When is the flu not the flu? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ICER · 11-02-2005, 12:17 PM

OK. for the past four days. I've had a stuffy nose. aches and pains in my limbs. and I'm extremly fatigued. Now. to me. this says Flu. But I don't think it is. because I don't have a fever.

isn't the flu a viral infection? and don't all infection of that type cause a fever?

and if it's not the flu, what the heck is it. cause it's driving me nuts

Gatorade Frost · 11-02-2005, 12:50 PM

The aches and the pains sound a lot like the flu. I'd take a stab that it is in fact the flu showing itself without a fever (at least yet). If it's bothersome for more then a few days you should probably see a doc to get checked out. Since you don't have the fever it could just be a cold. But still, if it's not gone in a couple of days or gets worse, you know where the go.

Zeraph · 11-02-2005, 01:17 PM

Maybe it's all those McRibs you've been eating.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

snowy · 11-02-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

What is influenza (flu)?

Influenza (flu) is a viral upper respiratory illness that comes on suddenly, causing symptoms such as fever, body aches, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, a dry cough, and a sore or dry throat. The flu is not the same as the common cold; flu symptoms are usually more severe, and you will often miss more work or school than you would with a cold.

The symptoms of influenza (flu) appear suddenly and often include:

* Fever of 100 °F(37.8 °C) to 104 °F(40 °C), which can reach 106 °F(41.1 °C) when symptoms first develop. Fever is usually continuous, but it may come and go. Fever may be lower in older adults than in children and younger adults.
* Shaking chills.
* Body aches and muscle pain (often severe), commonly in the back, arms, or legs.
* Headache.
* Pain when you move your eyes.
* Fatigue, a general feeling of sickness (malaise), and loss of appetite.
* A dry cough, runny nose, and a dry or sore throat. You may not notice these during the first few days of the illness when other symptoms are more severe. As your fever goes away, these symptoms may become more evident.

When fever is high, other symptoms usually are more severe.

http://www.webmd.com/hw/cold_and_flu/hw122014.asp

Cold vs. Flu: http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/5/4068_192.htm

If you're not running a fever, it's not the flu. There are LOTS of illnesses out there that come with "flu-like" symptoms. If you're sick for more than three days (and show no improvement after home treatment of symptoms) and/or sick enough to miss work/school, go to the doctor.

ICER · 11-02-2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeraph

Maybe it's all those McRibs you've been eating.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

or the lack there of, Keep your chicken noodle soups. make my a McRib meal. super sized of course. Will it help me get better...prolly not...but it will make being sick a whole hellva lot more fun

thanks for the info onesnowyowl. I didn't think it was the flu. But my cubemate insists that you can have the flu without having a fever.

snowy · 11-02-2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICER

thanks for the info onesnowyowl. I didn't think it was the flu. But my cubemate insists that you can have the flu without having a fever.

Is your cubemate a doctor? No, I didn't think so. The information I gave you does come from doctors, however...and since they say that's an impossibility...I'd go with what the doctors say, and get thee to a doctor.

Rodney · 11-02-2005, 03:18 PM

I second the "no fever, no flu" rule. So a doctor told me.

Don't know what it is. But it sounds like you're still going to work. If you can take a day or two to sleep and rest, you'll get better much more quickly.

Sleep is the best medicine. If the stuffiness is keeping you from getting good sleep, invest in one of those over-the-counter night-time cold remedies. They're no cure, but they'll help your body get the sleep it needs to heal itself.

heccubusiv · 11-02-2005, 05:17 PM

If it happens to be the flu, please don't waste your money on Tamiflu. You have to take it as you get the symptoms which you already have them, and its pretty costly if you don't have insurance. The other pharmacist I work with and I will not recommened the stuff to anyone other than the very young( and since your here I doubt thats the case) and the very old( which again probably rules you out since I am not sure on the eldery population on tfp, but i doubt its high). Just get sleep.

snowy · 11-02-2005, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heccubusiv

Just get sleep.

And drink lots of fluids...I also recommend, from personal experience--take either some ibuprofen or Aleve. Works wonders.

ratbastid · 11-02-2005, 08:11 PM

That fatigue you mentioned caught my eye. How fatigued are you?

Is your appetite off?

If the answers to these questions are: "I can hardly get up for more than an hour at a shot," and "I'm hungry until I get food in front of me and then I can't touch it," then you might have mono.

ICER · 11-03-2005, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

That fatigue you mentioned caught my eye. How fatigued are you?

Is your appetite off?

If the answers to these questions are: "I can hardly get up for more than an hour at a shot," and "I'm hungry until I get food in front of me and then I can't touch it," then you might have mono.

Luckily it's not that bad. my appetite in normal. and I'm just tired.

Isn't mono a STD?

ngdawg · 11-03-2005, 06:02 AM

Mono isn't an STD. You might be tired because a cold interrupts sleep patterns and affects breathing. While the cold virus itself only lasts a few days, getting over it can take 3 weeks.

Zeraph · 11-03-2005, 11:07 AM

Not that I disagree with drinking a lot of fluids, but why does that help? Anyone know?

ngdawg · 11-03-2005, 01:13 PM

I was told when I had pneumonia that it keeps you hydrated enough to keep the fluids flowing...however, I found this and several other similar articles. Seems mother and even some doctors aren't always correct:
drinking fluids may not be beneficial

Doctors should be cautious about advising patients with respiratory infections to drink plenty of fluids, warn researchers in this week's BMJ.

Their view is based on evidence that, during a respiratory infection such as a cold or bronchitis, the body releases large amounts of a water-conserving hormone (known as antidiruretic hormone). Thus giving extra fluids while antidiruretic hormone secretion is high may theoretically lead to salt loss and fluid overload.

They searched the scientific literature, but were unable to find any trials providing definite evidence that giving increased fluids to patients with respiratory infections may cause harm.

"Until we have this evidence, we should be cautious about universally recommending increased fluids to patients, especially those with infections of the lower respiratory tract," they conclude

11-02-2005, 12:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
ICER Chilled to Perfection Location: Dallas, TX	When is the flu not the flu? OK. for the past four days. I've had a stuffy nose. aches and pains in my limbs. and I'm extremly fatigued. Now. to me. this says Flu. But I don't think it is. because I don't have a fever. isn't the flu a viral infection? and don't all infection of that type cause a fever? and if it's not the flu, what the heck is it. cause it's driving me nuts __________________ What's the difference between congress and a penitentiary? One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers and threats to society. The other is for housing prisoners. ~~David Letterman

11-02-2005, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gatorade Frost Rookie	The aches and the pains sound a lot like the flu. I'd take a stab that it is in fact the flu showing itself without a fever (at least yet). If it's bothersome for more then a few days you should probably see a doc to get checked out. Since you don't have the fever it could just be a cold. But still, if it's not gone in a couple of days or gets worse, you know where the go. __________________ I got in a fight one time with a really big guy, and he said, "I'm going to mop the floor with your face." I said, "You'll be sorry." He said, "Oh, yeah? Why?" I said, "Well, you won't be able to get into the corners very well." Emo Philips

11-02-2005, 03:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	I second the "no fever, no flu" rule. So a doctor told me. Don't know what it is. But it sounds like you're still going to work. If you can take a day or two to sleep and rest, you'll get better much more quickly. Sleep is the best medicine. If the stuffiness is keeping you from getting good sleep, invest in one of those over-the-counter night-time cold remedies. They're no cure, but they'll help your body get the sleep it needs to heal itself. Last edited by Rodney; 11-02-2005 at 03:21 PM..

11-02-2005, 05:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
heccubusiv #1 Irish Fan Location: The Burgh	If it happens to be the flu, please don't waste your money on Tamiflu. You have to take it as you get the symptoms which you already have them, and its pretty costly if you don't have insurance. The other pharmacist I work with and I will not recommened the stuff to anyone other than the very young( and since your here I doubt thats the case) and the very old( which again probably rules you out since I am not sure on the eldery population on tfp, but i doubt its high). Just get sleep. __________________ Fuck Ohio

11-03-2005, 06:02 AM	#12 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	Mono isn't an STD. You might be tired because a cold interrupts sleep patterns and affects breathing. While the cold virus itself only lasts a few days, getting over it can take 3 weeks. __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

11-02-2005, 01:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Maybe it's all those McRibs you've been eating. Sorry, couldn't resist.

11-02-2005, 08:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	That fatigue you mentioned caught my eye. How fatigued are you? Is your appetite off? If the answers to these questions are: "I can hardly get up for more than an hour at a shot," and "I'm hungry until I get food in front of me and then I can't touch it," then you might have mono.

11-03-2005, 11:07 AM	#13 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Not that I disagree with drinking a lot of fluids, but why does that help? Anyone know?

11-03-2005, 01:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	I was told when I had pneumonia that it keeps you hydrated enough to keep the fluids flowing...however, I found this and several other similar articles. Seems mother and even some doctors aren't always correct: drinking fluids may not be beneficial Doctors should be cautious about advising patients with respiratory infections to drink plenty of fluids, warn researchers in this week's BMJ. Their view is based on evidence that, during a respiratory infection such as a cold or bronchitis, the body releases large amounts of a water-conserving hormone (known as antidiruretic hormone). Thus giving extra fluids while antidiruretic hormone secretion is high may theoretically lead to salt loss and fluid overload. They searched the scientific literature, but were unable to find any trials providing definite evidence that giving increased fluids to patients with respiratory infections may cause harm. "Until we have this evidence, we should be cautious about universally recommending increased fluids to patients, especially those with infections of the lower respiratory tract," they conclude __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.