Drove back home to Memphis to hang with the family for the weekend since yesterday was my birthday. My older nephew, who's 7, started complaining of feeling bad Saturday night. By Sunday he was running a 103* fever and barely moved off the couch all day. Sister took him to the pediatrician yesterday morning and he tested positive for influenza "A".
Meanwhile, I'm back at work yesterday and started feeling a tickle in my chest that made me start coughing. Took some cough syrup before bed last night. Woke up this morning feeling a little "out of it", a bit lethargic, and with a minor headache. I suspected it was flu, even though my temperature was only 98.0*. and sat in the truck at 0515 debating on whether to call in. Talked myself into going ahead to work because it's very rare that I call in, and I didn't feel all that bad after having half a cup of coffee. Got to work and didn't feel too bad, but I did notice some muscle weirdness - not really aches and not really weakness, but sort of. Headache started getting worse, and I took my temp again at 10:30. This time it was 99.7*. Took a couple of Alka-Seltzer and that took the edge off the headache and muscle aches. Never lost my appetite - had a good lunch and now I'm about to polish off a whole Papa Murphy's supreme pizza.
Figured what the heck, I'll pay the $20 co-pay and stop by the clinic on the way home and get tested. Positive for Influenza Type "A". Same as nephew (BTW my younger nephew also has it now; so far I'm the only adult in the family showing any symptoms).
They prescribed Tamiflu. I've read up on it a bit (wiki article) and it can have side-effects, but the NP at the clinic said she hasn't heard any reports of any.
I did not get a flu shot, nor have I had one in many years. Honestly can't remember if I've ever had one. This is the first time in my life, at 39, that I've ever been actually confirmed to have flu. I don't know if I've ever had it and not known it.
As I said, symptoms are very mild at the moment. I'll take a dose of Tamiflu after I eat. Hopefully it'll cut down on the duration and I'll be on the mend by Christmas.
What are y'all's experiences with flu?
Meanwhile, I'm back at work yesterday and started feeling a tickle in my chest that made me start coughing. Took some cough syrup before bed last night. Woke up this morning feeling a little "out of it", a bit lethargic, and with a minor headache. I suspected it was flu, even though my temperature was only 98.0*. and sat in the truck at 0515 debating on whether to call in. Talked myself into going ahead to work because it's very rare that I call in, and I didn't feel all that bad after having half a cup of coffee. Got to work and didn't feel too bad, but I did notice some muscle weirdness - not really aches and not really weakness, but sort of. Headache started getting worse, and I took my temp again at 10:30. This time it was 99.7*. Took a couple of Alka-Seltzer and that took the edge off the headache and muscle aches. Never lost my appetite - had a good lunch and now I'm about to polish off a whole Papa Murphy's supreme pizza.
Figured what the heck, I'll pay the $20 co-pay and stop by the clinic on the way home and get tested. Positive for Influenza Type "A". Same as nephew (BTW my younger nephew also has it now; so far I'm the only adult in the family showing any symptoms).
They prescribed Tamiflu. I've read up on it a bit (wiki article) and it can have side-effects, but the NP at the clinic said she hasn't heard any reports of any.
I did not get a flu shot, nor have I had one in many years. Honestly can't remember if I've ever had one. This is the first time in my life, at 39, that I've ever been actually confirmed to have flu. I don't know if I've ever had it and not known it.
As I said, symptoms are very mild at the moment. I'll take a dose of Tamiflu after I eat. Hopefully it'll cut down on the duration and I'll be on the mend by Christmas.
What are y'all's experiences with flu?
