What on earth have I got???

zambezi, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2003

hello :) I don't have any answers as to what you have going on, but I hope you feel better soon...I hate feeling like that!! Take care of yourself...

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 17, 2003

Sounds "flu-ey" to me, but I'd get it checked out.......I've seen pts. with sx like yours who turned out to have meningitis. Get thee to the NP, girl!

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 17, 2003

flu babe. fluids, rest and more rest. it's in our house, too. ugh. hope you feel better soon............

ratchit · Nov 17, 2003

Courtesy of Webmd.com:

( http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/75/18578 )

Influenza:

* Fever of 100°F (37.8°C) to 104°F (40°C), which can reach 106°F (41.1°C) when symptoms first develop. Fever is usually continuous, but it may come and go. Fever may be lower in older adults than in children and younger adults.

* Shaking chills.

* Body aches and muscle pain (often severe), commonly in the back, arms, or legs.

* Headache.

* Pain when you move your eyes.

* Fatigue, a general feeling of sickness (malaise), and loss of appetite.

* A dry cough, runny nose, and dry or sore throat. You may not notice these during the first few days of the illness when other symptoms are more severe. As fever goes away, these symptoms usually become more evident.

When fever is high, other symptoms usually are more severe.

Sounds like you. You have my sympathy- you sound miserable.

Maybe Aleve or the 8 hour tylenol to keep the fevers away longer? When I'm sick like that, I don't wait for the fever to spike again- I take ibuprofen and tylenol (alternating) every 3-4 hours to keep it gone for a day or so.

Water, gatorade- you know the drill.

Take care of yourself. If you can't keep yourself hydrated, you might need IV's. I've seen h/a and high fevers with meningitis, but usually with a stiff neck and not usually the severe body aches. Not that flu is good, but crossing fingers that's what you have.

RNKPCE · Nov 17, 2003

Just curious did you get a flu shot?

Take Care

prmenrs, RN · Nov 17, 2003

Sweetie--you have the flu--sounds like the real influenza thing, too. Poor baby. Let your primary care know, the resp problems may show up later. LOTS of fluids! LOTS of tylenol. LOTS of rest--you really can't do anything else. Try to get some Vit C in there, too.

The 'flu' is really VERY nasty, and can have severe complications. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!

:kiss

nurseygrrl, LPN · Nov 17, 2003

I have had this before...not once but THREE TIMES! It is the flu...ugh! I hope you feel better really really soon. All you can do is take pain meds, drink, and sleep. The 2nd time I had this it came on the last day I was in Germany visiting my husband who was stationed there. Had to ride 8 hours on the plane home feeling like s***!! I bet you were a tad bit suppressed with all the hours you've been doing. It happens to the best of us...take care

ktwlpn, LPN · Nov 17, 2003

Originally posted by jnette
Besides a temp of 104, excrutiating pains running all through my shoulderblades, the usual freezing and shaking of the bed so bad you'd think I was starring in the "excorsist"... NO respiratory symptoms whatso ever... no cold, no sore throat, no cough, no wheezing... but extreme headache (possibly fever related) ?

I have never, and I do mean NEVER in my entire life been this sick, hurting this badly.

Started yesterday afternoon with the chilling.. took right to the bed. It was killing me to lay in the bed because when I'm cold, I'm instantly in the fetal position. Well, my hip bones (regardles of which side) hurt so bad, I wanted to scream. Every place on my body HURT SEVERELY... wierd places.. my deltoid, my ankle, between the scapulae... as if someone were tearing out the muscle in there. Could NOT get comfortable enough to ease the pain.. EVERYWHERE.

Ibuprofen, water, sleep.. when it finally came. So groggy this am and so weak I could barely drag these legs to the bathroom. Head killing me still like a wicked hangover. Took two more ibuprofen and slept til 0900. Broke the fever and thoroughly soaked the bed... I thought HURAAAAAAAAAAAAAY !!! Felt a whole lot better.. strength returned, no H/A... thought it was done for.

NOT. At 1220 the same symptoms returned... chilling, shaking, freezing.. H/A, PAIN EVERYWHERE. I wanted to scream out in pain. Temp back up to 104... slept the next three hours.. just got up.. still groggy, extremely weak, H/A.

If this were a "flu" would there not be the ususal respiratory s/s ?

And if it's not the flu, then what the heck IS it??? I dread later on tonight... know it's going to come back and torment me again. If it's not gone by tomorrow, off to my NP I go !

I don't expect you'll be back on this thread anytime soon-sounds like the real deal to me...Nothing HURTS worse when even your eyeballs and hair hurt...I hope you rally fast....

eak16 · Nov 17, 2003

Have you travelled to a tropical area lately or do you live near an airport with international flights?

It's probably the flu but another infecitous disease that has a CYCLE of better/worse symptoms is malaria- I know, I have had it.

Lately there have been a few cases from mosquitos carried over on planes. Probably not, but a thought.

oramar · Nov 17, 2003

I don't have a clue, most likely the flu. I will be worrying about you that is all I can say. Perhaps you have poured so much energy into the new job and it suppressed your immune system so you picked something up. Hope to hear you are feeling better soon.

Elenaster · Nov 17, 2003

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{jnette}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Me thinks that all that crazy workaholic business may have run your little immune system down. Just a theory??

I've had a nasty bug too that's been hanging around for more than a week. I broke down and went to employee health today and wound up with 4 scripts. Crud's going around here in our little corner of the world, but I'll let you know if I hear about anything similar. The other posters are probably correct in the flu Dx. Did you get a flu shot???

Anyhow, I hope your misery ends very soon!