Flu - day 5 and still feeling bad

[zen1]

The ‘internet’ says most people start feeling better after day four, but I still feel terrible. Aches/throbbing head/very high temp calmed down after 3 days, but I am still in bed with no energy, hacking cough and start sweating with the slightest exertion (going downstairs to get a drink for example). Is this normal does anyone know?

Yes, normal, there’s a nasty virus around at the moment, my DS was off work for nearly 2 weeks, his gf had it, but not as bad.

Yes, totally normal. I’ve had three weeks off work with it.

Yes, I’m afraid that’s normal, I had flu last year and it took me 3 weeks to feel better

I think with flu it's pretty normal to take at least a week. Certainly not only 3 days - surely that would be "bad cold" territory?

Thanks everyone. I do suffer badly when I get colds too, but this is another level. It’s the complete energy depletion.

If you do suffer yearly, might be worthwhile paying for the flu jab, I used to before I was eligible as I always ended up with colds effecting my chest and colds taking weeks to get better, but since I’ve had flu vaccine every year, I seem to shake off colds quicker.

I'm on day 6 of an awful cold. I don't think its flu as I managed to empty the dishwasher this morning. However, I haven't done anything else so whatever the cold virus that's going around is a belter.

There is a particulary bad mutation of Flu this year. It might be the one that you have caught.

@zen1 hope you feel better soon ! My daughter was poorly with the fluey virus! So much going around! I had abit of a sorr throat for one day last week but ive had a banging headache for like 12 days and soooo tired. Im wondering if ive had it with no runny nose/blocked nose. Just achey, tired and throbbing head xx

Im surprised the info Youre finding suggests flu is so mild.

My general experience is that people who’ve actually had flu have zero issue differentiating between a cold and flu. Whereas those who haven’t think Theyre interchangeable. Because flu is brutal.

Yes agree,
I had flu and few years ago and I always say to people, if you have flu you wouldn't be able to pick up a £50 note off the floor. You don't get out of bed.
The cold I've had is worse than the covid I had a few weeks ago but it's nothing compared to flu!

Reputable sites like NHS Inform say most people feel better within a week and the CDC says “Uncomplicated influenza signs and symptoms typically resolve after 3-7 days for the majority of people,” although it points out malaise can continue beyond this.

I’m in my 50s and have had flu four times in my life, including swine flu. Definitely not a cold. Lay flat on my back in bed for the first three days with heart rate of 129, temperature of 104 and profuse sweating, aches and banging head. Now left with hacking cough, terrible fatigue and occasional sweats, but able to sit up.

Incidentally, my elderly mum went to hospital with dizziness a few weeks ago, tested positive for flu (pre-vaccine) but didn’t have any other symptoms and didn’t progress to any other symptoms either. I guess everyone reacts differently.

Thanks @Starrrz . Mine started with banging head and aches but I felt so bad I couldn’t do anything except lay down and drift in out of half sleep with weird half dreams. Awful. I hope your daughter is well on the mend!

Ah. The good old British ‘better’ when it comes to illness. Where theres almost differentiation between ‘start to feel less bad than did yesterday’ and ‘full recovered’.

Starting to feel less bad than yesterday within the time frame Youve found, yes. Being fully recovered, no.