Muscle aches with the flu...

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Took my husband to the doctor's office yesterday. He has fever (max 101.8), sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, chills, dry cough, and dizziness. Doc did a strep screen, came back positive (figured that, I had my usually January case the week before). But, I also asked him to do a flu screen, since all his symptoms fit so well. He refused, becuase my husbands muscle aches were deceased after I managed to get enough advil and tylenol in him to break his fever. He states the muscle aches would not have deceased any if they were due to fever. I've searched in my books and online, and I can't find anything to back that up. Now, I realize rest and increasing fluids in the best treatment for the flu, and the poor dear is getting all that. But, I still would have like to have known for sure. I have strep 3-4 times a year, and I don't have all those symptoms. I wouldn't have taken but a minute to have done the flu screen...I would have done it myself if he wanted me to.

Just an aside, me and the same doc got into a little arguement the previous day about a patient I had. Maybe he was punishing me, I don't know.

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The makes me mad because influenza is greatly under reported. Why is it under reported? Because docs won't do screens. I guess they justify it because patients will get over flu without intervention. However, it would give CDC a better feel for what is going on it they did them more. Most the time they have to report a positive to the health dept. or something along that line. I wonder if it is extra paper work for them and that is why they don't want to do them.

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

I'll concur with Oramar. He probably didn't want the hassle of the extra paperwork. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I don't know if your dh had the flu or not....but I have had strep with all the sx he had. I thought I was going to DIE. Adult strep can present in so many ways.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I don't know if your dh had the flu or not....but I have had strep with all the sx he had. I thought I was going to DIE. Adult strep can present in so many ways.

And his usually does present strangely...He never has a sore thoart. I have a bad case at least 3-4 times a year, and at least 2 of those times a year he gets it as well. He symptoms are very different this time. He usually just has a fever and nausea, and that's about it. That's kinda why I wanted to see if something else was going on.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I would trust the doctor that you chose to go to. I've never heard of a doctor refusing to do a test a patient requested unless he knew the insurance wouldn't cover it and in that case informs the patient that if they want the test they will be expected to pay for it up front. A doctor refusing to do a test would be asking like asking to be sued should he actually have the flu and suffer a lasting deficit.

You stated in another thread that your dh gets a flu shot every year but gets the flu every year. That would be history making news, in other words, impossible. Bad colds do not = the "flu". The term "flu" is used far too interchageable with bad colds, etc... I think I'd relax and let it go. Bring on the fluids!

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I don't know if your dh had the flu or not....but I have had strep with all the sx he had. I thought I was going to DIE. Adult strep can present in so many ways.

Strep does not cause respiratory symptoms.

If you had a positive strep with respiratory symptoms, it's far more likely that you had a virus/influenza, and are an asymptomatic carrier of group-A strep.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

yes the flu is grealy unreported.. i hope your hubby feels better.. poor guy...

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
Strep does not cause respiratory symptoms.

If you had a positive strep with respiratory symptoms, it's far more likely that you had a virus/influenza, and are an aymptomatic carrier of group-A strep.

OP says her husband's sx were "sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, chills, dry cough, and dizziness". The only resp sx was a dry cough. I have had all those with strep. I know I'm not a carrier, as I have tested negative before and since.

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Specializes in Emergency, Nursing Management, Auditing.

I had strep back in November and had pretty much the same symptoms as your DH- temp 102.6, chills, VERY sore throat, and some pretty nasty muscle aches. My rapid strep came back positive, (and clinically on exam I was positive), and I have never tested positive for strep before even though I have been cultured several times (I had a recurrent sore throat over the summer). After a few doses of PCN I felt muchhhhh better :) The strep infection can probably account for all of those symptoms... Either way, hope your DH feels better and drinks lots of fluids!

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
You stated in another thread that your dh gets a flu shot every year but gets the flu every year. That would be history making news, in other words, impossible.

Why would it be impossible? I get the flu every 2 to 3 years with the vaccine on board.

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Why would it be impossible? I get the flu every 2 to 3 years with the vaccine on board.

How do you know that you're getting the flu, and not another viral illness?

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