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?

Had flu once when dd1 was 6 mths old, I was in bed for ten days a sick for a month. The only thing I would compare it to was when I had measles as a child. Awful!

I’ve had it twice (so far!) Both times I’ve not been able to get out of bed and it was definitely very different to a cold. I had a high temperature, no appetite, hallucinations and exhaustion etc. I don’t think this is unusual. I’ve had the jab since Covid now. I think I’ve had one respiratory illness in my life, ear, throat and sinus infections on the other hand… 😬 We are all different.

I think it's actually very hard to tell, unless you've actually tested for it. And it's incredibly unlikely that most people have ever been tested for flu. The problem is, some people will have flu with mild-moderate symptoms that are like any other cold or flu-like virus. Some people will get very ill.

I've had flu once as a teenager, but since then I've never had a flu like virus that severe. I couldn't rule out having had mild or asymptomatic flu though.

I’m 65, immunocompromised and never had flu

Unless you test every time you have a headache, sore throat, aches, temperature etc how can you tell the difference between flu and a cold?

My son has just been unwell with a temperature, aches, nausea, sore throat and a headache, he had one day home in bed then next day back to school with paracetamol.
Flu?

I'm 46 and I've never been ill enough that I couldn't leave my bed, or the house (that I was old enough to remember - I may have as a child). I've had colds where I felt rough but never bad enough to stop me cancelling whatever plans I already had. Some of those might have been flu with mild symptoms, but I've never been tested. I get the flu jab most years as it's free, so I figure I may as well take it, but sometimes I've forgotten to get it and it's made no difference.

It’s £20
would you not pay for it?

Age 65 and I've never had recognisable flu. Some bad colds, some subsequent bacterial infections (prone to sinusitus). Ditto my dsis, until 4 years ago - flu floored her and her dh. Couldn't get out of bed.

Genetics? Immune system? Good hygeine? Poor hygeine leading to stronger immune system?

I’ve never had flu and I’m 58, I’ve also never had Covid. I don’t get vaccinated and work closely with children and adults, I think I just have a good immune system - plenty of outdoor exercise. I haven’t been off work sick since 2010

I’ve had in once in 55 years in my early twenties
Completely different to any cold.
Not had anything like it since.

Almost 47 and never had flu. I've had bad colds, meningitis, covid, fevers, but never the flu!

I had swine flu in 2009, I've not knowingly had flu any other time though.

I have had the flu quite a few times. As a child/teen, I had it loads and it was often followed by tonsillitis.

I had something recently which started very suddenly. Fevers, aches etc. Took me down for a few days and I was not right for a few weeks after.

Just did a bit of googling about how you tell the difference and one of the quotes I found was "if you are well enough to wonder about whether you have a bad cold or flu, then it isnt flu". Which pretty much fits with what I have been told about having flu (which as I said above, I dont believe I have ever had).

I just always hear about how terribly awful it is

I don't actually think I've had it

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly1rryv2ryo

oh i did have something when i was a teenager - 1982

I've never had flu. I've never had the jab either. I'm more prone to getting heavy colds and coughs that shift to chest infections.

I've never had the flu.

I've had really bad colds and been laid up in bed for a couple of days but not flu. I had 3 days off work in October with a cold and that's unheard of.

I work on the basis that people say, "You'll know if you've got the flu because there could be £50 on the floor and you couldn't pick it up/wouldn't care."

The only time I've felt that ill was when I had Glandular Fever when I was 17 and was ill for months not weeks.

I haven't had covid either. Even when my daughter had it and we sat watching films together on the sofa, I didn't catch it.

I think a lot of people say they've had it when they have just had a bad cold though. Eg I had a child in my class off for 3 days last week whose parents called to say she had flu. She was fine when she came back in after those 3 days - still had a bit of a cold but it wasnt flu. Every year, parents say their child has flu when they've got a cold and a temperature.

She was fine when she came back in after those 3 days - still had a bit of a cold but it wasnt flu.

How on earth could you possibly know that? Some people get over the flu very quickly. It’s a virus. It affects everyone differently.

Anyway, I officially give up. People will continue to peddle the myth that it’s only ‘real’ flu if you can’t so much as blink. It’s ingrained in people’s psyche now. Even though it’s wrong. I suppose eventually it will go the same way believing that leeches could cure all ills. Or that smoking was good for asthma.

I’ve never knowingly had flu, nor has DH or DS.

We’ve all had low level coughs and colds but never got that ill that we were incapacitated. I’ve never had a day off sick from work and nor has DH since I’ve known him which is about 20 years. DS has also never missed a day at school.

I think we must be lucky as we lead a very average lifestyle so no factors that should impact health anymore than for the average person.

Mid 60’s, had it twice, once in my 40’s and last year.

I've had it twice in my early 20s when I burned the candle at both ends and vaccines weren't a thing for the fit and well. Never had it since I've taken the yearly vaccine.

Somebody referred to a colleague having flu the other day. She was back in work two days later.
Not flu