I have been getting my flu shot ever since I was told I had this . Of course my hubby gets his also. The problem we have is our two sons and their family. They don't feel it's necessary . Even though when the kids are sick and can't go to day care, they call us. We told them we can't do that any more! It is just to risky!!
I think they should pass a law that requires everyone to get a flu shot!!

Sharon

I would carefully explain to my children the seriousness of this issue and if they refuse, refuse to "keep the sick kids."

i know it is hard, especially with grandkids (), but so important to *your* health.

Hugs,
ladybrannon

The first year I was diagnosed I got the flu. I thought I was going to die. I was in the hospital for 4 weeks! I don't remember a whole lot, I was too sick. I do remember the horrible pain in my stomach! and all the throwing up. They had to feed me through tubes. I have taken the flu shot every year since! I don't ever want to go through that again! So far I haven,t even got a sniffle :d so my advice would be "get the flu shot" it's worth it.

Lots of love
kris

Good reminder. I work at a hospital so yes, I do get the flu shot. And have not had the flu - although I have never vomitted - thank goodness. I have a fear of that for whatever reason. But yes, I highly advise everyone to get a flu shot if you can but check with Dr. Contrary to opinion, rarely do people get a worse type flu after getting the shot although it can happen but usually does not.

I haven't got mine yet, but am working on it.
Last year ,a week after I got mine , I got the flu. It was a different strand from the one the shot was for. But I still believe in getting one. It would be nice if they could cover all the different strands though.

Sharon

Sharon -

did you get the full-fledged flu or just symptoms for a day or two? Last year I got a flu shot and got a fever and other symptoms (hello, porcelain bowl!) for a day or so. Then it went away. My rheummy said I probably was already getting sick when I got the shot...

We'll see if that's true b/c i'm getting my shot first week in november from her.

Fun fun fun

clarebear

I'm not sure which type I had. My gp said it was going around her office, and she also had gotten it.
That's where I might have picked it up. The day I got my shot, no one was sick yet. It hit everyone the following week.

Sharon

Sharon -

my husband is curious as to how the doctors know which strand of flu may be going around...As there are probably millions...And which vaccine, if you will, is appropriate.

All I know is, I just spent 4 hours on a plane in close quarters so am expecting to become ill regardless of the flu shot.

Hope all is well

clarebear

Clarebear,

I think the state or goverment health department are the ones who decide, it's not the doctor.
I'll ask my doctor when I get mine.......Sharon

Good point. Amazing what cookie jars the gov't has their hands in.

Anyway,that's a whole other forum.

Clarebear

How are the viruses for flu shots selected?

Flu strains for vaccine
are carefully selected
each year, many labs throughout the world, including in the united states, collect flu viruses. Some of these flu viruses are sent to one of four world health organization (who) reference labs, one of which is at the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) in atlanta, for detailed testing. These laboratories also test how well antibodies made to the current vaccine react to the circulating virus and new flu viruses. This information, along with information about flu activity, is summarized and presented to an advisory committee of the u.S. Food and drug administration (fda) and at a who meeting. These meetings result in the selection of three viruses (two subtypes of influenza a viruses and one influenza b virus) to go into flu shots for the following fall and winter. Usually one or two of the three virus strains change in the vaccine each year.

I got a flu shot this year for the first time in years. My lupus man has always told me not to..But my new pulmo guy said yes as one of my lungs collapsed during my hyeterectomy due to my lupus. I did, and have not been well since! The very next day, my throat glands swelled up like grapes. Then, it became strep throat. It took two rounds of heavy duty meds to rid myself of it. But my glands have stayed very swollen all over and my fever has remained higher than normal. Any energy I did have vanished and has never returned. ( it's been 3 months now.)
i also have dizziness now I didn't before and my breathing has gotten worse.
Has anyone had a flu shot that threw them into a long relapse?
I find it hard to believe it could do that as it is a dead flu virus in the shot.
But does it affect the immune system that much? If it does, why would any docs tell lupus people to have it?
I am very sorry I did and wish I could go back and refuse it.
The flu would have been better as it would have eventually gone away.

All I know is unless you have a very weak immune system and could not fight off the flu on your own, that you probably should not get one.
My friend's husband got the flu shot and became paralyzed from the waist down. They told him he would not walk again. Four years later, he did miraculously heal, but no one knows why.
And everyone who I have ever talked to who has gotten a flu shot has actually gotten the flu right after the shot. I, personally, would rather just take my chances of getting the flu. Plus, every strand of the flu is different. Every single one. So, even if you get a flu shot, it is not going to work for the new strand. Silly.
Some people swear by the shot, but I will never know why. Above are just two side effects that can and have happened. Much worse can happen. If you get it every year and do not have a problem then o.K, go for it. But if you have never had one and do not have a weak immune system, I would not recommend getting the flu shot. It is just not worth it at all.

I agree with you! I wish I had not done it, but my pulmo guy insisted because of the lung problem. He said if I got the flu it could lead to pneumonia and really cause me significant problems. But I was much better before I took it! I will never do it again, believe me.
The flu has to be better than this.
As for the waist down paralysis you mentioned, that sounds like guillian barre syndrome. It is an uncommon, but known, side effect of flu shots. My grandmother contracted it years ago after having one. She was paralyzed for almost 6 months before the paralysis began to ease off.
Gb can happen without a flu shot, too. It is a rare, but devastating condition. But it always reverses eventually. I do know someone who had it that still has residual weakness in one leg, but she does walk okay.

Yeah, I mean like I said I can understand why your doc insisted simply because if you got a bad flu, it could cause horrible damage. But, the way I see it, is if the shot is giving you the flu anyway, shouldn't you just take the chance.
As for the paralasis thing you said above you are probably right. I know it was something caused by the flu shot. I mean, not just from the flu shot, but you can get it that way. But four years!!!! Because of a flu shot, no thank you! And I personally would rather take my chances!
I really really hope you feel better! The flu sucks! I do not know what you can or cannot take, but I hear (have never tried it) that dramamine (motion sickness pills) can help get rid of the dizziness and the throw up feeling. I have not tried it, but it may be worth a try!!!
Drink plenty of fluids, and do not stand up to fast! God bless.

The only way you get the flu after receiving a flu shot, is if you were already incubating the virus before you received the shots. They tell you to get the flu shot because you can die from the flu. I don't have the statistics, but many people die from the flu and pneumonia every year. The cdc (center for disease control) combines data on the current strains of the flu, then combines a number of the currents strains vaccines and that is the vaccine for the next year.

Since your immune system is already compromised, you are even more suseptible. Make sure you get your flu shot from one of your regular doctors and not some clinic or grocery store, to make sure your shot is not contaminated in some way.

Good luck

mia

O.K, well then maybe they do not get the "flu" from the shot, but they do get "flu like symptoms" I mean, I seriously doubt that ever single person I know who got the flu shot which resulted in the flu was already carrying the virus.
The people who die from the flu are those with weak immune systems, which is why I said in my above posts that I can see getting the shot if you have a weak immune system.
And yes, they can combine strands from the year before to make the flu shot for the next year, but it does not matter because the chances of you getting one of those strands a year later is slim to none. Because each strand is different. So, like I said, hey if it works for you then great, but please don't misinform people who have never taken that chance, because it could be one of the worst mistakes that they will ever make. I personally would rather take the chance of getting the flu, even though it sucks big time. Rather than getting a shot that is guaranteed to make me sick anyway.
But, always listen to your doctor, if they recommend it to you because of some health problem that you have, then definately get it. Don't listen to me. I only say what I know, and everyone is different.