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 nearly 60 and had it once in my teens and I think once as an adult. I’ve got a strong immunity.

I've had 'proper' flu (flat out ill in bed for days) three times, so that's once every two decades. One of those turned into pneumonia so that was fun.

There have been more times when I've had a really bad cold and a bit of a temperature, and I guess they may have been caused by a flu virus but I've just been feeling a bit under the weather rather than 'off sick' unwell.

I've only had it once, I was in my 30s
I'm in my 50s now
No jab
🤞 not to get it this year

It’s possible to have flu very mildly, or indeed asymptomatically.
It’s not unusual to get flu, as this thread would have you believe 🤔

I think people’s body’s react differently when I thought I had flu, temperature, headaches, nausea, couldn’t lift my head off the pillow doctor came and said I had tonsillitis but the only thing I didn’t have was a saw throat and he said it manifests differently for different people.
As an adult I regularly get tonsillitis now ( with a saw throat) and heavy colds but I’ve never had any other sickness.

My Dad has long talked of Mum's Derbyshire gene (her family is originally from Derbyshire), as she never seems to catch anything. I've never had flu either, so maybe she's passed it on.

I always thought he was inventing it, but...

https://jenjenkinsthree.com/2021/07/13/the-mystery-of-immunity-the-guardian-genes-of-eyams-survivors/

Nurse- have worked in theatres and ICU and have small kids and go to busy places on public transport. So plenty of exposure. Have nursed flu patients all night in isolation side rooms with PPe throughout the swine flu epidemic, but I definitely have never caught Flu.

I get the flu jab at work every year. Had Covid about three times but only once badly. My kids have never had flu either think they got my good immunity

I’ve had very nasty colds with symptoms that match the description of flu, but it was only that bad for 2-3 days, so I don’t think it can have been. I’m 40.

3 times in 44 years. One time I was in hospital as a result. So no I doubt you’ve had flu that often,

62 and never had flu in my life (or a vaccination, come to that), but I spend most of my life outdoors in a naturally more healthy environment

I'm 47, never had flu or the flu jab. Guess I have good immunity 💪

I’m 57 and as far as I know have never had flu (have never had flu jab either)

It's one of the most prevalent viruses, why would you doubt someone having it several times?

66 and never had it. Even the Christmas that DH and both DC spent in bed with it. Rarely get colds as well, can go years between them.

Flu can be mild, you can even have it without any symptoms. No reason why you can't have had it badly for 2-3 days.

Had proper flu when I was 13 and was close to being hospitalised. Had the GP out twice (back then they used to do house calls)

Had all the classic symptoms, I didn't leave the sofa for a week, barring being taken to the loo by my mum, barely ate, was off school for over 2 weeks and even now 30+ years later I've never been so ill (tonsillitis was a close second though!!)

Feeling pretty ropey at the moment with a heavy cold and cough but I'm "walking wounded"

Haven't had a flu jab since being pregnant (all 3 times) in winter.

I imagine many people will never have had flu

I'm 37 and have only once had something that I assume was flu.

Went into work fine in the morning then rapidly went downhill over an hour or so, had to come home, got into bed and couldn't really get out of it again for 3 days. Slept pretty much the whole time.

Never had it before or since.

That's actually an interesting question. Its now being said that the "£20 note" test , while valid for bad flu, may not always be the case and, while that is the typical easy to diagnose picture, its possible to get a sub clinical version with little or no symptoms. I have currently got "proper" shingles....rash, scabs, pain, feeling rough all the things you expect BUT when I did some research online....proper research not chatGPT, I discovered that its possible to get a mild form where you just get skin soreness/sensitivity over the area of skin connected to the nerve. there may not even be any rash at all. I have had this a couple of times in my life but it never occurred to me that it might be shingles. Its not known how common this is because if you just feel a bit sore, you won't go to the GP and its now thought to be similar with flu...the difference is of course that if you have no weeping rash with your shingles, you probably won't be able to infect others with chicken pox but you will still expel the flu virus by coughing and sneezing.

PS have had real flu, the kind that poleaxes you, twice. I don't want it a third time.

Had a few bad colds but genuinely dont think I’ve had flu

I’m 37 and I’ve never had flu (thankfully- it sounds awful!)

I’ve never been debilitated with flu, or at least what may be considered flu. I’ve felt a bit achy and managed that with a couple of paracetamol. DH has never had it either. My ex used to get it regularly at least once a year - really bad. Had to be hospitalised once as his temp was off the scale. He still does get it.

Nearly 62 and never had flu. I'm really not very healthy, have frequent very bad colds, chest infections two or three times a year. Last few years I've had terrible viral coughs and torn my inter costal muscles. But never had what I believe is flu.

I have never been tested for Flu so I cannot definitively say I have or haven't had it. I think I might have had it once as a child and once as an adult.

I don't think it's common to get it that many times at your age. I'm 35 and have only had flu once. Once you've had it you realise it isn't just a bad cold! I collapsed just trying to go from my bed to the toilet.