Anyone have the flu?

[Pilsy]

Felt fine last night. Went to dinner with DH at 8 and was in bed before 10:30.

Woke up at 2 am and...well, pulled a Tacom, if you will (though in my toilet, not in public). Proceeded to do the same twice more and then had dry heaves on and off for 4 hours. When I thought I was in the clear, I had a sip of water and that set me off again. A couple hours later, I tried Gatorade with the same results.

Now, I have had maybe 4 sips of water, spaced out over 20 minutes, and all is good, except for very slight fever and headache.

Am I out of the woods with food poisoning, or might I have the flu? My mom wants me to go to the hospital, but I would love to avoid that. DH went to the gym and offered to pick up whatever I need and accompany me to the hospital in an hour or so.

Temp is 99.5 and I have been traveling for work. Oh, and dinner was a turkey burger.

Any similar experiences out there? I know you can't diagnose me, but I need entertainment.

[Deleted]

Adults rarely throw up from the flu. You may have the norovirus that is going around?

[Deleted]

The flu is a respiratory illness--coughing, sneezing, chills, fever. Sounds like you have gastroenteritis--maybe viral ("stomach flu") or from food poisoning. It's hard to tell although if it is food poisoning it's probably not the turkey burger's fault--food poisoning takes often 24-48 hours to develop.

Just rest today, drink whatever you can keep down (it's good to drink even if you can't keep it all down) and eat bland foods when you feel like you can. I follow the BRAT diet when I am sick--bananas, rice, applesauce, toast. Go to the hospital for fluids if you show symptoms of dehydration.

Feel better soon! I've had this several times in the last 2 years. It's so miserable. It always wakes me up in the middle of the night too.

[kwynn]

I understand being really cautious, but it sounds like you aren't feeling horribly--do you really want/need to go to the hospital? Maybe urgent care or just waiting it out at home (unless you feel terrible and/or have a medical condition/are pregnant).

That sounded too quick to be food poisoning

[Pilsy]

Interesting! Thanks, v!

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2013 9:14:02 GMT -5 kwynn said:

I understand being really cautious, but it sounds like you aren't feeling horribly--do you really want/need to go to the hospital? Maybe urgent care or just waiting it out at home (unless you feel terrible and/or have a medical condition/are pregnant).

That sounded too quick to be food poisoning

Agreed. I would pick urgent care over the ER (though I'll warn you -- if your city is anything like mine, urgent care will be jam packed because so many people are ridiculously sick right now). It may be cheaper than the ER also.

That said, there isn't much doctors can do for viruses, so I'd maybe just suffer on your own unless it gets worse. Just make sure you drink LOTS of clear liquids including electrolytes.

[Pilsy]

I was going to respond to everyone but I am too sleepy. Thanks for the well wishes.

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2013 9:19:04 GMT -5 v said:

Jan 12, 2013 9:14:02 GMT -5 kwynn said:

I understand being really cautious, but it sounds like you aren't feeling horribly--do you really want/need to go to the hospital? Maybe urgent care or just waiting it out at home (unless you feel terrible and/or have a medical condition/are pregnant).

That sounded too quick to be food poisoning

Agreed. I would pick urgent care over the ER (though I'll warn you -- if your city is anything like mine, urgent care will be jam packed because so many people are ridiculously sick right now). It may be cheaper than the ER also.

That said, there isn't much doctors can do for viruses, so I'd maybe just suffer on your own unless it gets worse. Just make sure you drink LOTS of clear liquids including electrolytes.

I agree with this. I'd also stay out of the ER/urgent care if you can because so many people are sick with the flu right now. I'd be afraid of getting coughed on in the waiting room and picking it up.

[Deleted]

There are still people that confuse influenza and stomach bugs? This is why I can never take "I got the flu shot and still got sick!" seriously.

Hope you feel better, OP, but stay home and rest. The ER does not want you, nor does urgent care, unless you are dangerously dehydrated. It's a virus and you'll be better tomorrow.

[Deleted]

Yeah, it sounds like the stomach flu. We had it earlier this week, and it sounds like it's going around as I've heard about lots of people in different places having it recently. It sucks but you will get better in a day or two. I agree with others - no need to go to the doctor or hospital.

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2013 9:04:22 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

Felt fine last night. Went to dinner with DH at 8 and was in bed before 10:30.

Woke up at 2 am and...well, pulled a Tacom

lol

I'm sorry you had a rough night. It totally sucks when you're in it and you just can't make it stop. I hope you're recovering now but if you're still puking get your hands on some zofran!

Take it easy today, rehydrate, and use big, sad eyes to get your husband to give you lots of massages and scratches. ;D

[Mrs.Beagle]

When I had the norovirus 2 years ago, it presented exactly like your symptoms.

Feel better.

[loskadoodle]

We just had it last week. We thought it was food poisoning too because my h and I bought started getting sick within minutes of each other. But then our nanny, her son, our baby and fil have all gotten it. Take it easy even after you feel better. On the third day I was feeling good and had some stir fry noodles for dinner and was sick again the whole next day.

[thedutchgirl]

Feel better!

And yes, this is not the flu. This is a stomach virus.

[Deleted]

Ugh...I had the stomach bug in Oct & was in the bathroom the better part of 24 hours. It sucked! I woke up puking too.

I'm now just getting over the real flu (Influenza) & it stinks but definitely not in the same way.

Feel better soon!

[thatgirl2478]

probably gastroenteritis... hope you're feeling better soon! It just went through our family in rapid succession. So badly that I had my mom deliver some chicken soup & jello to our front door and not stop by! Neither my DH nor I were fit to go out in public (or we would have pulled a true tacom).

[Pilsy]

I should have said stomach flu. My bad. (Better yet, I will use the appropriate term, gastroenteritis, and specify influenza when appropriate.). People are even making fun of me on other boards! LOL

Thanks for the kind words.

Anyway, I don't wish this on anyone. Even the snarky people.

[Pilsy]

Jan 12, 2013 11:40:05 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

I have it. It came on suddenly, too. Monday I felt fine. Tuesday I had the start of a sore throat. Wednesday I felt shittier than shit.

I went to the doctor yesterday and she said stay home until Wednesday. I thought, yeah, right. I'm a contractor. Every day I miss is money out of my paycheck, and for sure I'll be better by Monday.

But if today is any indication, I'll need those extra days. I feel no better. This suckssssss. I can't remember the last time I was this sick.

({) crackhabit (})

You poor thing. I'm so sorry. I really hope it passes quickly.

[Pilsy]

Jan 12, 2013 11:46:07 GMT -5 @crackhabit said:

You too pilsy. Feel better soon!

Thank you!

[UMaineTeach]

53% of my PK class was absent yesterday, because they were sick (of some kind, no diagnosis reported for any of them)

Now I have a mild sore throat, slight cough, and a stuffy nose...
but no fever or chills
I am still functioning

[Deleted]

Yep, sounds like a stomach bug. The only reason people were recommending Tacom go to urgent care is because she threw up so many times. It doesn't sound like you've done it quite as much as she has, so I'd just wait it out at home. Consider urgent care if it continues and you think you are being dehydrated, but normally something like this will get better on its own.

Sorry you are sick, though! I hope you feel better soon.

[LoveTrains]

Yeah, you probably have norovirus. Not the flu!!!

I had that over Christmas and it was awful. I had explosive diarrhea and projectile vomiting for like 5 days. You just need to take it easy and rest, drink plenty of fluids. DO NOT go to the ER or to urgent care. There is nothing that they can do for you and you will just infect others. Drink pedialyte, too.

I hope you feel better soon.

[macmars45]

Jan 12, 2013 9:10:19 GMT -5 v said:

Adults rarely throw up from the flu. You may have the norovirus that is going around?

*blink* What?

I had the flu 2 years ago (as a 25 year old) and threw up on & off for at least 24 hours. Am I an anomaly?

I'm not being snarky or sarcastic.