Flu question

[specialmom]

Hi there.  Not sure if I am in the 'right' place but thought I'd try my question here.  We have lots of true flu around us.  People being tested in their doctor's office and having a positive for this years flu.  (ugh).  We have people that we know well that have had the flu in the past two weeks.  So, I am trying to figure out what is going on with me.  I had a sore throat yesterday and a 'full' feeling in my sinuses and throat (if you know what I mean by that) and then yesterday evening began running a low fever.  Around 100 degrees.  Sneezing a bit and a tiny runny nose but not bad.  Woke up today and honestly, don't feel horrible at all.  Slight scratchy throat (better than yesterday) and slight headache but really, not bad.  Except, I have a fever. It's mostly around 100.5 but will go higher from time to time.  

Now, here is my BIG fear.  I don't want full blown flu!!  And if I thought I had it, I would run out to urgent care open today and get Tamiflu to help recover quickly.  But, that must be taken within the first 48 hours to work.  Times a ticking!!  

Do we get fevers to fight off something and not get any sicker?  Or should I act on the fever and see a doctor??  

(really, wouldn't ask this question if there wasn't this flu thing around here!  And fevers are rare for me.  Haven't had one in years).  


So, do you think the fever is my body just fighting off what I have (and will hopefully be successful) or indicative of my needing to see a doctor?  

[mkh9]

Yes that is really bad. I have had secondary infections several times after the flu. Usually it is when you lay down alot or if you get your immune system run down. Probably a combination of the two. I get the "walking pneumonia"  which is a hacking cough that feels like you have a broken rib. It is inflammation in between the ribs and the lungs and caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae. So every time I get the flu or a very bad cold like yours I have to take cough medicine that makes me cough if it is dry cough. Yours sounds like your chest was tight? Did you have a productive cough where you cough stuff up or nothing came up? If not then it is good they gave you an antibiotic to clear up the infection. you don't want to get real pneumonia.

I'm sorry you are going through all this. My hair stylist just told me she had something like yours for two weeks. So there is something going around besides the flu.

Take care, and let me know if you have any questions. But it was a very good call on your part to go in when you did.

mkh9

[specialmom]

My update---  started to feel worse last night in a way that I wasn't comfortable with.  Spent all day trying to think if it was in my 'head' (ha ha, no pun intended with a head cold) or not.  I felt funny in my chest.  Kind of like that heavy feeling you get as you are getting a sore throat but in my chest.  I also had a deeper, junky cough.  Not bad but increasing.  So, I made the decision to go to the urgent care.  Diagnosed with bronchitis and inflammation.  They gave me a steroid shot which I've never gotten (I haven't been sick in a pretty long time and then just really little minor things) and antibiotics.  They were going to give me an inhaler as I was breathing funny but I didn't think I needed that.  

So, I'm glad I went.  A nasty secondary infection to a virus.  No fun.

I, again, can't thank you enough for all of your help.  It's nice to have a place to come and ask questions like this!!  

[mkh9]

Glad to hear from you. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and get as much rest as you can when you have the cough. I head head colds. It is nasty but at least not the flu. Usually the saying is 3 days coming and 3 days going. I hope your kids don't get the flu. I know most of the country is at epidemic level right now according to the CDC's flu map. Tell them not to touch their face if they can help it and wash their hands often. if they have an itch use their elbow or something. Those alcohol hand sanitizers do work. For you if you have rhino virus zinc helps knock that out.
take care,
mkh9

[specialmom]

Hi there!  I felt fine on Jan 2 (just now seeing this), thank you so much for asking.  But then on Jan 3 (sat), I began having symptoms of a nasty head cold.  My head is so full it hurts!  And a cough.  I didn't know if it is all one virus or if I was the lucky dog who got two back to back.  However, we have friends who also had high fever with some minor sore throat symtpoms, got better and now have wicked head colds as well.

but I didn't have the flu.  Thank goodness.

I'm almost afraid to send my kids to school tomorrow as it is all around us!

thank you so much for your time and advice!!  

[mkh9]

How are you feeling today?
mkh9

[specialmom]

Yes, and night is always worse.  My throat got sore again, with a dry cough and a bit higher fever but still doesn't feel like 'flu' I've known and dread!  I have a headache but that is probably the fever.  

Am hoping the immune barrier holds strong and this flies the coop soon. thanks for your help!!

[mkh9]

Yes and if it is the flu and you are fighting it off then it isn't too bad. It usually is the worst the first three days. Some times it will come on very strong at first for a few days or even a week and then you think you are getting better and then it gets worse. But it is usually bad to start with when it does that. I hope that is the case here. I don't think it is just a regular cold though because you don't get fever with a cold. So you are either fighting off the flu and it isn't that bad because you type B and have seen that type before (the bad strain this year is type A). Or you have something like a parainfluenza or someother virus. I think you would be worse by now. This is the end of the second day right?
mkh9

[specialmom]

Okay.  I didn't get the flu vaccine.  I have had flu twice in my life and that is what I remember---  it coming on straight away and full blown.  And it was so miserable.  This isn't really like that.  I feel cruddy but not like I did those two times.  But I keep wondering if it is going to hit later and I'll be sorry.  Urgent care is a place I'd probably GET the flu right now if I don't have it. :>)  So, I'm just him hawing around.  I don't feel so horrible which is a good sign it's not the flu.  Just a .little freaked out by the people we were recently with that HAD the flu diagnosed by tests in the doctor's office.  

thanks for your help.  

[mkh9]

It is hard to say if it is the flu or not. It could be you are fighting it off. But I hear this years flu symptoms are supposed to be really bad. Today is the last day you could get Tamiflu. Usually, the flu hits you like a Mack truck and you don't have to question whether you have the flu or not. You could either get test or since your symptoms aren't that bad ride it out. I guess that is my take on it. If you got the flu vaccine you won't get the very worst symptoms even though it doesn't prevent the flu if you have it.
mkh9