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Flu Season while on biologics

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Posted 1/8/2014 9:29 AM (GMT 0)
On the news today they said that 14 people had died within in the last week where I live due to the flu. I was reading some of the comments about it on facebook, people saying not to worry, that they were probably just people with health problems and weak immune systems. Ugh, that's me! I did get my flu shot, so that eases my mind a tad. The comments from those who don't believe in the shot, blamed the shot for people dying, and don't stay home when they are sick annoyed me terribly though! rolleyes

My husband has a nasty cold right now (everyone seems to have that), and people are saying the stomach bug is also going around bad. I'm ready for my bubble now please! Just wondering how everyone else copes with the worry of getting a bad infection while on these medications. We can't stop living our lives, but it sounds like this is going to be a bad flu year.

What do we do if we do get sick? Do we call our doctors at the first sign of illness? Scary stuff!
Posted 1/8/2014 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
well i'm on humira and i'm just getting over the stomach flu/virus it's been my fifth day of feeling lousy, it's not just people who are taking immune suppresents cus my whole family has had it. i'm feeling alot better today but this bug really has kicked my butt, i was gonna go too the doctor today if i wasn't feeling better but i woke up and finally felt some improvement. for me i kinda set a limit on how long to wait before going to the doctor, like with anything else just dont let it get out of hand. i think the most important thing is staying hydrated, i think when you get dehydrated is when your gonna have problems. if your body runs out of fluids then your body cant flush out the bad bug thats making you sick. for me i did the B.R.A.T. diet which helped but i think staying hydrated is most important. its probably a good idea to give your doc a ring to let them know but i dont think theres much they can do unless you start geting really sick or something. for me i dont worry about getting sick but i worry when i am sick cus you dont want it to make you flare or get an infection ect. people just have to be smart about it and dont let things get out of control before you do something about it.
Posted 1/8/2014 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
good question!

I had the flu shot too and I still got the flu. I'm on Humira as well. I still haven't felt right since having the flu.
Posted 1/8/2014 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I was due to have my Tysabri yesterday and was feeling unwell with a cough on Monday. By yesterday morning I couldn't stop coughing and my chest felt like it had been hit by a truck. My husband took my straight to the dr and they made a note of my symptoms and did a swab of the inside of my nose and told me they can get a positive or negative of flu within 10 mins. The result was positive and I was given a codeine cough syrup, Tamiflu and Ventolin inhaler as I was struggling with breathing. It has helped but I am on day 2 and the cough is the worse. If it gets any worse they advised getting a antibiotic jab in case of bronchial pneumonia. I had the flu shot in October as advised but in this case I was told by the doctor that the flu shot did not help me at all as the strain was more harsh. So I am starting to rethink the whole flu shot myself. It also doesn't help that my husband and children also have flu and so we are trying to keep it together. I was surprised at how quickly it hit me and I haven't been this sick for a long time.
Posted 1/8/2014 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Jen, I sympathize!
I did get my flu shot, but also just moved halfway across the country (and my wonderful former GI retired Dec 31), so I don't have a doc to call right now. I think, as of yesterday, I've come down with yet another cold, and I'm hoping that's all it is. Also, the movers won't be getting here with our stuff til next week and thanks to nasty cold weather and snow we've been limiting trips to the store, so there's not even a thermometer in the house at the moment.
Posted 1/8/2014 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Oh gosh, I hope all of you get to feeling better really fast! So much yucky stuff going around. I guess we just have to stay on top of things so that we don't get really bad off.

I always laugh at my Mom who thinks I should just walk around with a mask on. Starting to think maybe I should this winter! lol
Posted 1/9/2014 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
i'm terrified! i'm on humira, prednisone, azathioprine and other things...i don't want to go to work, my daughter's school or anything...can't live in a bubble, but my hands are raw from washing them and using sanitizer...i haven't gotten a flu shot yet this year. i need to but no time. yikes! praying that we all stay flu free and "healthy"!
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