6MP and Flu Vacinations

[Terriernut]

Hi! I'm currently in a flare and am taperining at 25mg of pred. GI wants me on 6MP ASAP...but my flu vacination is on the 15th of October! Should I wait to start the 6MP until a few days after the flu shot???

I dont need to get real sick right now, I'm recovering from parastomal hernia repair surgery that I had on the 7th of September!

Many thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Grumbletum]

Have you had a flu shot before? I had one on Monday with no side effects or reactions.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Misty, if you get a flu vaccination, just make sure you get the shot and not the nasal spray. The flu shot is comprised of killed virus - it cannot make you sick, even if your immune system is compromised. The nasal spray version of the flu vaccination is comprised of weakened but alive flu virus, so it could potentially make you ill. I was just reading up about this today, actually - I'm getting my flu shot on Tuesday and wanted to make sure it was okay to do. From what I read, the flu shot is encouraged especially for those of us with chronic illnesses. I don't know about the 6MP aspect of things, you might want to call your doctor to be sure. But from everything that I read, it sounds like it should be fine as long as you get the shot and not the nasal spray.

 

[Terriernut]

Never had one! Certainly not with a suppressed immune system!

The reason I had a parastomal hernia was because my partner Grahame brought home a bad flu, that turned into a chest infection last year after my major surgery. I was on pred and immunosuppressed and I like to have died from that chest infection. Now just after hernia op, suppressed again and very worried!

 

[Feather]

Misty,

My GI says that I should get flu vaccines, especially when on 6-MP. Definitely get the injection and NOT the nasal spray. Are you just starting 6MP for the first time? It usually takes a few weeks/months to build up in your system enough to be effective, so a few days probably won't make a big difference, as far as I know. Is your GI monitoring your white counts on your bloodwork?

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Terriernut]

Luckily I'm on this forum, because my GI didnt even ask to monitor my bloods! Should I name and shame!? Yes I should! Didnt even try to book follow up appointments for me. And I'm flaring. Yes, this is my FIRST TIME on 6MP. I had pre testing done is all. That was months ago.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Here's the website I was looking at earlier today to educate myself about the flu shot. There's lots of informative sections too on the left side of the page. I do think you should ask your doc for sure, just to be on the safe side.

http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/index.html

 

[Feather]

When I first started on 6MP, my doctor had me get bloodwork done at 2, 4, and 8 weeks and then every 3 months after that. I recently increased my dose, and he's doing them at 2/4/8 weeks again, just to make sure that it's not overwhelming my system but is still doing its job. He orders a whole slew of tests, but I think the main ones are CBC (white counts especially because 6MP suppresses your immune system), liver enzymes, and inflammatory markers (ESR/CRP). Sometimes he orders "pro-predict 6MP" to test the levels of the drug in my system, too. Definitely ask for those! My GI also likes to follow-up at least every 6 months on 6MP, but more if I'm flaring.

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I just called my doc to ask (I'm on Imuran and Cimzia). He said do the shot, not the mist. It makes sense to get it because getting the flu could be fatal to someone who's immunocompromised.

 

[Lisa]

I always got the shot while I was on 6MP.....no problems from it.

 

[Terriernut]

I got my flu shot at 8am on Sat. No pain in the arm....no flu so far!

It was 'easy peasy' as they say over here...:dance:

 

[JohnnyRottenAppleseed]

i'm on 6mp half dose my doc wants me at at (50mg).

last two years i got the inactive flu shots and got sick a few days later with the flu. everyone i talk to gets the flu after the shot. whenever i don't get the flu shot, i don't get the flu!!! zing!!!!

 

[Terriernut]

Oh I know...I was sooo scared to get it. But no problems this time for me at all. No sore arm either. I am hoping that it keeps flu at bay this year. I got flu shortly after surgery last year. Went into chest infection, and got parastomal hernia requiring surgery in September. I thought the flu shot was worth a try this time. So far so good. I work with the general public...who couldnt care less who they infect!!!!

I hope you get along without it this year. I'm glad I got it this time so far!
Misty