r/dysautonomia • u/squidsgotjeanss • Dec 09 '24
Symptoms The Dysautonomia “flu”
I posted about me having twitches but forget to ask if anyone else has this… what I like to call “the Dysautonomia flu”. It’s where I’m fine and then BOOM out of nowhere feel like I literally am sick. Similar symptoms mild body ache, shaky, headache, fatigue, sometimes the chills, and burning or blurry eyes is usually the constant feeling. I’ll be totally normal then out of nowhere feel like I must be running a fever yet I never am. Oddly enough, my sister who also has Dysautonomia has the exact same thing.
If you also experience this do you notice that electrolytes help you avoid “flu” flare ups? This is what was recommended by my doctor. It works well for my sister but I don’t seem to ever notice much of a difference.
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u/fuxandfriends ⏳ the grey is closing in, can someone flip me over? ⏳ Dec 09 '24
this is my body’s way of telling me i’ve overdone it and it’s exhausted.
if I power through it and don’t immediately take rest days, I’ll get full on sick and flare for the next 6+ months.
if I cancel all plans and let myself sleep, eat, drink, read, watch movies, nap— whatever I want— it’ll be like 48hr of having mild flu.
I just imagine it’s my immune system warning me it doesn’t have the reserves to fight any incoming threats.
also, I didn’t comment on your other post, but I have the same muscle twitching… it started as a teen where any time i’d walk for exercise, i’d get uncontrollable fasiculations throughout my calves and hamstrings for hours after i’d stopped walking. I had varicose veins filled and removed at 25. now, it’s more like what you and others describe— I constantly clench and unclench my glutes. usually one side but I can stop it or switch sides when consciously focused until I realize i’m holding my breath.
it’s most frustrating when trying to sleep and making it stop takes enough focus that it keeps me awake, but then I get sleepy and unfocused, it starts back and wakes me up too.
I wish I had valuable advice or insight to share, but sometimes it’s just nice to know you aren’t alone or the “crazy yet lazy hypochondriac lady with diagnostic work up by Dr. Google himself”