What do you think about the H1N1 Vaccine and Crohn's

[tonya_n_ky]

Hi Everyone! I am just curious on what everyone thoughts are on the H1N1 (Swine Flu)? I ask this because I am on Imuran and we all know that our immune systems are just weaker than that of a healthy person... so I wonder...Am I better off to get the vaccine or just hope I don't get it. I have 2 elementary school kids, a daughter in college and she works in a resturant so it's easy for them to carry something home to me.
My concerns on the vaccine are that it's new and the long term side effects are not known. (For my children or myself)
We had the first death in our county last week. A 28 yr old with no health problems.
I am personally afraid to go out to get groceries Sending my kids to school is scary! I say to myself "Maybe you are over reacting." But on the other hand this is killing people and when it's yourself and your babies...
So anyways, has anyone gotten the vaccine? What's your opinions? Thanks!

 

[imisspopcorn]

Hi There,

I got the normal seasonal flu vaccine about 2 weeks ago. I am planning on getting the H1N1 if available. I know it's a new vaccine, but theoretically each seasonal vaccine is new every year because they try to guess how the virus will mutate. I figure(and I may be all wet) that they have isolated the specific virus that is the H1N1...I believe it is grown the same way as the seasonal viruses are. My friend just buried her 48 year old brother in-law. They are still trying to determine if it was H1N1. I also have school age kids. I'm on Remicade, I didn't notice any problems after the first vaccine except tenderness in my shoulder. I hope this helps. Try not worry

 

[misscris]

I'm still in debate about the swine flu shot as well. I know a lot of people who are going to get it, I just don't know honestly if I'll be one of them. However, (and this will make IMP VERY happy to hear) I did just get the regular flu shot last night.

 

[paragraph]

I'm still debating if i should get the Regular Flu shot or not, let alone H1N1. I handle money for work, and i use hand sanitizer at work. Up until i was put on the immunosupressive i figured the H1N1 thing was just fear-mongering and panic, but now that i have a lowered immune system i'm not sure if that's enough.

I've already decided to talk to my GI about the seasonal flu, but i might bring up H1N1, see what he thinks.

 

[Crohn's 35]

Most certainly I am! I have been so sick the last 5 days with the flu and was told H1N1 is not in this area (apparently) and I never felt so sick from the flu before. I have had the flu shot and this is the first time in 7 years I have had the flu. I am due for the flu shot in a couple of weeks and they said I could have the H1N1 shot if it is available when I go. When you are not sick you dont realize that having this flu and if it is NOT the H1N1 flu... I couldnt imagine I could survive it. Two mornings ago I was so close to going to the hospital because I was dehydrated, head and body ached and shivering. On top top of period pains. My husband got it to but he is on the mend, I am still sick and been a week. The shots do work...at least for me. Trust me I wash my hands a gazillion times a day and use antibacterial stuff when I am out and about. Going back to bed.

 

[Kuwabara]

I think you should just do your best to avoid those who are ill but you can't let it rule your life. I mean statstically the odds are astronomical that you will die from the Swine Flu. You're probably more likley to die simply living your life as you do now from road traffic,crime etc - I know it sounds morbid but its true.

I know that there has been no specific advice given to Crohn's sufferers in the UK other than that already given to the general population. I presume too they would have been closley monitouring the Australian experience of Swine Flu as they have just come out of their Winter period and.If there was any specific advice I guess it would have been passed down.

"Since then(Early May), more than 40 people have died and more than 16,000 have been infected. There has been no sense of public panic, despite the fact that Melbourne for a time was dubbed the "swine flu capital of the world", the city with the highest concentration of cases."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8171049.stm

Think about that -40 deaths. Between May and late July when that article was written. So there's probably what 80-100 dead by the end of Winter in September in the supposed swine flu capital of the world. How many people will have died on the roads/through accidents in that time?


I think come this winter this book is going to be the most relevant in the world. (at least in the Northern hemisphere!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plague

You can't hide, you have to fight!

 

[Peggy]

Hello to you all, I do usualy have the flu jab, as it made me feel rearly ill last year I decided not to have it this year. I also dont think I will be having the swine flu jab, this is my body, I do not think they have had enough time to test this out properly, So if I start to feel unwell I will do as is advised, stay in keep warm, plenty of liquids and keep away from anyone who I do not NEED to see. Peggy

 

[Crohn's 35]

Oh sweetie - hope you get better soon, that sounds miserable. The odd thing around here in NC - the H1N1 seems to be kind of mild according to many people who have either had it or their kids have had it. I think my 72 year old mom and nephew had it two weeks ago and both seemed relatively mild. Hope you get to feeling better soon! Keep drinking those fluids!!

Thank you so much for your kind words. It has been 7 days and I am still feeling like vomiting, even though I haven't, and lost 6 lbs, no appetite, I am drinking lots of water and gingerale, and plain rice if I can stomach it and the odd toast. I pray I never get this sick again...never, this forum is great for support! Made up for 7 years never being sick. IT is spreading like wild fire!

 

[Kev]

Hey Tonya When the swine flu 1st appeared here it was all pretty mild. we had 100's of cases here in NS, and no one seemed to be hit overly hard by it. BUT, I heard recently that the 2nd and subsequent bouts of it are getting dangerous. A study said majority of folks who got it required ventilator therapy lasting at least 2 weeks, and that some required it for months. That is what seems to have all of the medicos worried. Health system simply can't support all of that treatment if/when numbers reach epidemic or pandemic proportions.

As to the risks vs benefits, that's a personal decision made in conjunction with a long talk with your dr's. If I could use this as a thumbnail, the 1st people slated to get it here are the medical and emergency folks... there probably are risks with getting it, but obviously the info leads the so called experts to opt for treating themselves first... like, the lifeboat may have a few leaks in it, but if the crew is first in line to board, it might just be because they know the ship IS sinking.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I am not taking my chances, there are thousands of people I come across in any given week, someones gonna have it and I can't afford to get it being immunodeficient.

 

[jooles6377]

I react terribly to vaccines so I just dont know if its worth it but most people dying in the Uk have underlying health problems. I know we have health problem so it is a BIG dilema. ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[Crohn's 35]

*7* days!!! Have you been to the doc to confirm if it is regular or H1N1 flu? Just make sure if you start having any secondary stuff like heavy chest with lots of congestion you go in and make sure you aren't getting pneumonia!!!

Day 10 and starting to feel like it is breaking up, my chest and head still hurt and my stomach is still jumpy, along with the fact that I coughed so hard a pulled a muscle in the LRQ area. I have to be careful my Crohns dont start up. I have had the Pneumonia shot last year, and never had it in my life anyways. As for the H1N1 they say the virus isnt in our area, not comfirmed cases anyways. Just had the worst cold and flu I have ever had. I was too sick to go to the clinic to be tested. Problem is I am scheduled to have my B12, Flu shot and or H1N1 shot Nov 5th. Hopefully I can get it done then. I still feel like a mac truck hit me, but coming out of the woods....NO energy at all. Thanks for enquiring...

 

[misscris]

So I found out yesterday that people who are allergic to Neosporin can't get the N1H1 shot. I haven't fully researched that, but if that's the case, my daughter is out. She's allergic to Neosporin. <shrug>

 

[teeny5]

I watched something about the H1N1 flu and it seems the deaths are from the infection in the lungs (pneumonia) that follows the flu, not the flu itself that kills. It recommended people with lung issues (asma) and immune issues (health problems that weaken the immune system or those on immunosuppressive therapies) to get the vaccine for sure as well as pregnant women and children. It is a strand similar to another flu in the 1940's I think so many older people are not being affected by it as their body has the antibodies for it already.

I myself will probably get both flu shots. I have yet to have a reaction to any med or vaccine (knock on wood).

 

[Crohn's 35]

I am still feeling sick but coming out of the woods... went to Emergency on Friday and was there for an infusion of Flagyl and fluids. I couldnt take it any more and when I got there they kept me in isolatioin until I had my urnine, blood and xrays checked. I dont have H1N1 but got Pneumonia pretty bad. Also since I wasnt eating and only fluids I had dangerously low potassium levels, so I am on a high doses of potassium and antibiotics for my chest which is still sore and still coughing. This flu has been the worst. I checked with the doc about getting the two flu shots that are coming up and he said get it done but not if I had a fever. Didnt realize how much your body is weak from low potassium, you betcha I am keeping my diet gearing towards potassium.,Learned rice milk has no potassium. Still on the mend and will still be cautious up to two weeks after I get my shots. Mask and all, dont want it and certainly dont need the flu!

 

[Kev]

I thought one of the big concerns over the H1N1 strain was that nothing similar had been on the go... that it had jumped from swine to people (or is that urban internet legend)

If the president of the US has been advised it IS an emergency situation, then I'd have to give the nod to getting vaccinated. I don't think Pres. Obama holds stock in any pharmaceutical companies.

People forget the Spanish flu pandemic of 1919, which killed more than WW I, in a time when international travel was in its infancy compared to today.

 

[la la]

I am waiting for my doctors office to get it in. I actually can't wait! I just don't want to take any chances being on three imunosupp. My daughters school has been hit pretty hard. They had only five children at school on friday out of a classroom of twenty five. The pricipal has been so wonderful to try to keep me posted and make sure my little one is not sitting next to other little ones with coughs etc. It was not her class that was hit so hard but I think it could be just a matter of time?? Myself and my family get the regulat flu shot twice a year for the past 6 years and I do believe it has helped. Take care everyone!

 

[D Bergy]

There is a considerable amount of evidence that the Flu of 1918 was caused by vaccinations. Soldiers were given forced vaccinations and vaccines were quite unsanitary and crude.

I have not deeply investigated this particular outbreak, but there is information available for those who want to research it.

Dan

 

[CKnowsBest]

I'm so torn about getting it! I've been advised to but I just am not sure if the vaccine is definitely safe??

 

[Kev]

Well, I would think that the risk from this 2nd wave of H1N1 is nothing to sneeze at (Sorry, couldn't avoid the temptation)..

but seriously, for a moment.. over the past 6 days, a healty pre teen with zero health implications died within 5 days of contracting it, and close on the heels of that, a 13 year old came down with this flu on friday and died on tuesday.

Death count in the US is 1000... and this damned flu is everywhere. I have few friends in this area, yet within that small number I know of 4 people who have it, and of those, 3 had to be hospitalized (quarrantine no less) and still aren't considered 'out of the woods'. The 'adjuvented' (why can't they say boosted) version MAY be scary... yet the naysayers are very few/far between on this...
If one is sitting on the fence, split hairs and go with the unadjuvented serum.