O.M.G. I got the flu for the first time. . .NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!

[shell in SC]

That was the worst experience of my life. DS(10) was totally freaked out b/c mom's NEVER been sick in the bed like that. DH was out of town for the week so nothing got done.

I will be getting the vaccine next year b/c I am doing everything in my power to prevent this from happening again.

Thanks for letting me rant!
shell

[nancypants]

I'm so sorry you got it!! I've had it before and I know what you mean... it was second only in awfulness to my first bout with Mastitis. We normally get the flu shot but didn't get it in time this year and just prayed that we could avoid getting it... so far so good... knock on veneer. :rolleyes: Hoping for a full recovery for you!

[Mad Charity]

I am so sorry you got it and happy that you are better! The flu is awful. Two years ago we all got flu shots and got it anyway a couple of months later. The strain of flu we got wasn't in the shot. All five of us had it at the same time! My youngest got it first, then the rest of the kids and my husband. Just as he was able to raise his head off the pillow after 3 days of being flat on the bed, I asked if he could walk around, he said he thought he could. I told him it was a good thing, collapsed on the bed and didn't get back up for 4 days. Next time that happens I am just going to go ahead and check us all into the hospital!
This year I let the kids decide whether or not they got the flu shot. That was an interesting little experiment! My teens got it, my 8 year old did not. My husband and I just never did, either. I think we are one family that will be able to tell you whether or not this particular flu was covered by the shot this year!

[Marie in Oh]

and got the flu. Last year same thing. We all had it this year, and we all survived. It wasn't as bad as last year for me. I was only down two days this year-- 4 last year but I was coming off of having a baby so I am sure my reserves were low. Sorry you were sick. It can really stink. I can see why the flu can kill an infant or an elderly person. Ughh. Get better soon Shell.

[Rose in BC]

Both times I was bedridden for two weeks. One of the times I had something called post influenza myalgia. I literally could not move any of my joints, hands, knees, etc. My husband had left for work when I realized I couldn't move -- I phoned a friend who took me to the doctor. For about a week I had joint stiffness that prevented me from using my hands (i.e. opening jars, taps, etc), knees (had to crawl up stairs). I literally felt 90 years old and was praying constantly that I would return to normal.

Post script -- in the year following that I was diagnosed with severe anemia, which I believe led to the severe reaction I had to influenza virus.

It was bad!!

Rose

[shell in SC]

Thanks for sharing! It's good to know that I'm not the only one who gets COMPLETELY wiped out from this. I'm back at work today but still running a low grade fever. DH says no after work activities for me till Wednesday or the fever goes away (whichever comes LAST) b/c he wants me to kick this thing completely so it doesn't linger for weeks or months.

Thanks again for the encouragement!
shell

[KidsHappen]

I took Tamiflu because I got in to the doctor before I fell hard. As far as I can tell though, it made very little difference. I think that I was just as sick as the kids and probably for just as long. The only difference is that I didn't get that horrible cough that everyone else had. We lost about four days sleeping all day and we all still have a low grade fever and we are exhausted. The kids still have the cough at night. I am trying to rally the troops to do school work today but they are mutinying and I just don't have the energy to fight them.

[LizzyBee]

The vaccine for this year does not protect against the strain of flu that's going around. So you likely would have gotten the flu even if you'd had the vaccine. Cold comfort, I know!

[Bee]

I had the vaccine this year.I spent all weekend home sick and went to the dr. today .He said it is the flu.I hope I haven't passed it on to the rest of the family.

[Susan Wise Bauer]

My poor husband had it for a week--and he is NEVER sick, so it was a real jolt for him. My cousin, who's a nurse, says, "You always think you've had the flu until you REALLY have it...and then you say to yourself, 'Oh, that's what it's like. It's like dying.'"

Hope you recover fully and soon...

[Kelli in TN]

We had it last year. Dh did not get it, he'd gotten the vaccine. He kept trying to get me to go to the doctor and get some tamiflu but I was too sick to go to the doctor!!

We just laid around moaning for a week. It was dreadful

But I would still take it over a stomach virus. A houseful of retching kids with garbage pails in their laps, while I am sick with my garbage pail in my lap is the worst of all. I am just sure it is.

[Fran51]

The vaccine for this year does not protect against the strain of flu that's going around. So you likely would have gotten the flu even if you'd had the vaccine. Cold comfort, I know!

Oh no! I had the vaccine this year, but sounds like I still have a chance of getting it. I had the flu last year -- awful.

[shell in SC]

ITA with that. . .once you've had it you don't ever want it again.

Thanks Susan for the well wishes!!!