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Original poster

How do you know if you have Flu?

23 replies

KatyMac · 21/10/2010 16:38

I went to see the GP today because I thought I had a chest infection:
I have pain in my brestbone, and my lower ribs at the back (right hand side)
I can't talk easily, I'm very breathless and I am struggling to breathe deeply
I have a cough with some phlegm but I can't cough up to see what colour it is because it hurts so much

She thinks I have flu; I thought I'd be iller with flu

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 21/10/2010 16:41

i'd get a second opinion - sounds like chest infection.

cidre · 21/10/2010 16:42

aaaw, how bad do you want to feel? Sounds rotten, if you can, go to bed!!1

Original poster
KatyMac · 21/10/2010 16:57

Been in bed most of the day

I just thought I would be less capable - I can still stand and even walk (a bit shakily) to the bathroom

I do feel rough

OP posts:
Butterbur · 21/10/2010 17:00

I think flu can cause anything from:

a) nothing

to

b) complete wipeout for a fortnight

Depending on your personal immune system and what flu viruses you have previously been exposed to.

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
KatyMac · 21/10/2010 17:43

Maybe, I do keep falling asleep

OP posts:
tiredlady · 21/10/2010 17:47

You are lying in bed and you see your dog chewing on a fifty pound note. If you can get out of bed to rescue the note, you have a bad cold, if you can't you have the flu. (as told to me by my GP mate)

Not sure if that helps or not.

themildmanneredjanitor · 21/10/2010 17:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
KatyMac · 21/10/2010 17:52

Not that ill

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 21/10/2010 19:53

OK maybe I am Sad

OP posts:
Simbacat · 21/10/2010 21:43

If you can type or read on a screen you haven't got flu.

You sweat, soak the bed with it, headache, fever, can't stand. Can't eat or drink- couldn't go to doctor.

Real flu is awful- people use the phrase all the time but they don't have it.

TheUnmentioned · 21/10/2010 21:46

yep id agree, if you have the energy to go on the internet / read a book / watch a tv show then you dont have flu imo

blinks · 22/10/2010 02:43

i'd be worried about the breathing/chest pain. please get a second opinion about poss pneumonia/pleurisy.

OnEdge · 22/10/2010 03:09

i thought pleurisy too. do you have a temperature? think you get one with flu. think if you have flu, usually in no doubt.

Original poster
KatyMac · 22/10/2010 07:38

That's why I was surprised at the GP

I can't read a book or be on-line for more that 2 or 3 minutes

I have a lowish temp (37.6), I can stand & walk to the bathroom

I keep falling asleep

Chets pain is less

OP posts:
blinks · 22/10/2010 09:29

think you need second opinion today, katymac.

i would recommend A&E for breathing concerns/chest pains so that they can xray you.

37.6 isn't a raging fever but it is a higher than normal temp.

Original poster
KatyMac · 22/10/2010 09:33

DH (chest infection specialist ha-ha) is monitoring it I have antibiotics to take; chest pains have eased but are still present & I'm very tight chested

The asthma nurse who treats DH & DD said she wanted me to take the abs anyway; the dr said to wait until my phlegm changes colour......so DH has me doing his 'physio' to try & cough up.......tmi...so we can colour chart it

OP posts:
sparklerainbowglitter · 22/10/2010 17:52

I had a sharp chest pain with what GP said was flu but also a terrible headache, and a high temperature. I went to bed for three days which I hardly remember and then was weak for quite a few days after. Never had any phlegm or cold symptoms though.

Original poster
KatyMac · 22/10/2010 18:10

Much more capable this afternoon - walking but very lollopy & light headed

Still quite painful but bed rest is working

OP posts:
duncandisorderly · 22/10/2010 18:12

When I had flu I literally felt like I was going to die. There is no way I could physically have got out of bed to care for my son, I was hallucinating and really, when you have flu, there is no doubt.

Elibean · 22/10/2010 18:57

You could have flu. I've had the 'real flu' where you can't get out of bed, think you're dying etc.

But lots of people had swine flu and didn't feel anything like that bad. In fact, lots of them felt much like you - without a hugely high temperature, but breathless and exhausted etc. Including me, probably.

There are lots of different flus, and lots of different responses.

marriednotdead · 22/10/2010 19:13

DH had real flu a couple of Christmases ago and mine began the New Years eve before. He finally realised that he had never had it previously- was completely poleaxed for 4 days.

Agree with the 'feels like you're dying'. Going to the bathroom and brushing my teeth felt like a herculean task, which took a couple of hours to recover from.

Sounds like you may have a nasty chest infection.

Original poster
KatyMac · 22/10/2010 22:13

I have had whole hours of consciousness today....followed by even more hours of sleep!!

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Original poster
KatyMac · 24/10/2010 21:00

OK I was feeling better had put it all down to a bad cold (flu my as they say) then this evening the chest pains have started up again

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