How Long Has It Been Since You Had The Flu?

fmdog44

fmdog44

Well-known Member
Location
Houston, Texas
I know I had the flu probably twice but when exactly I can't say. During and before my high school years I think. It was miserable and lasted for 3-4 days.
Also, has anyone had the flu after the shot? I know the shot does not prevent the flu but lessons the severity.
 

Probably in the early 70s. I've never had a flu shot and don't intend to start now. My luck may run out one of these days though. The hubby and I don't go out much when the flu season is in full swing. I have two big freezers full of food,we don't have to go out to work so we kind of hibernate through the worst of it.
 

January 1981. Lost 2 weeks of work. Got flu shot every year after that including this one.Never had any reaction to the shot other than slight soreness for a day in the injected arm.Am not a hibernator. Except for slippery weather usually out someplace 5 days out of 7, even tho it involves putting my walker in & out of the car. Of course the NM weather is much friendlier than many places.
 
Depends on whether you mean the local "crud" that goes around every year, or real influenza, which can kill.

I've had the real influenza twice, once in the mid 60s in Washington, D.C. As I recall, it was the Hong Kong flu. Many people were sick with it that some offices and businesses had to close because nobody was well enough to come to work. Our office was one of them.

Then somewhere in the late 90s or early 2000s I got influenza again; I forget which type they said it was, but it was terrible and flattened me for two weeks. I seriously thought I might die of it.

Ever since that last flu, I have become quite fanatic about getting the flu shot. Before that, I never got the shot unless I was forced to by work rules. I got the high dose, over 65 shot a little over a week ago.

People confuse the local "crud", upper respiratory infections, colds, etc., with influenza. They are VERY different.
 
They say that a cold without fever is just a cold, a cold with fever is the flu.

If the flu is the kind of cold with fever, it's been more than ten years. I don't take the flu shot, never have and don't intent to get it. I'll let my body do the fighting, and if it loses the war, well I'm 77 and have passed my expiry date anyway.
 
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Had the actual flu many years ago and thought I was going to die. Have the flu shot every year and never even get a cold. Know its not due to the shot but I use the wipes at stores for my electric cart if I get out. Try not to get out and have stuff delivered if possible. I avoid crowds and if kids are coming I make sure they are not sick. Doctor says my immune system is not as good since my stroke so I take precautions. At some point you have to take responsibility for your own health and that's what I do now. Years ago I attended more things but not anymore. I enjoy the pod casts sermons from my church without the exposure to other folks. The priest is good about making home visits so I can take communion now and then. Used to enjoy the potlucks and visiting but prefer to stay home now and talk on the phone or email.
 
IrisSenior said:
Can't remember when I last had the flu or a bad cold. I get the flu shot every fall. Now I need to knock on wood.
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Ditto....and I don't get a flu shot..knock on wood...
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Once, in the early '90s. When you get it, you'll know it! Fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, sweating, along with typical cold symptoms ... it's really pretty awful. Totally out of commission for three or four days.

I've gotten the flu shot every year for as long as I can remember. Quick and painless. Never been a problem.
 
I've never had the flu. Which my doctor finds fascinating, given that my work takes me into a lot of other people's homes, and there is ALWAYS something going round, whether it be flu or some other virus. Occasionally it's strep (primarily if there are kids in the household,) HFM has made a big comeback too....just random viruses that are always going round.

Too, I'm with my grandkids a lot, and they're always coming down with something or other, brought home from school and/or other extracurricular activities. I have to assume that my immune system must be very strong in general, because I very seldom get sick with anything that's going round.

Edited to add: I don't typically get a flu shot. At my daughter's request before the birth of her firstborn I got one, and it seems I got another one too at some point, but I can't remember why. They're not routine for me.
 
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I was flattened by influenza twice. Was hospitalized for 5 days in summer 1970 with it. Had it again in the fall of 1979. Could not pry myself off the couch for a week other than going to the doctor twice.

A cold is to influenza what a bruised shin is to a broken leg.

For the past few years I've diligently gotten a flu shot. I believe I could survive another bout with the flu but have no interest in trying my luck.
 
StarSong said:
I was flattened by influenza twice. Was hospitalized for 5 days in summer 1970 with it. Had it again in the fall of 1979. Could not pry myself off the couch for a week other than going to the doctor twice.

A cold is to influenza what a bruised shin is to a broken leg.

For the past few years I've diligently gotten a flu shot. I believe I could survive another bout with the flu but have no interest in trying my luck.
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Hey, had it in the 80's once so bad for 10 days thought I was gonna die...realized I just wasn't eating and I'd better start to give my body something to fight it with, so did and I started to get better. But, let me tell you, had it so bad my "hair" hurt. That's how you know if you've got the flu, if your hair hurts. Ever since then run to get a flu shot!
 
I might have had it as a kid but can't remember. My wife did have it once quite a few years ago and ended up in the hospital. We've always gotten our flu shots each year and the "hi dose" this year. Must be a lot of really old folks getting the "hi dose" shots. We had to wait for a few weeks as they'd run out in our area, both at our doctor's office and the local pharmacies.
 
Not to discourage anyone from getting a flu shot - confidence is half the battle, but.....
The flu shot is heavily marketed to people with "pre-existing conditions." A good friend of mine who is 62 & has a pre-existing condition just got out of the hospital with a high fever & breathing troubles. Since he had a hernia surgery 3 weeks ago, his doctor suspected a possible infection. And, since he had a lung infection 2 years ago, they suspected it was a re-occurrence. After those were ruled out, they verified that it was a reaction to the flu shot.
Well, perhaps not everyone with a "pre-existing condition" should get a flu shot.
And, no....I'm not against all vaccines. I simply note the fact that many people who get a flu shot still get the flu, so I don't have confidence in it. I've never had one & the one time I got the flu was 37 years ago, so I'm not interested. But to each his own.
 
Gosh it has been a very long time ago. I receive the Flu Shot every year and have since my 20's. The nature of my job working with kids in a teaching or school environment I really need the shot. It has helped. I cannot afford to be out sick from work for a long period of time.
 
i would never have the flu jab, and ive not had a bad cold, for 7yrs, and that was when i was around, lots of sick people, when i visited my husband in hospital...
my father had his first flu jab 10yrs ago, and hes had a runny nose ever since....😟🥺
 

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