To wonder if there is such a thing as man flu?

[Cheekylittlenumber]

My DH caught the flu last week. Was bed ridden for two days straight. Had a high fever, aching body, headache, nausea, and was basically asleep the whole time.

After a few days of quarantine my DD (3yrs) seemed to get it. She was very lethargic and had a temperature, but being three she couldn't really describe the rest of the symptoms she had. In about a day and a half she was right as rain and eating normally, jumping up and down on the bed, etc. Her normal self.

I started to feel crap last night. Felt really hot (but with no temp) but my skin hurt, started to ache, headache. I took paracetamol thoughtout the night ( we also have 12 week old EBF DD) and went to bed with the little one.

This morning I feel ok. Tired and have a phlegmy cough/sneezing but am fine.

Question is- have I and DD3 got the same germs but manifested in a different way, or does man flu really exist?

Maybe I'll be taken down by the flu tonight?!

According to this doctor, it's very real.

You shouldn't mock the poor darlings. It's not their fault.

Probably you and your daughter didn't catch what he had. This will no doubt turn into a "well us women just get on with it" thread, but if he's being sick and basically sleeping all the time he must have it pretty bad.

I imagine its just that he has flu and you both had bad colds. Not a male female thing.

Yes I'm wondering whether we have caught something else or the worst is still to come.

Generally he has a much stronger immune system than I do and is very rarely ill. I've had a constant cold for weeks and weeks. Wondering whether we might be exposed to the same germs but my symptoms are displaying differently.

My baby is very phlegmy with a temperature bit of course I don't know if she has a headache or sore skin.

I know people can get different severities of the flu but my sore skin/headache etc only lasted a few hours. Then again he didn't take any paracetamol or anything whereas I did pretty much straight away.

Interesting article theymademejoin!

DH & I both had flu over Christmas, we both spent two to three days in bed. My temperature was over 40 for much of that time, except for when I'd taken paracetamol. We were both quite ill. I still feel tired and have a bit of a cough.

My DH genuinely does feel worse than me generally though because he has Addison's Disease so colds and flu do hit him harder.

It is possible to have flu mildly though, not everyone develops full blown flu.

Me, DD, DS and DH all had the same flu (exactly the same - they took nasal swabs). In that order we had least to most severe symptoms. DH was admitted for a saline drip. I was on my feet within 36 hours but DH wasn't himself for nearly 2 weeks.

I think the term "man-flu" is pretty hypocritical and one I dislike.