Remember that even if *you* cannot get the
flu shot (if you are not sure, check with
your lupus doctor!) that your family
members *should* get it. You do not want
them bringing the flu home to you!
Hugs,
ladybrannon
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sharon
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 191
Flu Shots! Posted: 10-16-03 18:31pm
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
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LadyBrannon
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 506 Location: TX
Posted: 10-16-03 18:33pm
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.
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
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sue
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Aug 2003 Posts: 25 Location: united states
Posted: 10-17-03 10:34am
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.
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sharon
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 191
Flu Posted: 10-17-03 11:10am
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.
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
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sharon
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 191
Type? Posted: 10-19-03 14:11pm
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.
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
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sharon
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 191
Flu Posted: 10-20-03 14:17pm
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
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LadyBrannon
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 506 Location: TX
This Is Straight From the Cdc Posted: 10-20-03 15:16pm
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.
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ShiftingSands
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 16
Posted: 03-06-04 21:42pm
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.
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 03-06-04 23:13pm
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.
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ShiftingSands
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 16
Posted: 03-06-04 23:21pm
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.
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 03-07-04 00:05am
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.
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mia
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 147 Location: dallas
Sunny1 Posted: 03-07-04 16:47pm
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
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 03-10-04 06:15am
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.
I
don't remember a whole lot, I was too
sick. I do remember the horrible pain in
my stomach! 
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.
