Speaking of the flu...

[Yollam]

My little one had it thurs and fri. ANd I've been in bed totally out of it all day. Still feel like crap.

I am in hell.

This sucks. Keep those damn pigeons away from me - I don't wanna sample any new bugs.

G'night!

[DemBones DemBones]

1. If your little one was only sick for two days, it wasn't influenza.

Not that other viruses can't make you fell like crap, but influenza lasts a full two weeks and will make you unable to get out of bed for more than a few minutes. Basically, you only get up when you have to go the bathroom and to eat jello, saltines, or whatever you can keep down. When the whole family has real flu, it's "OK, I fixed the last batch of Jello, it's your turn to do the next one." And after you get past the two weeks flat out in bed, you have another two weeks or more when you feel weak as the proverbial kitten, only this kitten was also sick as a dog.

Just the facts from a biologist who has had real influenza more than once (and who ALWAYS gets flu shots now.) ;-)

Drink lots of fluids and good luck!

[thinkingwoman]

6. uh, not exactly

different people's bodies handle the flu differently.

The last time I was sick for 2 weeks was a decade ago when I caught a particularly nasty secondary infection. All 4 family members shared the original flu virus, and we each picked up our own secondary. Our family doc saw us every 48 hours for a week and a half--finally just started making (and charging for) one long appt whenever we came in. My daughter's secondray was pneumonia which required 3 different antibiotics to kick it.

The original flu we had, however, didn't last longer than 3-4 days for any of us, but it was "real influenza" according to our doctor (a county health commissioner at the time).

[Yollam]

11. I always thought it was the joint pains with fever that was the difference

At any rate, I just read that the fever part of the flu can be anywhere from 48 to 72 hours, with other symptoms continuing for up to 2 or 3 weeks. We all had at least 48 hours of fever, and my littlest one has been coughing for 5 days now. This morning,I feel like crap, but I'm fever-free for the first time since friday night. Influenza is widespread in California, so it doesn't seem farfetched that this would be flu, but at this point, whether or not it's the "real" flu is immaterial. We all had a nightmare of a weekend, and I'm just glad to be on the other end of all the fever, aches and hallucinations(?). (I kept hearing several annoying songs in my head, over and over and couldn't get rid of them)

[thinkingwoman]

12. I thought that only happened to me!

I get annoying songs stuck in my head during fevers too! And sometimes annoying smells. It's weird.

Sounds like you have the flu to me. Hope you and your family recover quickly and skip the secondary infection route!

Take care.

[Yollam]

13. LOL. I kept hearing "These Words" by Natasha Bedingfield.

So unbearably catchy, especially when you're going back and forth between chills and sweats.

"IloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyou Whoa-oa, Whoa-oa..."

I wish there was a smiley for shooting yourself in the head, because death really seems appealing during those episodes.

[napi21]

2. I'm sorry. Hope you feel better in the morning.

There is a bit of bright light here though. The flu usually only lasts 48 hours! I'm sure you'll feel better soon.

Good luck to you.

[DemBones DemBones]

3. "Flu" that lasts only 48 hours is not influenza but another, weaker

virus. The weaker viruses makes you sick for a much shorter period of time and influenza is much more serious. Thousands die every year from influenza. I believe it's about 30,000 per year in the U.S.

[DemInDistress]

4. I caught the flu last Sunday and

the first 72 hours it was hell. Sweats,chills violent shivers,fever sore chest,sore throat,muscle aches and
pains. Then on Thursday and Friday I thought I was getting better,no false alarm. Today,its deja-vu. I feel
as sick as I was on Monday. 6 full days now of misery. The kind of shitty feeling I wish on gopers. Don't have
health insurance and NYC hospitals are not my savior. So I sit here tonight suffering from a bad flu. I coughed up some pretty ugly stuff.
I feel you pain..

[Rainscents]

5. Do you have supplement close by?

SAMBUCOL - Black Elderberry Syrup work great for Flu! This stuff will knock out flu in 3-4 days!!! I take it all through winter for preventive.

[DemInDistress]

7. No rainscents,,,no meds at all. I'm a stupid man at times

and this is one of them. Thanks for the tip though.. Elderberry Syrup, is that an ingredient for soda,soft drinks?

[renate]

8. it's an immune stimulant

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11399518&dopt=Citation

[DemInDistress]

9. renate,,,thanks for the site..

looks interesting. Where can a flu victim get some Sanbucol? without having to go to the hospital. Time to lay down and rest,see your answer tonight.

[renate]

10. here's one place

http://www.vitacost.com/NaturesWaySambucolBlackElderberryExtract/searchby-PN/searchtext-sambucol
or
http://www.vitacost.com/NaturesWaySambucolImmuneSystemSyrup/searchby-PN/searchtext-sambucol
(there are various other versions, too)

Or, I assume, you can just get it at your local health food store.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

[AngryAmish]

14. I got the stomach flu

Not real flu, a small fever but lots of puking and bad stuff on the other end. I have ruled out food poisoning.

Anyway, I think the puking part has passed and I am slowly sipping gatorade. It always helps when I am dehydrated.

My girlfriend came down with this on Friday. I kissed her yesterday. I'm an idiot.