Flu or ILI?

This week knocked me for a loop. I’m mere days away from my big trip. And thanks to germs I’m wrecked. I’ve been home sick for days. I finally made it to the doctor after a failed attempt at working today.

Can I just tell you… the flu test IS NOT WORTH IT.

To be tests for the flu your doctor will stick this thin applicator up your nose. OUCH. Awful experience. However, if you’re like you you’ll test negative. While I don’t know if that is because I was tested in the post febrile state…or if I never had the flu. I can tell you that I won’t be doing that test ever again.

Nope.

So trying to sort out what is happening in my body… as my brain likes to do… I have started to research the flu more. I learned about a condition recently recognized. Influenza like illness. ILI is a condition that mimics the flu but tests negative for the flu. And unlike the flu, ILI is not treated with antivirals. ILI does cause fever, sore throat, and a cough.

So at best I have the ILI. There’s no specific. Great. Similar story to the rest of my life. So hopefully I clear this infection by the time I board my plane… because lord knows I don’t need this to go international with me. 🤪

So here’s what I’m using to stay sane and get well soon.

1. SLEEP. I’m sleeping as much as my body will physically let me.

2. REST. If I’m not sleeping I’m still resting. My body can’t take the stairs of this New England home style. Too. Many. Stairs.

3. Hydration. And not just in the water sense. Water is just one component of hydration status. Electrolytes make up part of that hydration. Salt. Sugar. Potassium. Your body needs all of these to make it through the day… and heal. Healing is probably the largest, most expensive job your body has on a daily basis. So keep it lubricated with water, electrolytes and sugar. Not the candy bar kind genius.

4. Vitamin D. Vitamin D is an easy thing to get… and yet so easily overlooked. You don’t have to run a marathon to get some sun. Just take a minute to enjoy the sun shine while you’re sick. You might actually feel better.

5. Treat the symptoms. Part of being sick is… well the symptoms you get. I had fevers, cold sweats (OMG the worst), body aches, joint pain, fatigue, coughing, headache, and eventually GI signs. My GI stuff came once the fever broke. This flu look-a-like is brutal.

Whatever your symptoms treat what you have. I took Ibuprofen for the joint pain, day quill for the cold sweats, fever, etc, Gatorade to replace electrolyte losses (low to no sugar variety), water to replace my ongoing losses, and my inhalers for my coughing. My fever broke in 2-3 days. But the ILI signs can last for several more days. Some sources says even up to 10 days. (I really hope not).

Just don’t forget…. until you are fever free for 24 hours… you are contagious.

Take care of yourself…