I have flu... :(
 

Just a little woe moment people....:rolleyes:

Yesterday early evening I had horrible searing nerve pains across my chest, round my shoulder, down my arm to my hand, through my side into my groin and down into my left knee. Clearly nerve related, not constant or crushing etc, and worse when I breathed in. Thought best to get checked so went off to clinic.

They did the regulation ECG of course because it was chest area, all fine. Doc was lovely actually, makes such a nice change ;). BP fine, O2 sats good etc. Then she said, you don't look well though... Turns out I'm running a slight temp, throat very inflamed, glands round neck and jawline very raised and tender, lungs bit rusty. She asked me a bunch of other questions and says I probably have the flu. Fab.

Rest, fluids, sensible diet, vitamin C, paracetemol for temp. She didnt pretend to know CRPS very well but grasped the idea really well and intelligently applied her thinking - thinks the flu plus CRPS combo aggravated the brachial nerves, combined with bronchial pain, hence the shock waves effect down my affected left side. When she said it, i realised that last winter I actually had a very similar thing resulting in ER visit and identical outcome. Weird.

I asked her about the flu jab and she said she isn't that keen and doesn't have it herself. She said they only guess the strain, and she's seen plenty of colleagues get it the same winter as having the shot. I haven't had mine done yet and am now wondering whether to bother.

So I feel lousy and crap. Everything is too bright. Tired doesn't begin to describe it. I'm exhausted like a newborn kitten :rolleyes: but definitely not as cute lol. Keep sleeping and then having a wakeful hour or so before collapsing again. Throat sore and tight, and feel as though a team of horses have galloped over me and then kicked me in the chest and head. CRPS is doing weird things too... On the tv they always bracket 'colds and flu' like they're the same, but this is so different to a cold. I'd never stay in bed with a cold for longer than a few hours!

I hope this goes soon. My family are being so great and looking after me with soups and tea etc, company and care. I'm very lucky.

Blugh. Shallow little raspy breaths and squeaky voice. Had some Christmas wine and nice cheese earlier to cheer me a bit - husband's idea, bless him. No work for a few days though, not what I need near Christmas :rolleyes:

Hope you are all doing ok out there in la-la land :winky:

Bram :grouphug:

Hope you feel better soon Bram! :)

:hug:

Aww, so sorry you have the flu Bram :Sick: I hope you get to feeling better VERY soon!!

Take care, rest and push those fluids!
Nanc
:hug:

I'm so sorry you have the flu Bram. That stinks! I hope you feel better soon. Try to get some rest and drink lots of liquids and chicken soup. I wish I could send some chicken soup your way to make you feel better. I hope you get over the flu soon and have a peaceful night's sleep.

If I could send chicken soup across the internet I would!

I hope you recover quickly!

Stay cozy, rest easy and drink a cup or ten of ginger tea ;)
Tessa

Hello lovely lady, Hate to hear you're under the weather and I sure hope you get to feeling better real quick!

I swear I caught GLUE and not the FLU :rolleyes: This crap has lasted what feels like forever. I think I am nearing the end of it.. I think.

I have noticed that when I have a virus, a cold, or anything like that, my CRPS symptoms are heightened. It's crazy like that.

Rest, rest, rest :) :hug:

Hi Bram, I hope you are feeling better today and that your flu is going away. Try to get lots of rest.

Take care Bram. I always get sick this time of year (working retail I am exposed to just about everything out there) and since getting RSD it take such a terrible toll every time. I hope you recover faster than I do and that this is very short lived for you.

Hi Bram did they test you for the flu? Here in the US during flu season, if you walk in with those symptoms into the ER then you get tested. First and for more most, I don't know if they have it, but they should have something similar, Can you get a dr to order you Tamiflu? It will help reduce the symptoms and shorten the virus greatly!! They don't give it out to everyone, but for those that have more suppressed immune system can get it! Second I would still probley get your flu shot, but you need to wait atleast 3 weeks until after your better to get it.

Thanks tos :) They didn't offer me anything like that, but I'm doing a little better today so I'll see what happens. If it lingers or I start feeling worse then I'll go and give them grief until they treat me lol.

I washed my hair today. It was exhausting but omg does it feel better now! I hate having dirty hair :p Crips is not happy this evening...my knee is alternating hot and cold, deep pain or burn. Sigh. Moving around helps, but then I get a bit chesty and tire very quickly so that's not really happening. Lots of good food and rest are helping though, plenty of fluids and the odd spoonful of ice-cream from my lovely husband. Bless him, awww...:winky:

Take care of yourselves lovely peeps x

Bram :grouphug:

hope you are better soon..
 

I feel your pain.Its terrible to get sick ontop of rsd..Sounds like you have good family support..Get better.prayers sent your way..

Ugh! the flu?! So sorry, and hope you feel better soon! :grouphug:

Lots of hot tea and honey is my Rx :) and an EXTRA-gentle iHug for you because of the aches :(

I am surprised the doc recommended not getting the vaccination. I live in New York, and as of this year if medical care professionals don't get the shot, they have to wear masks while caring for patients.

Personally, I think the fact that some people get the flu after getting the shot is not really proof that the shots don't work. It is true that not all strains are covered, but clinical trials have shown that the risk is lower for people who get the shot. Clinical trials are more reliable evidence than anecdotal observation. Doctors are supposed to be moving towards "evidenced based medicine."

That said, whether or not a particular individual get the vaccination depends on their own health status. Don't forget the clinical trials probably only include healthy people.

bless you...feel better soon!!

Hi Bram, I hope you feel better today. I'm so sorry you have the flu on top of your rsd and hope it goes away soon. I wish I could help you, but I'm too far away. I am sending you warm hearted thoughts though. Hope you can get some rest today and can get over the flu soon.

She didn't say NOT to get the shot or that it doesn't work, just that she doesn't get it, and exactly because it can only cover the strain they THINK is going to be prevalent that year, and of course often it's more than one. She said she's seen colleagues get the shot, but then come down with a different strain of it anyway. Like a big game of roulette... In the end, as with all this stuff, it's up to me whether to go for it or not. I have a few weeks to wait now anyway, so I'll keep reading :winky:

Thanks so so so much for all these lovely thoughts, they really help :)

Was a little better yesterday, not so sleepy, and out of bed for a few hours. Even washed my hair (hate dirty hair). This morning though, i hava a major headache, my throat is very tight and full of crap, and my nose is starting to get involved. I hate these bugs so much - I mean who invented this as an idea?! ;)

My family have been so great the last two days, but inevitably it is starting to wear off lol, they've all left the house and forgotten to feed the animals, so I have the perfective incentive to haul my sickly carcass out of bed and give them their breakfast...very, very carefully... I'm not looking forward to those stairs though, they seem much longer at the moment! Then I might retire to my bed again where it's warm. Mmm.

Thank you. You guys are my rock.

Bram :hug:

Oh that's terrible Bram! I would really try to get one of your drs to get you something. I know for us RSDrs it seems everything just lingers longer because our system is already at war with the pain.

Here in the US its required for most medical professionals to get there vaccine. Bram is in the UK ;) so might be different rules. In my area if you work in a hospital you HAVE to get your vaccine or your fired, there is no other option and then you have to keep special stickers on your ID card.

I usually end up with a head cold...which is exactly what I have now. My DD came home from school yesterday with a fever and stomach issues, but my stuff is all in my head. I'm back at work today but only because I know I can leave if I need to.

I've read a few of you mention your CRPS getting worse with illness. Oh man did I deal with that last nigh. My toe felt like somebody was standing on it and digging in. Then I got a big line across my face that was painful. My lips and nose have been tingling and numb the last couple days. I couldn't sleep because I couldn't breathe, and then I'd take sudafed and it would keep me up.

Chaos, that sounds frightening - I think face stuff is the most scary in a way :rolleyes:. Hope you're feeling a bit better now and that numb tingling has stopped x

Bram :hug:

Bram,
Hope you're recovering from the nasty flu!
Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you, I was thinking of you.
Guess I only thought I posted :(.
Please forgive me? :hug:

Aww AzDi :wink: nothing to forgive! How nice you are :):D

I'm doing much better now thank you. Still tired and achy, but loads better than a couple of days ago when I struggled to get out of bed... I even managed to go to work today (it was only a couple of hours luckily), and that really helped my mood. I do enjoy my work, the children are so lovely, bless 'em :p

Hope you're having a good day yourself, take care of yourself and I return your hug with a smile, a hug of your own, and a box of chocolates (your favourite sort lol).

Bram :hug:

Hi Bram,
I just wanted to say that I hope you're feeling better today and that you have a good night.
Take Care.
From your friend, Renee..