I'm back! Was it flu I had??

I dont think anyone noticed...but just in case:
I've been gone since the middle of last week and just back on the site today. Tuesday in town I felt sore and tired but attributed it to too much outside labor preparing for upcomming snow. Then Thursday I woke with a minor cough and sore throat. I had to go out and do some Christmas shopping...I suddenly got alot worse. I ended up getting so bad the first few days after that I couldnt hardly get up to pee or drink. I ended up puking everytime I coughed and later even drinking and had a high fever. My highest was 103.1. Then I started to get better (gotta love Tylenol). No it's tuesday (a full week after this all started) and I'm still coughing pretty bad and have burning eyes and nose, but I am ok now. I'm mainly happy I can eat and stopping gagging.
Anyway...I'm been bugged by this one question the intire time:

Did I have the flu or something else? What do you think?

Sore body (felt like I had done a workout)
weak
high fever between 100.4 and 103.1
nausea/vomiting
dry and sore throat
runny nose
tired
more emotional (guess cause I felt bad)
dizzy
headache

Thanks! It would be helpfull to know for sure. I need to be watching for post-flu complications if I did have the flu.

Sounds like a bad case of the flu.

I've heard that there is a strain of the flu that includes gastro as well.

And I will say that you still have it being that you're not fully recovered yet.

Ok thanks. I was afraid of that. I guess it means that since I've done had the flu I cant get it again right?
Do I still have any risk of death like the ones I've heard of being caused by flu?

I'm recovered enough to make me happy though. I was miserable...not to mention scared. I feel fine other than this annoying cough...which I have to watch for signs of bronchitis and pneumonia.

Do you know anything about contagious and staying home? I have christmas stuff this friday and sunday to go to that are very important....

sounds like you had caught a nasty virus
Welcome back

yeah and it's still not over...I gotta worry about complications and try to not infect grandma since she had her surgery not too long ago.
Thanks Chelle! I'm glad to be able to function!

Just because you've had the flu, it doesn't mean that you can't catch it again because there are many strains of influenza.

As for your grandmother, it would be best to keep minimum contact between the two of you. And as always, if she feels unwell, see a doctor.

Contagious? Well, I'd say anyone coughing and spluttering is contagious. But it's the hand to mouth movement that is closely attributed to catching the flu or common cold. Your grandmother should minimise that as well.

If you feel that you are well enough to go to these functions, then go. I always ask myself the question, "How would I feel if someone with my symptoms was at <insert function/work/uni here>?" And if it involved safety issues, they would come first before any desire of wanting to go somewhere.

You definitely do not want bronchitis. It takes forever to get over it. I unfortunately developed that after my holiday. It took one month to recover and to get rid of the coughing and to get some sort of satisfactory energy levels. Though lately my energy levels seem to be lower. So I figure I must still have it in my system.

Pneumonia is something else that you definitely do not want. That too takes a long time to recover from as well. Heck, you don't want any respiratory illness, especially if you're asthmatic.

Risk of death? Well, you're up and around. If there was any to begin with, I'd think you'd be in hospital but you started to improve, a sign that your immune system kicked in. I would still be careful as you don't want to lapse again.

And this will sound alarmist, but there is always risk of death with any infection or virus. It just depends on your health and how you take care of yourself that determines how large it is.

Sounds like the flu to me. The fever kind of gives it away! Make sure you still get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids, even though you are feeling better.

I wouldn't worry about the chance of death. The people that are dying from flu are very young children and seniors with other complications. Sounds like you're well on your way to recovery!

I agree that it does sound like the flu. Make sure you keep taking really good care of yourself, so you don't relapse and give your body plenty of time to heal. 2 years ago I got the flu, and I was just getting over it when I got hit with brohchitis. My doc said I was probably more succeptible to the brohchitis since my body was pretty wiped out from fighting the flu. I think I was sick for a month - yuck!!

Glad to hear you're feeling better!!!

It sounds like the flu to me. You described all the symptoms of what I had about 15 years ago. I haven't had it since but with my luck I will come down with it today

Take care of yourself it sounds like you are not completely well yet. Welcome back

Since this year's flu is so nasty, I would go to the doctor and let him give you advice.

I second Deb's motion - you really need to see a Doc! I'm glad you're feeling better, but none of your family, friends or co-workers would appreciate being infected by you! Gary and I both have the flu right now, and it's a bear. You really need antibiotics to ensure it's out of your system and that you're not just carrying it around. Again - I'm glad you're feeling better now - but passing that around does not sound like a very nice Christmas present for anyone!

The owner of our firm recently sent out a memo requiring employees to stay home and see a Doctor if they're sick, and pay will be docked if they don't. Although he appreciates their dedication to work if they're willing to come in while sick, he wants them to keep their illness to themselves instead of spreading it to others in the office causing even more people to either be out or keep coming in sick, spreading whatever it is even further.

How are you feeling now Amber? Going to the doctor is a good thing to do if you're still not feeling well and having fever. I don't think they'll give you antibiotics for flu though, because it is viral. Unless there is a secondary infection such as pneumonia. They can give an anti-viral medication but only within the first 48 hours or something like that. Anyway, I hope you're feeling better! Drink LOTS Of fluids and get lots of rest!

I have no idea what it may have been, but whatever it was sure does sound nasty. Hope you're doing better too, get well soon.

Glad you are back! Sorry about you being sick but it sounds like you are on the road to recovery!
I don't think it was the flu. When I get a cold, and then ignore it, I develop the symptoms you described. Then my cough sticks around for more than two weeks. And if I ignore that, well, it's bronchitis!
I only got the flu once, and it was hell! It felt like I was dying. The pain was everywhere... I had headaches, stomach cramps and muscle aches. You didn't get those, so I voted that it wasn't the flu.

Originally posted by LDG
You really need antibiotics to ensure it's out of your system and that you're not just carrying it around. Again - I'm glad you're feeling better now - but passing that around does not sound like a very nice Christmas present for anyone!

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Laurie I grabbed this for an example. I don't intend to offend you.

Antibiotics are only given in the case of bacterial infection. The flu is cause by the influenza virus. Antibiotics do not affect viruses at all and do nothing. It's a common misconception. Though with the flu, it tends to get chesty and that's when the antibiotics are generally given or some doctors do feel bullied by patients and will prescribe antibiotics so the patients are happy and come back to them later.

But, really, if you are worried, see a doctor. Especially if you've got a cough that doesn't go away or you've got a chesty build up that hasn't cleared up.

I'm not sure but I hope you feel better soon!

Originally posted by a_loveless_gem
If you feel that you are well enough to go to these functions, then go. I always ask myself the question, "How would I feel if someone with my symptoms was at <insert function/work/uni here>?" And if it involved safety issues, they would come first before any desire of wanting to go somewhere.

You definitely do not want bronchitis.

Pneumonia is something else that you definitely do not want.

Risk of death? Well, you're up and around. If there was any to begin with, I'd think you'd be in hospital but you started to improve, a sign that your immune system kicked in. I would still be careful as you don't want to lapse again.

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*I chopped the message because it was long to reply to and still be able to quote*

Trust me I am very germ concience and really irritate my friends how 'germaphobic' I am. I'm always bugging the heck out of Lyle to wash his hands after touching anything out in town. If I'm sick I stay as far from people as possible. My 2 christmas functions this weekend I'm not worrying about spreading, I'm gonna wear a mask and they all know I'm sick and to stay away. I also wont cough and then touch something. I would explain what I mean, but it would talk to long....my question about contagious is MY health if I go Fri and Sun. I know that my immune system is probably low now after this and I wondered if what to do so I wouldnt get exposed to anyoone else sick and get this or something worse again.

I've had it once unfortunately and yes it sucks. Probably the longest most painfull time of coughing in my life.

Luckily never had pneumonia, but grandma has 3 times she said and so atleast I'll know what to look for and atleast it can be survived.

I'm being very carefull. I've still not left the house in over a week. I've felt fine for 2 days in a row now(other than the cough) but I know as cold as it is unless I have to I better not go out. I was worried about death because grandma said she's heard of people with this new flu just up and dieing and not being very sick at first.

Originally posted by mzjazz2u
Sounds like the flu to me. The fever kind of gives it away! Make sure you still get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids, even though you are feeling better.

I wouldn't worry about the chance of death. The people that are dying from flu are very young children and seniors with other complications. Sounds like you're well on your way to recovery!

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I'm drinking alot more water than I used to and trying to eat low sodium foods. I'm also for once spending my days watching tv laying on the couch instead of online.

I hope so too. If I feel fine now and only have a cough. This new flu death stuff in the news is making me paranoid.

Originally posted by Gothic_Amethyst
This new flu death stuff in the news is making me paranoid.

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Me Too

Originally posted by Suzy
I agree that it does sound like the flu. Make sure you keep taking really good care of yourself, so you don't relapse and give your body plenty of time to heal. 2 years ago I got the flu, and I was just getting over it when I got hit with brohchitis. My doc said I was probably more succeptible to the brohchitis since my body was pretty wiped out from fighting the flu. I think I was sick for a month - yuck!!

Glad to hear you're feeling better!!!

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I'm trying my best to keep resting...but feeling better after feeling that bad....wow it makes it so hard! I just want to get in my truck and go be with friends or something...anything so bad. I know though it's too cold and too soon to go out and act like normal again...*sigh* I had bronchitis once....it really stinks! Glad you made it thru it! I'm watching for it. Although my immune system is low, since I've made it though it once maybe I'll be ok.

Thanks!