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It’s one thing to hear about cases of the so-called “super flu” that have skyrocketed across the country, but it’s another to deal with it. If you’ve recently had the flu, you may be wondering when you’ll feel like yourself again. Unfortunately, doctors say it can take time.
The flu can cause unpleasant symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat when you are initially ill, but you may also be overcome with persistent fatigue and generally feel restless after the initial symptoms have subsided. “Once you get the flu, it can last longer than the acute illness,” William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells SELF.
OK, but why? And, like, how long are we talking about here? Here’s how long it takes to recover from the “super flu,” according to doctors, plus what you can do to speed up your recovery.
The flu is no joke now.
The flu has always been a potentially serious illness. But the strain of flu that’s circulating right now — which is called subclade K — is a strong version of the virus that’s better at avoiding any previous immunity you might have, whether it’s from the flu shot or having had other versions of the flu. As a result, more people are vulnerable to infection and feeling horrible more than usual when they get sick.
It’s too early to know how long most people are sick with K subclades, but Dr. Schaffner says he’s heard anecdotes about this strain causing illnesses that last longer than the typical flu. “The dominant strain there is in the H3N2 family, and that usually causes more severe disease,” he says.
You can expect to be constipated for a while with this flu.
It’s hard for doctors to say exactly how long it will take you to feel better when you have the flu, since things like your individual immune response and underlying health conditions come into play. But there is an internship you can expect.
“While acute symptoms such as fever may improve within a few days, fatigue and [feeling off] it can persist for a week or more,” Amesh A. Adalja, MD, a senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells SELF. There are several reasons for this. “The virus sets up an inflammatory response—that’s how the body fights the virus,” says Dr. Schaffner. But after the initial illness occurs, the inflammation continues to subside and the inflammatory symptoms continue to subside. sore throat, dry cough, and generally feeling sick, he says. doubt it can take a while,” says Dr. Schaffner.
Being dehydrated and moving less than usual (because you don’t feel great) can also slow down the recovery process, says Dr. Adalja. There’s even something called long flu syndrome that some people experience, he points out. (Think a lot of COVID, but with the flu.)
Even though early data suggests this year’s flu shot isn’t as effective at preventing the flu, Dr. Adalja says getting vaccinated will help you recover faster.
There are a few ways you can speed up your recovery time.
If you haven’t had your flu shot, you have no reason to get it – it won’t help you now. But regardless of your vaccination status, doctors say there are some things you can do to try to speed up your recovery time, or at least feel better while walking around.
The first is to ask your healthcare provider about taking an antiviral treatment such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza). “If you start an antiviral early, it reduces the severity of the disease,” says Dr. Schaffner.
There is one caveat to keep in mind that your healthcare provider may flag: Oseltamivir can cause “quite prominent” side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, says Dr. Schaffner. “Pediatricians are a little more careful about it,” he says. “But for people in high-risk groups for severe disease, including the elderly, those who are immunocompromised and those who are pregnant, we have no hesitation in recommending the drug.”
Beyond that, both doctors agree that staying well-hydrated is essential. “Make sure you keep up with your fluids,” says Dr. Schaffner. “If you let yourself get dehydrated, you’re more likely to get pneumonia.” Not only that, being well-hydrated will keep your mucous membranes moist and make it easier to get rid of a runny nose, making you feel less stuffy, says Dr. Schaffner.
While Dr. Adalja says you don’t want to overexert yourself when you’re in the initial phase of being sick, it’s important to move once you’re in the recovery phase. “Sit, walk around, and start moving as much as possible,” says Dr. Schaffner. “Your body will appreciate it.” At the same time, he emphasizes the importance of good sleep to give your body plenty of chances to rest and recover.
But while you’re doing all this, it’s important to keep flu complications like pneumonia at bay. “If a person has a persistent fever, shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue that prevents them from going about their daily activities, they should see a health care provider,” says Dr. Adalja. (Dr. Schaffner also recommends being on the lookout for yellow or green phlegm—that can also be a sign of pneumonia.)
“If you’re more than a week out of an acute illness and you’re not getting better or even worse, it’s time to contact your doctor,” says Dr. Schaffner. But if you feel like you’re getting better—just at a slower pace than you’d hope—he recommends being patient. The flu is a serious illness and recovery can take time.
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