Has anyone reading this post had flu pre Covid?

I had Asian flu and was off school for about 3 weeks I think, and have had flu two or three times since.

Yes, it floors you and, of course, thousands of people die from the complications of flu every winter.

Yes I have multicolouredswapshop it was rotten. Once mid 1960s at junior school along with other class mates. It seemed to drag on for ever, but a week of any thing aged eight or nine is a long time.
I remember it merited (a) sleeping with Mum.
(B) jigsaws in bed when I could sit up and
(c) genuine Lucazade - from a big glass bottle wrapped in mysterious amber cling film - it was the only thing I could bear.
(d) not so nice - being coerced/encouraged to eat. I can well remember that feeling. Just ? yuck

I had flu in 1975, I've never felt so ill, I remember having to crawl on my hands and knees to go to the bathroom. I then developed pleurisy and ended up in hospital.
I've never had flu since.

Think people would take more notice if flu was called by its proper name influenza. Flu always sounds dismissive.

Thankfully I haven't had flu for years now but three years ago a very fit and healthy friend of mine caught flu and she and her partner ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks. Not an illness to be taken lightly.

In 1956, like two-thirds of the school and was off for over a fortnight - the only time I was ill during my secondary career. Then again in 1986 when, as others have observed, I couldn’t life my head from the pillow and had to crawl to the loo. Took weeks to really get over it, and I am very hard on anyone who talks about having had flu who could function at all. Definitely never want it again!

I had the flu in Jan/Feb 1986. I was in my early 30's, working full time with young children. High fever and horrible aching, I remember thinking even my skin ached. It gutted me for about 10 days with the cough and fatigue lingering another 6 weeks. I'll never forget it and ever since I've made every effort to avoid close contact during flu season.

I've had flu twice. Once when my girls were small, I woke up in the early hours very thirsty, crawled (literally) to the kitchen to get a glass of water and switched on the light. I thought the lightbulb had broken because it was still dark, then swirly little dots appeared and I realised my vision was affected. One side of my face was frozen and droopy and I was dribbling. I thought I'd had a stroke and panicked. My husband took me to the doctor's the following day (he had to carry me to the car) and the doctor diagnosed flu that had affected the nerve endings. I was ill for two weeks.

The second time was on Christmas Eve and I was totally out of action until into the New Year. I've only been eligible for flu jabs for the last couple of years but make sure I have them. A sore arm for a day or so is nothing compared to having flu!

I had flu as a child (1968? outbreak) then again in 2017/18. I was in bed for a week and didn’t go out for three weeks. I almost never go to bed when I’m ill and certainly not for a week. Even when I had a double leg fracture I was up and about the day after the op.

Flu floored me and although I was too young for the NHS vax, I was happy to pay for the vaccine in Boots next winter.

I had flu in my early 30s, I have never been so ill and the effects lasted for months. Covid in 2020 aged 55 was, thankfully, no where near as bad.

I've had flu twice. Basically if you can lift your head off the pillow you haven't got flu!

I have only had flu once over 20 years ago. Never want it again. Couldn't get out of bed. My husband had to help me to the loo. Everything hurt. Been having my flu jab for the last 4 years as I have a heart condition. Had this year's 2 weeks ago. Should have the call for my Covid booster next month.

People who dismiss flu as nothing have never had it.

We've had flu and yes, you can't get out of bed for days. Anything else is just a mild "virus" or maybe "manflu" ?

It always makes me laugh. We both had it in 1996. We were both semi conscious for a week. Awful.

Had the flu about 20 years ago - horrendous. Had Swine Flu too when that was doing the rounds - not fun. I did think this never ending cold was going to be the flu, but I’ve only had two lots of two days where I’ve been unable to get out of bed over the five weeks I’ve had it.

Agree with you multicolouredswopshop! When people have a couple of days off work saying they had flu - no way! Couldn’t even wash or clean my teeth for a week. Symptoms are not like a cold. I could tell every 4 hours when the paracetamol was wearing off. Horrible ?

Yes...it always amuses me when I hear someone say they ‘ had a touch of flu ‘, but managed to get into work!

I’ve never had it. I know it completely wipes you out so you can’t get out of bed. In fact this is what we thought my daughter had before she was diagnosed with ME. It still could have been....and that’s what triggered the ME.

We had the vaccine for the first time last year. The only other person who I know who’s had the flu, has had flu jabs for years! Just extremely unlucky I suppose.

I concur with all you are saying , I was so ill I couldn’t get up the stairs ! Never had it since I started getting the flu vaccination . I was raring to go when the covid vaccine came due , getting my booster on Monday the 8th