What's Up With My Flu/Cold?

May 13, 2007 6:54 PM

Medical Advice/Common Sense Filter: This is my second week of having pretty serious flu symptoms.

I'm going to the Doc, but since I've never been sick for more than 2 or 3 days, except for a case of the chicken pox, I'm getting a bit worried.

What's really wierd is that all of my typical flu symptoms are intermittent.

Is it odd to have a flu for more than a few days? Could this be avian? I do work with folk who travel around the world constantly. Is this just a new strain that my body is having difficulty with?

Any advice to help me worry less, home remedies and things to ask or tell to my Doc would be greatly appreciated.

posted by snsranch to health & fitness (13 comments total)

IANAD

Chances you've got avian flu are microscopically low. Don't worry about that. But please, be specific with your symptoms when you go to your doctor -- don't just say "flu symptoms". And if your symptoms are "intermittent", be specific about it (aka, first thing in the morning/only after I get to work). It usually takes about 8-14 days to get your full immune system ready to fight whatever you picked up, so being in your second week is probably not that big of a deal.

Personal remedies? There's pretty much nothing you can do for the viral flu if you've got it. Just let your (presumably healthy) body deal with it. I personally swear by NyQuil/DayQuil (generic version) when I get the "flu" for the symptoms to get me through the day and sleep well.
posted by ruwan at 7:07 PM on May 13, 2007

Wikipedia sez recovery takes about one to two weeks.

If it's the flu, it's normal for it to last at least a week. If you get over something in 3 days, odds are good that something wasn't the flu.

I had the flu in February, and it took me about 9 days to be done with it.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 7:09 PM on May 13, 2007

About three years ago I had what seemed like a case of the flu which seemed like it hung on forever. After 6 weeks of low fever and heavy coughing I finally got myself to a doctor, where they told me I had "walking pneumonia".

The first antibiotics they gave me didn't do any good, but the second batch (Levaquin) cleared it right up.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 7:11 PM on May 13, 2007

No, if it's the real flu (influenza), it can often last for 10-14 days--other viruses can last as long as well.

Avian flu has not yet been confirmed as transmissible from person to person.
posted by gramcracker at 7:15 PM on May 13, 2007

also, don't overlook the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.
posted by brevator at 7:21 PM on May 13, 2007

You might ask if there is a possibility that you have an allergy to something, this can cause symptoms similiar to the flu if you have never had allergies before.
posted by bkeene12 at 7:48 PM on May 13, 2007

You might have syphillis. The first stages have almost identical symtoms to an infection of influenza.
You might have avian flu.
You might have Lupus.
You almost surely don't have any of these things. The odds alone are astronomically low that it's not the flu.

There's a 99% chance just a more serious/ the first real case of the flu that you've encountered in a while/ever (most real influenza infections don't go away in three days.)
It's a good idea to go see the Doc anyway. I second ruwan in saying to be as specific as possibe with the Doc, and also, be frank about your fears. At the very least, he'll run a few extra tests to appease you.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 8:07 PM on May 13, 2007

Is it odd to have a flu for more than a few days? Could this be avian?

The current strain of H5N1 (a.k.a. bird flu) that's been circulating in Indonesia within the past six months or so has been fatal to more than 70% of its victims within a week or two, even with intervention from the local hospitals. So...no. You've probably just got walking pneumonia or a nasty upper respiratory tract infection.

Avian flu has not yet been confirmed as transmissible from person to person.

No, it's been confirmed for about two years now. Third generation H2H transmission has been proven, too.

[/bird flu dork and worriwart]
posted by Asparagirl at 11:24 PM on May 13, 2007

it's not bird flu. it's probably just regular flu. regular flu sucks, too. the last time i had it, i was sick for 3 weeks, the way you describe. go to your doctor, just in case it's something bacterial that can be treated with antibiotics. (rule of thumb is to always see a doctor if flu-like symptoms last 2 weeks or more.)

i'm not a doctor. but see one and don't panic.
posted by thinkingwoman at 5:26 AM on May 14, 2007

I looked through your profile and some previous posts to get a feel for what kinds of things you do (sorry, I'm a shrink)-- and given your history with animals, I'm surprised you would even think it was bird flu.

That said, here's a wild speculation-- and while this is funny I don't really mean it as a joke-- "intermittent" flu symptoms?

"'Worse Than The Flu"

I wrote that about myself-- maybe it's applicable here.
posted by TheLastPsychiatrist at 8:18 AM on May 14, 2007

Hey thanks folk. I feel alot better about it now. As long as I don't have syphillis, I'll be alright.

TLP, that was a good read. Thankfully, it doesn't apply here!

Thanks again everybody.
posted by snsranch at 4:43 PM on May 14, 2007

Conclusion: it was a sinus infection.
posted by snsranch at 1:58 PM on May 15, 2007

Been to the tropics? Extended 'flu' is a sign of malaria. I know because I just got back from a malaria area, and read up on it. (saw mosquitos only in one place anyway. It was mostly too dry for them, and the end of the season anyway)
posted by Goofyy at 8:49 AM on May 21, 2007