Is this a flare or the flu? I can't tell the difference anymore!

[Diane54]

For the past three days I have felt like CRAP! I tried my best to navigate but today I am in bed. My eyes are killing me, my head feels like a jackhammer going off in it, gastric issues coming out of the wazoo....I am nauseated, I feel like even my equilibrium is off............no appetite and a general malaise.  How do we distinquish between a flare and the flu? I have no fever....but everything aches............I feel so dehydrated where I can not get enough water. The eye sensitivity was one thing now I seem to have hearing sensitivity!( Does this make any sense?)

[tired of it]

Got a fever?

[Scottietottie]

Hi

I'm sorry you are feeling so bad. As far as I know proper flu is always accompanied by a pretty high temperature. There are a lot of viruses on the go this time of year though so It may be a flare or it may be an illness other than flu.

Take care - and I hope your symptoms ease off soon. Scottie 

[Nancy60]

I usually don't have the diarrhea/vomiting with a flare, you might have a virus.  I agree with the flu you would be running a high fever (over 100 F).

[Shani]

Hi Diane,

Sorry to hear that you feel so poorly.
Big hugs to you.
A flare-up often mimics a few symptoms of the flu.
But when really having the flu it often goes along with a very high temperature, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Aswell other things like nose/throat issues.

Sometimes I get a sore throat all out of nowhere, next day it's suddenly gone.
That's more likely a flare-up and not a flu to me.

Hope this helps.

Best to always get it checked out if you don't feel well for a few days.

[dbab]

Diane,

I have very similar symptoms to you when I start to flare including the the GI symptoms.  In fact, classic warning signs for me that I'm starting a flare is nausea and upper abdominal pains with constipation, diarrhea, and maybe vomiting(but not always).  I was like that Friday evening and I have been flaring since.  It's not the flu because I just have a low grade fever along with joint pains, fatigue, and muscle pain BUT I can get around.  Usually with a flu, I can't leave the bed for anything. I just generally know the difference between a flu and flare.  But that is just with experience.  The first day or so though, its usually tough for me to tell unless my fever is pretty high and then I'm pretty sure it's the flu.

[Joe S.]

You have had a lot of good advice so take this comment with a grain of (tissue) salt and a smile. You could be real lucky and have both.  They are now saying that Sjogrens in one in 500 now instead of 1 in 1000.

[Diane54]

It's been over a week and I still feel miserable. I have had leg cramps for 4 days. I called my  PCP doctor and the nurse said to drink some Gatorade because she feels my electrolytes must be low. The cramps are in both legs and feel like they are rubber bands stretching and twisting. I feel completely drained of energy.  February will not come quick enough for the two appointments I need! ...........I am lucky that my husband is helping me out around the house but that doesn't make me feel any better..........I just want to feel NORMAL again! I was so looking forward to get out over the weekend but just couldn't rally even to take a shower. Here's hoping for a new tommorrow!

[CAT1962]

I think I would know if it was the flu. Makes the SjS feel like a cold. Flu comes with higher fever, most generally. I do hope you feel better soon...