Is this flu??

[Blushah]

3 days ago I woke up feeling 'off colour'. I began to get a headache that got worse and worse, all my joints ache, particularly my hips, knees and ankles, my skin feels 'bruised', I have earache and a scratchy throat, and, god, the headache which normal drugs aren't touching. I have zero appetite.

Bedtime is becoming a nightmare as I lie down with all but nothing over me, in this heat, but I start shivering almost convulsively! My internal temperature feels hotter and hotter (though I am not sweating at all) but I have to pull a sheet and the duvet up around my neck as I'm so cold!! I drink about 1.5-2 litres of water overnight but don't wee at all, and am awake for most of it, then in the morning, I suddenly start sweating, drenching the bed. I then sleep for 2 hours, and repeat, 3 days in a row, now.

I found some high strength Ibuprofen which fought the headache for 3 hours, the first 3 hours without that pain in days! But I have to ration it.

My mind turned to dark thoughts of encephalitis but - it is more likely to be flu?

WDYT? Need to start getting better soon as we're off on holiday in a week!

Do u have a cough? I'm sure a cough is a key feature of the flu x

No, no cough at all! Just a scratchy throat, but I've had far worse throats with 'every day' colds!

Though I now have a slightly runny nose!

I think you should go to the dr ASAP!

This isn’t flu - and it sounds serious

My DS12 has all the same symptoms, sounds like glandular fever

You need to see somebody -ring out of hours, minors unit, walk in centre? Not being able to urinate is not normal plus your fever and chills leads to signs of an infection.

Not being able to urinate is one symptom of sepsis

I'd agree you need to see someone or get some real advice. Sounds very similar to my symptoms when I had a v nasty kidney infection - scary but easily sorted!

Proper flu is just like this OP, a lot of people think they have you but it's just a cold but the actual flu can make all your joints ache and your temp go away up but it could also be a sign of sepsis or something else so please go and getbot checked out. My MIL ended up with sepsis about 4 months ago she had to have both her legs and her right arm amputated, ( not trying to scare you) just be on the safe side.

How are you feeling @Blushah?

Well, it transpires, now my symptoms have resolved and/or developed- it's cellulitis!!

Just been to the GP. My symptoms as detailed above were resolving (still got a mild headache), but I did notice that a chronic issue of developing a swollen right ankle and foot on the right (only) had kicked in again, which is does in hot weather, so didn't think much of it, apart from putting a compression stocking on it; but, last night, you know how I said I felt bruised?- well, the main issue was on my inner thigh, and I noticed a red patch about 20cm across had come up there! Uh oh, I thought.

I Dr Googled it, tho I knew it was cellulitis, and it said a symptom was 'flu like symptoms'.

So off to the GP. She has given me antibiotics and I need a blood test as she is wondering if I've been bitten by something, which I doubt but am open to the possibility.

Sorry if I misled anyone about the 'unable to urinate'- what I meant was that despite taking several swigs of water all through those 2 sleepless nights, amounting to 1.5 pints, not litres, of water, and not feeling like I was actually sweating, tho hot, I didn't feel any urge to urinate, not that I couldn't. Each morning, I began weeing as normal.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Hope you're feeling better soon

Thanks. I feel much improved already!

Cellulitis can make you feel lousy!
Glad you are diagnosed and on the mend

Yes, frankly I was amazed at how unwell I felt, but am 'relieved' that it has all tied together with a diagnosis!