Not sure but I was sick last week and still have a lingering sore throat and headache. Our infectious disease specialist came around a week or so ago and told me one of the strains mutated so the shot this year is only about 40% effective.

Get well good thoughts!

To answer your ?-yes,I had it-for 7 weeks....

That's awful to have been sick for so long. The flu usually passes in a week, though other complications (like pneumonia or other URTI) can develop. Did a physician tell you that your flu bout lasted 7 weeks?

We have each had colds, but nothing too tough. There has been one reported death here, but so far there have not been as many cases as usual. I am hoping with school being out maybe the infection rate will be lower. Wish it was higher, but I'll take 40% effectiveness over nothing.

You are probably suffering from a common cold, not the flu. If you have the flu, you know it. Spoken from experience. I have always gotten the flu shot since I have asthma. About 20 years ago, when I was in my mid thirties, young and healthy, I got the flu after having had the flu shot. It hit me like a brick, literally. I started out my day off from work feeling well enough to go grocery shopping. By the time I got home from the store, I was too sick and weak to even unpack the groceries. I ended up in the hospital for a week with a PICC line for antibiotics and pneumonia in both of my lungs. Was off work for 6 weeks after that. I haven't had the flu since then, and am freakish about hand washing and avoiding ill people. Kind of hard to do since I work in a hospital.

Got my flu shot in October and a couple days later came down with a cold.

A nasty, nasty strain of cold is going around. I've been coughing for just over two months. Violent coughing at one point. So violent that I pulled a muscle in my side. Ran a fever last week and was out of work for two days. Haven't had a fever for 30 years.

Have gone through two combo boxes of Day/NIght Theraflu, a bottle of Nyquil, 11 bags of cough drops, a 10-day course of Augmentin (antibiotic) that made me sicker, and finally, a 5-day course Z-pak which has nearly stopped the coughing.

Saw my doctor for a six week checkup yesterday and since I'm still not 100%, he ordered a CT of my sinuses to see if I still have some kind of infection.

Yep, something really nasty is going around (though I don't think it's the flu) and I'll be so happy when it's gone.

Jodi-

Yes,I had the flu "and" the cold-both diagnosed by my doctors-I am on Remicade for my Crohns,which leaves me with no immune system whatsoever-was really sick-had to be on an antibiotic,which I never or rarely take-so it worked-finally.

Lots of different things going around. I had a cough, went away, then came back stronger went to Dr. got some prednisone and inhaler --just a bad head cold. Neighbor across hall, almost ended up in hospital with flu was extremely sick scary as he is 90. Does feel better but has a way to go yet. ND reporting higher than usual flu cases.over 300 cases this year so far.

5 year old grandson has it. He is spending the week in the mountains at a cabin that they rented to be with his visiting paternal grandparents. His Grammy had the flu last week and said that Tylenol really helped her, so they took on the battle to get some Tylenol into him. It has really helped him too, and worth the fight to get it into him, dd says. I would have never thought that Tylenol would have such an impact on the flu symptoms. Thank goodness for Grammy!

My husband got something right after Christmas...not sure what it is..started with a backache, then body aches, diarrhea, near vomiting...I guess it's some type of flu..we both got what was supposed to be a super shot this year.

I did get the flu shot in November after not having had one for several years - no flu but do a bit of nose blowing... that seems to be common for me every year when frigid winter weather sets in.

I'm on Remicade too for Rheumatoid Arthritis and yes, like ont_gal, my immune system is non existent. I stay away from crowds and give wide clearance to anyone sneezing or hacking.

It's rampant here in KY. Just got off work, charge today on our unit. It's so bad they're now swabbing everyone who comes in the ER. The staff are sick too.

Friend just called me today, and was supposed to be with family in the Carolina's since the 22nd. NOT She's been extremely ill with what the doctors told her was a strain of flu not the flu vaccine.

Went to emergency room, gave iv's, etc, and she's been homebound all thru Christmas. Lives alone, but brother left plenty for her before he left for Texas. He didn't even go in her home, but left everything at the doorstep.

Doctors told her she was highly contagious when she saw them.

No energy, weak, very hard time walking.

Sorry for all those sick during the holidays especially.

Typical mom, I got all the kids their flu shots and forgot about me. Two of the kids still got it, but no too bad. I've had the worst flu of my life since Thursday. Husband got the shot and yet is coming down with it now, but we are hoping his won't be as bad as mine.

Please be cautious if you are elderly or around the elderly. My sister works in an elderly facility (a very good one) and they have had a handful of flu related deaths this year. My grandmother lives in a nursing home. She has the flu and her room mate passed away this morning due to flu complications. She was already ill with lung problems, but this awful flu did her in.
Be safe everyone!