To think ffs my Christmas is now ruined

[TigerAtTheZoo]

Had an exhausting year with no time to relax. No holidays or meals out or anything. Very clingy toddler that doesn't sleep well. My ocd/ mental health has been getting worse. So I was really looking forward to Christmas as a chance to relax and have a break. But now I have mild chest pain, sore throat, headache, sore neck. Starting to feel light headed and now my arm muscles ache. Feel really exhausted. I have the flu don't I. I also have asthma so likely to be ill over Christmas. Fuck my luck I feel like crying. It's the cherry on the shit cake of a year

Three quarters of people who have flu have NO symptoms. You can have flu that feels like a mild cold.

The whole not able to lift your head from the pillow rule is nonsense.

I had swabbed and confirmed swine flu and felt slightly sniffly and a bit unwell but carried on as normal, went running, looked after the dc etc.

I’ve felt AWFUL recently OP and worried the same. Day three and I’m basically fine. There’s something crappy going round. I’ve been taking vitamin c tablets in the morning and when I get home from work.

If you had flu you wouldn't be able to get out of bed. You've got a cold.

L0bsters RTFT. Or just read anything about flu.

I've had the flu once. I was sick for a week, and literally wanted to die. Two of my kids have had it, they were barely sick at all. Fevers, a little achiness, over in 2-3 days. We all tested positive for flu on the nasal swab. It's not true that you couldn't be posting on MN if you had the flu. I don't know why people always trot that out on these threads.

Here you go, second line. Symptoms can be mild to severe. Wikipedia.

steff some people on here seem weirdly incapable of understanding that others might have different views/experiences to them.

@Backtoreality1 This study shows that the majority of flu infections are mild or asymptomatic: www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2014/03/uk-flu-study-many-are-infected-few-are-sick

FWIW OP I doubt it's flu as flu doesn't build up it just suddenly hits you all in one go.

Try and look after yourself as much as you're able to and drink LOADS of fluids

@TigerAtTheZoo sorry to hear you've had a rubbish year. I think you need to gain a little perspective though. I know I needed too.

I'm pregnant with twins, due Christmas Day. I'm huge, cumbersome, in a lot of pain, and quite frankly bitching about how hard my lot is and won't enjoy Christmas. My tree isn't decorated. I can't cook anything. I'm hosting (god knows why I've done that) and I haven't slept more than 5 broken hours a night for the last 7 weeks.

I tried to cheer myself up and get in the festive spirit more by putting together some hampers for a local drop in centre, the lady who runs it came to pick them up today and we got talking. One in particular will be going to a young lady in her mid twenties who is currently living in a tent behind a supermarket. The zip froze on her tent last week and she couldn't get out and ended up urinating in her tent because she physically couldn't get out. She was caught yesterday shoplifting food from the supermarket. There's a lot more detail as to how and why she is in the situation, but essentially she had to leave her home through an abusive partner, so she's categorised as "voluntarily" making herself homeless, which renders her as non qualifying for a lot of things (in a nutshell). I felt sick hearing about her, and will be donating anything I can to assist.

I feel like a right div complaining about my lack of sleep in my warm superking, with DH making me tea and bringing me things to try and alleviate my pain. I mean, it still hurts like buggery, but my God, when you realise what some people are going through this Christmas...

Sorry you feel bad, it's still a week to go until Christmas Day though, you might be fine by then. You haven't had "any holidays or meals out"... When you put that into context with the poor girl I heard about today, you should be thankful for everything you do have. I know I am.

A lot of people need educating on what flu is. I was poorly for weeks, feeling dizzy and run down and it turned out to be flu. The doctor said that flu doesn't have to be coughing, sneezing, throwing up or dying in bed. I was able to do all my normal activities for the majority of the time and for about 2 days I rested in bed but I was certainly not immobilised or unable to operate my phone...

Don’t preempt your sickness! It’s 6 days away! You’ll probably be fine.

Thanks for all the replies. Physically couldn't get off the couch without help yesterday. Then I took some cold and flu tablets and started to feel a bit better. Today I feel better than yesterday but still feel rundown, groggy headed, sore throat, find it sore to swallow and my neck still hurts.

Hope you are feeling a bit better today don't forget to keep up your fluids and rest when you can.

HowDoYouLikeThoseSuedeApples thank you. I'm feeling alot better than I did 2 days ago when I could barely walk up the stairs. But now it's just a sore throat. Not sure what it was but it seems to be passing quickly.

I'm really pleased for you! Keep up your vitamin and fluid intake and have a lovely Christmas