Is this the flu this late in the season or a stomach virus plus a cold? (pain, infection)

[twiggy]

Hi, Im in AZ and my family has been so sick with something this week. It starts out with a stomach virus, then a soar throat, ache joints, and a cough, stuffy nose, fever, etc. It last and last. Could this still be the flu this late in the flu season? Or do you think we have all caught a cold and the stomach virus. Roto virus maybe? Just curious to see if anyone else has had this? My 4 year old had it the worst, he threw up for 3 days, and now has a soar throat and stuffy nose. Yikes
Sorry to any Metaphobics out there, my 13 year old is one and this is really bothering her so, sorry. Poor thing hasn't gotten it yet because she is so careful, she is suffering mentally. Any help I would appreciate it. No scary, my uncle died from that this month though, thanks.

[Padgett2]

I would be a good idea to check with your physician. If nothing else, it would ease your mind. It certainly would be better than the guessing that you would get from the posters here at the Forum.

[nanannie]

I just recovered from this same thing. Horrid stomach flu then bronchitis. I could not treat the bronchitis till the 48 hr or so stomach flu was gone. Yes, you have to get to a doctor, I had a prescription and also an inhaler for meds. It knocked me down for almost 2 weeks. If not treated, you could develop pneumonia.

[rubyskye]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

I would be a good idea to check with your physician. If nothing else, it would ease your mind. It certainly would be better than the guessing that you would get from the posters here at the Forum.

Often people post here so they do not have to run to the doctor if it's not necessary. It's quite a reasonable thing to do and one of the good things about forums such as these is that they are both supportive and empowering.
Many of the conditions that people post about here do not require an M.D. and just collecting and sharing information on the forum can be enough to either remedy the situation or simply put their mind at ease while something like the flu runs its course naturally. (O.P. - it doesn't have to be flu season for you to get the flu)
We are, in general, far too dependent on the medical profession and while, obviously, doctors can be important and necessary and life saving, they are often not needed and they may do more harm than good .... not to mention that they are costly and the medical paradigm (in this country), in general, discourages people from taking responsibility for their own bodies and health.

[nanannie]

I am an RN, trust me, I know when something will run its course and when suffering is unnecessarily long or could develop into something serious. See a doctor. I waited and waited as I am never sick and thought this would just end after bed rest and fluids. My lungs and body pains were awful, so I broke down and am so glad I got medical help this time. I wont wait so long if, God forbid I get this again. Also, my getting on some meds ended it so I did not pass it around the family. I had never been so sick. I can imagine how hard it is on your child. Wishing you all speedy recovery .

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by ruby skye

Often people post here so they do not have to run to the doctor if it's not necessary. It's quite a reasonable thing to do and one of the good things about forums such as these is that they are both supportive and empowering.
Many of the conditions that people post about here do not require an M.D. and just collecting and sharing information on the forum can be enough to either remedy the situation or simply put their mind at ease while something like the flu runs its course naturally. (O.P. - it doesn't have to be flu season for you to get the flu)
We are, in general, far too dependent on the medical profession and while, obviously, doctors can be important and necessary and life saving, they are often not needed and they may do more harm than good .... not to mention that they are costly and the medical paradigm (in this country), in general, discourages people from taking responsibility for their own bodies and health.

Yes, I would agree. It sucks but I usually wait to see if there are complications first before I run everybody to the Doctor. Lately our doctor doesn't hand out antibiotics unless he is sure of an infection as well, and that is hard to tell in the beginning of the flu. So far the 4 year old and the 15 year old have recovered to a point where they just feel yucky but the worst has ended. I feel a little better and don't seem to have any complications either. My mother though, I am taking in tomorrow because she is older and seems to be more congested. Maybe bronchitis. Can you treat that with antibiotics though? Maybe a nasal infection. We will see. My poor husband and other daughter are awaiting there doom so to speak swearing they have avoided the affliction. I hope for them they are correct. I was just puzzled at this virus with the stomach and the sore throat and congestion. It seems like the flu but in May? Seems a little late in the season. Awful lot of throwing up too, seems sort of strange. I was thinking it was maybe the Rotavirus or something. My 4 year old threw up for 2 days poor thing. Glad he is better. I was one step from the E.R. for an I.V. then finally it stopped and I could keep the gatorade down. Well, thank you all for sharing this horrible episode with me. I feel closer now. ha ha ha

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by nahanni

I am an RN, trust me, I know when something will run its course and when suffering is unnecessarily long or could develop into something serious. See a doctor. I waited and waited as I am never sick and thought this would just end after bed rest and fluids. My lungs and body pains were awful, so I broke down and am so glad I got medical help this time. I wont wait so long if, God forbid I get this again. Also, my getting on some meds ended it so I did not pass it around the family. I had never been so sick. I can imagine how hard it is on your child. Wishing you all speedy recovery .

Oh yes, I am so sorry. This sounds like my mom right now, getting her in tomorrow if they can see her. The body aches with this were the worst thing ever!!! I felt like I was beaten by a bat or in an accident. I didn't actually throw up myself, I rarely do, but the stomach pain was horrible. 12 hours of doubling over. I feel much better tonight though. A little cramping but seems to be passing. Thanks for your concern. It is a nasty little thing. It's not easy taking 6 people into the doc's. Especially if they seem ok today. A little peeked but playing none the less. 2 more to go. I feel the worst for those who have not yet had it. The wait must be miserable.

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

I would be a good idea to check with your physician. If nothing else, it would ease your mind. It certainly would be better than the guessing that you would get from the posters here at the Forum.

Well actually, I can't catch something else from the posters like I can at the doctors. We only go if we really need to. Other wise I have found it nice to share these stories and get helpful feed back from this health forum. It's a great way to see whats going around and get clues to what kind of secondary infections come with them. What to look out for, etc. And just to get that comfort from people who seem to care. So, that's why I come on. I know how to go to the doctor, I have 3 kids. he he he Just seeing if anyone else had this odd thing like we did. But thanks for the advise. I'm sure the doctor would tell me to get plenty of fluids and rest. I've been through quite a few of these things after all the kids. lol So far it's just grandma who's going in. The good thing about a big family is you can take one in and know if if you need to bring the others. lol
Like last years strep throat adventure, he he, you should have seen everybody in at the same time getting swabbed. Such a family affair. ha ha

[frogandtoad]

Well, I disagree with everyone saying see a doctor. Let your body recover on its own. Unless you or your children have a fever over 104 or seem like you're about to die, let your body heal you. It is very good at this and just b/c you're stuffy or have a bad cough does not mean you need "medicine" (which I put in parentheses b/c there is no medicine to stop a cough/cold).

Your body is an amazing machine and in a situation with a bad cold/cough, there is no reason not to let it heal itself. It's always the same people who go in for everything...step back and teach your children that their bodies are fighting an infection but with rest and fluids they will be fine!

And don't give them all the OTC stuff either--a fever is there for a reason, mucus is there for a reason. Taking away the symptoms does not cure the illness, it prolongs it.

People on here are making it seem like the OP has described something other than a cough and cold, which she has not! She has not described the symptoms of even the flu, just a bad cough and cold!

[rubyskye]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

Well, I disagree with everyone saying see a doctor. Let your body recover on its own. Unless you or your children have a fever over 104 or seem like you're about to die, let your body heal you. It is very good at this and just b/c you're stuffy or have a bad cough does not mean you need "medicine" (which I put in parentheses b/c there is no medicine to stop a cough/cold).

Your body is an amazing machine and in a situation with a bad cold/cough, there is no reason not to let it heal itself. It's always the same people who go in for everything...step back and teach your children that their bodies are fighting an infection but with rest and fluids they will be fine!

And don't give them all the OTC stuff either--a fever is there for a reason, mucus is there for a reason. Taking away the symptoms does not cure the illness, it prolongs it.

People on here are making it seem like the OP has described something other than a cough and cold, which she has not! She has not described the symptoms of even the flu, just a bad cough and cold!

Thank you. Well said.
When i was a kid (in the late 60's and early 70's) we'd get brutal flus and colds.
I remember at times feeling unbelievably horrendous.
We never took drugs for our symptoms nor did we go to the doctors.
We got sick, we felt lousy, stayed home from school and watched t.v. in bed, ate soup and crackers (if we could handle it) and drank ginger-ale and/or tea or we ate nothing until a fever went down and the stomach could handle food again.
Not only does the body know how to fight disease but in doing so our immune systems are strengthened. And conversely, disallowing something like the flu or a cold to run its course by taking antibiotics (for example) weakens our immunes system and causes side effects that often compromise our health in the long run.