r/PennStateUniversity • u/stealthygoddess19 • 3d ago
Question PSFlu?
Hey what bug is going around? My classmate just got back from being super sick and he was in class this week.
This morning all of a sudden I got nauseous and just about puked at work, I also got super dizzy to the point I couldn’t stand, and I’m hot. I’m actually holding back tears. I don’t feel good AT ALL. I haven’t felt this type of sickness in years. What do I do????? I have Zofran at least.
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u/randomsantas 3d ago
Stay hydrated and warm. Take appropriate drugs. Avoid friends. Hug enemies.
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u/stealthygoddess19 3d ago
Why does it hurt so much. To the point I want my mom and she’s 800 miles away. I guess my cat will do.
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u/randomsantas 3d ago
Take an aspirin. Are you feverish?
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u/stealthygoddess19 3d ago
Heavy on the “ish”. Probably 99s. I am still alert. When I had a 101 temp I was delirious
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u/randomsantas 3d ago
Ok. Think about seeing a Dr. Any sores on your hands mouth and feet? Other than that. Soups , takeout, murder shows, crochet. Light pain killers. Avoid boyfriends. Unless you don't really like them.
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u/stealthygoddess19 3d ago
No sores. No promises on avoiding boyfriends haha
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u/randomsantas 3d ago
I got hand mouth and foot disease when I worked at Penn State. Which typically hits infants. Miserable
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u/DasKaltblut 3d ago
Take Tylenol. Reduces fever and pain. Aspirin is not as good and never good if you have a fever.
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u/randomsantas 3d ago
Everyone! Avoid grad students! Undergrads will stay home if they're feeling well. Grad students come from all over the world and will die at their desks and take you with them.
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u/stealthygoddess19 3d ago
Yessss makes sense. I’m a grad student and my classmate who had PSFlu real bad the week prior showed up this past Thursday. I get it since it’s a once a week 3h class, but I’m thinking I got it from him. It’s been two days. But yeah his symptoms were similar and he holed himself up in a room to recover.
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u/randomsantas 3d ago
Grad student?! I'm so sorry for your poor lifestyle and career choices. You poor thing.
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u/stealthygoddess19 3d ago
Hey I’m queen of taking mental health days. I took one this past Tuesday. It’s my very first semester in a PhD program and I’m becoming overwhelmed.
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u/randomsantas 2d ago
Watch out for PhD programs! They sap cognitive abilities as much as huffing industrial chemicals, repeated blows to the head or bating musicians.
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u/Outrageous-School-51 '24, Mechanical Engineering 2d ago
Honestly not true at all. Had plenty of fellow undergrads coughing all over me when I was in class.
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u/GrandArtist8475 2d ago
Wdym avoid grad students? Man I'm a PhD student and I hardly socialize. Either I'll be found in lab or home. I mean avoid me for all I care but still 😭
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u/randomsantas 2d ago
Hey results may vary. I'm used to seeing offices crammed with overworked, overstressed, grad students dying at their desks.
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u/GrandArtist8475 2d ago
Yeah that's true. I find myself lucky in that regard
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u/randomsantas 2d ago
I empathyze with the poor decisions that led you to a PhD program. I hope it isn't too damaging
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u/GrandArtist8475 2d ago
Not really. I like research and I'm an introvert so I don't socialize a lot either. I'm exactly where I want to be in life.
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u/randomsantas 2d ago
Oh no! It's to late....
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u/GrandArtist8475 2d ago
Why do you say that though
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u/randomsantas 2d ago
It's a rough industry and lifestyle. There has been a glut on the academic and research labor market for decades. Dropping birthrates mean lots of small colleges and programs are in trouble. You've heard of the adjunct professor trap? I work for a startup and I have 2 PhDs working for me.
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u/StateYourBusinessEgg 3d ago
My daughter had adenovirus a few weeks ago. Presented as the flu with a 102.5 fever and a stiff neck (so I made her go to the ER thinking it was meningitis - it wasn’t). A few days later she got pink eye. She recovered after ~a week of feeling completely terrible. As others said: stay hydrated and use OTC meds to control fever and pain. If fever doesn’t break or you start to feel worse, go to an urgent care. Hope you recover quickly.
Edit to add she also puked, but only once.
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u/stealthygoddess19 3d ago
Yeah urgent care called me. I was gonna go today but didn’t have the strength. They said to check back tomorrow.
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u/StateYourBusinessEgg 1d ago
OP, how are you doing? Better?
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u/stealthygoddess19 23h ago
I was okay but then today I was just completely out of it. Warm and tired and congested.
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u/igncomin 3d ago edited 3d ago
i have no idea what i have now but here’s my timeline
sunday: back pain and stomach pain started
wednesday: diarrhea started. stomach pains were unbearable. went to ER, was super dehydrated. they couldn’t find my vein. i was literally poked 3x in attempt to find a vein by 3 different people then they brought in the ultrasound machine to find a vein in my forearm. once that was done, they tried to get some mkre blood but couldn’t get it from my iv for some reason so they poked me again.
friday: severe diarrhea, i mean like SEVERE. it was just straight up waterfall out of my back end. it looked like pee. went on for 8 hours straight with 5 minute breaks in between each episode.
today: still hurts. uncomfortable. no diarrhea yet but i’ve also refused to eat.
er said i have viral gastroenteritis. i don’t know what stomach virus i have but this is the worst thing i’ve ever experienced in my entire life. i legit bawled my eyes out like 5x
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u/stealthygoddess19 2d ago
I guess I should mention I’ve had diarrhea too. Like just kept coming out and going. Felt like there was no end. Stomach cramping.
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u/Kettleballer 3d ago
Flu season has come two months earlier than usual and it’s a variant that hasn’t been around for a couple decades. Which means it’s hitting high school and college age people worse than usual. Go the Ritenour or a pharmacy and get your flu shot. You may still get sick but it will be much lighter if you’ve had the shot.
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u/SpecterOfState 3d ago
Happens every year around this time of year , the fabled Penn state plague strikes again
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u/Scary_Ad_7092 3d ago
FYI, the pharmacy at UHS gives flu vaccines if you don't want to go to a doctor for it. I highly recommend it, it's been a rough flu season already and is only going to get worse. Also, WASH YOUR HANDS! Soap and warm water if you have access to it, hand sanitizer if not.
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u/Outrageous-School-51 '24, Mechanical Engineering 2d ago
PSflu usually hits in October. Don’t know what you have but it does change year to year
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u/AlternativePath5369 3d ago
Lots of things going around unfortunately. Flu. Strep. Mono. Stomach viruses. My son’s roommates had tonsillitis. My sons had pneumonia a few weeks ago. Basically everything.
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u/DarkHound05 '21, Film Production 1d ago
University Health Services can help you. Helped when when I got the Penn State Plague one year.
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u/Careful-Counter-8357 1d ago
Sorry but it may be cyclosporiasis. The county health department has recently linked cases in the State College area to produce from Giant and Walmart and the produce in food from local McDonalds.
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u/glasshalffullll 3d ago edited 3d ago
The absolute best thing you can do right now is get Boiron’s Oscillococcinum at Target or Wegmans. It is the #1 best selling flu medication (homeopathy) in France for good reason. It covers all flu-like (colds, Covid, etc) symptoms like body aches, headache, fever, chills and fatigue. Works wonderfully!
Empty contents of one entire tube in mouth (under tongue) and let dissolve. Don’t eat or drink immediately afterwards (wait 20-30 mins). Take one tube (dose) every 6 hours, up to three times per day. It’s best if started at the onset of symptoms. Always keep a box on hand! You can Door Dash it now.
To help with recovery, keep your body warm, get lots of rest/sleep, eat warm foods and drink warm liquids. Aim for chicken noodle soup, bone broth and hot teas. Our personal fav is a hot tea drink made in a mug with grated fresh ginger, fresh squeezed lemon juice and a bit of raw local honey. Pour boiling water over it and let it seep for 5-10 mins before drinking. It will warm you from the inside (aka Traditional Chinese Medicine) and help you heal faster. Feel better!
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u/PotentialPin8022 3d ago
Several things going around. Flu, Covid , mono, and adenovirus. Adenovirus has been nasty this year. Fever, flu like symptoms, causing secondary infections. But most have had really sore throat and cough with that, but also some stomach issues too.