She Thought It Was Just a Tickle in Her Throat. Then the At-Home Flu Test Came Back Positive

My fiancé, Jackie, is currently laid up with the flu, and honestly, it caught us both off guard.

We've all heard the warnings about this flu season being particularly nasty. But when she started feeling off a few days ago, neither of us thought "flu." Well, I did. Lol.

It didn't announce itself the way the flu usually does, no sudden fever, no immediate body aches that make you feel like you got hit by a truck. Instead, it started as just a tickle in her throat. Nothing major. Then came a nagging dry cough. Still manageable. Then the fatigue hit, followed by what she describes as a "rippin' sore throat."

That's when we grabbed an at-home flu test.

It popped positive. Urgent care confirmed it with their test as well.

This Year's Flu Is Playing Tricks

Turns out, we're not alone. As flu cases surge across the country, with the Northeast experiencing "very high" activity levels, a new variant is making the rounds, and it doesn't always follow the playbook.

Health experts say a new H3N2 flu variant called "subclade K" is spreading, and there's a bit of a mismatch between this strain and what's in this year's vaccine. The good news? The vaccine still helps protect against severe complications like hospitalization. My fiancé was immunized in the fall.

This year's flu doesn't always hit you like a freight train. A "tickle" can turn into something serious fast.
At-home tests are worth having on hand, test early for the best results.
A negative test doesn't mean you're off the hook. If you feel sick, call your doctor.
If you test positive, don't wait. Antivirals work best within the first two days.

Stay safe out there, Berkshires. And if you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, it's not too late. Even with the variant mismatch, it still offers significant protection.