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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if you can have mild flu

60 replies

Fluffyears · 24/01/2019 10:29

I have had proper flu several years ago. Diagnosed by gp who had to do a house call as I was very ill. I was also hallucinating due to my temperature going nuts. It took weeks to recover and I had a bad chest infection.

I always roll my eyes at people who ‘had flu last week’ No you had a virus!

This week I have been floored by something awful, my face hurts across the sinus area, my head is thumping, throat and ears hurt, have no energy, every joint aches, all my glands hurt so even my under arms and groin hurt, I feel queasy and have lost my appetite. I kind of want to curl in a ball and cry as I just feel ‘off’ I feel terrible and have had to stay off work. This ticks every flu symptom apart from a temperature so can it be mild flu?

OP posts:
blackteasplease · 24/01/2019 10:30

Maybe it is just flu?

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 24/01/2019 10:31

You have a cold.

BusySnipingOnCallOfDuty · 24/01/2019 10:31

It could be. Some people react very badly to flu, like your first experience of it. Other people feel it like you describe now. It can be a killer, but it can also pass in a week to two weeks.

almondfinger · 24/01/2019 10:32

Sounds like a bad dose of sinusitis? With the face pain

BusySnipingOnCallOfDuty · 24/01/2019 10:32

I also get irate (inwardly) when people call it flu every time they have a mild cold. I had a friend at school like that.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 24/01/2019 10:33

MN loves to claim that you can't possibly have real flu unless you're bedridden, unable to get up even to crawl to the toilet. Posters are frequently told ""if you're well enough to post on MN you can't have flu". This is absolute rubbish. There are different strains of flu and the same virus can affect people differently. When I had medically confirmed H1N1 (swine flu) I felt like crap, of course, but I was able to get out of bed and I could certainly have posted on MN.

Seeline · 24/01/2019 10:35

Flu is a virus. Other viruses can be very similar. I think to be 'real' flu you do need the temperature. Doesn't mean you can't feel bloody awful with other viruses though.
You don't mention sneezing, blocked nose, or cough so it doesn't sound like a cold either.
Hope you feel better soon.

hellsbellsmelons · 24/01/2019 10:35

You have, what sound like flu.
I've had it twice in my life and it was horrendous.
I hate when people say they have the flu when they clearly have no idea what it is if they are walking around etc....
Gives me the rage.

Aragog · 24/01/2019 10:35

Yes you can have mild flu.

It's incorrect that with all forms of flu you are floored. It's often read on hear that that it the case but it isn't. This is shown by people having been tested and positive for flu, around the times of epidemics, despite showing no or few symptoms.

Likewise you can have a very bad cold which knocks you for six.

Vintagegoth · 24/01/2019 10:37

It probably isn't flu, but whatever it is, it is horrific. I have had the same for 2 weeks now. I think the sinus pain is the worst part. Totally drained and achy all the time.
I hope you get better soon.

StarlightIntheNight · 24/01/2019 10:39

sounds like sinus infections along with flu

ScootalooWho · 24/01/2019 10:40

I had similar over Christmas. No temperature, but aching all over, swollen glands, shivers, skin very sore to touch. If not "flu" it was some sort of other virus, but I suspect it was "a flu virus". Recent research says that you can carry (and spread) flu yet not be symptimatic....therefore you could have no symptoms at all but still have flu.

DustyMcDustbuster · 24/01/2019 10:41

Our GP used to say “you know it’s flu when there’s a £50 note on the floor, but you’re too ill to pick it up”. I’m sorry, but I’m skint, I’d drag my lurgy-riddled body over hot coals for £50!

Original poster
Fluffyears · 24/01/2019 10:44

Not a cold as I don’t gave runny nose or watery eyes. I do have a word cough every so often, I sound a bit like muttley. I live in fear of being so ill again like I was with proper real flu. I kept dreaming and hallucinating and thinking a i was dying then wishing I would...my mum had to help me to the bathroom. I’m nowhere near that bad but i feel genuinely awful.

I have a friend who has ‘flu’ every year, it lasts about 3 days 🙄 it’s been at least 15 years since I had proper flu.

OP posts:
steff13 · 24/01/2019 10:44

My daughter had the flu last year. She had a fever, 103°F. The next day I took her to the doctor, she tested positive for influenza A. The next day, her fever broke and she was fine. The only really symptoms she had were the fever and she was a little lethargic.

The one and only time I had the flu, I laid on the couch for a week praying for death.

Original poster
Fluffyears · 24/01/2019 10:46

@dustymcdustbuster the floor I could manage but the if it was the garden i’d send DH lol

OP posts:
ProfessorCustard · 24/01/2019 10:47

I've always hated people at work saying they have a touch of the flu when I always considered the flu completely debilitating, feeling like you might be dying, struggling to get out of bed. At least that's what I went through when I had it years back.

HOWEVER, on MN years back someone posted an NHS link which said that there are different strains of the flu and some of them are even symptomless! That told me Blush I'll have to dig out that link...

Ladyoftheloch · 24/01/2019 10:48

Sounds like flu to me OP! Or a bad sinus infection - they can be awful.

Hope you’re on the mend soon Flowers

sashh · 24/01/2019 10:49

OP

I am just getting over exactly the same thing, difficulty swallowing even water, temp of 39, swollen throat, neck and face. Also the lack of appetite and fatigue.

My carer is also getting over it.

Interestingly it I had my flu jab, he didn't get around to having his.

It's nasty but I don't think itis flu.

Original poster
Fluffyears · 24/01/2019 10:49

Well if it’s not the flu it’s some sorta nasty virus 🦠, the light is hurting my eyes so i’m now completely under my duvet lol.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fluffyears · 24/01/2019 10:52

Thank you for the well wishes. I should just be grateful it isn’t the flu I had years ago where death was welcome. I realised then the difference between real and bad flu and a bad cold and that’s why it riled me when people have ‘flu’. A woman at work was off with ‘flu’ but she was in Asda in Christmas Eve as she had to get her shopping. If she had a really bad flu she wouldn’t have given a damn if they had food or not,

OP posts:
mogloveseggs · 24/01/2019 10:55

Horrid virus/dlu thing going round here. Dh had it 2 weeks ago and apent all weekend in bed with it. I had it but had to drag myself into work-apparently i looked scary!
We're not right, both of us are exhausted by teatime (not good for tonight when I'm on a late shift!) and the kids have now got it!

DustyMcDustbuster · 24/01/2019 10:57

@Fluffyears haha! I’d ask DS, but then I’d have to negotiate a split & fuck it, I’m too ill for this shit.

Original poster
Fluffyears · 24/01/2019 10:58

@mogloveseggs, my colleague had it and dragged herself to work (hence me catching it) i’m Obviously not as hardcore as i’m In bed with lemsip.

OP posts:
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