The Flu

[ladybug]

Hey...

Well, I've been feeling really crummy the last couple of days.... not like a cold, or tune-up time, but basically really really lethargic, absolutely NO appetite (and when I do eat, its like one or two crackers and I feel queasy), achy all over (even in the joints in my hands!), chills, and a low-grade fever (about 2 degrees above my norm). My glucose has also been running a bit higher than usual.

I am not stuffy or coughing up more gunk... though it seems a bit thicker than usual. So, does this sound like the flu is trying to rear its ugly head?!?! I haven't had the flu in years, so I'm not entirely sure what the signs are. I also wonder if, since I don't have it too bad (still get out of bed and can feed/play with doggies, walk around the house, etc.) is my body trying to fight it off?

Thanks for any ideas. I'm mostly looking for how you know when you have the flu. Two days ago, I was feeling great, cooking, eating, and running on the treadmill, and now I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

 

[Jane]

Sonia, You could have a virus, or maybe an infection starting.

Usually the flu comes on very quickly. Here's what I found:

If you get infected by the flu virus, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days later. You can spread the flu to others before your symptoms start and for another 3 to 4 days after your symptoms appear. The symptoms start very quickly and may include

Body aches
Chills
Dry cough
Fever
Headache
Sore throat
Stuffy nose


You might want to call your doctor.

Hope you feel better.

 

[anonymous]

Did you get a flu shot? If you are able to get up it might not be the full flu yet because when you get it you will know, it is horrible.

I would call your doctor, to me it sounds like it is something coming on and it sounds like it could be a light case of flu

 

[ladybug]

I'm trying to avoid the doc.... my CF doc is 400 miles away, and I have no doctor in this city. I could go to the ER on base, but the only experience I have with this clinic on base is that they are totally worthless. So, I think if its not the flu, it will get worse (which, it seems to be a bit better today), and I'll just fly to Salt Lake to get admitted. If it IS the flu, they would probably just tell me to rest and drink fluids anyway, right?

I have all the above-listed symptoms (terrible headaches, by the way), but no stuffy nose or sore throat. That's why its so weird.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will keep an eye on it today and see if I keep feeling better. I am sleeping well through the night and don't use anything other than tylenol, so I feel confident my body can fight this off.

Thanks-

p.s. I did get a flu shot in November 2005. I credit that to why I've not had a flu since very very young. I get it every single year. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[thelizardqueen]

Like Jane said - you could have a virus. I had those symptoms shortly after getting out of hospital, and my doc informed me that it hadn't been the flu but rather a virus, and that it had to run its course. As a precaution though I would check with your doc. I let mine go, and ended up going into emerg with it and being put on fluids because I was so dehydrated from it.

 

[Lilith]

I started having all of those symptoms in February, and thought it was the flu. It ended up being a nasty staph infection, so watch it carefully.

 

[ladybug]

Would a staph infection start feeling better after a couple days? I mean, today, I felt really quite good... almost to think about going to the gym, and then tonight I am running a fever again. My digestion is all screwed up too.... I can't seem to keep much in my gut (if ya know what i mean...lol)... Anyway, I want to avoid the doc if I can. Doesn't feel really serious, but feels <i>different</i> for sure.

Thanks for the suggestions and info.!