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Original poster

Could this be actual flu and not just a bad cold?

54 replies

PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 05:39

I've been awake on and off all night alternating between being red hot and freezing cold. Am so sweaty. Headache, jaw/teeth ache poss into ears. My eyes hurt, my eyelids are hot. I've got worse over the past day or so.
Throat isn't sore but when I breath it feels like something is dragging in the top of my chest. Slight cough which isn't all the time but hurts and is productive when it happens. I'm absolutely exhausted to the point I have done the school run the past three days and then gone to bed for a nap. I work part time so I have a routine on my days off and I've done none of it.
When I am hungry it doesn't seem to be satisfied no matter what I eat. My upper stomach has been sore for a few days but with no obvious pattern.
I scared myself when I got up to go to the loo last night and I sort of staggered like I was really drunk there and back.
My sinuses are really sore too.
My skin feels like it has been sandpapered.
I know there's not much to be done if it is. I last had it as a teen so many years ago. That time I got so hot in the night I hallucinated and the doctor came out to see me (shows how long ago that was!)
I did dd2 parents evening last night as Dh is away. We came home at 7.30pm and I dozed off on the couch before waking up at 9, tidying what I could and then came to bed where I've been awake on and off all night.
I just kind of need to know how long before I'll feel better. Im supposed to be out tonight but I don't see me managing that, out for tea tomorrow, same and then I'm in work late on Sunday. I need to give them plenty of notice if I'm not going to be in as they have to replace me because I'm a key holder.
I don't get on all that well with my mum but I want my mum 😢

OP posts:
meetmeinthespring · 09/12/2022 05:41

I think you really should see a doctor ASAP.
I'm not sure Mumsnet can help with this.

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 05:43

meetmeinthespring · 09/12/2022 05:41

I think you really should see a doctor ASAP.
I'm not sure Mumsnet can help with this.

Thanks, I don't think they'll say much other than rest and fluids and the thought of going in feeling like this isn't very appealing!
As you can probably tell I'm feeling very sorry for myself.
Hope you're ok being awake at this hour Flowers

OP posts:
houseargh · 09/12/2022 05:47

Yeah, don't see a doctor. Could be flu. I last had it in 2017 and was flat out for a week, limited capacity for a few more days after that. If it makes you feel better, I've had something this week that I initially thought was flu - all the right symptoms, and definitely not a cold (no runny nose, sneezing) but feel pretty much out the other side by day five so much quicker and in retrospect not flu (I would guess COVID but tested negative twice so who knows). So fingers crossed you'll be the same and get through it quicker than you might expect. Equally, yeah, I would cancel plans for tonight!

Thefailinghousewife · 09/12/2022 05:48

We all feel similar here and it’s awful, I’ve genuinely not felt this poorly in years. I cried last night on DH because I wanted our (very motherly!) post lady….. I don’t get on with my mum either and I think in my
head she seemed the next best thing BlushGrin

i hope you feel better soon Flowers

Whataretheodds · 09/12/2022 05:51

Have you done a covid test? Do you have a rash?
Give work a heads - up in case they need to get someone else to open/close

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 05:52

houseargh · 09/12/2022 05:47

Yeah, don't see a doctor. Could be flu. I last had it in 2017 and was flat out for a week, limited capacity for a few more days after that. If it makes you feel better, I've had something this week that I initially thought was flu - all the right symptoms, and definitely not a cold (no runny nose, sneezing) but feel pretty much out the other side by day five so much quicker and in retrospect not flu (I would guess COVID but tested negative twice so who knows). So fingers crossed you'll be the same and get through it quicker than you might expect. Equally, yeah, I would cancel plans for tonight!

Dh started with something days before me but went in work on day four and has been away overnight for the past two. No way could I go to work like this.
Thank for the reply. I'm hoping to feel better soon. I hate feeling like a burden and my teen dd's are having to help more than normal. On the school run I couldn't face getting out of the car so dd1 walked round for him. I feel a bit pathetic tbh.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 05:53

Thefailinghousewife · 09/12/2022 05:48

We all feel similar here and it’s awful, I’ve genuinely not felt this poorly in years. I cried last night on DH because I wanted our (very motherly!) post lady….. I don’t get on with my mum either and I think in my
head she seemed the next best thing BlushGrin

i hope you feel better soon Flowers

Ah I know what you mean. I just want her to come and tuck me in and out her hand on my forehead. Mad how being ill reverts you to childhood status. Am all emotional now. Hope you feel better soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 05:54

Whataretheodds · 09/12/2022 05:51

Have you done a covid test? Do you have a rash?
Give work a heads - up in case they need to get someone else to open/close

Yep I've done a couple. Dh did two as well before he went away.
I'll WhatsApp my boss at a reasonable hour.
On the plus side to being awake so early I've just watched a fox on our cameras wander up and down the street ❤️

OP posts:
mrschocolatte · 09/12/2022 06:09

My sympathies OP. It does sound a lot like flu. Don’t feel pressured to try and get yourself back in to ‘normal’ activities as soon as possible. You need rest and sleep. I hope you feel better soon!

I’ve been awake for a few hours with a horrible sore throat and cough. I feel kind of funky as well. Just keep thinking of all the things I have planned this weekend and panicking a little at how I’ll get through feeling the way I do.

I did chuckle about the hand on the forehead - my DH is up early and brought me a cup of tea in bed and I asked him to do just that!

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 06:12

mrschocolatte · 09/12/2022 06:09

My sympathies OP. It does sound a lot like flu. Don’t feel pressured to try and get yourself back in to ‘normal’ activities as soon as possible. You need rest and sleep. I hope you feel better soon!

I’ve been awake for a few hours with a horrible sore throat and cough. I feel kind of funky as well. Just keep thinking of all the things I have planned this weekend and panicking a little at how I’ll get through feeling the way I do.

I did chuckle about the hand on the forehead - my DH is up early and brought me a cup of tea in bed and I asked him to do just that!

December is the busiest time of year isn't it! I probably do all my socialising for the year in the space of a few weeks!
I hope dhs hand was soothing for you and the brew was a good one! ❤️

OP posts:
Yika · 09/12/2022 07:13

Sounds like flu to me, and it’s going round. when I had flu my dr told me the ‘standard’ expected time frame for a normal bout of flu is 5 days.

Lostatseawithnolighthouse · 09/12/2022 09:04

You went to parents evening and potentially gave it to the teacher who may in turn pass it on to the kids they teach?

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 09:56

Lostatseawithnolighthouse · 09/12/2022 09:04

You went to parents evening and potentially gave it to the teacher who may in turn pass it on to the kids they teach?

Yes, at the time I thought it was just a bad cold. I do feel bad that I may have passed it around.
Thanks for the dig though. It's super helpful. I hope it's made you feel good.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 09:57

Yika · 09/12/2022 07:13

Sounds like flu to me, and it’s going round. when I had flu my dr told me the ‘standard’ expected time frame for a normal bout of flu is 5 days.

Thank you, I've just messaged my boss to give her some warning. School run has wiped me out so I'm going to have a snooze.

OP posts:
Lostatseawithnolighthouse · 09/12/2022 10:05

PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 09:56

Yes, at the time I thought it was just a bad cold. I do feel bad that I may have passed it around.
Thanks for the dig though. It's super helpful. I hope it's made you feel good.

Show quote history

Oh the irony! You've just had a dig at me too. I hope you feel good 🤣.

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 10:10

Fair play. I don't actually, I feel awful.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 09/12/2022 15:08

Lostatseawithnolighthouse · 09/12/2022 09:04

You went to parents evening and potentially gave it to the teacher who may in turn pass it on to the kids they teach?

God how mean can you be? And then to double down instead of apologising 😳

Lostatseawithnolighthouse · 09/12/2022 16:04

EarringsandLipstick · 09/12/2022 15:08

God how mean can you be? And then to double down instead of apologising 😳

Show quote history

How is it mean to point out someone shouldn't have gone to a parents eve when thinking they've got flipping flu? I've been that teacher who has caught illnesses from kids and parents who should never have been in school when that unwell and I've had several Christmases spoilt because of people like that. It's utterly selfish. It's not like it was something that couldn't be rescheduled.

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 16:33

But I didn't think I had 'flipping flu'
I thought I had a cold that got worse overnight.

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 09/12/2022 16:50

When I had flu there was no way I could have done a school run, and I definitely wouldn’t have been interested in MN, I just wanted to die. So no, I don’t think you’ve got flu.

EarringsandLipstick · 09/12/2022 16:54

@Lostatseawithnolighthouse

Oh calm down. There are bugs everywhere. As OP said (several times now), she didn't think she had a flu, just a cold.

And while of course she could be passing on either, a teacher could equally pick it up from daily living, her commute, the school kids. I'd be surprised if OP was hugging her tightly & breathing all over her 🙄

Your post was really shitty to someone who wrote clearly about how sick she was feeling. It lacked empathy as well as being a bit hysterical.

Lostatseawithnolighthouse · 09/12/2022 16:58

EarringsandLipstick · 09/12/2022 16:54

@Lostatseawithnolighthouse

Oh calm down. There are bugs everywhere. As OP said (several times now), she didn't think she had a flu, just a cold.

And while of course she could be passing on either, a teacher could equally pick it up from daily living, her commute, the school kids. I'd be surprised if OP was hugging her tightly & breathing all over her 🙄

Your post was really shitty to someone who wrote clearly about how sick she was feeling. It lacked empathy as well as being a bit hysterical.

Quite frankly I don't care if you think it was shitty. The OP was utterly selfish to do what she did when she clearly felt shit.

Mindymomo · 09/12/2022 17:04

I’ve always been told the difference between a bad cold and flu is with flu you can’t even get out of bed as muscle pains are really bad.

Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 17:05

KangarooKenny · 09/12/2022 16:50

When I had flu there was no way I could have done a school run, and I definitely wouldn’t have been interested in MN, I just wanted to die. So no, I don’t think you’ve got flu.

It got worse overnight. There was no one else to do the school run so I did it but I've been on the couch all day.
I think it started off as a cold and got worse?
I've slept most of the day.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeopleAreTheWorst · 09/12/2022 17:07

Mindymomo · 09/12/2022 17:04

I’ve always been told the difference between a bad cold and flu is with flu you can’t even get out of bed as muscle pains are really bad.

Dd asked if she could do anything for me and I asked her if she could take my bladder to the loo 🙈 I do feel like I've been hit by a bus.

OP posts:
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