Is this the flu? Is it too late for help?

August 5, 2011 12:20 PM

I had a headache for 10 days and now I have chills and nausea. I've never had anything quite like this before, but the closest was influenza. Given that prescription antivirals are supposed to be effective only within the first 12-24 hours of symptoms (and I'm now 240 hours past the first symptoms), would it be worth the misery of going to urgent care for this? I don't feel extreme tiredness or muscle pain as I have with past flus, but perhaps that wonder will be saved for tomorrow.
posted by jewzilla to Health & Fitness (11 answers total)

Best answer: Headache for 10 days and new symptoms? I'd go to the emergency room.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:22 PM on August 5, 2011 [6 favorites]

Best answer: Persistent headache can be a sign of some scary-ass shit. You didn't mention a fever - is it high? Normal? Low-grade and annoying?
posted by elizardbits at 12:22 PM on August 5, 2011

Best answer: I would absolutely go to the urgent care for this. Yes.
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:26 PM on August 5, 2011

Best answer: Do you have insurance and a primary care physician? If so call now to see what to do next. If you don't, I agree that a headache that's gone on that long is probably a good reason to head to urgent care.
posted by goggie at 12:27 PM on August 5, 2011

Best answer: 10 days is a long time for a non-serious virus to hang out. Yes, go see someone.
posted by desjardins at 12:34 PM on August 5, 2011

Best answer: Absolutely. Less-trivial things tend to at least back off after 5-7 days in my (completely subjective, non-medical) opinion. Your symptoms are getting worse. Urgent care or ER.
posted by gaspode at 12:40 PM on August 5, 2011

Best answer: I would absolutely go to urgent care for this. You do not mess around with persistent headaches, and if your symptoms are worsening you should see somebody. Even if does turn out to be nothing, the comfort of that knowledge is worth the hassle of urgent care.
posted by lilac girl at 12:51 PM on August 5, 2011

Best answer: Seconding urgent care. But not an ER if you can at all avoid it.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 1:45 PM on August 5, 2011 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Yeah, I wouldn't assume this is the flu or a virus of any sort, really. You need to see a doctor.
posted by Justinian at 2:36 PM on August 5, 2011

Best answer: Anecdata: I had headache, fever, chills, etc for a couple days and thought it was the flu. At about day 4 I went to the doctor. She told me I had a bacterial infection and prescribed me antibiotics.

Long story short. Go to the doctor.
posted by ephemerista at 3:06 PM on August 5, 2011

Best answer: Turns out it was a migraine PLUS some viral thing. Everyone gets a correct answer, except me, I am going to bed.
posted by jewzilla at 4:10 PM on August 5, 2011 [6 favorites]