People saying they’ve never had flu?

[Cumbrianlassie]

I find this incredibly strange. I’ve had flu several times in my life and I’m 36, I mean the ‘proper’ flu - body aches, fever, skin pain, headache, cough, no appetite, fatigue for several weeks and weakness.

I had it in January, as did my DS and DP.
Havent had this new strain yet but feels inevitable!

Are some people just immune?

I’m late 40s, don’t think I’ve ever had flu. I’ve had bad colds including those symptoms and a temperature though only for a few days/week rather than weeks. But don’t think it was flu.

3 weeks ago I had only definitely had it once. I am now on twice. 😢 I am 46. Generally pretty healthy.

Do you have the flu jab each year? That sounds like a lot of flu. I’ve only had proper flu once and it was absolutely awful. Do you live/work in the city?

I’ve never had it - I’m 37.

Do you not have the flu jab. Several times in your life at your age seems excessive.

I don't think I've ever had it. Nasty colds, yes - lots! But it's probably possible I've had it and mistaken it for a cold. I know people say you'd know if it was flu because you wouldn't be able to do anything, but isn't that partly because we diagnose ourselves with flu precisely because we can't do anything. We saw with Covid how some people will be incapacitated and others just feel a bit rubbish.

I’ve had it once when I was 32. I only knew it was flu because I couldn’t get out of bed for 2 weeks and had to crawl to the toilet. It was aches, stiff joints, bad headache, dizzy and no appetite. No cold symptoms. As far as I’m aware the flu doesn’t involve any cold symptoms

Late 30s and never had it. I've had bad colds but never flu and I've worked in schools etc. Just lucky I guess?!

I don’t think I’ve ever had it either - mid 50s. Plenty of other stuff that’s floored me but not that. My DH has had it twice.

I’ve had bad colds before but the only illnesses that have flattened me for a week or more have been Chicken Pox, Tonsillitis and Strep A. I don’t think I’ve ever had flu.

I'm 44, never had it. Only vaccinated the two years I was pregnant.

46, never had it. Only had the jab when it was offered to me in pregnancy.

Don't know anyone who has had it that I'm aware of. Don't think my parents ever have. DH thinks he might remember it when he was quite young but isn't sure.

I'm 52, think I've had it 2x, I can remember both vividly as could hardly move for days with fatigue and I've never been so wiped out. I'm pretty healthy and very rarely get poorly. Last time I had antibiotics was tonsillitis after my 30th Birthday so over 20 years ago.

Late 40s - had it twice.

I do think some people have more natural immunity, but also different lifestyles. If you WFH, don’t go out often, have no small children, your chances of avoiding it are definitely higher.

I don’t have the jabs as I’m not eligible.

I'm in my late 50s and have never had flu.

I hardly ever get ill eg I can go a few years without needing time off work. I'm not sure if that's down to a good immune system or just luck.

Or it could be 30+ years of teaching. Maybe mixing with loads of ill children has given me a bit of resistance.

Mid 40s and had it once about 8 years ago, was worse than COVID for me

Stinkers of colds, yes. Flu no.

I'm well old too.

Apart from fatigue for weeks, that could very much be a bad cold. And the problem with fatigue is I think a lot of it comes down to how willing you are to just get on with things. I don't think I have fewer sick days because I'm inherently healthier than nearly all other people, I think I just get on with things even if I don't feel 100%.

You can pay for it. I'm sure you knew that though.

You don't need to be eligible, you can pay to have it if you don't qualify for a free one.

I've never had it. I haven't had a cold since 2019.

I’m mid 30s but I’ve never been so unwell that I can’t get out of bed for weeks. Max length of time in bed would have been 1-2 days and then just generally feeling a bit rubbish and unwell but not on deaths door style in the way people seem to describe flu. I have other friends that seem to be unwell every month or 2 and I find that quite strange.

I’ve had it once about 2 years ago. Was absolutely horrendous. I’m in my 30’s.