They weren’t lying about how horrific this flu is!!

[ByronKoala]

I will be brutally honest and say that I thought the recent news reports about how this is destined to be a particularly severe flu season with a nastier than usual strain were just scare mongering but oh my goodness have I been humbled… Never been so ill in my life.

Felt oddly achy and tired on Thursday AM but took paracetamol and was able to get on with my work day as normal. 40 degree fever, awful cough, sore throat etc hit me like a brick later on that evening and I’ve been bed bound ever since.

I’ve coughed to the point I’ve thrown up - my chest feels heavy and I’m in agony from all of it. The fevers were unrelenting for 3 days straight, paracetamol didn’t even touch the sides and I’ve been stuck in bed curled up in a shivering ball. The brain fog and exhaustion are on another level, my mind simply cannot function and I’m so incredibly weak. Worst sore throat I’ve ever felt and a nose like a bloody tap.

I’m young and perfectly healthy. Even the thought of 90yo DM getting this doesn’t bare thinking about and cases seem to be popping up absolutely everywhere. Genuinely quite scary

Had you all had the vaccine and still sick for two weeks ... my son had the vaccine in October so was hoping that would help ...... but maybe on for a tricky Christmas

Covid is doing the rounds too, I think a lot of people are presuming they have flu despite having vaccination when it's actually covid and visa versa. Son and I work in hospitals, he brought covid home about 6 weeks ago, he was so ill shaking with the fever and ended up with chest infection/asthma needing antibiotics and inhaler and two weeks off work, not right for over a month. I got it few days later as looking after him but not as bad despite being in my 60s🤷.......I know was covid as still had some nhs tests left over from when we were still testing.

Dh and I had proper flu 18 years ago. We had to give our baby to a relative who is lovely but we weren’t that close to because we were so ill we genuinely could not look after her. I thought we were going to die. When people trill about “a touch of the flu” I internally scoff that’s not the fucking flu love.

Again. Flu can be severe, mild or even totally asymptomatic. Just like Covid and many other viruses out there. So yes you could have a mild illness and have the flu.

I haven't had proper flu for over 20 years, Covid was nothing in comparison. I've only ever had it when suffering from extreme stress so I do believe it is connected to your immune system in some way

husband here is just coming out of it after over a week. together 20 odd years and can count on one hand how many times he so sick he stays in bed - this was one of them - in bed three days. he works outside all time self employed and we also have horses so bit of a nightmare. he not one for taking medication etc but said he will definitely be getting the flue jab next time. tje worst part he said was the cold he couldn't get warm at all. a friend of ours mother is in hospital now with it as its got to pneumonia stage now. its nothing ti be sniffed at. he just said thank god it didn't ruin my xmas 😅

I've had flu that felt like a mild sniffle and took part in a trial and had flu with no symptoms (just like hundreds of people). It's a virus, it affects different people in different ways, including no symptoms whatsoever.

All this "proper flu/feeling like you're dying/always awful" is a nonsense.

My husband and daughter have just come through it. Husband was sweating through the bed sheets multiple nights in a row. Bed was soaked as if someone had dumped water on it every morning. Daughter had vomiting and diarrhoea with it too. Both of them had been vaccinated.

Today marks the start of the fourth week for me 🙄, flu, vomiting and diarrhoea and now post viral fatigue, lost more than a stone, can still barely eat and no strength to speak off.... Was vaccinated in early November but this strain has simply floored me... Worse than covid... Get well soon everyone 💐 x

Yes we know it's the flu (Influenza A) as we did the rapid multi test - clear for Covid and B but a line for A. This is day three with a temperature etc ... I had hoped being young and vaccinated would help but he looks awful ..... hoping for some improvement today

Are you still vomiting when you eat?

I found soups and juices and things like mashed or sweet potato and vegetables and bananas helped with getting my strength back initially. And copious amounts of white sourdough toast and marmite.

The illness I got in March 2020 was different from the worst flu I've ever had as a child when fever caused hallucinations. Both are variable conditions though. Depends how bad you get each one I suppose.

Flu is always horrible. I’ve only ever had it once to my knowledge when I was about 10. Not sure how I’ve dodged it every other year, I’ve never been vaccinated against it. My DC have the vaccine every year so perhaps they offer me some immunity in that sense since they’re the main reason I pick up illnesses. But yeah, I couldn’t move for a week when I had it so I think it’s always like this.

Well yes that’s exactly it. It depends how it hits each individual person. But for the past few years on here any illness that makes people feel like shit is DEFINITELY Covid and some people just will not hear otherwise. When people say they’ve tested negative some people just tell them that the tests no longer pick it up and it’s DEFINITELY Covid. My point is that no one actually knows. As is proven here. Flu can make you feel the worst you’ve ever felt. Covid can make you feel the worst you’ve ever felt. For you, Covid was worse. For me, Covid (both times) was like a cold and I carried on working (from home) but 20 years ago I was hospitalised with flu despite being very healthy and in my 20s.

This time last year any illness with these symptoms people would be saying it’s DEFINITELY covid because it’s the worst they’ve ever felt and the tests just aren’t picking it up. Now with the exact same symptoms everyone is saying it’s the flu. But unless they’ve been tested, no one actually knows.

We have all had it too
2 adult DC and DH took to their bed for a week,with me fetching and carrying all meals ,drinks and meds up two flights of stairs many times a day for them.while managing face pain and headaches
I haven't been coughing or sneezing but had very bad face pain in my bones and thought I had a tooth infection,ended up at emergency dentist appointment,only to find it's sinuses.
It's been one headache after another for me , really bad bone pain round my eyes and nose and pain when breathing on my chest .
But as I didn't think I had it ,I carried on running around after everyone else .
Turns out one of them only had a cough as well.

The childhood flu was probably worse feeling. (The mumps was as bad but different again; do vaccinate for that) The Dr came out because of the hallucinations. COVID was bad but sneakier in reducing oxygen sats quietly at first. Very different presentations each time.

I think I've had both covid and flu this autumn but can prove neither as I didn't test but both correspond to the peaks of each. Vaccinated for flu this year and both last year.

You didn't mention alternating, which is why I said ibuprofen. And while a lot of cough syrups are pointless, Night Nurse contains dextromethorphan which is a cough suppressant, promethazine which is a decongestant, and your favourite, paracetamol. I've used it many times and it provides amazing relief, which is why I gave that advice, but you do you.

As someone with health anxiety, I had a nasty chest infection last Christmas and hospitalised with Covid

I’m having such an internal battle about staying home and not going to all the gatherings over this weekend.. I missed last Christmas due to the chest infection and I’m fearful as my immune system is crap that I’ll get this awful flu.

I’ve had flu once and Covid was serious and since Covid I’ve picked something up 2-3 times a year.

Is anyone else avoiding party’s and gatherings?

also note to self don’t click on health related links!!

We actually missed a Xmas thanks to flu - Dc’s were very young when we all came down with it a couple of days before Xmas and we were all so ill that nobody made it out of bed. It was the 27th before we opened presents and managed a few mouthfuls of food.

I’m just coming out the other side of this now and while it hasn’t been fun I’m consoling myself with the fact that at least it wasn’t over Christmas. In your shoes, I’d go but wear a mask and practice good hygiene re hand washing, not touching your face etc.

And here I was thinking I was safe because I got the vaccine. Why isn't it working this year?

The strain mutated after they’d made this current vaccine.

Im on day 11 and still feeling awful . Worst ive ever felt . Ive developed a secondary infection and im now on antibiotics and steroids ,7 tablets a day . Hope you start to feel better soon

I had it 2 weeks ago or a bit more. Im ‘better’ now but I’m still coughing, still exhausted, still sleeping badly, and this morning I’ve woken up with everything aching and headache again.

Surely it won’t come back!?

Ahhrg. And I promised the kids they wouldn't get ill if they agreed to get vaccinated. If they do get the flu it's the last time they will agree to do it (teens)...