What's up with flu shots?

Thanks, Marie. I don't know if I'm so fabulous, but I don't think I'm exactly "high risk" either! ;) I do understand though, as Diana points out, that the flu can be very serious. After reading her post, I'm kind of glad my DH got the shot. He's TERRIBLE at being sick, even for a day.
Nancy
 
I always get one. If it could mean keeping me flu free why not. I'm not worried about vaccinations....we're more likely to get run over by drunk drivers than have some complication for a shot.
 
>My DH left work today for 2 hours to take a train into the
>city to get a flu shot because his company is giving them out
>free. He does it every year. I asked him if our doctor
>recommended it and he said he didn't ask her. He's a healthy
>middle-aged guy. Not elderly, not fragile, and not suffering
>from any diseases.
>
>I've never had a flu shot. I've had the flu just a few times,
>and even then it's always mild and I've never missed more than
>2 days of work. I know some people have flu symptoms after
>flu shots, and I don't see any reason to go through that.
>
>Do you get a flu shot? If so, why? I'm not sure I get it.
>Thanks.
>
>Nancy

Nancy, if you only missed a couple days of work....you did not have the flu that the shot protects you from. You had a minor virus. The flu will lay you up for days, possibly weeks, and in my case, it went into pneumonia, and I was not the same for about 3 months. The year I had that, I did not get a shot...and it would not have done me any good. My doctor said I got the strain that the following years shot was going to be for...so I did not get a shot the following year as I already had that flu.

Flu is bad, real bad, and many people call a stomach virus, or cold the flu, but it is not.
 
>>I also work in health care and a couple of years ago our
>county got hit with a virulent flu--there were people in their
>20's and 30's and no risk factors ending up with pneumonia and
>being sidelined for weeks. My boss was one of these--she
>almost died, was off work for 2 months altogether and had
>post-viral syndrome for 6 months afterwards (meaning colds
>turned into pneumonia or bronchitis). My point here is
>influenza isn't just a bad cold. Last year time got away from
>me and even though I knew the flu was ugly it just kept
>getting more and more inconvenient to get my daughter the shot
>and we missed it. The inconveniences of the shot is nothing
>compared to the hassles of actually getting the flu though.
>Won't be making that mistake again anytime soon.
>
>Diana
>
This is exactly what happened to me. I got the flu the end of February, and battled pneumonia until almost April, with various antibiotics. I could not even work out until mid-May and then 20 minutes of light exercise fatigued me. This was about the time your are talking about, and I knew several very healthy people who had the same experience. Believe me, you don't want this, and if a shot can prevent it, take it.
 
Just got mine yesterday.

I had the flu a few years back and IT WAS AWFUL. I don't think that I've ever felt so misreable in my life. I felt so bad that I couldn't even read or watch tv. All I could do was lie around with a very high fever, the most stopped-up nose in the world, and just ache and feel like I was going to die for over a week!!! (And even when I was "better," I still felt weak for a while.) And NOTHING the doctor gave me made me feel much better...you just have to ride it out. (And to think, I'd just bragged to someone about how "I never get sick!")

I work on deadlines a lot at my job and we have PTO instead of sick time--I would rather my time off be for vacation than being sick and I like to plan it as best I can!!!

Also, I work around a lot of people who have kids, and they are always bringing some virus or something to the office. At least the flu is something I have a little control over.
 
No, I've never had a flu shot. The last time I had the flu was about 18 years ago. I don't seem to catch many colds either. I think my last one was 5 years ago. I've been very lucky, I guess.

But, on a related note, I did get Chicken Pox a few years ago after having the vaccine!

Diane
 
Nancy:

I'm like you, I just don't see the point for the average healthy person. I have never had the flu. I don't get sick often. I would only consider it if: I worked in healthcare or was an elementary school teacher, since these people are surrounded by germs and it is not easy for them to take time off. I say: if you get sick, work through it, develop more immunity and take it as a warning from your body that you weren't looking after it as you should. Then, leave the vaccine for the pregnant, elderly or those working in professions where exposre to germs is extraordinarily high and days off work would be tough to mamage.

Clare
 
Oh, I see, Dorothy. Maybe I've never had the flu at all. I always assumed that when you have a fever and chills along with the usual cold symptoms, you probably have the flu. But maybe that's a virus? Wow, the flu sounds pretty scarey!
Nancy
 
I say: if you get sick, work through it, develop more
>immunity and take it as a warning from your body that you
>weren't looking after it as you should. Then, leave the
>vaccine for the pregnant, elderly or those working in
>professions where exposre to germs is extraordinarily high and
>days off work would be tough to mamage.
>

People don't get sick from the flu because they haven't been taking care of themselves. The stories you've read in this thread are not worst case scenarios this is what can and often happens when even the healthiest gets the flu. Immunity to the flu only occurs after exposure to the virus. Healthy living may help keep you out of the hospital and still alive after a bout of flu but it won't necessarily keep you from being seriously ill and out of commission for weeks on end.

I'm not pushing the flu shot. I don't have a problem with those who choose not to vaccinate. Just be aware of what you're dealing with though if you end up with the flu. The CDC says typically less than 20% of the American population gets the flu each year so the odds are you won't get the flu anyway unless there's a pandemic. But having played that odds game and losing last year I'd rather get the shot than deal with the flu again.

Diana
 
>Oh, I see, Dorothy. Maybe I've never had the flu at all. I
>always assumed that when you have a fever and chills along
>with the usual cold symptoms, you probably have the flu. But
>maybe that's a virus? Wow, the flu sounds pretty scarey!
>Nancy


Nancy, it was real scarey, and it scared my husband more than me. I was so sick, I was beyond caring at one point, and he felt so helpless. It went into pneumonia so fast I can really see how someone whose health is not good to begin with could die from it.

My daughter was very sick under age 5, and flu shots were one way we decided to try and keep anything we could out of our house. She still has problems at 13 if she gets sick, she does not recover well, but is much more healthy now<she does say she will never drink, because she says if she starts to throw up, she won't stop!, hope she remembers that in a few years>.

Even though no one else in the house had the flu shot the year I got that, no one else got it from me. I was careful to isolate myself, and the kids were old enough I could. That was interesting.
 
I was also someone who each year would choose not to get the free flu shot my company offered. Then, last year I came down with something very nasty (don't know if it was the flu or not) but it completely interfered with my holidays. I had to cancel a visit from my three year old nephew (whom I rarely get to see). The whole time I was sick in bed I kept thinking, "I wonder if Deven would be here right now if I had gotten that flu shot". This year I decided to give the flu shot a try.

Shelbygirl
 
I may get a flu shot if I ever get the flu. Even now I don't see the necessity in it. Fifty or not!

If I ever get the flu, maybe it will change my mind:)
 
I've never had the flu and do not plan on getting a flu shot, however, last week my baby had his nine month check up and the dr. gave him a flu shot. He has to go back in a month to have it again. I guess to make sure it's in his system. I was told it's just as dangerous for babies to get the flu as the elderly. My dh usually gets one since he goes to State offices and works on their computers.
Susan C.M.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top