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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People saying they’ve never had flu?

434 replies

Cumbrianlassie · 17/12/2025 18:00

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?

OP posts:
TeddyBeans · 17/12/2025 18:21

I'm 35, never had the flu and have worked in nurseries and schools for several years. Only had the flu jab when I was pregnant so I just manage to avoid it I guess

RampantIvy · 17/12/2025 18:21

Cumbrianlassie · 17/12/2025 18:00

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 67 and have only had it once.

ContentedAlpaca · 17/12/2025 18:21

I've had proper keeping me off my feet flu once, as a teenager. It was hideous. My first bout of COVID was similar. I have had colds since but nothing coming close to that first experience so I would say I've had flu once for definite. If I've had it since, it has been mild. (Approaching 50)

Isekaied · 17/12/2025 18:22

Never had the one where I had to stay in bed gor days.

But have had viruses that aren't a gold with aches and pains that last a few days- but OK with paracetamol. Had that a few times

RuthW · 17/12/2025 18:22

I’ve only had it once and I’m 57. I had it one Christmas as a teen.

chickenfucker · 17/12/2025 18:22

I don't think I've ever had unless as a child and I don't remember it. Never had Covid either.

chickenfucker · 17/12/2025 18:23

Obviously now I will get it immediately

Poms · 17/12/2025 18:23

I’ve never had flu. I didn’t even catch Covid when my DH had it.

Waitingfordoggo · 17/12/2025 18:23

I’m 48 and haven’t had it (I may have had it as a child- I think I remember my mum saying I’d had it, but she might have been exaggerating about a heavy cold) She is no longer around to ask about it.

Either I have a good immune system and have never caught it, or (more likely IMO) I have caught the virus but just not suffered severe symptoms. It’s possibly to have it asymptomatically as far as I’m aware.

For about two decades I also didn’t get a cold. I do get them now but they are much milder than the colds the rest of my family get. It’s literally just a runny nose and lots of sneezing- no temperature, no fatigue, no body aches or grogginess.

TheFairyCaravan · 17/12/2025 18:23

I have had it twice, once in my teens and once in my early thirties. My mum actually stayed at home, from work, to look after me, when I was in my teens because I was that unwell. The second time i had it, DH did short hours at work so he could be there when the children were at home because there was no hope of me looking after them.

A few days after last Christmas, I was in bed with a heavy cold virus and a lot of people said “ooh, have you got the flu” nope, I absolutely did not have it.

DS1 had it 3 years ago. He’s a fit, healthy solider. We had to drive up and bring him home because he was too sick to look after himself or be left alone. DS2 was hospitalised with flu when he was 2.

brightbevs · 17/12/2025 18:24

31 and I’ve had it once, bloody horrible. Totally different in intensity to a bad cold. I had two seizures which was frightening because I was alone and have never had one before (or since!). I’ve only had the flu jab when pregnant but tbh this thread has reminded me that my employer pay for them so I might start getting them…

Covid was a walk in the park for me! I thought it was hayfever.

steff13 · 17/12/2025 18:24

I've only had it once and it was about 25 years ago. Two of my kids have had it and I didn't catch it when I was caring for them and my ex-husband had swine flu and I took care of him and never got it.

Parky04 · 17/12/2025 18:24

I'm 54 and have never had flu. I haven't had a cold for around 15 years. Only had 3 days off sick in 35 years. However, i do have bloody tinnitus!

ErrolTheDragon · 17/12/2025 18:24

DH reckons he’s never had flu. He’s recently found he’s HLA-B27 positive - the ‘Neanderthal gene’ - which is believed to be associated with better immunity to viruses including influenza . Downside is various autoimmune conditions, on balance he’d probably rather occasionally have flu.

Instructions · 17/12/2025 18:25

I honestly think I have only had actual flu once in my adult life. Colds aplenty, some really horrible ones, but actual flu just once. It wasn't like a cold with that slow, recognisable buildup- it hit me suddenly like a tonne of bricks.

purpleme12 · 17/12/2025 18:25

I reckon I might have had the flu once in my life. I'm 40
I was in bed for a about 5 days and don't remember being so poorly before that. Was really shocked. So it wasn't just a bad cold. And it wasn't a sickness bug

hazelnutvanillalatte · 17/12/2025 18:26

I've only had it once, about three years ago, before my flu jab appt. Two full weeks of lying in bed unable to move, suffering through every second. Every morning I would wake up hoping to feel a bit better and it just went on and on.

OhDear111 · 17/12/2025 18:26

@Cumbrianlassie Yes me. Never had it. Had colds where I’m a bit tired and snivelling with a sore throat. Never flu. These days I get a vaccination but yes, I think it’s generic. We don’t get flu!

PodMom · 17/12/2025 18:26

Redpeach · 17/12/2025 18:15

How can u tell the difference

Show quote history

I’m not sure, but guess that works in both directions. How does the OP know she’s had flu so many times? She thinks she was bad enough for it to be flu, I don’t think mine was bad enough to be flu. I might be wrong. I mean I’ve felt absolutely awful, too ill to go to work but I could get out of bed.

Dh had what I think was flu once and literally crawled down the landing when he needed a wee. But I have read you can have flu and not be bed bound so maybe I have had flu?

EleanorReally · 17/12/2025 18:26

i have never had it
i am 60
most years i have the flu jab

schoolfriend · 17/12/2025 18:27

Never had it 🤷‍♀️

bleakmidwintering · 17/12/2025 18:27

I once got flu at school and fainted. It was termed red flu. I once got flu along with my daughter. She fainted in the bathroom and I was too ill to get up to see to her. I just think flu is on another level. I pay for the vaccine now.

Pebbles16 · 17/12/2025 18:28

Mid 50s - once when I was 14 then I had post viral syndrome which led to glandular fever. Mid teens were fairly miserable for me!

LittleGreenDuck · 17/12/2025 18:28

I had it once. Over the Millenium New Year. I was in my early 20s and had been planning the celebrations for months. I think I woke up and saw fireworks out of my bedroom window, but other than that the whole season passed me by. Never been as ill before or since, thankfully.

Kirbert2 · 17/12/2025 18:28

I'm 35 and have never had it.