Is this the flu?

[lewber]

So I've been sick since Thursday. I have all the symptoms of the flu. Woke up Thursday with scratchy throat and was sick by noon, down by 5. Been pretty much in bed since then. I feel fine when the fever is down. But it's lasting longer than anticipated. How long does the fever last? I'm pretty much quarantined which was fun for awhile but now, not.

Off the fever reducer I have a headache, general achiness, and exhaustion. No appetite. I have a terrible sore throat but that just came on yesterday after a coughing fit.

Could it be anything but the flu? Should I go the doctor? I am well hydrated, well rested and taking my sambucol. Is there anything I can do to speed this along?

[G5052]

It likely is flu or maybe even strep. There's a lot of both out there. DH and I got the flu shot and got a milder version of what our two kids did who both tested positive at the doctor's office for flu. 

 

But we're all still coughing a lot too. I went to the doctor last weekend because mine had gone into bronchitis. It's 12 days for me, and I'm still coughing. I've never run a fever though.

 

I'd go to the doctor, knowing that there might not be much they can do though. If there's any chance of strep or bronchitis, I want them to look at me.

[EmilyGF]

Could also be mono.

 

My brother had those symptoms over Thanksgiving and had both mono and strep. He's an overachiever.

 

Emily

[AmandaVT]

Keep an eye on your throat. I've heard that the strep/flu combo is going around this year and is most unfun. Traditional Medicinals makes a tea called "Throat Coat" that I love when I have a sore throat. It's so soothing! Hope you feel better soon!

[JonesinIndiana]

My sister was sick with all that and vomiting and diarrhea. She didn't get out of the house for 3 weeks. She's still not back to normal with her eating.

 

IMO I think this flu and cold season has been especially bad because people have been out and about more with the mild winter.

 

Hope you recover quickly.

[Shelly in IL]

I had the flu. 6 days of fever. I'm on my third week of recovery and my head is still plugged up.

[lewber]

Thank you all for the thoughts. Strep is my only real concern at this point I guess. My throat is in a lot of pain when I'm not on Advil. But I do have a very tender throat and that is not entirely unusual. And it was the last symptom to present.

[lewber]

I had the flu. 6 days of fever. I'm on my third week of recovery and my head is still plugged up.

6!?! :(

I hope you feel better soon!

[momto10blessings]

I had a horrible sore throat the last time I had influenza. Hope you're better soon.

[goldberry]

That many days of fever plus severe sore throat I would get checked.  We don't take any chances with strep around here.

 

DD and I both had either the flu or a bad respiratory virus may in February. We had fever a full 6-7 days like Shelly.  Literally stuck to the bed for a full week.  Second week still sick, but able to move around the house a bit. So, two weeks out of service total.  Coughing for 2-3 weeks after that - nasty bug!

[JFSinIL]

DD, 19, was tested and diagnosed with flu a couple months after she got the flu shot. Possibly due to the shot, she had a mild flu and was up and about in a couple days. But I had her also checked for strep (neg) just in case.

She flet ill on a Friday, by Friday night she had a low fever (100.5) and complained about aching all over. That to me was the clue it was flu, and Saturday morning drove her to the doctor to be checked out. Luckily no one else here got sick.

Edited March 28, 2016 by JFSinIL

[Sara in AZ]

My kids all got the flu and strep throat at the same time last month. The fever lasted a full five days or more for a couple of them, and they were all so exhausted and pretty much out of commission for a full week. Hope you feel better soon.

[MEmama]

Yep.:(

 

Watch for strep as others have said. Pneumonia and bronchitis are other common offshoots of the flu this year.

Mine morphed into bronchitis in the second week. 2 weeks later I'm still using an inhaler at night and have really limited lung capacity. No need for antibiotics because it's viral.

 

This one is a doozy and takes a long time to recover from. Get lots of sleep, drink tons of water, and watch for worsening symptoms.

 

Take care!

[Spryte]

It sounds like the flu, but I'd worry about the flu/strep combo. We've had it here, it goes around and it's horrible.

 

I'd go in for a strep test. We have a family member who ended up in ICU for two weeks due to undiagnosed, untreated strep. She's a nurse, too - she should have known better, gaaah! She almost died. We don't mess with strep now. Sore throats with fever that last always get strep tests.

[lewber]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to the doctor this morning to get a strep test.

[Spryte]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to the doctor this morning to get a strep test.

Glad to hear it. Feel better soon!

[goldberry]

 Pneumonia and bronchitis are other common offshoots of the flu this year.

 

 

I've seen that in my area as well.  Several people were back at the doctor 4 weeks later.  Best bet is to take care of yourself and give it the full amount of time you need to recover.