Was it actually flu, or just a bad cold? I've had flu twice, and both times I simply wouldn't have been able to leave the house no matter how much I wanted to

Was it actually flu, or just a bad cold? I've had flu twice, and both times I simply wouldn't have been able to leave the house no matter how much I wanted to - even just turning over in bed was a major effort! Would people not have spotted their shivering and sweating and sent them straight home again?