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 don’t think it’s any sort of virtue or proof that you are a superior person. It’s chance as to whether you’ve come into contact with the virus or not. DH and I were both early 30s super healthy and fit when we got it we were both floored by it.

As a migraine sufferer that really annoys me! Especially as for me, and a lot of people, the headache is the least of the symptoms!

I only got it for the first time when I was 36. Since then I had the flu jab annually. Except this year. When I bloody got it again.

I think 35 is generally the cut off when prone-ness to illness starts showing.

I’ve never had it so far. I’m a reception teacher and I worked in nurseries since I was 19 so my immune system is solid. I never had covid either! I would say that I don’t know many people who have had actual flu - to have it that many times at 36 seems more than average - though I may be wrong!

64 and only had flu twice.

49, I've definitely had it once, possibly twice. I've have a flu jab the last few years (paid for, I'm not eligible for a free one)

Never had the kind of illness people describe as being unmistakable flu. Flu like symptoms that have kept me in bed for a few days several times but nothing lasting weeks. But was recently found to have antibodies for various stains of flu, so must have had it several times. I'm sure plenty of people have fairly mild symptoms and don't really notice or think it's flu. 55 and never been vaccinated.

I don't recall ever having it. Dh has had it twice in the 14 years we've been together, he is 35.

I work in a school so am very much prime for sickness, but don't tend to get ill, however, if any of the children are unwell, theres a very high chance I'll bring it home to dh... I had my first cold in years last week, proper stuffy and sinus pressure. Dh and dcs didn't get ill for a change though 🤷‍♀️

I had it 50 years ago when I was living in a house share I think. Boyfriend nursed me a bit. I don't remember much I was so ill.

I don't get colds these days. DH still gets them but doesn't share thankfully.

No secret that I can think of except a fondness for wine 🍷. I'm having my flu jab tomorrow.

I've only had it once, when I was 28. I'm now 40. Not had covid either.

I think a lot of time people think they've had the flu when it's just been a bad cold. I've had bad colds and viral infection which i thought was flu but I have only had the proper flu once. I'm one of those people who just get up, take a paracetamol and get on with my day but this flu about 8 years ago, was bad. I literally couldn't get out of bed. I closed my eyes and woke up on the sitting room floor on day 3 or 4. I'm not sure if I sleepwalked or not (I've never sleepwalked before) but I had no recollection of going downstairs and couldn't crawl back upstairs to go back into bed so slept on the sofa downstairs. My pjs was soaking in sweat and so was my bedding, I was shivering uncontrollable and even bit my tongue, I couldn't eat or drink and lost nearly a stone in 9/10 days. I remember just laying in bed gmwith the wardrobe and light moving around the room and going in and out of consciousness.

Never had flu or covid (never vaccinated against flu but vaccinated against covid) despite being in close contact with people who had both.
Not sure if ive just been lucky or some immunity?
I dont want to be complacent and am meticulous about handwashing .

Ive had the flu flu 3 times in my life 1st time i was 4, 2sd time i was 11, 3rd time i was 22, it was a bloody killer.
Ive had colds since but nothing like the above.

I’m 37 and I’ve had the flu once. A lot of ppl claim they’ve got the flu when the reality is they have a cold

What do you mean not eligible?
You can pay to have the flu jab at most pharmacies.
I'm 48nandnhave had flu once about 15 years ago. Was horrendous I was halluncinating and could barely pick up a cup to drink.

Not sure why this made me laugh but it did as I am 'well old' too. 🤣

Also never had flu and can only think of one person I know that has had it.

For £15 to £20 anyone can jave one.

I have had flu twice and it was two times too many.

I get a flu shot every year now.

33 and only had it once - worst two weeks of my life. I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow

I had it once in my 20s, I was off work for 6 weeks with it. You generally get a temperature over 40 with it. I had covid and that felt a bit similar but only lasted a couple of days or so. I'm late 60s now

Late 40s. Can’t remember ever having flu. Maybe as a kid i did but not in adulthood

The only time I think I've possibly had it was when I was a child, maybe 8 or 9... Just remember sitting on the sofa trying to watch Hocus Pocus, but feeling absolutely horrendous. Had a temperature and my whole body hurt.

Never had it as an adult and even though I've had plenty of colds in my time, touch wood even they seem to be tailing off a bit. Haven't really had one for past few years.

Now norovirus on the other hand.... 🤢

I don't think I've ever had the flu, but I do usually get the jab.

I think my dd had it once when she was very little, and it was horrendous.

I’m 42 and I’ve only had it twice…. I have paid for the vaccine every year since I was in my mid twenties though. Have you not been getting it?

I had Swine flu in 2008 and was SO ill that if a doctor had told me it was the end of my days I’m not sure I would have cared. I was delirious and everything hurt. Blinking hurt, moving a muscle hurt. It was utterly awful. Covid wasn’t half as bad although worse than a nasty cold.

I'm 43 and I've only ever had what i would describe as flu once.