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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Really terrified about this flu going around

268 replies

Caramelbarrel · 07/12/2025 21:15

I’m in a total panic about the flu. It’s everywhere I look online, people are posting about it left, right and centre. Including locally.

I’m always hugely anxious when my DS gets ill anyway and so if he gets it I know I’ll be a wreck. I have bad health anxiety too.

I don’t know anyone personally who has it, but I know it’s just a matter of time.

I’m so worried I’ll get it before Christmas and it’ll all be ruined for our DS. We’re supposed to be going down and staying with family.

OP posts:
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6
Brickiscool · 07/12/2025 21:17

Have you had the flu jab? Have your kids had the flu sniff?

Sartre · 07/12/2025 21:17

It’s just this time of year, it goes around every year with the same ferocity. I’ve had flu once in my whole life, it was awful but I was 10 and it hasn’t happened since. My DC have the flu jab every year so that may be why I have dodged it.

Original poster
Caramelbarrel · 07/12/2025 21:21

My DS has but I haven’t as I’m not immune compromised or anything. I’ve not been offered it.

But I’ve heard the flu spray/jab isn’t making any difference to the current strain this year.

OP posts:
Brickiscool · 07/12/2025 21:22

You can pay for it

PatThePenguin · 07/12/2025 21:22

What sort of groups are you in online?

I've only seen a couple of news headlines about it.

Minty25 · 07/12/2025 21:23

I'm not sure what the chances are of catching it. I have never had flu in my life ( I'm 57), despite working in hospitals for most of my working life. My 61 year old dh has had it once in his life.

Allmarbleslost · 07/12/2025 21:24

What do you think will happen if you do get the flu? You'll feel like shit for a week or two and then you'll get better. Why the panic?

Octavia64 · 07/12/2025 21:24

You can buy the flu jab at most pharmacies.

TwotierChristmas · 07/12/2025 21:24

@Caramelbarrel where did you hear that because someone else posted a gov link to say it is helping

Yaffly · 07/12/2025 21:24

I've not been offered it but I had it done at Asda. The virus has mutated but hopefully it will offer some protection or milder symptoms.

We make a point of washing our hands after using public transport and cleaning touch points in the house. And trying to avoid touching our faces a lot.

CheshireCat1 · 07/12/2025 21:25

I’m coming to the end of it, have been ill for nearly two weeks. I had the flu jab in October because I’m immunosuppressed.
Its really knocked me for six but I’m slowly recovering. I know quite a few people that have it, some not as bad as others.

SpeedwellBlue · 07/12/2025 21:26

Caramelbarrel · 07/12/2025 21:21

My DS has but I haven’t as I’m not immune compromised or anything. I’ve not been offered it.

But I’ve heard the flu spray/jab isn’t making any difference to the current strain this year.

I got it for £16 in Tesco. Last year I went to a local chemist to get it. It cost more but I'd left it late so tesco ones weren't available any more.

LizzieSiddal · 07/12/2025 21:26

Caramelbarrel · 07/12/2025 21:21

My DS has but I haven’t as I’m not immune compromised or anything. I’ve not been offered it.

But I’ve heard the flu spray/jab isn’t making any difference to the current strain this year.

Well I heard a Dr on Radio 4 this week saying the vaccine is working this year and preventing people getting really ill. If you have so much anxiety go and get the vaccine. You can get it at most chemists.

Brickiscool · 07/12/2025 21:26

Given your anxiety go and spend the £15 on the jab. Yes the strain has mutated but the jab is still having a big effect on children and a smaller but significant effect on adults.

Thepeopleversuswork · 07/12/2025 21:27

Get the jab? I pay for it every year. Why wouldn't you?

Honestly though if you get flu and you have no underlying issues you will almost certainly be fine. You will quite likely feel quite shit for a while but even that's not a given: some people have it asymptomatically.

I think possibly your health anxiety is a bigger worry than the flu. But if you're that worried about it just get the jab.

Zanatdy · 07/12/2025 21:28

Worth getting the jab anyway. I have one due to a health condition but if not i’d have it anyway. NHS came to our work 3 times and had huge queues. My 21yr old DS said he was going to get it, as he’s commuting daily and working in an office.

Tryingatleast · 07/12/2025 21:30

In Ireland everyone is advised to get the jab, they just offer it first to immunocompromised. Definitely go get it op and stop panicking, stress will cause you to get sick!!

ChikinLikin · 07/12/2025 21:30

Pay for a flu jab at Boots or your local pharmacy.

bozzabollix · 07/12/2025 21:34

There’s an easy fix to this, buy the flu jab.

I know a few people who’ve had it including me. It had me properly done in for about a week, but it’s taking a long time to feel properly well again. I’m self employed and don’t want to lose more money so am ploughing through but it’s not pleasant. Absolutely fatigued and low.

You’re ok though, you can get that flu jab sorted. My husband had the jab and has been the only well person here so it does work.

Ewock · 07/12/2025 21:34

Caramelbarrel · 07/12/2025 21:21

My DS has but I haven’t as I’m not immune compromised or anything. I’ve not been offered it.

But I’ve heard the flu spray/jab isn’t making any difference to the current strain this year.

You can pay for the flu jab at any pharmacy. I go to boots think it was around £15. You can book it online. If youre this worried it would be an idea as might help your worries

Pistachiocake · 07/12/2025 21:41

My FIL was really ill with it even with the jab. He is older, but the reports in newspapers (I read the articles on my phone, so don't necessarily remember which paper as I don't particularly favour any) say this strain is hitting younger people worse, and they are getting people to wear masks in hospitals, so if you wanted to, OP, you could wear one when you're out? Completely your choice, but other than staying home and not seeing anyone who doesn't stay in your house, I'm not sure what else to recommend.
Some people are bad with flu, but a lot hardly suffer at all with it (despite all those people who'll tell you that you can't get out of bed if it's flu-that is true for some, but not for all, some are asymptomatic).

PatThePenguin · 07/12/2025 21:41

Caramelbarrel · 07/12/2025 21:21

My DS has but I haven’t as I’m not immune compromised or anything. I’ve not been offered it.

But I’ve heard the flu spray/jab isn’t making any difference to the current strain this year.

It makes no sense that you're really terrified and have bad health anxiety, yet you haven't had a flu jab because no-one's offered you one for free.

Could you save up for one if you can't afford £15?

NeedyLimeMember · 07/12/2025 21:42

Get the jab or don't get the jab.
But more importantly - there are loads of things you can do to bolster your immune system naturally. Eat a healthy diet - lots of fruits and veggies, drink lots of fluids, get plenty of rest, try to reduce stress levels, go outside, exercise. Elderberry syrup and multivitamins for the kids. Also look up fire Cider recipe - you can easily make it at home.

EmeraldRoulette · 07/12/2025 21:43

Allmarbleslost · 07/12/2025 21:24

What do you think will happen if you do get the flu? You'll feel like shit for a week or two and then you'll get better. Why the panic?

I had it once in my 20s

I was really ill for about two weeks, really struggled going back to work and had to start from scratch at the gym when I eventually went back, which was maybe six weeks later. Even walking to the station was horrible.

It's just such a gigantic pain in the arse. I mean 25 years later and I'm still banging on about how I lost all my gains at the gym 😂

edit - I also had pneumonia twice in my 20s. I was definitely overworked, but there was some talk of maybe something wrong with my immune system at the time - I tend to think I was just unlucky.