Have you ever had the flu? - General Discussion

lemoncurd · 19-02-2007, 13:03

Apparantly, somewhere between 0.1 and 0.2% of the population get influenza each year, mostly confined to those who are susceptable, such as the elderly.
Yet, despite the low rates of influenza, I've heard quite a number of people say they've had it this year or in previous years.

So, have you ever been unlucky enough to be one of the few to catch this nasty disease? If so, what did the doctor do/prescribe and how long did it take you to recover?

I've never had a virus, but I know a girl at work who caught something once and was off work for about 4 months with something called Postviral Fatigue.

Jennyuk · 19-02-2007, 13:05

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=532120

lemoncurd · 19-02-2007, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennyuk

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=532120

Yes, thanks for that. Unfortunately, that has descended into a thread of people talking about the common cold, NOT influenza. I'm trying to find out if anyone has specifically had the flu, and whether the statistics match the reality.

RAINBOWGIRL22 · 19-02-2007, 13:11

I had the flu when I was about 12 and it is the most ill i've ever been (touch wood!)

I literally laid on the sofa for a week and was so poorly & weak I needed to ask my Mum to take me to the loo. I ate virtually nothing and didn't even want to take fluids. My recovery time was about two weeks in all.
If I remember correctly my doctor did visit me at home although I'm don't think they prescribed anything?

19-02-2007, 13:13

I've had it once, and I genuinely wished I was dead.

PamelaL · 19-02-2007, 13:23

People (my husband) say they've got the flu but what they've really got is a bad cold.

SweetyPie2006 · 19-02-2007, 13:26

My OH recently had it and I was scoffing telling him its a cold, But every bone in his body was sore, he was shattered constant and he looked so ill I felt horrible for being such a bitch!

lemoncurd · 19-02-2007, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by PamelaL

People (my husband) say they've got the flu but what they've really got is a bad cold.

You should know by now that what your husband has is `Manflu'.

Shayera Hol · 19-02-2007, 13:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemoncurd

I've never had a virus, but I know a girl at work who caught something once and was off work for about 4 months with something called Postviral Fatigue.

I've had that before - not just nasty at the time, but comes back again and again. My understanding from what I was told at the time (although I'm sure someone will tell me if I'm wrong) is that it's a mild form of ME.

lemoncurd · 19-02-2007, 13:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetyPie2006

My OH recently had it and I was scoffing telling him its a cold, But every bone in his body was sore, he was shattered constant and he looked so ill I felt horrible for being such a bitch!

How does the doctor diganose it as flu (as opposed to just a bad cold)? Do they take samples?

PamelaL · 19-02-2007, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemoncurd

You should know by now that what your husband has is `Manflu'.

Did you know that if you have 'manflu' the world stops and you lie in bed and do nothing. But you are usually ok enough to work a computer.

Charlie Coo · 19-02-2007, 13:31

I've only had it once at uni - my flatmate insisted on sleeping on my floor as he thought I was going to die during the night! (Not quite sure what use that was as he was fast asleep whilst I was whimpering throughout the night) It was awful and really bugs me when people say they've got the flu whilst sitting at their desks sniffing - its a bloody cold!

lemoncurd · 19-02-2007, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by PamelaL

Did you know that if you have 'manflu' the world stops and you lie in bed and do nothing. But you are usually ok enough to work a computer.

They are truly unique symptoms. The other strange symptom is that snuffling/coughing gets more pronounced when somebody who is likely to provide food/drinks/new batteries for the PSP gets into earshot of the patient.

I <3 Tweety · 19-02-2007, 13:34

Nope, never had it.

James2001 · 19-02-2007, 14:04

I've had the flu once. The REAL flu, not like the majority of people who claim they have it, but really just have a cold. When you have it, you know about it, it's really awful. I was off school for 2 weeks.

Porcupine · 19-02-2007, 14:07

My husband has had the flu. I have never seen him so poorly and he spent two weeks in bed. He didnt have the energy to eat or drink much ... he just lay there sleeping.

Unfortunately because he was so low he then contracted toncilitus which meant he struggled to eat AGAIN. It really took it out of him.

Porcupine · 19-02-2007, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemoncurd

How does the doctor diganose it as flu (as opposed to just a bad cold)? Do they take samples?

Because flu isnt really the same symptoms as a cold. Real flu is more achy, sweating, shivering etc ... Not really sneezing and coughing.

MoistenedBint · 19-02-2007, 14:12

I had it once, when I was 12. It was christmas time and I could not move. It ws a miserable few days. My mum and dad had it too. It was like I had an elephant walking all over my body combined with being in a oven.

maybe · 19-02-2007, 14:26

I've had real flu twice. Once when I was in my twenties, and then again in 2002 when I was 40. Both times have completely wiped me out and took 2 - 3 weeks recovery time.

PamelaL · 19-02-2007, 14:29

I've never had the flu but I've had malaria which has flu-like symptons. That's great fun too.

ikkleosu · 19-02-2007, 14:34

Not sure if it was flu but I've had a couple of nasty nasty viruses. The first one I had to go to hospital as they were worried I had meningitits or scarlet fever - I came out in a rash but it was just a fever rash. I slept for half na hour at a time for 3 days! It was horrendous!

The second time my mmum had it first and I caught it a few days later, it was very distressing as my mum is a very hearty healthy type and she couldn't do ANYTHINg for 7 days - justs at in her chair - she couldn't read, do puzzles anything, just sat waiting to feel better.

I wasn't QUITE so bad but I remember 4 days into it not even having the energy to sit up to take a drink.

Victoria Sponge · 19-02-2007, 14:35

I have had it twice. Once when I was about eight, and again two years ago when I was 23. Both times I hallucinated. The second time was so awful, I thought I was being tortured by police, who were forcing me to vomit. As I laid in bed, the room spinned, I felt absolutely rotten, in pain, and like another poster said above, I honestly felt like I wanted to die. It was an absoultely horrendous experience, so I always dread Februarys as I associate the month with having flu.

James2001 · 19-02-2007, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porcupine

Because flu isnt really the same symptoms as a cold. Real flu is more achy, sweating, shivering etc ... Not really sneezing and coughing.

Indeed. When I had the flu, there wasn't much in the way of sneezing or coughing (though there was A LOT of nose blowing. God knows how many boxes of tissues I got through). I remember it being a real challenge to get down the stairs, there was one day I didn't even get out of bed (not even for the toilet) because I felt so bad. I've never felt like that when I've had a cold, and I never want to feel like it again.

goonst · 19-02-2007, 14:47

Uck, I had the flu at christmas time.

The real flu.
It started with horrible shivering, I just couldn't seem to get warm. Then I felt weak, dizzy, achy...
I started vomiting and couldn't stop, till I was throwing up bile. My limbs felt like lead and it was all I could do to get to the loo or to bed. Then I got feverish and sweated buckets. This went on through Christmas and I wasn't fully recovered till after New Year.

Not fun.

SparkleBabe · 19-02-2007, 15:06

I have only ever had proper flu once and I have never been so ill in my life. I literally could not lift my head of the pillow and could hardly keep my eyes open. My whole body ached all over, I lost my appetite and could only manage the odd mouthful of soup. I did not eat properly for around a month afterwards and ended up losing a stone in weight.

I would wake up in the night in a cold sweat, and would have bizare dreams due to a hight temperature. Everything was a chore, even getting out of bed to go to the loo took all my energy.

Flu really knocks you about and it annoyes me when people have a heavy cold and say its 'flu'.

19-02-2007, 13:03	#1
lemoncurd Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Gender: Male Location: Bristol Services: Freeview (Fusion FVRT200 DVR); BeUnlimited 8Mb Posts: 23,306 Blog Entries: 1	Have you ever had the flu? Apparantly, somewhere between 0.1 and 0.2% of the population get influenza each year, mostly confined to those who are susceptable, such as the elderly. Yet, despite the low rates of influenza, I've heard quite a number of people say they've had it this year or in previous years. So, have you ever been unlucky enough to be one of the few to catch this nasty disease? If so, what did the doctor do/prescribe and how long did it take you to recover? I've never had a virus, but I know a girl at work who caught something once and was off work for about 4 months with something called Postviral Fatigue.

19-02-2007, 13:11	#4
RAINBOWGIRL22 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 11,999	I had the flu when I was about 12 and it is the most ill i've ever been (touch wood!) I literally laid on the sofa for a week and was so poorly & weak I needed to ask my Mum to take me to the loo. I ate virtually nothing and didn't even want to take fluids. My recovery time was about two weeks in all. If I remember correctly my doctor did visit me at home although I'm don't think they prescribed anything? Last edited by RAINBOWGIRL22 : 19-02-2007 at 13:13.

19-02-2007, 14:04	#15
James2001 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Mansfield Services: Non-CWC NTL Home Digital v5.32, 128kbps broadband and Nokia Mediamaster FTA Posts: 18,827	I've had the flu once. The REAL flu, not like the majority of people who claim they have it, but really just have a cold. When you have it, you know about it, it's really awful. I was off school for 2 weeks. Last edited by James2001 : 19-02-2007 at 14:06.

19-02-2007, 13:05	#2
Jennyuk Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: I'm here X Posts: 4,488	http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=532120

19-02-2007, 13:13	#5
UNcabled Posts: n/a	I've had it once, and I genuinely wished I was dead.

19-02-2007, 13:23	#6
PamelaL Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Worcestershire Posts: 55,222	People (my husband) say they've got the flu but what they've really got is a bad cold.

19-02-2007, 13:26	#7
SweetyPie2006 Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Gender: Female Location: The Bonny Bonny Banks.. Posts: 4,908 Blog Entries: 1	My OH recently had it and I was scoffing telling him its a cold, But every bone in his body was sore, he was shattered constant and he looked so ill I felt horrible for being such a bitch!

19-02-2007, 13:31	#12
Charlie Coo Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 8,650	I've only had it once at uni - my flatmate insisted on sleeping on my floor as he thought I was going to die during the night! (Not quite sure what use that was as he was fast asleep whilst I was whimpering throughout the night) It was awful and really bugs me when people say they've got the flu whilst sitting at their desks sniffing - its a bloody cold!

19-02-2007, 13:34	#14
I <3 Tweety Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Posts: 4,037	Nope, never had it.

19-02-2007, 14:07	#16
Porcupine Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Gender: Female Location: In the Pub Posts: 13,368 Blog Entries: 1	My husband has had the flu. I have never seen him so poorly and he spent two weeks in bed. He didnt have the energy to eat or drink much ... he just lay there sleeping. Unfortunately because he was so low he then contracted toncilitus which meant he struggled to eat AGAIN. It really took it out of him.

19-02-2007, 14:12	#18
MoistenedBint Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: ♀ North-West Hampshire Services: Virgin Media XL, Playstation 3, Samsung 50" Plasma. Posts: 6,015	I had it once, when I was 12. It was christmas time and I could not move. It ws a miserable few days. My mum and dad had it too. It was like I had an elephant walking all over my body combined with being in a oven.

19-02-2007, 14:26	#19
maybe Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Gender: Not specified Location: UK Posts: 4,068	I've had real flu twice. Once when I was in my twenties, and then again in 2002 when I was 40. Both times have completely wiped me out and took 2 - 3 weeks recovery time.

19-02-2007, 14:29	#20
PamelaL Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Worcestershire Posts: 55,222	I've never had the flu but I've had malaria which has flu-like symptons. That's great fun too.

19-02-2007, 14:34	#21
ikkleosu Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dundee, Scotland Services: Evil BT Home Hub Broadband, BT Vision and SKY basic Posts: 5,547	Not sure if it was flu but I've had a couple of nasty nasty viruses. The first one I had to go to hospital as they were worried I had meningitits or scarlet fever - I came out in a rash but it was just a fever rash. I slept for half na hour at a time for 3 days! It was horrendous! The second time my mmum had it first and I caught it a few days later, it was very distressing as my mum is a very hearty healthy type and she couldn't do ANYTHINg for 7 days - justs at in her chair - she couldn't read, do puzzles anything, just sat waiting to feel better. I wasn't QUITE so bad but I remember 4 days into it not even having the energy to sit up to take a drink.

19-02-2007, 14:35	#22
Victoria Sponge Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: That London Services: o2 bband Posts: 1,943	I have had it twice. Once when I was about eight, and again two years ago when I was 23. Both times I hallucinated. The second time was so awful, I thought I was being tortured by police, who were forcing me to vomit. As I laid in bed, the room spinned, I felt absolutely rotten, in pain, and like another poster said above, I honestly felt like I wanted to die. It was an absoultely horrendous experience, so I always dread Februarys as I associate the month with having flu.

19-02-2007, 14:47	#24
goonst Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Drowned Services: SSOS. Vinnie not to win CBB. Posts: 4,766 Blog Entries: 19	Uck, I had the flu at christmas time. The real flu. It started with horrible shivering, I just couldn't seem to get warm. Then I felt weak, dizzy, achy... I started vomiting and couldn't stop, till I was throwing up bile. My limbs felt like lead and it was all I could do to get to the loo or to bed. Then I got feverish and sweated buckets. This went on through Christmas and I wasn't fully recovered till after New Year. Not fun.

19-02-2007, 15:06	#25
SparkleBabe Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: My House Services: Sky+, Top Up TV, AOL Posts: 15,938 Blog Entries: 3	I have only ever had proper flu once and I have never been so ill in my life. I literally could not lift my head of the pillow and could hardly keep my eyes open. My whole body ached all over, I lost my appetite and could only manage the odd mouthful of soup. I did not eat properly for around a month afterwards and ended up losing a stone in weight. I would wake up in the night in a cold sweat, and would have bizare dreams due to a hight temperature. Everything was a chore, even getting out of bed to go to the loo took all my energy. Flu really knocks you about and it annoyes me when people have a heavy cold and say its 'flu'.