To Flu Shot or to NOT Flu shot?

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kms0387

kms0387

Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
21
Hey guys!
I've never gotten a flu shot before (ever). I am thinking of getting one just "in case" I get real sick. I have never felt the need to get one and i've never had the flu*knock on wood*.
For some reason this year i'm a little more nervous about it just because of all the nasty viruses going around and I work in an office setting now (new job) and i'm honestly pretty scared of contracting someones nasty sickness.
I was wondering about any side effects of the flu shot in terms of my Crohn's and UC. Has anyone had any bad experiences, or do you have any tips for me to help me make the decision. I know my doctor can tell me if I should get it or not and most likely he will say to get it because our immune systems are already compromised by our disease.
I just am having a hard time with the worries of the flu shot making me really sick...

Thought or suggestions?
Thanks so much!! :lol2:
 
Hi. I remember one year where I got the flu. Shortly after that, I had a flare up of Crohn's. It seemed to make sense to me that the flu led into a flare up. It may not be that way with everyone.

2
 
Immune system is only compromised if you take immunosupressants such as 6-mp/Aza or mtx or biologics ( humira /remicade /Cimzia etc....)

That said a flu shot is a good idea for most
DS has had asthma since he was 2.
He is now 11.
He always gets the flu shot
I have seen him twice with the flu ( once at 2 which is when he got the asthma dx - didn't think flu was a big deal ) and once when h1n1 came out no shots available .

Both times his ability to breath was horrid
Mass amounts of breathing treatments for asthma and steroids needed
This lasted over a week
Just not worth the risk of having the flu IMO
 
I get flu shots and have never had a bad reaction.

They warn me beforehand that I may get flu symptoms after the shot (though I never have) but they've not said anything about a flare up.
 
I get the flu jab,I also got a one off pneumonia jab last year.I have not had any side effects.I don't usually get flu,mostly just the odd sniffle.I'm not prepared to take risks.
 
My GI recommended it. I never got one before I got sick but being immuno compromised I'm not willing to chance it. Just make sure you don't get the flu mist. That one is live and you can't have if it you are on Imuran, methotrexate or a biologic. The shot is fine though.
 
I've been getting it for many (going on 20 years) - it works and have never had any bad effects aside from a sore arm for a bit after the jab.
 
Never had problem with flu shot and crohns.

If you have never had a flu shot, you might have a slight reaction the first few years you get the shot. Before I had crohns I had brief light headedness after the shot, then after a few years no reaction at all.
 
Just got my first one in about a decade today. Hopefully it will buck the trend of the previous flu shots. Every time I have gotten one, I have gotten the flu! Third time's the charm? In any case, also got Twinrix today for a trip down south in February. I'll update about the flu...
 
Actually not a lot for symptoms today. Fair bit of phlegm in the morning. Maybe (knock on wood) the initial immune reaction is dying down a little.
 
Hi. I am on 6mp and humira and am immunocompromised. Im allowed all jabs that are not live vaccines. The flu shot is fine to have and I recommend it. Im a nurse - so I share your fear of catching a nasty bug - but I also see what the 'Real Flu' looks like and we DO NOT want it!! xx
 
I dont know about the rest of the world, but last year in Canada, the flu vaccine was 100% useless. I just happened to hear that on the news. The strains in the vaccines were not the ones that hit the population that year. My first GI was not really in favor of the flu vaccine for me when I asked him 10 years ago and explained to me that ''strains reason'', which is, that strains that hit in one particular year can be different from the ones put in the vaccines. They simply cant predict with certainty which strains will hit.
I stopped taking the flu vaccine after hearing his opinion. (I took it 2 or 3 years before)
I have heard of personal stories of young women around me (3 women) 2 who lost their fetuses at 2/3 months, a week or so after getting the vaccine and another one who gave birth prematurely right after getting the vaccine too. there are always possible side effects related to a vaccine and personally, I have chosen not to get it, nor to get anymore vaccines. i prefer getting the flu than risking side effects, even if I know they are rare. I feel I have enough chronic troubles already.
I got the flu once really long time ago. I know its long and horrible, but thats ok with me. I dont feel with my health condition that anything terrible could happen to me if I caught it.

I got Twinrix vaccines too about 10 years ago, I never caught Hepatitis, but I have been told by the doctor not long after getting it that the vaccine was not present in my bloodstream. So that vaccine was useless for me. Im not sure if I got it before of when I was on immuno-suppressant.
 
Lady organic it's not the flu itself that is the problem
It's the fact that being on immunosupressants put you at high risk of opportunistic infections which are very hard to fight and can lead to death .
These types infections are common with the flu for individuals who are immunosupressed or have comorbidities such as asthma.

The flu itself not scary
Having a asthmatic 5 year old child die within a week from pneumonia that tagged along with the flu is unacceptable risk IMO .

The majority of strains picked are right
Since there tends to only be three variants and they put two in the shot.
The average person not as big a deal
Immunosuppressed person - much bigger deal and risk involved .
 
yes I know some people are more vulnerable to life threathening experience with the flu. My post was about my opinion for myself and my health status. each individual should make a decision in regards to there own health status.
 
Lady Organic said:
I dont know about the rest of the world, but last year in Canada, the flu vaccine was 100% useless. I just happened to hear that on the news. The strains in the vaccines were not the ones that hit the population that year. My first GI was not really in favor of the flu vaccine for me when I asked him 10 years ago and explained to me that ''strains reason'', which is, that strains that hit in one particular year can be different from the ones put in the vaccines. They simply cant predict with certainty which strains will hit.
I stopped taking the flu vaccine after hearing his opinion. (I took it 2 or 3 years before)
I have heard of personal stories of young women around me (3 women) 2 who lost their fetuses at 2/3 months, a week or so after getting the vaccine and another one who gave birth prematurely right after getting the vaccine too. there are always possible side effects related to a vaccine and personally, I have chosen not to get it, nor to get anymore vaccines. i prefer getting the flu than risking side effects, even if I know they are rare. I feel I have enough chronic troubles already.
I got the flu once really long time ago. I know its long and horrible, but thats ok with me. I dont feel with my health condition that anything terrible could happen to me if I caught it.

I got Twinrix vaccines too about 10 years ago, I never caught Hepatitis, but I have been told by the doctor not long after getting it that the vaccine was not present in my bloodstream. So that vaccine was useless for me. Im not sure if I got it before of when I was on immuno-suppressant.
Click to expand...

Everyone makes their own choice, that said... Last years flu shot wasn't a great match but they think this years one is much better. Even a bad match actually gives you some cross reactivity protection. Regarding Twinrix it is true some people don't build antibodies. This seems to be higher in those immunosuppressive (harder for body to react). There is also however an issue where sometimes you can just "wake up" the antibodies with a booster without redoing a whole vaccine series.
 
Well, I have been going through sort of a mini-cold for the last couple days so hopefully it is my body building up some immunities.
 
I always get the flu shot. Last year, I caught the flu anyway - as some others in this thread had mentioned, they didn't pick the right strains to put in the shot last year. This year is supposed to be much better. I got my flu shot 2 weeks ago and so far so good.

Honestly though, I would probably never catch the flu if I just avoided children. :p I don't have kids of my own, but I always seem to catch something whenever I see my little nieces & nephews. I've had the flu twice in recent memory, and both times I am sure it came from my nieces. Last year I definitely caught the flu from my baby niece. (Who even brings a sick baby to xmas?? Seriously, keep her home, she didn't even understand the concept of opening gifts yet but she was obviously ill, and I coughed for 2 months because I was exposed to her flu germs. Not cool.)
 
I only had a flu shot when I was taking Entocort since it weakens the immune system. Usually I do not get sick...knock on wood...so I haven't gotten the flu shot. Only had one shot in last 10 years or so. For some people it might be great, for me I choose not to get it unless it's necessary.

This year I am on the fence about it. I have been working too much and feel run down in general. Might be a year I need to get it...
 
I had mine a week ago n all good so far. I have been lucky in that I have only had the flu once many years ago,Bc.(b4 crohn's) Boy so glad it was only the once. Completely floored me. I have had the jab for the last 3 years n no problem's. Here's hoping we all can give it a miss this year, no flu here please!!
 

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