairs once, but needed help to get up the stairs again.

There are a lot of different cold viruses, not just rhinoviruses, but also coronaviruses, RSV etc. Some of them can give you a mild fever and similar symptoms to 'flu and are often confused for extremely mild 'flu.

Why do you think it's definitely 'flu? Have you had it tested? They have some very good molecular tests these days which give a result in 2 hours (they mostly come up negative in our lab btw).

lougle · 31/12/2017 22:27

Have you tried gently brushing the roof of your mouth? I think that when your nose and sinuses get bunged up with mucous, there is a tendency to mouth breathe more, which leads to your mouth drying out. When you have flu, your tongue and mouth often gets coated with mucous, too, but it gets sticky and dry, and often the roof of your mouth is a place where the mucous can stick and dry out. Most people don't routinely brush the roof of their mouth, but it can lead to a really nasty taste if sticky mucous builds up there.

Netflixandchill · 31/12/2017 22:29

Brace yourselves, the “oh no, trust me, you would KNOW about it if you had flu!” Brigade are coming!

PinkyBlunder · 31/12/2017 22:29

I’ve had a virus very similar to flu recently (awful but in no way as bad as flu) and my mouth was like sandpaper throughout the night and in the morning. Nasty taste too. I had the virus for around 2 weeks before there was a major improvement. ‘‘Twas miserable.

BamburyFuriou3 · 31/12/2017 22:33

Bollocks to flu and not being able to post. I had genuine flu in October for 2 weeks, with post viral fatigue for another 4 weeks - Temperature of 40C even with paracetamol and ibuprofen, uncontrollable shakes and teeth chattering, unable to get off the sofa to wee without huge effort and pain - and because I bloody had kids and a baby to look after I still managed to get food (mostly crap admittedly), change nappies, interact occasionally with said children (with cbeebies on 24/7) and, yes, occasionally post on mumsnet.

I think the fact I did push on though contributed to the fact it's taken me 3 months to get over it. So I don't recommend it

But to the OP, yes I had the metallic taste along with the start of a secondary sinus infection. Fun. Orange snot anyone? Grin

notangelinajolie · 31/12/2017 22:37

OP, if you had flu you would NOT be posting on here. I had it in 1999 and believe me ... I thought I was going to die.

BamburyFuriou3 · 31/12/2017 22:38

Just to be clear I had the temperature for 2 weeks, and yes to going grey and faint occasionally for another 4 weeks. Only felt right this week, and I got ill at half term!

tiggytape · 31/12/2017 22:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DefinitelyFlu · 01/01/2018 01:35

Face doesn't hurt but I have a recurring ice pick headache...every few minutes I feel it zap the top of my head.

I've had swine flu and I had the Sydney flu (much worse than this one) in '98 so I know the difference between flu and a cold. I'm on my 5th day now and perfectly capable of typing on my phone. I've also had to cook for the kids and do laundry....
I'd rather spend my flu days tucked up in bed but sadly not possible. I didn't move from my bed on days 1 and 2 though. Muscle spasms and bone pain all over! There was no cold or nose involvement until yesterday but now heavily congested. Prior to that it was in my chest. If I have a sinus infection presumably I'll need to see gp...but not open until Tues and no guarantee they'll see me.

OP posts:
Fortheloveofdog · 01/01/2018 07:03

We’ve all had flu. DH took a turn for the worse and is in hospital with it. It’s bloody miserable. I didn’t have metallic taste, still coughing up disgusting shit tho 🤒😷🤧

CaptainBrickbeard · 01/01/2018 07:08

I often get that horrible taste and a kind of burning pain at the back of my tongue with cold/flu type viruses. I have it now! Drinking fresh orange juice gives a temporary respite but it is persistent and really unpleasant.

I really hate the ‘its not flu if you’re on MN/can move your fingers/haven’t actually died’ brigade. Wait for someone to come on with that absolute bollocks a boys twenty pound note next... Hmm.

Fairylea · 01/01/2018 07:30

I wish people would stop coming along on these threads and saying if people had flu they wouldn’t be posting here. It’s so untrue and ridiculous. Posting on here takes hardly any effort at all.

I’m on my 3rd week of full blown proper flu. I’ve got Addison’s disease and other autoimmune problems which complicate things and I’ve also got a chest infection with it. I actually spent the whole day in a and e yesterday because the antibiotics I had for the chest infection weren’t working and with my addisons it can be fatal if I don’t manage things properly. The consultant that saw me changed the antibiotics and took bloods and verified it’s proper flu (as did the doctor I saw on week one and the doctor I saw on week 2).

I have a son with autism and learning disabilities and I’ve had to get up with him at 4.45am most days as husband can’t afford time off work (low income family- we couldn’t eat or pay our mortgage otherwise) and we have no other family help. So I’ve just muddled on. I have to.

So yes I will post on here with flu. If you have to carry on then you just do, as shit as it is.

Op I hope you feel better soon. It’s dreadful. Last night I was in so much pain my chest and lungs I could barely sleep.

Frouby · 01/01/2018 07:42

I usually get that vile taste if I am brewing a chest infection. I usually taste it and realise that is what is coming and wait for bright green snot and phlegm Envy .

When I had my one and only proper flu I couldn't have typed on mn. For the first 3 days anyway. I couldn't walk, couldn't even sit up for a drink and have only a vague memory of those 3 days. I lived alone and my mum and best friend took it in turns to look after me. I remember on the 4th morning waking up in bed, stumbling downstairs and being shocked to see my best mate asleep on sofa. I asked her wtf was going on as I genuinely thought it was the tuesday after I had come home from work ill on the monday afternoon.

But by the time I was on the 2nd stage bacterial infection I managed to phone the doctors and get myself there and pick up my prescription.

And went back to bed for 2 days.

Voiceforreason · 01/01/2018 07:49

Hope you soon feel better Fairylea, it is an awful thing. Also to everyonr feeling poorly I wish you a speedy recovery.

Lucisky · 01/01/2018 07:52

Yes to the vile taste! I had flu a long time ago now, and once I was mobile again I kept feeling faint randomly, and the taste in my mouth was horrible, although by that time my nose wasn't blocked, although I had a bad cough. It took several weeks to go (the taste), and it was certainly metallic - had never had it before, or since.

TeeBee · 01/01/2018 07:53

OP, I'm just recovering from the flu too, and ended up in hospital. I also had that horrible taste. It was discovered with X-ray that I had a chest infection. This years flu does seem to have a massive respiratory component. I was told by the paramedics that it can last up to 5 weeks!

CaptainBrickbeard · 01/01/2018 08:22

Just thought I’d other things that help - my brain is very sluggish this morning! Sparkling water - whilst normal water amplified the horrid taste, the fizz of sparkling water feels soothing and makes it go away. Also either hot or ice cold drinks - sucking on an ice cube/ice lolly can make it disappear or drinking a hot cup of coffee, black as I find anything milky or creamy makes it worse.

Original poster
DefinitelyFlu · 01/01/2018 09:01

Thanks for your replies. Glad it's not just me with the weird taste. Sorry to everyone else with flu. It's bloody miserable! I'm hoping my kids don't get it from me but it seems inevitable. The littlest is running a low grade fever on and off, but no other symptoms.
Still go the hideous taste (like sucking a 2p coin) but not quite as bad this morning. Could it be blocked salivary glands?

OP posts:
thisagain · 01/01/2018 09:08

What are your tonsils like?

NC4now · 01/01/2018 09:14

I’ve got a grim taste too, and everything tastes odd (sadly I don’t lose my appetite when I get ill). I’ve started with a rattly chest and also have sore sinuses, so I suspect it will all start working it’s way out soon. Yuck.