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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this the flu? It's horrific

55 replies

cheaplyormeek · 20/08/2022 07:28

I've got no other symptoms other than -

My legs and lower back feel like they're 'sleeping'

My entire body feels plagued with severe fatigue and I'm so tired!

Nothing else going on. And I haven't checked changed my diet or activity levels.

Anyone know if this is what flu can be like?

I'm so so exhausted it's beyond belief. My bones feel like they're starving to just sleep for a month

OP posts:
SusanPill · 20/08/2022 09:15

You could have it again. You described my initial symptoms to a T. I cried with the fatigue and I’m someone that has fatigue anyway due to a health condition.

alexdgr8 · 20/08/2022 09:52

you could ring 111 for advice

eastegg · 20/08/2022 12:02

cheaplyormeek · 20/08/2022 08:26

When my DD has her surgery, they told me not to test if I had Covid within the last 3 months as it would probably be a false positive?

Show quote history

Yes, this is correct as far as I know and always has been the case.

SusanPill · 20/08/2022 13:34

@eastegg with the newer strains this isn’t the case.

17CherryTreeLane · 20/08/2022 13:42

Flu makes you wish for death. I couldn't even get out of bed and go to the loo myself, I had to bed helped there and back.

Missillusioned · 20/08/2022 13:49

I felt like this when I had glandular fever. I didn't have the typical sore throat so it took a while for the doctor to diagnose, especially as I was older than is typical. I know it's called the kissing disease bit I think I caught it from sharing glasses and cutlery with my primary aged children. Pre pubescent children are often asymptomatic with it.

Terrible fatigue. Not just tiredness, but feeling like I was going to drop to the floor and being unable to move. I did get better within a few weeks though and didn't end up with ME which was a fear at the time.

Pinklady245612 · 20/08/2022 13:51

I wouldn't say it's flu. Generally comes with extremely high temperatures - I've only had it twice but could barely sit up let alone move. I don't think I could have used a phone to message on AIBU, literally the most ill I have ever felt in my life. Took a good 10-14 days to get over.

ofwarren · 20/08/2022 13:54

Pinklady245612 · 20/08/2022 13:51

I wouldn't say it's flu. Generally comes with extremely high temperatures - I've only had it twice but could barely sit up let alone move. I don't think I could have used a phone to message on AIBU, literally the most ill I have ever felt in my life. Took a good 10-14 days to get over.

It can make you feel dreadful but some people get it mildly.
My middle child was diagnosed with it via swab in hospital. I was extremely poorly but my husband just had aches and a sniffle.

SparrowsNest · 20/08/2022 14:11

Pre covid times I had a bout of flu, nothing extreme and recovered ok. A few days afterwards I had a shower and went to brush my hair and just couldn't lift my arms - initially thought I was having a stroke or something. There followed almost 6 weeks of severe back and joint pain, stiffness and absolute fatigue. I was diagnosed with post viral syndrome by my GP - no treatment apart from rest and pain relief. Fortunately I started to recover at this point and was able to gradually resume normal daily activities, although the first time I went back to swimming I couldn't even manage one length.
There is clearly a recognition of long covid, so better understanding for people affected. At the time, I definitely got a number of comments about malingering and milking time off.
Listen to your body and rest. Hope you feel better soon OP.

SteveHarringtonsChestHair · 20/08/2022 14:14

cheaplyormeek · 20/08/2022 07:58

Getting up and moving honestly makes me want to cry. I'm so so fatigued I cannot take it

Never known anything like it in my life! DD is going to the beach today and I'm almost in tears trying to brush my hair I feel so unwell, I'm thinking of asking my mum to just take her (she's going with a group of family)

Sounds a lot like underactive thyroid to me. I used to describe it as wading through treacle - everything felt like incredibly hard work. Since medication it’s a lot better as long as I don’t exert myself. It can present as post viral fatigue so if it continues then ask for some blood tests.

HangOnToYourself · 20/08/2022 14:14

I felt exactly like this last week, fatigue like I have never felt before and banging headache. Felt like my limbs weighed a ton. After about 5 days of it I felt really sick as well for about 3 days.

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/08/2022 14:27

Could be a virus, I’d ring the dr.

I had a virus for a year aged 23, it was not nice then one day it just went.

johnd2 · 20/08/2022 14:30

Could be related to COVID, I've only tested positive for COVID once, via lft, only very just positive after 30 minutes. However I've had similar symptoms several times this year, what seems like a mild cold ie sneezing a bit and slight cough, then when I start to improve I get 2 weeks of fatigue and general CBA to do anything much or focus.
Then a couple of months later the same again.
I think if your immune response is not so strong you can get COVID again less than 2 months later. It really is not fun.
I think the symptoms are quite different for different people even infected at the same time.

Zilla1 · 20/08/2022 14:42

Seems a relatively odd presentation. The fatigue for symptomatic/'proper' flu can sometimes be described like when painkillers might be a couple of feet out of reach and really needing them but not wanting to make the effort. Similarly feeling like death and wanting the release. Flu can sometimes be differentiated as it can hit abruptly and someone go from fine to welcoming death in less than an hour. Often a temperature and chills when the thermostat gets out of kilter later.

Hope you feel better soon.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 20/08/2022 14:46

Doubt it's flu. I've only had it twice in my 54 years. Both times I literally felt like I was dying. Eyeballs ached even. Couldn't get out of bed.

Scepticalwotsits · 20/08/2022 14:49

cheaplyormeek · 20/08/2022 07:28

I've got no other symptoms other than -

My legs and lower back feel like they're 'sleeping'

My entire body feels plagued with severe fatigue and I'm so tired!

Nothing else going on. And I haven't checked changed my diet or activity levels.

Anyone know if this is what flu can be like?

I'm so so exhausted it's beyond belief. My bones feel like they're starving to just sleep for a month

Glandular fever also fits

QueenofLouisiana · 20/08/2022 14:50

Post- covid syndrome was the diagnosis I got for similar levels of fatigue (blood tests and ECG taken). I was unwell with covid (delta) and struggled for a week, but wasn't really unwell.
I'm now 11 months on from that and the fatigue is still overwhelming at times. It's better than it was, but can be unpredictable.

katepilar · 20/08/2022 14:56

I'd say a flu or covid or another summer virus.

Why are you thinking of going to the beach when you are so unwell? You cant just push through - that will make you more unwell and fatiqued for weeks if not months. You need to stay in bed and sleep if thats what your body is telling you.

Original poster
cheaplyormeek · 20/08/2022 17:40

Hi, just to update in case anyone comes back to the thread or googled this and wonders what to do

I ended up calling 111 earlier. It was just so off. Then I realised something was really wrong when a neighbour asked if I had her parcel and I was really abrupt! I said 'here you go' and tried closing the door on my lovely neighbour

I'm in hospital with Encephalitis. It could've caused brain damage. Trust your instincts ladies and gents

OP posts:
Zilla1 · 20/08/2022 19:03

Hope you respond to treatment and recover quickly, OP.

fufflecake · 20/08/2022 19:34

Oh gosh! Take care OP

ItWillBeDone · 20/08/2022 19:40

Hope you get better soon. Good job you rang 111!

ArcticSkewer · 20/08/2022 19:41

Gosh! Get well soon op, thank goodness you listened to your instincts

Novum · 21/08/2022 00:36

Goodness, thank goodness you called 111. Hope you're better soon.

alexdgr8 · 21/08/2022 03:06

so glad you took my advice to ring 111.
that's what they are there for people; don't delay if you are worried or have strange symptoms, or feel v ill.
dear OP, hope you feel better soon.
thanks for updating us.
all the best.