Flu symptoms

Brandon Fox9 said:Please, let's not talk nonsense here...
1) They vaccinate you against the strains predicted to be dominant during the upcoming season, not against whatever was around last year. The whole idea is to prepare you for the specific viruses people will actually be catching this season...
2) Vaccination is typically done two to three months before flu season peaks, which is when you should get it. Of course, it makes no sense to get vaccinated after you're already sick—I didn't say that either...

Yeah, they vaccinate you against what they ASSUME will be dominant. That doesn't mean the virus hasn't mutated in the meantime and rendered the shot ineffective.

Look, even if the virus mutates, it’s usually just shifting into one of those sub-strains the vaccine was designed to target anyway, so you're still technically covered... honestly, maybe don't get too deep into the weeds on topics that aren't quite your specialty or start spreading generalizations... for instance, everyone who got their shot this year is fully protected because that specific strain of the flu is what's actually making the rounds right now. So, you got vaccinated specifically to avoid getting sick, yet here you are, still blowing smoke about how vaccines are useless.

Douglas Ramos2 said:Man, I’ve been hit by the worst flu ever. Every single inch of my body aches; I can barely even get out of bed. My lymph nodes in my neck are swollen and super sore, swallowing anything is pure torture, my fever is sitting around 101.3, I'm dizzy, and I keep waking up in the middle of the night from shivering and back pain....🤷..so, what actually counts as a "severe" case of the flu?
I usually pick up a flu bug every winter, but it's never felt this intense... especially the throat pain, which feels like someone is literally ripping my tonsils out..🤷...that doesn't feel quite typical for the flu to me...
How many of you have managed to catch the flu?
Do you guys go to the doctor for it?.. I usually don't, but now I'm seriously considering it because of how bad my throat is...
What are you all doing to treat yourselves?

Flu: high fever above 102°F
bone aches, malaise, weakness, loss of appetite

Plenty of fluids, chicken soup, tea—not too strong—antipyretics, Tylenol..
rest

Viral pharyngitis: red, painful throat with fever, low WBC count

Bacterial: red, painful throat, fever is also elevated

Purulent tonsillitis: high fever, 102-104°F, inability to swallow, white spots on the throat, intense pain, high WBC count; sometimes penicillin therapy is required
or perhaps Silapen pills

An illness cannot be diagnosed immediately

To clarify the clinical picture, 24 to 48 hours are needed

Every illness lasts 7–14 days
Viral infections and the flu can transition into bacterial ones
However, antibiotics are not prescribed as a preventative measure

Brandon Fox9 said:Look, even if the virus mutates, it’s usually just shifting into one of those sub-strains the vaccine was designed to target anyway, so you're still technically covered... honestly, maybe don't get too deep into the weeds on topics that aren't quite your specialty or start spreading generalizations... for instance, everyone who got their shot this year is fully protected because that specific strain of the flu is what's actually making the rounds right now. So, you got vaccinated specifically to avoid getting sick, yet here you are, still blowing smoke about how vaccines are useless.

I agree with you, though there's a segment of medical professionals who believe it's better for young people to build immunity naturally.

The real issue now is missing work, school, and so on.

Secondly, even if that specific strain isn't dominant, the symptoms tend to be milder.
It's a matter of antibodies; they should probably look that up on Google.

I honestly don't get you people who are so against getting vaccinated! I’ve been doing this for over 10 years now, and since I started, I’ve only caught the flu once—and even then, it was a pretty mild case that I just powered through. So, speaking from actual experience here, the VACCINE WORKS, believe me! 👍 But, okay, there’s a catch: you actually have to get it ON TIME. That means hitting the pharmacy when the seasonal shot comes out, maybe around October or November. The shot itself is basically painless; you barely feel it in your arm, and side effects? Not really, unless your shoulder feels a bit sore for a day or two. Honestly, I’d much rather deal with that and cough up the couple of bucks it costs (if I remember right, and seniors over 65 get it for free!) than be stuck in bed for at least 10 days running a massive fever! 👍 I really hope those of you currently whining about how miserable being sick is that you'll actually listen to my advice next autumn and give it a shot. You’ve got nothing to lose, and you might just gain a season where the flu leaves you alone!
By the way, I heard they actually NAILED the vaccine this year. Word is, out of several thousand people who got sick, NO ONE had been vaccinated, which apparently means the protection is basically 100% this time around. That would be an absolute win! 👍

exactly like that...

rapidheron2 said:I honestly don't get you people who are so against getting vaccinated! I’ve been doing this for over 10 years now, and since I started, I’ve only caught the flu once—and even then, it was a pretty mild case that I just powered through. So, speaking from actual experience here, the VACCINE WORKS, believe me! 👍 But, okay, there’s a catch: you actually have to get it ON TIME. That means hitting the pharmacy when the seasonal shot comes out, maybe around October or November. The shot itself is basically painless; you barely feel it in your arm, and side effects? Not really, unless your shoulder feels a bit sore for a day or two. Honestly, I’d much rather deal with that and cough up the couple of bucks it costs (if I remember right, and seniors over 65 get it for free!) than be stuck in bed for at least 10 days running a massive fever! 👍 I really hope those of you currently whining about how miserable being sick is that you'll actually listen to my advice next autumn and give it a shot. You’ve got nothing to lose, and you might just gain a season where the flu leaves you alone!
By the way, I heard they actually NAILED the vaccine this year. Word is, out of several thousand people who got sick, NO ONE had been vaccinated, which apparently means the protection is basically 100% this time around. That would be an absolute win! 👍

1. I’m not against vaccination at all, I just think your logic doesn't quite hold up; you're young and have a solid immune system. I don't ever get vaccinated, and in the last 15 years, I've only caught the flu once, despite being around huge crowds during flu season because of work and my social life—you know, things like sports games and stuff...

2. As for that second part, it's complete nonsense 🙂 I'm not talking to you specifically, because you're just repeating what you heard, but whoever told you that, feel free to tell them it's absolute stupidity from every conceivable angle.
First of all, something like that would be impossible to verify—every single year, including this one, a MASSIVE number of people catch the flu and never even bother seeing a doctor, because if you're generally healthy and there aren't any complications, there's zero reason to go to a clinic.

And besides, the flu shot is consistently one of the least effective vaccines out there, and it stays that way every year, no exceptions. The principle remains the same...

And again—I'm not saying this to be anti-vax, because it is often incredibly useful for those most at risk, mainly the elderly and people with chronic conditions, and for younger folks, it's also helpful for economic reasons—avoiding missed work and all that...

3. On a separate note, it's not just the flu running around in the winter. Just like always, other viruses are circulating right alongside it. You don't get a sore throat from the flu, and you don't get swollen lymph nodes from the flu... while those could happen later as complications, if someone wakes up one day with a 39 in the morning and a sore throat, they definitely don't have the flu.

rapidheron2 said:I honestly don't get you people who are so against getting vaccinated! I’ve been doing this for over 10 years now, and since I started, I’ve only caught the flu once—and even then, it was a pretty mild case that I just powered through. So, speaking from actual experience here, the VACCINE WORKS, believe me! 👍 But, okay, there’s a catch: you actually have to get it ON TIME. That means hitting the pharmacy when the seasonal shot comes out, maybe around October or November. The shot itself is basically painless; you barely feel it in your arm, and side effects? Not really, unless your shoulder feels a bit sore for a day or two. Honestly, I’d much rather deal with that and cough up the couple of bucks it costs (if I remember right, and seniors over 65 get it for free!) than be stuck in bed for at least 10 days running a massive fever! 👍 I really hope those of you currently whining about how miserable being sick is that you'll actually listen to my advice next autumn and give it a shot. You’ve got nothing to lose, and you might just gain a season where the flu leaves you alone!
By the way, I heard they actually NAILED the vaccine this year. Word is, out of several thousand people who got sick, NO ONE had been vaccinated, which apparently means the protection is basically 100% this time around. That would be an absolute win! 👍

The body needs to learn how to build its own immunity

Our bodies are designed to fight off many illnesses
Even from a young age, people tend to take the path of least resistance, which is why children are vaccinated based on EPP

rather than following what the Health Institute epidemiologists and experts prescribe
Furthermore, consider how many antibiotics and other pills you swallow thinking you're doing something smart....
But while doing that, you smoke, avoid sports, stay away from fresh air, neglect proper nutrition and hygiene, and visit the doctor for every little thing—especially in waiting rooms that are currently overflowing....

Remember

a young, healthy organism doesn't need vaccinations

vaccines are good for chronic patients and the elderly (who are also chronic sufferers) whose bodies cannot fight off threats independently

My girlfriend caught the flu yesterday. How long is the incubation period for this virus? Is there anything I can actually do over the next few days to boost my chances of staying healthy myself? She’s supposed to head out on a trip this Monday—now I’m just sitting here worrying about it all.

ironseal13 said:My girlfriend caught the flu yesterday. How long is the incubation period for this virus? Is there anything I can actually do over the next few days to boost my chances of staying healthy myself? She’s supposed to head out on a trip this Monday—now I’m just sitting here worrying about it all.

First bit of advice: as harsh as it sounds, RUN away from your sister. Don't get close, don't even hang out in the same room! Seriously. Second, grab some multivitamins, and maybe load up on some Vitamin C as a preventative measure—plus, taking something for your immune system wouldn't hurt either... Anyway, I really hope you dodge the flu if you follow this, fingers crossed! 👍 As for the incubation, I think for the flu it's usually about 2 to 3 days, so you should definitely know by Monday whether you've caught it or not...
And one more tip for the FUTURE: In the coming autumns, START THINKING ABOUT THE FLU AND GET VACCINATED !!!!!! Like I said, it offers nearly 100% protection, costs maybe $50 (if I recall correctly), and it's basically painless. You don't even have to wait at the clinic; just pop in, say hi to the nurse, and you're done! Just keep in mind it's not a lifetime thing, it's just for one season, so GET VACCINATED EVERY SINGLE FALL! And hey, I'm not just talking out of thin air here; I'm speaking from actual experience! 👍

Feeling alright—don't feel like my immune system is tanking. I've been sticking to some Echinacea, propolis, and Vitamin C... should be fine. Thanks for the advice. 🙂

For an entire week, I found myself locked in a silent battle with one particular office employee who, quite stubbornly, decided to wander through the workplace from Monday all the way through Saturday, spreading his germs everywhere instead of simply staying home in bed. He would stroll in around 11:00 AM, linger for two or three hours just idling away the time with mindless nonsense on his computer, all while effectively turning the office into a breeding ground for infection. It was only after this ordeal that I truly began to appreciate the diligence and consideration shown by hardworking Japanese professionals, who, when feeling even a slight chill or a viral bug, will walk around wearing masks specifically out of fear of infecting their colleagues.
As someone who makes it a point to get vaccinated every single year because I have absolutely no intention of wasting five or six days of my life stuck in bed, I still ended up catching a mild version of a virus—though it was certainly enough to derail all my plans for the weekend.

What kind of experiences have you all had with people like this?

I know one person who’s been coughing her lungs out constantly from early autumn all the way through spring. She’s got a kid who’s basically a walking petri dish, bringing home every bug under the sun, and naturally, we all end up catching whatever she's passing around.
Then you've got those folks working private gigs where they can't even afford to take a sick day without losing pay.

I honestly suspect that colleague had some ulterior motive. My situation is more like this: I end up catching practically every single virus that goes around, but it’s not because I want to—trust me, I’m absolutely dying in bed when it happens—it’s just because I simply have no choice.

If I’m out of commission, there’s nobody else to step up and handle my workload, which leaves the whole company in a total tailspin—basically paralyzed. Sure, I realize that’s more of a massive staffing issue at this point, but for now, that's the reality. It's completely out of my hands to fix, especially considering the current recession and whatever nonsense the boss is dealing with.

Besides, I don't recall ever passing anything on to anyone else... so it’s clearly not THAT contagious. I can't even remember catching anything from someone else, either. You just grit your teeth, power through, and you'll be fine. 🙂

A colleague passed this along to me—he’s been dealing with constant viruses and colds since November 11th, just hacking away on Sumamed... hasn't even taken a single day off work.
Nothing for me!
Who doesn't know this? Sugar absolutely trashes your immunity. Ever since I cut it back drastically (like, drinking coffee with milk but zero sugar), my immune system has been way better.
Give it a shot. Cutting out sugar isn't easy, but I think it's worth the struggle.

ambermason16 said:I honestly suspect that colleague had some ulterior motive. My situation is more like this: I end up catching practically every single virus that goes around, but it’s not because I want to—trust me, I’m absolutely dying in bed when it happens—it’s just because I simply have no choice.

If I’m out of commission, there’s nobody else to step up and handle my workload, which leaves the whole company in a total tailspin—basically paralyzed. Sure, I realize that’s more of a massive staffing issue at this point, but for now, that's the reality. It's completely out of my hands to fix, especially considering the current recession and whatever nonsense the boss is dealing with.

Besides, I don't recall ever passing anything on to anyone else... so it’s clearly not THAT contagious. I can't even remember catching anything from someone else, either. You just grit your teeth, power through, and you'll be fine. 🙂

It wasn't about being malicious, per se, but we are effectively paralyzed right now; ten people are out sick, yet this idiot is walking around the office today still coughing and sneezing away... it's just horrific. For me, it only lasted two days, which was plenty of time to completely ruin my weekend, and that's even with being vaccinated. That colleague really ought to take a moment to reflect on his behavior—I mean, we can barely convince him to take a shower or shave properly, so why should we expect him to understand basic oral hygiene?

placidfalcon said:A colleague passed this along to me—he’s been dealing with constant viruses and colds since November 11th, just hacking away on Sumamed... hasn't even taken a single day off work.
Nothing for me!
Who doesn't know this? Sugar absolutely trashes your immunity. Ever since I cut it back drastically (like, drinking coffee with milk but zero sugar), my immune system has been way better.
Give it a shot. Cutting out sugar isn't easy, but I think it's worth the struggle.

As for myself, I’m the type who stays on top of things by taking vitamins, drinking green tea, and using propolis and royal jelly; I also keep a close eye on my weight and don't smoke... plus, I get vaccinated every single year because I'm constantly around people, and look, it's only been two days since the weekend passed... but honestly, this kind of behavior really irritates me: if you are sick, then stay home and come back once you have actually recovered...

Best regards,

Adam Rodriguez6 said:It wasn't about being malicious, per se, but we are effectively paralyzed right now; ten people are out sick, yet this idiot is walking around the office today still coughing and sneezing away... it's just horrific. For me, it only lasted two days, which was plenty of time to completely ruin my weekend, and that's even with being vaccinated. That colleague really ought to take a moment to reflect on his behavior—I mean, we can barely convince him to take a shower or shave properly, so why should we expect him to understand basic oral hygiene?

Okay, look, the guy is a total jerk—that much is obvious. 😁

But maybe the boss forced him to come in? 😕

Anyway, jokes aside, I agree you shouldn't spread germs around, but I also get that sometimes working while sick is unavoidable (not saying that's the case here). Besides, I've honestly never seen someone with the flu infect every single living soul in their vicinity...

Then again... I don't know what kind of business your company actually does. 😁 😁

To circle back to the main point: is there actually any sensible way to prevent infection in these situations? Aside from vaccines, obviously... because I get vaccinated almost every year, and it hasn't stopped me from catching something at least once every six months...

It’s the exact same story at my office; people show up working through a bad case of the flu like they're performing some grand act of corporate martyrdom. They refuse to just stay home and recover, and instead, they end up infecting the entire staff. Honestly, those types really get on my nerves.

Hey agrusinho, you should probably just sit down across from your coworker and have a heart-to-heart. Tell him straight up he needs to go wash up, then suggest he take a few vacation days, call in sick, or even just offer him one of your own days off. Then, tell the boss you'll happily pick up his slack and handle everything so all his problems disappear.