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Flu

I woke up this morning with the muscles in my legs and back feeling like I ran a marathon. (I don't run). I sat up, coughed a deep horrible cough, and remembered that I have the flu.
Image result for influenza
I never really understood what the flu was. I never get a flu shot, that changes now.

Each morning since Wednesday of last week I woke up with a fever. The fever only went away when I took Tylenol. If I fell asleep and missed the dose the fever came back. I started to feel like I would never, ever, get better. I was scared. People die from the flu and what if I was doing it all wrong?

I was taking Tamiflu, Tylenol, Mucinex, Albuterol and drinking a 28 ounce Gatorade every two hours. I was sleeping. I sat in the shower a few times. I slept some more. Then Sunday morning the cough was all that remained. I rested yesterday and that brings me to now.

From the CDC:

Flu can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

fever*
cough
sore throat
runny or stuffy nose
body aches
headache
chills
fatigue
sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

The symptoms make it sound so benign except for the part in bold that should really be in bold on the CDC website, just saying...

My primary symptom was fever with shortness of breath and cough. It is absolutely horrible.

Please do me a favor, get a flu shot. Wash your hands. If you are coughing we are mask or stay home. You are contagious until you have been free from fever for 24 hours. Go to the doctor as soon as symptoms present. I'm so glad I did.




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