For those who have had the dreaded flu . . .

[mrswh]

How long did it last? I was at a major disadvantage because I was just getting over a brutal sinusitus type thing when the flu hit me. I am on Day 6 of flu and every day I am just SURE I'll be better but noooooo, still feel awful!

For those who have had it this year, in what order were your symptoms? How long did you feel awful, and did you feel significantly better one day or was it gradual? I need something to be optimistic about!!

Bright side: I will have immunity and don't have to worry about getting the flu during our DLR trip this spring!

[Micca]

I too got some sort of brutal sinusitis type thing. It lasted 2-3 weeks and I was feeling pretty crummy the whole time. I thought I was just about well again when last night, right at bedtime, I got a fever/chills and body aches all over. Not feeling great today, and the idea of eating anything absolutely repulses me. Not sure if this is full-fledge flu just yet. On the bright side, I can stand to miss a few meals. I've already lost a couple of belt notches from the first go-round of illness.

Everyone at my DDs house got sick and went to the doc. Just so you know, the doc told them that it's possible to get the bug AGAIN! So they've all been passing the bug around for over a month now. It's getting really old.

Good luck to you, hope your bug is a mild one and passes quickly.

[ez]

I had the real flu over Thanksgiving holiday. I ran a fever for 6 days. Didnt think it was so awful at first till the cough really kicked in, I dont think I have even had such a bad cough in my life, I finally had to kneel on the floor every time I coughed cause it was so painful. Cough hung on for 6 weeks not at that level. It was nasty.

[mrswh]

Originally Posted by Micca

I too got some sort of brutal sinusitis type thing. It lasted 2-3 weeks and I was feeling pretty crummy the whole time. I thought I was just about well again when last night, right at bedtime, I got a fever/chills and body aches all over. Not feeling great today, and the idea of eating anything absolutely repulses me. Not sure if this is full-fledge flu just yet. On the bright side, I can stand to miss a few meals. I've already lost a couple of belt notches from the first go-round of illness.

Everyone at my DDs house got sick and went to the doc. Just so you know, the doc told them that it's possible to get the bug AGAIN! So they've all been passing the bug around for over a month now. It's getting really old.

Good luck to you, hope your bug is a mild one and passes quickly.

Sorry you are not feeling well, Micca! That sounds like how mine started - I had just gotten mostly better and then bam! Fever, chills, cough and exhaustion. Hopefully yours isn't actually flu but it does sound like it.

You can't get the same strain of flu twice - a different strain, yes. I sure hope I am not *that* unlucky!!

[mrswh]

Originally Posted by ez

I had the real flu over Thanksgiving holiday. I ran a fever for 6 days. Didnt think it was so awful at first till the cough really kicked in, I dont think I have even had such a bad cough in my life, I finally had to kneel on the floor every time I coughed cause it was so painful. Cough hung on for 6 weeks not at that level. It was nasty.

Oh, that doesn't sound good. I'm drinking water and gargling like mad, but I can tell the cough is not going to let go anytime soon.

Sigh. Thanks for your response.

[mickeyboat]

I felt awful for 10 days, and didn't really feel back to myself for a week after that. I am still coughing some almost 6 weeks later.

[ckay87]

I had the real thing beginning New Year's Eve and I bet it was a month until I was myself. Just when I thought it was over, I came down with a different case of the sniffles. Then I got on an airplane which was BRUTAL on my ears. You just get so run down. But it was really only a week of the flu symptoms (fever, etc.) DH got it just after mine started, got the TamiFlu, and was golden after just 3 days. That stuff is fantastic.

Hope you feel better!

[AmericangirlinFrance]

My DH (mid 30s, healthy guy) got the flu over Christmas. Had a very high fever, cough, body aches, the works. We took him to the doctor and he swabbed positive for Influenza A (worse than B). Started him on Tamiflu within 24 hours of symptom onset. 5 days later, he was still spiking fevers of 103 and was getting short of breath. If anything, he got worse. We took him back to the doctor and he had pneumonia and took 10 days of very strong antibiotics. He was very close to being hospitalized (and honestly, probably should have been).

I think not feeling well for a while after is common, but if you're noticing a trend of getting gradually worse instead of better after several days, go back to the doctor - you may have developed pneumonia. The doctor said it was a very common complication. It is easily diagnosable with a chest x-ray.

[krcit]

I second what AmericanGirl said. If you are worse after feeling better, you should go get checked for pneumonia. When my dd had the flu, the Dr told me to make sure to bring her back if she got worse after seeming better and sure enough it was pneumonia.

[Sabeking]

Here are our stats: I got the flu on feb. 2nd. Started with chills, aches, coughing, sneezing, never had a fever. I was in bed for 10 days. It took that long to have enough energy to do anything. Felt bad again on feb 17, went to the doctor and I'm on antibiotics for sinus infection. Still coughing and it will be a month Monday.

DD: got flu on feb. 9th. High fever, aches, chills, cough. Was in the bed for six days. One week later starts feeling bad agin. She is also now on antibiotics for sinus infection. Continuing to cough big time!!!

DH: got flu on feb 12th. Just got out of bed yesterday. High fever, aches, chills, shaking, etc...He was actually tested and they said he had Strain B flu. Coughing still and finally went back to work today.

My summation is that it takes about a month to feel 100 percent. I have not exercised in a whole month. Just focusing on getting my energy back. I think it doesn't matter how in shape you are either. I run an average of 10 miles a week and I can barely get up the stairs these days!

Good luck; hang in there!!

[Micca]

Sure sounds like many of us are dealing with more than one thing either one after the other or with some overlap. When I had the sinus thing it got down into my jaw so I wasn't sure if I needed a doctor or dentist!

Whatever this stuff is it seems different to me than anything I've deal with before. I haven't really been ill for 6 years, haven't had the flu in nearly 30 years. And when I have been sick in the past it usually lasted only a day or two.

Hope everyone can rest up over the weekend. Maybe we'll start the week feeling much better.

[Christine]

I had the flu a very long time ago. Like you, I seemed to get better and then, BAM, back to being ill. I ended up having pneumonia so if you are seeing some sort of gradual progression/improvement (even tiny) after the first week, you might want to go into the doctor and have an X-ray done of your lungs.

[mrswh]

Thanks for all the responses. This year's version seems extra brutal, but I don't know that I have ever had flu before! I get my flu shot every year but I guess this year it didn't do the trick.

The first illness was definitely not the flu - I think I probably just was more susceptible to the flu bc my immune system was busy trying to fight off the original illness. So I don't think I got better and then worse - I think I was getting better and then got the flu.

Day 6 and it seems the fever is gone (whew!) so now it's mainly coughing and exhaustion. It seems like I am due for several more days of it . . . will definitely go see the doctor if it's not better by Monday, but am hoping to avoid it as that's about the germiest place you can go these days, and I do NOT need Norovirus!!

Hope everyone who is suffering gets better quickly!

[Kitty 34]

I got the flu Feb 4 and then Feb 11 was diagnosed with pneumonia. I had a fever for over 7 days! And the coughing at night was absolutely horrible!! Still not feeling up to par.

[FINFAN]

DS had the flu for about 8 days and then into Strep..I had flu for about 12 days overal, the last 8 of those were awful aches pains then cough which diminished about 10 days later.

Rest, liquids, rest....hope you are better soon.