I have the flu .....really confused about NHS advice

[2beesornot2beesthatisthehoney]

So I started feeling unwell a couple of days ago. Head, achy limbs, mild sore throat. I was of course worried that it might be Coronavirus so checked the NHS website 111 online for advice. I answered no to all the questions about have I been to ....China , S. Korea , Italy etc plus no contact with anyone who has it and yes to the one about any symptoms. Answer from 111 online was not to call 111 based on where I had been and no known contact, not on symptoms.

However it has been reported about people carrying the virus without symptoms , that the contagious period starts before symptoms show so just basing criteria on where you have been or not been seems crazy.

I did have to travel in the UK last week, as did DH (to different places) so who knows where I have caught this bug.

Last night I hear that the government might ask people in 10 days time to self isolate for any sign of flu or cold for 7 days.

I am self isolating , tucked up in bed. Can't do anything else right now. DH has however gone to work. I would rather he didn't and worked from home however inconvenient that would be right now.

Dd also working but I have had limited distant contact with her.

Yes I have had discussed DH working from home and said people won't thank him if he does bring CV into large open plan office , but he is going on present official advice.

No I haven't rung 111 anyway , I suspect if I did the call centre answering would just go through the criteria I did on line anyway.

Perhaps the issue may be the cost of testing everyone with any symptoms being expensive but we are talking about an infection with quite serious consequences for some and forking out now might be less expensive in the long run.

AIBU to think current NHS advice is crap and waiting 10 days before Giving new advice that people do Self isolate for any respiratory infection in case people get bored and don't do it is just crap and will mean people are needlessly put at risk.

he has an en suite and a hot and cold running mother

Sorry but this made lol

I suspect lots of people have already had it and currently have it, but are milder cases

I had this last week, no contact with anyone, it’s now just a cold

I do have mild asthma and that’s not too triggered by the cold either.

I've been wondering this as well, since Saturday I've had a high temp spiking to 39.6 at night, I ache all over, terrible headache and have a dry cough which is worse today.

I haven't been abroad or in contact with anyone with CV that I know of.

I had the flu jab last November.

I'm off work and mostly confined to my bedroom, I'll ring the GP tomorrow if I'm no better but am pretty sure they won't do anything.

It's definitely not a cold that I have. No mucus. Sore limbs , heavy chest , dry cough and lethargy are my symptoms. Any other year I would assume flu although I have avoided it each year when I get the vaccine.

I do hope all those who responded with similar experiences and are currently unwell recover soon. to all of you.

Same symptoms here. Temp kept down with paracetamol, headache, dry cough, fluey aches but no worse than a bad cold.
111 not interested despite me being on packed internal flights in the last fortnight and attending large sports events. Told me no need to self isolate.

So, I'm still teaching 😲

I had the flu last week, it was HORRENDOUS.
I did not have a runny nose and I only got a sore throat on the third day. I had the worst body aches and pains I've ever had and just lay in bed. I now have a cough and a sore throat and all the snot in all the land, and am knackered. I'm 99.999% sure it wasn't coronavirus because I now feel pretty much ok except for post viral shatteredness.

From member of the Stanford hospital board. This is their feedback for now on Corona virus: The new Coronavirus may not show sign of infection for many days. How can one know if he/she is infected? By the time they have fever and/or cough and go to the hospital, the lung is usually 50% Fibrosis and it's too late. Taiwan experts provide a simple self-check that we can do every morning. Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds. If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection. In critical time, please self-check every morning in an environment with clean air. Serious excellent advice by Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 cases: Everyone should ensure your mouth & throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least. Why? Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash them down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus. If you don't drink enough water more regularly, the virus can enter your windpipe and into the lungs. That's very dangerous. Please send and share this with family and friends. Take care everyone and may the world recover from this Coronavirus soon. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - CORONAVIRUS 1. If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold 2. Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose. 3. This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees. It hates the Sun. 4. If someone sneezes with it, it takes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne. 5. If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours - so if you come into contact with any metal surface - wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap. 6. On fabric it can survive for 6-12 hours. normal laundry detergent will kill it. 7. Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice. 8. Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but - a lot can happen during that time - you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on. 9. You should also gargle as a prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will suffice. 10. Can't emphasis enough - drink plenty of water! THE SYMPTOMS 1. It will first infect the throat, so you'll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days 2. The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about 5/6 days further. 3. With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing. 4. The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You feel like you're drowning. It's imperative you then seek immediate attention.

I had all the symtpoms Told I had a chest I fection and packed off with antibiotics.

My DD is the exact same and now DH and DS have come down with the same thing. We've been advised no need to self-isolate, so...

You don't have flu if you are able to type a long coherent message on your phone!

This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees. It hates the Sun

This is false unfortunately. Human bodies are hotter than 26 degrees!

You sound like you have the flue, normal flu. For all the people panicking it is flu season as well as covid 19, so there will be also lots of people with normal flu.

If you look at the people who have been tested for it it's running at around 1%.

Taking temperatures is a good measure. If it is above 37 then some sort of infection is likely.

For the love of god, please look up normal body temperature before assuming a temperature over 37 is a sign of infection.

You definitely do not have the flu or any of it’s variations of you’re on here typing full on paragraphs.

I'd have thought that a few years ago. But 2 years ago my OH had a bug. He felt a bit lousy but carried on working (he works from home) whilst sleeping more and not doing his sport. Then I got the bug from him (couple of days later) and ended up in hospital. They tested me and it was flu - which I'd caught from him. I'd been working too (from home) until it developed into pneumonia. Then I was unable to do anything.

I agree you don’t have flu. If your house was on fire you’d be too wiped out and I’ll to move. I missed the whole Christmas period with my son as I couldn’t get out of bed.

I hope you feel better soon but I’m sure it’s just a standard virus, but please self isolate if you feel it necessary but it’s pointless if you husband doesn’t

Lots of people have flu without having any noticeable symptoms.

@MathsWorld why are you still teaching? You clearly feel you have the virus, and in any case are unwell. You can self certificate for week and get full pay. By then it may be clearer or advice to doctors might have changed. I’m a teacher and I’d be most unimpressed if one of my colleagues was acting in such a selfish and foolish way.

I managed to MN with pneumonia! I was frightened and lonely. Luckily my thumb was mobile. The rest of me less so . My late friend had long chats on Messenger whilst near the end of a terminal illness. You can be very poorly and have mobility in your thumb FFS

@mrsm12 thanks. Good to know.

"Last night I hear that the government might ask people in 10 days time to self isolate for any sign of flu or cold for 7 days

To me, that sounds somewhat overcautious. "

I think it will be only if you have a fever. A cold often doesn't have a fever, but coronavirus does.

You haven’t got the flu if your posting on here. We have been told to go about our business until further advice so your husband is right. However if your unwell then of course rest. Yes advice may be different next week. But we can only go on the advice today.

Self isolation means exactly that - just like being in a cabin on a cruise ship. No visitors, food left outside the door. Not your husband popping in And out of work 😂😂

"I'm 99.999% sure it wasn't coronavirus because I now feel pretty much ok except for post viral shatteredness."

Why does that mean it wasn't coronavirus? Many people get mild cases.

I would stay at home for 14 days if you and your partner can afford it. As a service to the community.
Testing you won’t make any difference if you don’t need supplemental oxygen.

It's just not true that you can't have the flu if your on Mumsnet.

I had the flu last week, it was horrible but I Mumsneted the whole time.
I even built a website for work: I have zero recollection of doing it but but I did.

I really wish people would stop with the nonsense that it's only flu if you can't move at all, it's just not true.

As far as the symptoms go - there are cases with no fever.

Nasal congestion (stuffy nose) is rare with coronavirus, I have read, and so if you have it or had it it’s probably a different virus.

I am in no way a coronavirus expert btw.