I think we all know a few people who've been hit with the flu this year, both the seasonal one and H1N1 (swine flu). It's kind of a no brainer that the flu would hit those of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome harder than it does most people -- what doesn't?
Treating the Flu
If you suspect you have the flu, get to the doctor early on and talk to him or her about the drugs Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir). They're antiviral medications that can help cut the severity and length of the flu.
These drugs are fairly safe to use in combination with other drugs, so you shouldn't have to worry about interactions. However, they do come with a risk of side effects, which can include some flu-like symptoms, anxiety, breathing problems, hallucinations, and allergic reactions.
For treating flu symptoms, be sure to talk to your doctor/pharmacist about what products are safe with the medications you're on. Over-the-counter flu meds frequently contain anti-inflammatories or acetaminophen. To avoid doubling up and risking an overdose, make sure to read labels carefully. I prefer single-ingredient drugs -- it's easier to avoid taking too much of anything, and I'm less like to have a bad reaction.
On top of that, it's back to the basics -- rest, fluids, and generally taking care of yourself. Personally, I try to boost my immune system with supplements and antioxidants.
What to Expect
While you're sick with the flu, it's likely that you'll have a symptom flare. Expect to be especially tired, especially achy, especially miserable. It might be hard to tell when the flu starts to taper off, especially if you have a lot of flu-like symptoms generally.
For all of us, but even more so for those with chronic fatigue syndrome, recovering from the flu can take a long time. Do everything you possibly can to get rest and help your body fight the infection.
More Flu Resources
My About.com colleague Kristina Duda, Guide to Cold & Flu, has a ton of great information about treating and preventing the flu. Here are some of her articles that could answer a lot of your questions:
What flu experiences have you had? What has helped? What hasn't? Help us all learn by leaving a comment below!
Learn more or join the conversation!
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Anybody else not get (recognizable) flus or colds anymore? My mom mentioned that she can’t remember the last time she’s had either and I’m pretty sure she has CFS, too. And now that I think about it, I can’t remember the last time I had the flu or a cold, but it’s hard to tell those from “regular” CFS flares.
Maybe our immune systems are just that f’ed up.
Guide Response: You’re definitely not the only one who’s noticed this! Here’s more information on the topic: Have Aspects of Your Health Improved Since Getting FMS/ME/CFS?
Actually Liz, I kind of agree, but I don’t know if it is because I’m around people less and thus around common bugs a lot less or because I cannot differentiate between Flu and CFS.
When I DO get an infection I often actually feel better when I”m recovering from it
a)because if it is a flu, my immune system perks up and handles the illness accordingly, thus battling all the other little things making me sick and
b)if I’m sick enough to get antibiotics, those also serve as temporary alleviators of little bugs taking advantage of the CFS.
and c) I’m more likely to forgive myself and allow myself to heal .. isn’t that ridiculous!?
I have had a cold on an off since the beginning of October. First I started with a week of flu symptoms and thought, oh this is going to be one heck of a CFS flair up. I just felt like the cold was in every part of my body, but would not come out. Then I started sneezing and coughing. So one week symptoms, the next week a really great cold.
Then everything cleared up for a few days, when I got a very bad cough for about 2 weeks. Probably a touch of bronchitis, which has finally gone away.
Now I have been suffering with sinus headaches, chills, aches, pains, etc. Then that clears up and I am good for a few days, then it starts in all over again.
I haven’t had a cold season like this for over a year. Last year I went cold free. I guess I won’t be so lucky this year. How would we ever know we have the flu when we always get flu like symptoms!!!
I was wondering the same…. how would I ever know I had the flu until it was too late for Tamiflu? I feel like I have the flu every couple of weeks! It would only be once it lingered or worsened or stuck around a couple weeks that it would occur to me that it might be the flu!
I have had the H1N1 (Swine flu) this week. Symptoms started Sunday about 2:00 a.m. SEVERE back & shoulder pain, SEVERE HEADACHES, nausea, but couldn’t throw up, Cough at night the minute my head hit the pillow. It seemed worse due to the fact that I’m in the process of changing antidepressants. I’ve taken Zoloft for approximately 15 years (zombie) changed to Pristiq and after a few weeks my blood pressure sky rocketed. So now am on Lexapro. Dr. said will take few weeks for Pristiq to get completely out of my system. Headaches getting better each day as BP going down slowly. Flu really wasn’t as bad a the regular flu I had about 10 years ago. Only 1 really horrible day. Also, I started taking Tamiflu about 30 hours after 1st symptoms began. Wishing everyone well.
I caught H1N1 from my granddaughter back in June. We thought she had a migraine at the time so I was taking care of her.
I used Tamiflu a bit at first but I don’t know that I got started on it soon enough. I know it was miserable. Then, I finally started to get better for a few days, then all the symptoms would come back. It lasted all summer. About three weeks ago after I’d felt better for about a week I caught a cold. I am still battling something because I have different, extra symptoms.
Taking more Tamiflu seemed ot help some so I wished I had finished the whole course of it. I didn’t since I was so completely wiped out by it. Finally determined I could take less than a whole capsule and it would help.
I got another script of it but then developed sores on my face from it and stoppe dtaking it. Since I have been taking L-lysine and it helps along with green tea.
I suppose the only way I would know I have the flu is if I had a high temperature. I frequently have flu like symptoms that turn out to be nothing. It’s like ghosts of Christmas’s past, the symptoms are there of past ‘real’ virus’s or infections but when examined I appear to be in perfect health. ARGH!
I got the flu about 3 weeks ago — aches, fever, runny nose, cough. Then I spent a week just being tired — didn’t want to do anything, took naps each afternoon, runny nose but cough was getting better. So I felt fairly good this week — enough that I worked yesterday for 4 hours (I’m a library clerk) and came home exhausted. I was scheduled for 8 hours today and thought I could do it — and was to go out with my son and a friend for dinner — which I did. I crawled into the house after the dinner. I am so tired. I don’t think I’ll work again for several days. I do think that I had Chronic Fatigue along with the Fibro.
I went for about ten years without getting a head cold. At the time my wife worked in a day-nursery and she got every virus going – as those who work with small children do.
ME seems to protect me from other illnesses and keep me looking young and well – which is misleading because I’m nearly useless.
Since then, on the rare occasions I feel a little better for a few days then I expect a head-cold. This has happened a few times and seems less like a coincidence every time.
Hi LIZ the last time i had a flu..bedridden for about 5 days was about 7 years ago, i get the odd sniffle but it never develops into anything…thank god!! so if my immune system is low why do i not get sick.. anyone have any answers?? thanks
I don’t have an answer for you, but Thank God you don’t. God Bless You.
Leanne,
From what I’ve now read on the subject, it sounds like maybe it is true that our immune systems are just that screwed up. Much of what we recognize as “sick” is our immune systems response to the germs, but if our immune system doesn’t mount a strong attack we might not recognize that we’re sick above and beyond the normal flares.
Oh my gosh! I caught H1N1 in October. The symptoms were moderate but then I acquired an upper respiratory infection – bronchitis and laryngitis that lasted 6 weeks. I couldn’t shake it and my fibro flared during this time to the point that I couldn’t get out of bed some days due to pain and stiffness. I’m a nurse and I had resigned from a very stressful job that kept my fibro constantly at attention….thought this would help until I got sick. I started a new job and part of the requirement is mandatory vaccinations. Years ago I got a bad fibro flare from a flu shot so I was worried. This time the flu shot did nothing to me, but yesterday I received Tetanus and MMR and today I could not crawl out of bed!
The last time I had a stomach bug was 23 years ago. I havent had the flu since Ive been getting a flu shot every year. I never go to anybodys house if they are sick. I find if I get sick I get really, really sick. Two years ago I got shingles and strep throat together.
Prior to getting a flu shot in ‘06 I had not gotten the flu for at least 10 years. I don’t think I got the flu from the shot but I think it caused my immune system to react differently to the viruses and I’ve gotten the flu 3-4 times since.
While I was on full-time disability I got a high fever (103.5) and my Dr. pounced on it right away with a Tamiflu script, he thought it was H1-N1.
I had been running a spiking low-grade fever for 3 months at the time (new for me despite being ill for 15 years) prior to this event and was totally wiped out.
My immune response and/or the tamiflu helped my symptoms. This event triggered enough strength for me to go back to work for a time
Has anyone has a similar event, with or without an anti-viral?
My low grade temps seem to get worse as my activity level goes up. Has anyone had that experience?