I'm a nurse, at least I was until lupus came along. Signs of the flu are, high fever (above 101 deg), chills, muscle and body aches,cough, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, extreme fatigue, possibly shortness of breath, dizzy, confusion due to dehydration, and there can be others. If you've had symptoms for 3 days you should feel like you've been hit by a train! You won't be able to do anything after a few days. My advice is don't take any chances. This flu is unlike any we've seen and can have different symptoms. That's why so many people have died. With a weak immune system already, especially if you're over 60 get to a doctor immediately!! Tamiflu will help but it has to be given in the first 72 hours. Don't feel foolish if you go and it is just a cold. Doctors are telling people don't take chances. I hope you got flu shot. It doesn't fight this particular strand, but it can lessen the side affects and speed up the recovery. Please don't take chances. This flu is a life or death situation.

Funny you asked this as I was coming here with a similar question. I've been having the same issues the past few days but I'm sure it's a flare at this point. It can be hard to tell I agree, I usually figure that if I still have the same symptoms day 2, no better or worse, it's a flare. With the flu by day 2 I would assume I'd be more ill for sure. What I was hoping to find out was how often others get flares and how long they last. I hope you feel better soon, I'm sorry you're feeling so unwell.

This is my fail safe way of knowing: I make a smoothie with a ridiculous amount of turmeric and ginger in it (usually 1 1/2 tablespoons of each). If I feel like a new person in a half hour I know it is the beginning of a flare and I better go to bed early. If I feel the same in a half hour, I know I'm sick. I hope this was helpful.😀 and I hope you feel better soon.

I typically don't run a fever either, but everyone seems to have different symptoms with this flu. Many have been to the ER and were diagnosed with a cold and died a few days later. Definitely an epidemic. More deaths this year than any other. Mostly children and people over 60.
Jams, I think you're right about what has caused your reaction. It also sounds like you most likely have an autoimmune disease with protein in the urine and high ANA. Good luck and take care of yourself.

In Jan I had a VERY stressful event when my house flooded. An emotional, traumatic day for certain. That night my tongue swelled terribly which brought me to urgent care. A day later I had a fever of 101 and the chills and body aches that come with it. I thought it was the flu and that I caught it at the doctors. But then my live in SO didn’t catch it. And I realized, hey! This happened a couple months ago too! And hey! My tongue and face are swollen too!

And I realized it something else was going on.

Follow up tests show protein in my urine and I’m ANA positive. I’m now under a rheumatologists care waiting for a diagnosis

I’m guessing mine was a flare brought on by stress and panic

I hope you’re feeling better soon. If your think it is the flu and it’s not too late, go to the Dr tomorrow and get tamiflu!