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Flu shot? Any opinions out there?

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Posted 10/26/2009 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
I was going to get the regular flu shot.  I have had it a couple of times in the past and usually get achy for a couple of days.  Is it a good idea or bad idea for people with ulcerative colitis to get one?  I am a 2nd teacher and I thought maybe if I got the regular shot it would also protect me a little from H1N1.  But I also have heard stories of people getting paralized from the flu shot.  Can it cause a flare up?  I guess I am a little paranoid and should just get it.  Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted 10/26/2009 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
I always get the flu shot. The regular flu shot is made from dead virus, so it can't "infect" you with anything - if you get sick after, it's because you had something incubating anyway. Or because you have a sensitivity to something else in the shot.
I had the flu the first year after I was dx, and I thought I'd end up in the hospital - it caused me to flare horribly, SO much blood.
So - since then, I've always had the flu shot. If I'm not mistaken, we're one of the "at risk" groups.

The H1N1 is a different story - the nasal spray vaccine is not dead and could be a problem for us who are immunocompromised. I'd asked your doctor.
Posted 10/26/2009 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you.  I think I will get the regular flu shot.  I appreciate the advice.

Posted 10/26/2009 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
I got my flu shot on Thursday and I feel completely fine. I've gotten it every year since I was kid, including the 5 years I've had UC. I always worry that if I do get the flu that it will kick me out of remission because of the stress put on my body from it. I would also suggest getting the shot and NOT the nasal spray. I actually got a letter from my gastro clinic saying that since some IBD patients are immunocomprimised they highly suggest getting both the seasonal flu shot and H1N and to stay away from the nasal spray. I'm not really a fan of H1N1 shots, but its personal choice whether you get it or not.
When you hear about paralysis, its Guillain-Barre syndrome. If you scroll down you can read about it. It says 1 in 100,000 develop it I believe.
http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/flushot.htm
Posted 10/26/2009 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
The regular flu shot will not protect you from H1N1. Both are available in shot form and nasal spray - if you get either, it should be as the shot. Unfortunately, it seems like right now more spray vaccines are available than shots, but, as the others have said, anyone who is immuno-compromised should *not* receive the nasal spray, as it is not a dead virus.
Posted 10/26/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info.

Posted 10/26/2009 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
I always get it, absolutely. There are school tours where I work so it's really important, and I think teachers are extra vulnerable too!
I got H1N1 shot already, it's the regular flu shot that I'm having more trouble finding right now.
Posted 10/26/2009 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
My SIL was telling me yesterday that she heard on the news that a woman got the H1N1 (not sure if it was nasal or the shot) and she ended up with some sort of palsy problem - shaky head, stuttering speech ect. I seen on the news this morning that people who have chronic illnesses should NEVER get the nasal spray but the shots. I choose not to get this because to me, it hasn't been out there long enough to show it's worth.

As for the regular flu shot, I get mine every year. I have never had an issue with it other then a sore arm.
Posted 10/26/2009 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I always get the flu shot. I got mine back in September. I work at a hospital so am lucky to have the shot available to me at work. I never have any issues with the flu shot and much prefer the shot to actually getting the flu with UC.
Posted 10/26/2009 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
I got the flu shot. The H1N1 isn't considered necessary for my age group, so I won't get it. If I were working in an elementary school, however, I definitely would get it. All vaccines, like all medications, can have adverse effects on a small number of people. That number is way less than the number who would die or be disabled by the disease if too many people remain unimmunized.
Posted 10/26/2009 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I already go the regular flu shot and will also get the H1N1 shot as soon as I can. And if you're going to take the "risk" (I put risk in quotation marks, b/c I don't feel that a flu shot is risky, but I know some do) to get the regular flu shot, you might as well take the "risk" and get the H1N1 shot as well, as it's manufactured and tested in the same way as the regular shot it.
Posted 10/26/2009 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Unless you're on an immunosuppressant, yes, you can get the shot (if you're on suppressants there's no point). Get the shot, not the spray.

It's really up in the air what causes said palsy, Red.

I want to get both this year, but finding time to get to the doc is a royal pain.

As a note: if you work with the public (food service, medicine, education, whatever) you should DEFINITELY get the shot. Both shots, actually.
Posted 10/26/2009 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Malkavian, I'm not sure what you mean by not getting a flu shot if you're on immunosuppressants as there's no point. It seems it would be even more critical for those folks. The shots are dead virus, so there's no risk of getting the flu from it.
Posted 10/26/2009 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
The immune system wouldn't be able to kick in to produce antibodies. You're not at risk for getting flu (with the shot at least) but you ARE wasting your money.

Even if the immune system is wiped off the face of the planet, an immunosuppressed person would be weakly protected at best.
Posted 10/26/2009 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the explanation!
But (just honest questions, not being snarky!), as UCers are thought to have overactive immune systems, would the immune suppressants perhaps just bring them down to a "normal" level? And are the doses of immune suppressants really high enough to keep the immune system that inactive?
Posted 10/26/2009 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
I don't get flu shots any more and won't get the H1N1 either, because I feel the risks are too great. A little research will uncover a wealth of information that doesn't make it to mainstream media.
Posted 10/26/2009 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
fruitgirl-I'm pretty sure the immunosuppressants that UC'ers are generally on bring immune activity to subnormal levels. While it might not be weakened to the degree that, say, an AIDS patient's is, it's weakened enough that they will not benefit from a flu shot nearly as much as a person with a normally active immune system would. That's why there's such a huge concern about herd immunity in regards to vaccines: if healthy people don't get the vaccines, people with suppressed immune systems (either from medication, disease, or age) are at a much higher risk of getting diseases that could be prevented with vaccines. And since these people are generally not eligible for the shots, they have no way of protecting themselves. Same thing for those with poultry allergies, who can't get most shots because they are incubated in chicken eggs.

Princesa-the risks are much lower than potential complications from the flu, especially if you get the injectable form.
Posted 10/26/2009 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed in 1991. I ALWAYS get the flu shot, and have had no problems with it and never get the flu. That is super since I work in a large high school and am always around sniffling students!
Posted 10/26/2009 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Malkavian, I believe the recommendation is that people who are severely immunocompromised (eg. those with AIDS, lymphomas, etc.) may need a second dose of a vaccine, and that the immunity achieved may not be as effective as a person with normal immunity, but is still better than no immunity.

Those of us with UC don't take the sort of dosages that would make us severely immunocompromised, so immunizations should be effective formost of us.
Posted 10/26/2009 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
without having a shred of scientific knowledge to back it up, I'm with you on this one, Judy. While I understand the herd mentality bit, why then would immunosuppressed peoples be more likely to receive vaccines than people with normal immune systems? That doesn't jibe with the herd mentality. I was always under the impression that the immune suppressants "we" take bring our immune systems closer to a "regular" immune system. I don't know though- do you have any hard evidence on that, Malkavian? Not to be argumentative- I'm truly interested! With the current H1N1 vaccine, the immune suppressed people seem to be more eligible for that vaccine than those with normal immune activity. Same for regular flu vaccine, no?
Posted 10/26/2009 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Malkvian I agree with Judy. Why would my GI clinic send out a letter to all their GI patients telling them that if they are immunocompromised that they should get both shots if they wouldn't benefit from it as much? Some immunity is better than none at all.
Posted 10/27/2009 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/imm/immcomp.shtml

For New York State.

"Frequently, the immune response of immunocompromised persons to these vaccine antigens is not as good as that of immunocompetent persons; higher doses or more frequent boosters may be required, although even with these modifications, the immune response may be suboptimal."

Most patients on remicade, long term pred, etc, would be in group A.

Basically, if you're severely immunocompromised, you can get a dead vaccine, but it might not do anything.
Posted 10/27/2009 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Never got it, probably never will. Glad I don't have to get everything my doc recommends, lol. Overkill.
Posted 10/27/2009 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Well dogone it... I am on Both Remicade and Prednisone.. But I just started Remicade last week.. AND, I've been on Prednisone since June... Hmmmm..... Well, I have an appointment tomorrow to get both the regular flu shot AND the pneumonia shot which is supposed to be good for 5 years. I guess even if I might be wasting my money, maybe the part of my mind that thinks I'm immune will protect me.. you know, mind over matter.. lol...
Posted 10/27/2009 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
I guess I wouldn't classify 6-mp/Imuran and Remicade as immunosuppresents that severely compromise you.
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