Flu shots and other vaccines
 

Last week I took the new, once and done, pneumonia shot. And now I am contemplating getting the flu shot as well. In the past I avoided these shots. Despite doing this I did not get sick-I cannot recall having a cold or sore throat in 15 plus years, which could be due to immunity-lots of colds in my twenties and thirties. Fear is motivating me-I cannot take anymore health issues.

The pneumonia shot was quite painful. It took days to abate. If you should decide to get the shot, please read about it first.

Are you getting the flu shot?

My Dr. advised me to never get the flu shot again. I had a terrible reaction to it. My arm swelled up at the site like a hard mound, turned red, and hot for days.

I can't decide on the flu shot
 

I went for it!
 

I have religiously gotten a flu shot each year since my time working in hospitals. It has just become habit and I can hardly ask my son to get one if I don't.

This year's flu shot was the least painful of any I have ever had. I had no soreness or swelling at all. I have noticed it varies from year to year. My son also said he was not sore this time.

If getting one, it can help if they pull the muscle out a little bit when injecting. That keeps the injection further from the nerve.

I can't imagine the deep full body aches that go with the flu would be remotely tolerable with CRPS....

You can request to have it via nasal spray instead of by shot.

Undecided
 

When I get a flu shot, my immune system is triggered in a major way and I go through weeks of heightened autoimmune reactions, which includes increased pain.

I had the flu three years in a row and did well with the flu medication during two of three times. There was one time I thought it was the end and I was taken to the hospital by ambulance twice and had to go several more times to the ER, yet by private transport. I was in the ER most of the night for IV treatment of flu complications for a total of 6 different admissions.

My doctor was finally candid earlier this year, admitting it's a toss as to whether or not the correct strain is in the flu vaccine and as to whether or not the vaccine will work at all. His entire office had the flu shot last year and every single one of them -- he and his staff -- were out with the flu.

I asked him why he pushes the flu shot if he feels this is the truth about the flu shot? He'd responded giving/getting the shot was also a chance at not contracting the flu, as he'd smirked.:rolleyes: He'd added: It's a shot in the dark, yet also public health policy.

I am undecided. Sometimes, my rheumatologist mandates a shot be taken IF we are planning on any type of immunosuppressive therapy. There is still time for her to do so this year.

I guess I should decide soon.

DejaVu

I worked at an addiction centre for quite some time, and it was mandatory by the Health Authority, get a flu shot or wear a mask (in the health industry). Many of the people who could not get the flu shot when it was out (pregnant women, etc) had to wear a mask even though the thought is, that most of the public should get one to protect our most vunerable.

The first time I had a shot, back when I was 18, it was my sickest year I had ever expirenced. Now I'm debating it, I can't get the flu this year, it would make me worse for aches and pains...BUT and this is a huge BUT. I don't go out much because of this illness. I'm so torn between yes and no right now.

Other
 

When I worked in the medical field I had to take those three shots....can't recall name on top of my head now:o any way I NEVER had a cold sore....my family always had them....after those shots I had cold sores coming out of my nose! :mad:
I have been under tbe weather but shots of garlic tea has kept my virus from spreading .....but with crps 2 it still pulls me under....

Was it the Hep B vaccine? This one is very common in health care and in any field that may come in contact with blood or body fluids. The cold sores are actually caused by one of the herpes viruses and is easily passed along to friends or family. I have been lucky enough not to get them but my sisters do and I see how miserable they makes them so I'm sorry you have to deal with them too.

Where can you get the garlic tea and does it taste bad? I usually take echinacea but I am always looking for another boost for my immune system. Thanks!

Yes, it was the hep b. I never caught it from my family but once I got the second shot, if I got sick I get a burning in my nose and whamo!
I make my garlic tea.....I use organic usa garlic....I grate into a tea ball....bring water to a boil and let it steep until water is milky.....now it is hard to drink....my hubby makes it way too strong....so I do one whole clove to almost a cup....I started by adding honey and one shot until cup was gone....now I drink the cup with out honey.....and yes breath will be garlicky.... Brush brush or what is that green herb? Damn this memory....a garnish .....thanks hubby parsley....lol
But I have to say for me yes I get sick but it never blows into a bad one ....but it still makes my crps flare ....and that's what takes me down.

Wearing Masks
 

I am glad you have mentioned masks.
Since I'd had the flu with severe complications, and was in the ER way too often for supportive treatments, I have started to wear a mask when/where I can reasonably expect exposure to a respiratory virus, not just the flu.

My grandmother had started to do this on flights, many years ago.
I thought it wise of her, as she has an autoimmune condition and it makes sense to protect herself in reasonable ways.

I have been on prednisone a lot. I am on it more than not. When I go to any medical facility, any large store, etc, during cold/flu season, I wear a mask.

In Japan, I am told, people with a viral respiratory infection wear masks as a part of proper manners, a sense of responsibility toward others within their community, a sense of responsibility for contribution to overall public health.

I think it's a great policy, a wonderful social courtesy, responsible to everyone's health. Just my own humble opinion.

In most places, I am the only one wearing a mask. This fact does not bother me, as I know the potential consequences of my not using a mask.

Warmly,
DejaVu

Deja vu,

One of my former co-workers has been upset that on multiple planes recently she has been glared at by her fellow passengers. Why? Because she has something that is causing her to cough like she is about "to upchuck an elephant."

When I could carry a purse I also had two of those masks with me, just in case I came across someone like this. I think I am going to try to have a mask with me when I go out again.

Using Masks
 

I hope your friend finds the cause of such a severe cough and feels better soon. :) In the meantime, people would likely appreciate seeing her wear a mask. ;) (Some people are highly offended at this suggestion, by the way.)

We cannot force others (those coughing) to wear a mask. We can decide to wear one for our own protection, if we so desire.

It's been interesting, as my using masks has started a trend in my household and a trend in my neighborhood. People have embraced this and feel like they, too, are interested in doing so.:)

We don't "overdo it." We use them with discretion.
One of my neighbors is on chemo and is at the hospital often. She has become more aware of her own susceptibility and is using a mask more often.
When she runs out of masks, she stops in to get a couple from me.:)

We can choose to protect ourselves without feeling odd, strange or apologetic.
Some cultures do this as a part of their everyday way of living.

:hug:
DejaVu

LOL, the woman probably has the flu, based on what she told me. I still can't believe she was shocked that her fellow passengers were glaring at her. All that recycled air!

Btw I would never ask or suggest that another person wear a mask. :eek: I kept mine in my purse mostly for dust protection when I was working.

I am often on immune modulating or immune suppressing therapy. I do ask that people with active colds not come to my home until they recover. If someone stops in and they are coughing one of those coughs, and they also need to stay, they get a mask. And so do I. :) (I'll never forget those nights in the ER, struggling to breathe and the weeks of needing treatments via a nebulizer for weeks thereafter.)

Local hospitals and doctors offices offer masks at the entrances. There are signs with instructions to wear masks if certain conditions apply. There is some voluntary compliance. Some is better than none.

Back to the flu vaccine. ;)
:grouphug:
DejaVu

There are 2 different flu vaccines offered.
The first is the typical injection which contains a dead virus, therefore you cannot get sick (other than a reaction which some people do get). The other vaccine is intranasal which goes into your nose. The intranasal contains weakened virus and you can get the flu from this. That is why anyone one steroids or with a weakened immune system should get the injection.

When H1N1 was going around like crazy our infection control office offered the vaccine in both injection and nasal. Everyone who got the intranasal ended up with the flu. I was very grateful I chose the injection.

Also I agree with Littlepaw about the technique making a big difference when it comes to pain. You can try and nicely suggest this to whoever is giving you the injection, especially if you have skinny arms.

I agree with NurseKris, I have asked (in the past), for a nurse to please go easy on me when giving a shot, and have said the last time it was done, was incredibly painful/uncomfortable, even hours afterwards.

Some vaccines will do that no matter HOW nice the nurse is. Case in point in grade 9 up here we get Tetnus shots, they make your entire arm want to just fall off. The needle was not even the worst part ugh.

I find that if I relax my arm and let it go almost like jelly it also will present a more 'flabby' area, though I don't suggest not listening to the injector, if they need you to tighten up there's a valid reason to it. My last flu shot was done by a nice male nurse who pinched the injection site outwards, then as he put the bandaid on he rubbed the site with his warm palm and suggested I do this for a couple minutes to help the flu shot work in and prevent my arm from being sore. It worked quite well!

Flu shot
 

I got my flu shot this year and my left arm (non RSD arm), and not only did I get flulike symptoms for about 5 to 6 days, but it caused a moderate flareup body wide. That said, I do work in healthcare, and we get it for free every year and I definitely don't regret it. A few days of like symptoms and manageable flareup are worth it compared to the full-blown flu. I haven't gotten the pneumonia vaccine yet, but I have been contemplating it. I'll do my research on that one before I commit.

i got flu shot last year and did not have a problem with it. and i didn't get the flu either which was good. i didn't get the phenomia shot though but am thinking about getting that as well as the flu shot this year. (i'm late getting my flu shot this year and hope there are some left.) but everyone reacts differently to things like shots thought just like everyone reacts differently to rsd. just wanted to let you guys know my experience with the flu shot. hope we all are flu and phenomia free this winter.

Since I got so sick after the endo/colonscopy I did not get the flu shot. In one way I am grateful I delayed, because I might have wrongly attributed my symptoms to the shot.