[...] Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Well, my compromised immune system has caught up to me. I have the flu. Never had it before, but I started getting the chills/fever/aches yesterday and when it didn't get any better today, I went to the doctor...they tested me for it and it was positive Does anybody have any recommendations for "safe" ways to ease the symptoms, etc? The doctor prescribed Tamiflu and I filled the prescription, but now I wish I hadn't (it was expensive!) because I did some research and the side effects can be dreadful. I'd rather not take it if possible (though I'll have to decide in the next 4-6 hours because it's only effective if you take it within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.) Do you think I'd be okay without it? Everything I read said "healthy" people don't need it, but obviously my immune system is compromised due to the withdrawal and I don't want to end up with pneumonia or any other serious complications from the flu. Anyone else ever have the flu in withdrawal? How'd you deal with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Fl...] Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 So sorry AJ - plenty of people have had the flu in withdrawal. I did last spring and it was brutal. Just do the things normal people do when sick with flu: rest a lot, hydrate a lot and eat small nutritious meals. Distract!!! Watch TV, read, sleep. In a few days, you'll be back to the benzo grind. Get well soon, Flip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Hi aj, I just got over the flu and it was pretty difficult to manage the combination of flu symptoms and w/d symptoms but I did it. I don't know what Tamiflu is. I used Aleve to help ease the achy muscles and that took the edge off. The flu lasted for 2 weeks. I went to the doctor this week, finally, because the coughing was hanging on too long and I needed to ensure I didn't have pneumonia. I am in the all clear. I feel sorry for you cuz the flu sucks bad at anytime and of course this is the worst time to get it. You have my sincere empathy but know that you will get thru this too. How I dealt with it? I whined to my friends and anyone who would listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 Flip, So you didn't take Tamiflu or anything like that and you were fine? How long did it take for you to feel better? They made me take some Tylenol at the urgent care because I was running a fever of 103 -- I guess it must have worked because it's down to 99 now, and the muscle aches are actually better. Thanks so much, AJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 Hi Whoopsie, Yikes, two weeks? I'm in college and I'd hate to have to miss a bunch of class (but there's only so much one can do.) Tamiflu is an antiviral drug...but it has a ton of nasty side effects. I guess you could Google it or something. It looks like Tylenol might be something that could help me. I've heard the cough can persist for a bit...I'm just really scared about the pneumonia thing, the doctor today would not stop telling me how serious the flu is. I'm glad you're over it. Thanks again for the support. AJ Hi aj, I just got over the flu and it was pretty difficult to manage the combination of flu symptoms and w/d symptoms but I did it. I don't know what Tamiflu is. I used Aleve to help ease the achy muscles and that took the edge off. The flu lasted for 2 weeks. I went to the doctor this week, finally, because the coughing was hanging on too long and I needed to ensure I didn't have pneumonia. I am in the all clear. I feel sorry for you cuz the flu sucks bad at anytime and of course this is the worst time to get it. You have my sincere empathy but know that you will get thru this too. How I dealt with it? I whined to my friends and anyone who would listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Fl...] Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 AJ, no, I've never taken Tamiflu. Sorry. I did drink a glass of EmergenC (vitamin C) every few hours. I was very sick for a week and it lingered for a couple of weeks longer, but not as bad as that first week. I hope you have someone to check in on you. Flip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 Yuck...I have a feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better then. I feel like crying, honestly...it's my senior year of college and it's been bad enough fighting withdrawal, and now I'm going to lose half the last month of it to the flu. I don't have anyone to check in on me right now as my roommate went home for the weekend, but I think I'm going to have my dad drive down tomorrow and maybe I'll ask him to bring some Vitamin C. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Try not to worry Aj ... about anything, it just makes matters seem worse than they really are. By the way, my 31 year old son had it too and was able to keep going to work everyday ... it didn't last as long for him either. Look, if you can handle benzo w/d, which you have now for 6 months ... you can handle this too. If your doc thinks flu is serious he should try out benzo w/d. I had forgotten about the fever ... the Aleve took care of that too and I also forgot that I was taking Vit C several times a day. I still don't know what to say about the Tamiflu ... hope someone has some experience with that. Like Flip says, do all the things to buckle down and care for yourself. It could be over in a couple days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 I don't think I'm going to take the Tamiflu, honestly. If both of you made it through fine, then I'm not that worried. It's only supposed to shorten the duration by a day, if that, and help relieve the symptoms...well, my worst symptoms were the muscle aches and the fever which the Tylenol seemed to take care of. It won't do anything for this exhausted feeling, even the doctor said so. And my temperature is down to 98.9 three hours post-Tylenol, so I'll stick with that. I guess I just feel like it's going to last a long time for me since I'm in withdrawal...but you're right, this honestly doesn't feel much worse than my acute withdrawal phase at all. The doctor was more like "you young people think you can just keep on going when you get sick, flu is serious business, it can turn into pneumonia, you need to rest, etc," though she did seem to think I'd be able to go back to class Monday and the worst of it would be over then, I'd just feel extremely tired for a week or two. Granted that was if I took the Tamiflu, but I don't want to take something (I wish I'd done my research sooner before paying for it!) that makes one in five people throw up and has caused confusion, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts (at least in children.) I posted to the other meds board about it, but I'm 99% sure I'm not going to take it. Thanks for listening...like I said I'm kind of alone right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Yikes ... the Tamiflu sounds awful. Too bad you wasted your money but I wouldn't mess around with taking it either. It sounds like your doc was just trying to stress that you should take the weekend off and not go out and party as if the flu wasn't there. Probably an overkill in your case right? You will stay in and rest, right? It sounds like that is the whole point he was trying to make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 Yeah...obviously those were extreme cases but the nausea/vomiting is common and one review said it gave the patient insomnia...last thing I need! I'm definitely staying in this weekend. I don't feel like doing anything...it was a chore to even get up and drive to the doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Okay, good Aj. Chances are good that you won't even miss Monday's classes if you take good care of yourself, which you are doing. Whew!!! Another crisis averted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 I sure hope so! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 By any chance, did either of you get an "off" taste with the flu? This showed up today...my mouth tastes horrible and everything I eat tastes weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Gee ... I don't remember that specifically Aj but I'm sure it is possible. Hope your evening has gone smoothly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 I'm surviving. I wonder if it has to do with the bad congestion or something. I feel like I had something similar when I was a kid with the nasty taste. Don't remember though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Ti...] Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Hey I had flu couple of weeks ago. I got it just as I made a cut so it felt dreadful. I rested alot of the week and felt fine after a while, but i rested which is what you need to do then it will give your body time to heal and it will go quicker. I feel for you, cause it makes w/d's twice as bad but it does go. I know it hurts it is not nice hugs to you Boo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 How's it going today Aj? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 Thanks, Tickatyboo. Whoopsie, I've been resting pretty much all day. Only getting up when absolutely necessary. I still feel very run down and I had a couple horrible waves hit me for a bit on top of it all...depression, anxiety, racing heart...like the flu isn't bad enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 I know, right? That's the hard part ... influenza and benzo w/d at once. I'm just glad you are laying low and taking care of yourself. Fortunately the flu part will pass fairly quickly compared to w/d ... you can count on that. Thanks for checking in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 8, 2012 Author Share Posted April 8, 2012 I know, it just feels like an eternity right now. And it's so weird because you're supposed to feel "tired" with the flu...and I feel WEAK, but not tired...in fact it feels right now like I'm having all these adrenaline rushes. And to top it all off I'm constantly having to run to the bathroom...I had the doctor check me for a UTI but nope, all clear. Every 15-30 minutes, almost, for the last 8 hours! On top of all the other misery! The doctor said something about "adrenaline" causing it...ha, ha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 How did it go today Aj? I don't know what causes the frequent urination but I had that too. Interesting that the doc said it was adrenaline. Went thru tons of toilet paper here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[...] Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 I feel like the flu is getting a little better but the urinary problems aren't. I feel like I constantly have to go. Now to top it all off, I feel like I'm about to have an anxiety attack because my roommate just came back (went home for Easter)...it's an apartment but she's LOUD as I'll get out, sounds like she has her boyfriend over too, and I just want to be left in peace and quiet to recover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wh...] Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Is it possible for you tell her that you're ill and would really appreciate some quiet? Very happy to hear that the flu is easing off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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