This article, from the Daily Telegraph, confirms what I have said for years
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2007/11/10/hmanflu110.xml
I particularly commend the advice given to those treating us poor unfortunates:
DO
Say: "Poor you. You're very brave."
Make a doctor's appointment for him if he's constantly complaining of illness or has a real anxiety, then go with him for moral support.
Give him what he wants - a bit of mothering - if he's been felled by man flu. Make him a hot drink, stroke his clammy brow and plump his pillows - before making a speedy exit to do something more exciting.
DON'T
Say: "Pull yourself together. I've already got three children to look after."
Suggest he trawl the internet if his symptoms really concern him. If he is already worried that his headache is something more sinister, after a few minutes of web-searching he'll be absolutely convinced.
Say: "You've probably got what I had the other day â€" you'll feel better tomorrow." You can bet he won't.
;D
Two off today. One flu and one neck spasm.....too many computer games for the later.
I'm going to make a speedy exit and leave them to sulk together!
no man gets any sympathy if married to a nurse unless they are really ill and then what happens they dont believe you and dont listen to your advice until they are really ill :o :o :o ::)
however with the boot on the other foot nurses never admit to being ill until they are dragged in to hospital and forcibly kept there for a few days :-[
No chance of me getting man flu as my employer sent me for a flu jab today, got a poorly arm now :'( where the (it was the size ofa bloody nitting needle..honest. ::))needle went in,will have to hold the remote in the other hand till it gets better. ;)
Are you kidding us Frogslegs, your employer sent you. :o ??? :-\ ;D ;D ;D
No-one's allowed to be ill here, even I'm not allowed to be ill here ;D. (flu, that is) Fluey people have to hibernate and get on with it.
Got it in one, debster!
All men together in a ward situation is a totally different thing. That's the ONLY time they DON'T make *Oh-poor-me* noises, moans and complaints as it's seen as not being macho in front of other male patients. The men would just tell them to *Shut Up* ::)