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No Flu Shot for Me

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Posted 10/8/2007 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
All the doctors are recommending I get a flu and pnemonia shot, but after researching that I'll probably get sick from the antibodies I've decided not to take it.  The makers of the flu shot don't even know what strain to make the shot with, they just use last years strain, so it's like a 10% chance the shot will even work.  I've never had it in my life, and think I'll be alright.  I'll take my chances. I am just ingesting way too much medication for one body as it is.  All of these toxins scare me.
Posted 10/8/2007 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
The flu shot is not a live virus, so there is no way you can catch the flu from the flu shot. I get a flu shot every year. And while everyone around me is falling down with the flu, I haven't gotten even a cold in years. And since you are on Remicade, I think you should. Cause if you get sick or an infection you can't get your Remicade, and how is your gut gonna feel then. Something to think about.
Posted 10/8/2007 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. Just a couple of things about the flu shot. The shot does not contain any toxins. It is killed virus. The nasal spray is a mutated form of the live virus, which is why only certain groups of people are ok to use it. As for how they make the shot, it is difficult to predict exactly what strain of virus will be most common in any given year, but extensive epidemiologic studies are done to come to an educated best. Even if the shot you get isn't an exact match for the strain that you get exposed to, you're more likely to have a less severe disease course with fewer potentially life-threatening complications. Depending on the strain, the person, and a number of additional factors the flu shot is 70-90% effective according to the CDC. In terms of the antibodies you seem concerned about, the whole point of a vaccination is to make antibodies that help the immune system kill any flu virus you might come in contact with. If someone has side effects from the flu vaccine it typically is injection site redness, muscle aches, fatigue, etc and lasts 1-2 days. However, there are individuals that do have more serious reactions, but that is much more uncommon. With all of that said, I don't want you to think that I'm judging your decision to have the shot or not. That's a personal decision. I just wanted to be sure that you had the appropriate facts, because there can be a lot of misleading and outright wrong information floating around on the internet. Regardless, I wish you good health.

Jen
Posted 10/8/2007 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have read that the virus is dead, but it's actually not completely dead, in reality.  I just am soo sensitive now after being on all of these meds, I know I'll get sick from it. I just got dental work and they could not finish the other side of my mouth, I broke out in a rash all over my mouth, my immune system is so messed up. I think it was oral herpes. Plus I was sick as a dog with that. Fever, headache, body aches for 4 days.  Can you imagine if I had a flu shot? The dentist says I had an allergic reaction but whatever.  No one ever knows what i get.  My body is sooo messed up.  I have to get the other side of my mouth done (dental gum irrigation) at the end of Oct.  I'm totally dreading it.  I used to never ever get sick, till I got diagnosed with crohns.  Now it's something every other week.
Posted 10/8/2007 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Jenn, Im with you. I know lots of people feel like crap after it and it is not worth it for me. Knock on wood I havent got the flu the last few years. My mom got the flu shot and she still got the flu. I am all set with taking my chances on that one.
Posted 10/8/2007 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
My mom has UC (she's elderly) when ever she got the flu shot she felt so sick for days after getting it and she still ended up often getting the flu anyways....she stopped getting them yrs ago and often gets through flu season without a flu, coincidence, maybe, but she goes by her own experiance and no longer gets them even though she's 80 yrs old now.

I've never gotten a flu shot and don't intend to, I rarely ever get the flu, maybe once every 6 or more yrs.

Makes me wonder about the flu shot, how it all really works, with the virus in the shot being dead and how that would even help one from not getting the flu then.

Besides, there are so many types of flu's more and more I don't give the medical field enough credit to keep up anyways.

Just my 2 cents. Of course I don't hold anything against those who believe in getting flu shots, maybe for some it really does help, or maybe it's phsycological, if you think you're protected then you are (like a placebo affect) who knows....to each their own.

:)
Posted 10/8/2007 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
my PCP said not to do it, because I am young enough that if I get it all it means is a week of being sick and with all the meds I have been on, why add something else to my body.
Posted 10/8/2007 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
I will be getting it again for the first time since 2004...yup I was able to get one that yr when they were hard to find. I was moving back to RI from CA and didnt want to get the flu being that I was going to be on 2 diff planes for long trips. My dad who has had a heart attack back when he was 49 was unable to get the shot that yr, he ended up with the flu and it turned to pneumonia, my husband caught the flu from my dad...we were living with them at the time. My mom didnt get the shot and she was okay but I am glad I was able to get one. I ended up taking care of my dad and my hubby since at the time eric and I were still job hunting. I git the pneumonia shot back in 1998 and have had pneumonia since some med professionals think once u get the pneumonia shot you should be set for life....I beg to differ with those docs.
Posted 10/8/2007 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
I get a flu shot every year and I have never gotten sick from it. I also do not get the flu when others around me (who did not get the shot) get sick. To each his own.
Posted 10/9/2007 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
here we go again. every year we have this discussion. i dont care if people get one or not but here is my tale. i have had one every year since 1982. when your in the military, it is required. and when i got out i just continued because i have not had the a case of influenza since i have been an adult. i have gotten them while on remicade, prednisone, imuran, etc... it is a dead virus, you can not get the flu. your arm will be sore and you may get a small temp , but thats from the bodies reaction to the injection. they pick not last years bug , but the most prevelant strains in the southern hemispheres flu season . which is opposite of ours. thinking that those strains will be brought here this season by travelers etc... did you realise that more than 35,000 americans DIE from influenza each year? many because it quickly turns to pneumonia. i think in a sense we have a duty to our families to be healthy and not get them sick. if everyone was protected, maybe the death rate would be lower. how would you feel if you were exposed and were contagious when you met your elderly granparents for thankgiving dinner and they got sick and died? or you exposed some kid with cancer at the library or store. so get one or dont, just keep away from me!
Posted 10/9/2007 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
I'm with Randy on this one. My husband was diagnosed with Ideopathic thrombocytopenia in 1997 and went on to have his spleen removed in order to slow down the rate at which the body destroys his platelets. It worked and his platelet counts have remained stable since, however, with no spleen he is much less able to ward off certain types of infections. In response to his situation, his workplace began a flu vaccination program in which they bring in public health nurses to do a flu clinic every October. It makes my blood boil that one of his co-workers refuses the free flu shot each year. Her rationale is that " I never get sick." It's not always about you, it's about the people around you.


Now when she arrives at work sneezing and coughing she is sent home and again, seems to have no insight as to why. She thinks just because she is able to drag her sorry arse to work, that she should be allowed to stay there spewing her germs throughout the building and potentially infecting everyone else, and their families.

Anyway, I will continue to take the flu shot even though with my immuno-supression I likely am not building up many antibodies, so like Randy I'll just avoid as many people as i can this winter even if it means staying away from the gym, the theatre, and the mall.
Posted 10/9/2007 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Randy,, remember getting the ,,black plague shots,, ? After that , no flu shot should bother anyone.
Posted 10/9/2007 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
My hormones are screwed up, I've had 2 impacted/infected wisdom teeth, an infected failed root canal, a yeast infection,a head cold, broncitis and I take Humira & Imuran. All within the last 2 weeks! Was on Remicade for the past year up until the last 12 weeks! I work in a medical enviornment whereby everything known to God & man walks through the door. I MADE my husband & daughter get their flu shots today. Even though my husband had his wisdom teeth pulled today. I took my flu & pneumonia shot last week. The pneumonia shot is good for FIVE years. I have never had a reaction to a flu shot, however, I have still caught the flu occasionally with a WHOLE lot less severity than those who are down for 2 weeks with it! No thanks to pnuemonia on top of my CD! To each his own!
Posted 10/9/2007 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
I think the same way as you. The years when I got the shot were actually my sickest years. My husband won't get the shot anymore because he and a few of his coworkers came down with flu like symptoms a few days after getting it. He had to take 2 days off of work! He works for the hospital, and of course they said it was impossible to get the flu from the shot. But to me seeing 4-5 of his coworkers all having symptoms when they were fine before the shot, says a lot! Maybe that wasn't the "flu", but a reaction to the shot. I have enough bad days without adding that!

I'm not one to catch the flu anyway. Now sore throat colds and stomach bugs? YUP! Sure wish they had shots for those!

I used to work for our local hospital's Health Hotline. You wouldn't believe the amounts of calls we'd get from people upset because they were sick, and that year they had gotten the shot. When the nurses explained to them that it doesn't cover all illnesses (like colds), and not even all strains of flu's they were quite upset. I was surprised to see that so many people believe it will keep them well from everything!
Posted 10/9/2007 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
I have never gotten one and never gotten the flu

You are NOT suppose to get any flu shots while on REmicade or Humira
Posted 10/9/2007 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Do you guys know what the flu is? It isn't a few symptoms and a couple of days off work. Influenza is a very serious virus that, when it hits, usually lasts a week or more and that's if there are no complications. I think the problem with influenza is that it has a PR problem. Everytime someone feels under the weather or gets a sniffle they call it the flu.

I've only had the flu twice in my life and each time it put me down for the count even though I normally push through everything. I will ocntinue to take the shut and avoid public places as much as possible during the season so I don't expose myself to all you out there who don't.
Posted 10/9/2007 1:02 PM (GMT 0)

crohnie42 said...
I have never gotten one and never gotten the flu

You are NOT suppose to get any flu shots while on REmicade or Humira

Absolutely not true.  You are not supposed to get any shot with a live virus while on Remicade, Humira, 6MP, etc....

I had the flue shot, the pneumonia shot, and am getting the hepatitis series. 

I had the flu once in my life and it turned into viral pneumonia which almost killed me.  Once you have a virus, it's very hard to treat.  I'll stick with any preventative measure they offer thank you.

Posted 10/9/2007 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
I get the flu shot every year - I have been on Remicade for over 6 years, my husband has Lupus and I have an 8 year old daughter. We all get the shot. We CANNOT get the live virus inhaled stuff, but I am fine with that.
Posted 10/9/2007 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Geez I was just inquiring about who gets the flu shot and why.  People don't have to go getting all mad about it.  I have decided even more now not to get the shot after reading all of this.  I don't even want the 2-3 days of sickness (which ok is NOT the flu!) after getting it becuase I get sick from everything it seems! I wash my hands every minute and I do not come into work if I am coughing or feeling under the weather.   I have never had the flu and hope i never get it!
Posted 10/10/2007 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
jenn4dex,, we were not getting mad at YOU! please keep asking these questions. what it does is open up a discussion that may go a bit overboard at times and give both sides to a topic, then people can choose for themselves through anecdotal stories about what they want to do. :) :).

bellensteen, i agree that what you said about many/most people dont realise what influenza or the "flu" is. lots of people are not taught in school about history and what a pandemic outbreak can do. if anyone wants to see what the "flu" really is and can do look up the influenza pandemic of 1917-1919. if i remember right something like 30 ,million people died worldwide. and that was without air travel and modern crowded subways and such. that same bug today would kill 10 times that number. thats why the world is so freaked about the "bird flu" crossing over to humans. it has a death rate of like 30% thats pretty high as viruses go. like you said the flu is not that 3-4 day feeling bad, feel like crap thing. its the 10 day-month feel like death thing!
Posted 10/10/2007 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Jennifer that it's a little surprising to see all the emotion around this. Everyone can be supremely supportive of things like surgery and medication decisions, but flu shots seem to put us all over the edge!

I wish everyone health decisions you feel good about -- and the ability to support and understand the decisions of others, even when they differ from your own! :-)
Posted 10/11/2007 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I understand about being supportive of people's choices for medical care, but the choice not to vaccinate affects all of us because the more people vaccinated, the less chance of spreading the disease.
Posted 10/11/2007 4:46 PM (GMT 0)

You just might find that it is the MERCURY in the flu shot that is making you sick.

They have finally taken it out of the immunizations they give children (here in the UK, anyway) but it is still in flu shots......hence no thanks!

Posted 10/11/2007 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
I opt against it, too. I don't feel it's a big risk and I never get the flu. Those that have gotten the shot that I know got the flu in the worse way. It doesn't protect against it all so my risk really doesn't go down any. And I work in a high risk environment as well. There are not enough reasons to get it at this point for me.

I am anti unnecessary meds (esp vaccines but that's another debate) and this is one of those things. My doctors, however, have NEVER encouraged me to get it. Guess they don't put too much stock into it either...?
Posted 10/11/2007 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
i never used to get the flu shot, but my pcp and gi bombed me out for not doing so. in 2005 i got the flu and was out of commission for over a week...the next winter i got the shot. i'm going to get it again this year, tomorrow as a matter of fact. i already have to deal with the crohn's, why chance the flu on top of that. btw, i'm a teacher so it's almost guaranteed that the kids will come in with something ;)
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