People often ask if they should have these and worry about getting sick and setting off their AF. Forgetting the science which knows that you can't get flu from a vaccine and all the people who profess that they would never have anything un natural in their body what about real life experiences.
Had mine on Saturday afternoon. Forgot all about it till my phone reminded me 1/2 hour before and decided to incorporate my daily power walk and go on foot which was a pain on all fronts despite two sticks. Very efficient, strick social distancing, everybody masked etc in and out in two minutes. Knackered me walking back up the hill but no other problems. Left arm a tiny bit sore per usual is all.
Got a slight cough. Had that before.
Heart rate a bit high. Had that before.
Bit forgetful. Had that before.
Life is wonderful. Had that before too.
Pete the cat brought a live mouse in Saturday evening and we spent ten minutes catching it. Done that before.
Nothing changes.
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BobD
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I always have one, I do usually feel a bit unwell for about 24 hours afterwards but that's because I have 2 autoimmune diseases and the jab causes a response but otherwise it's fine and I wouldn't risk not having it, just have to persuade my daughters to get it down now !
Good one Bob,
I have mine scheduled for Saturday, 26th September at 16.00 hrs. My local surgery have organised an outdoor event in the grounds of the local Rugby Club, drive in - jab - drive out. Brilliant.
Had mine 10 days ago. Do it every year without ever a problem Even though they warn me, every year, that I may have mild flu symptoms for a day or so. This time had it done during the same visit ihat got me the second half of the shingles vaccine. The nurse commented that each of them might give me mild flu symptoms. As usual didn't get any flu symptoms but this time did go into AFib in less than 4 hours. What was really unusual was that this is the first time I went into AFib during wakeful hours.
We are all different but it might be a good idea to have the two of them spaced by a day or two apart.
Mine is booked for Saturday. Have had Afib for 17 years and flu jab for last 5 years. Most I’ve had is a sore or aching arm for a few hours. Surgery has it down to a fine art and like you Bob, in and out in two minutes.
Have been to make appointments and again like you Bob, efficient with social distancing, hand gels, masks etc. Wouldn’t be without my jab. xxx
Loved the touch about Pete the cat! I regularly spent several evenings a week for many years rescuing live mice from our cat Toby....plus on occasion goldfish a hamster ,cheese,bacon and smoked haddock!he also regularly brought in...through the cat flap...ladies underwear and socks!
Your post put my mind at rest about flu jab as I am newly diagnosed with AF. I am finding it all a bit overwhelming at the moment. Your post made me smile😀only 10 minutes to catch the mouse 🐭 I’m impressed
We have a "tupperware" type plastic box with a lid which we slam down over the poor terrified mouse, slide the flat lid underneath and take it outside to realease into the bushes. Last Thursday one ran under the long case clock which I then had to dismantle and unscrew from the wall so Mikey could do the slamming. Not as bad as headless rabbits mind. Lucky we only have solid wooden floors.
Had my flu vaccination last Tuesday , the whole proceedings were run with military precision in a marquee outside the doctors surgery.
No after effects other than a sore arm which was soon gone . I rub it well as soon as I leave the doctors and apply an ice pack later in the day.
I always dread the occasion of the flu vaccination because it brings out many elderly farmers who emerge from home only once a year to shunt around the narrow car park in their 4x4s and I feel lucky if my car and myself escape unscathed .
This year was different, I parked some distance away and walked there but a different car park was used this year and I didn't see any shunting.
Was laughing for at least 10 seconds there Bob, never had flu & so can’t see the point, live over in Florida these days & we have a coon dog, I have the same problem trying to keep her from killing snakes, raccoons, cats ect
Love your determination by going on foot, well done!
I’ve had flu - back in the ‘70’s epidemic when I was young, fit and slim. It had me in bed and unable to move for 2 weeks, then my husband and I had 3 months of chronic fatigue before I recovered.
Watched ‘Us’ on TV last evening. There was a wonderful scene where the nerdy main character put down a beardy type who attacked him because he was doing experiments on fruit flies and didn’t think people should put chemicals in their bodies. Summary (to trapeze artist): Break legs, amputation without anaesthetic, pain relief etc, sepsis, no antibiotics, death, family say ‘sad he’s dead but wonderful he didn’t put any chemical stuff in his body’.
The good thing about vaccinations is that the protection is for other people as well as yourself - it’s the bad thing as well of course 💜
Mouse eh? Small fry. Oscar brought in a half dead juvenile seagull to my friends kitchen on my last visit to Devon and wasn't too pleased when we tried to take it off him!
Two brooms and a coat later...success ....cat in A Mood all weekend though.
Amazing how much poo a scared gull can deposit!
Hope you all get your jab if that's your choice. I always do. Xx
Mine scheduled for 17th October. Tried to book an appointment for my husband who is 77 and was told by my surgery that they are prioritising people with chronic underlying health conditions so I qualified but although my husband qualified age wise as he was fit and healthy I could not book a appointment for him at the present time!
Not sure where you live, but in the last flu epidemic two years ago it was found that none of those with flu in intensive care in the two main London hospitals had been vaccinated. So, it may not prevent but seems to attenuate. You can always find anecdotes of individuals who say otherwise but the balance of scientific opinion is firmly for “do it”. I worked in the NHS for years and we all had jabs (for obvious reasons) and I never knew any colleagues who suffered more than a sore arm or / and mild brief malaise. I had severe flu once - relatively young and fit - lost weeks of my life.
They are of more use to younger people who are working rather than for the elderly . The older we get the less we mount a proper response to flu vaccines and the more the effectiveness drops. Some years they are barely effective at all. They do not protect against other respiratory viruses that cause flu like illnesses and there was a study on veterans in America a few years ago that showed that those who had had flu jabs were more likely to succomb to these other viruses (including corona viruses )that caused flu like illness. We would do better to increase our vit D levels as that helps strengthen the immune system against all respiratory viruses.
It may be that some people take more risks if they think they are “safe” from being vaccinated. Flu Jabs for the elderly are less effective and recently they have been augmented to induce a greater immune response which can lead to some temporary discomforts. But I have epistemic trust in my cardiologist and my GP and on balance it seems a very good idea to be vaccinated. Saturday morning for me and for all elderly or infirm on my practice list. After that it will be offered to anyone who requests it, as long as supplies hold out. Vit D in safe levels may help. You can always find negative reports because nothing in life is 100% positive. The article posted earlier in the chain was one about possible rise in miscarriages for example. It is not unusual for early pregnancy to be very vulnerable to many things and most GPs are cautious. But I am not pregnant (I wish I were young enough!)
Some of the souped up flu vaccines (FluZone and FluBlok) do contain more antigens but both the CDC in America where they were first trialed ,and the authors of studies showing that they provoke a stronger antibody respnse point out that that does not necessarily translate into better protection against clinical illness. FluAD contains the usual trivalent antigens and a squalene +2 surfectants adjuvant to get a better antibody response. But antibody response is only one part of the immune system's protection against germs. The article John 6 posted above makes it perfectly clear that what is presented to us as "information" about the benefits of flu vaccination is sometimes propaganda encouraging uptake so as to make profit for the manufacturers.
The "augmentation" is that the antigen strength is four times that of the regular vaccine because people 65 and older do not respond as vigorously to a vaccine as younger folks. Don't you have the high dose flu vaccine in GB? We have had it in the states for years. My advice to all...please, for the love of God, this year in particular with Covid, get your flu shot (jab). Your hospitals cannot handle the double trouble of Covid patients and very ill flu patients. Please protect yourself, and others. And think about this - 40-60% effective is much better than 0% effective, which is what you get if you do not get vaccinated. The flu kills thousands and thousands of people each season; it is not the common cold. It can be deadly. I have AF and I do not hesitate to get vaccines that keep me healthy.
Hi Sueny 😊 we do indeed have the enhanced quadrivalent vaccine (Fluad® Quad) flu vaccination in the UK for the over 65's , it was introduced in 2018 and I received a letter from my GP informing of this at the time.
Had it last week, no problem at all, no reaction whatsoever, first time I've ever had one !
Have never had flu, don't want it either. I have seen my husband suffer with that and still remember hearing the thud when he passed out on the landing - he was ill for weeks! Our jabs are booked!
Brilliant post BobD . I want to have a flu jab, but my surgery not doing them. Gave me a number to ring but can’t get through. Ah well, just have to keep trying.
A friend just told me that she has arranged one for tomorrow. It will cost her £12 and surprisingly she said that this year there is and under 60 and over 60 version of the vaccine.
I am in a quandary about the flu jab. I did take it many years ago (possibly 30 years ago) and suffered awful inner ear problems with swooshing, swirling noises that went on for 2 or 3 weeks. No connection was made by the Drs with flu jab but the same thing happened the following year after having the jab only far far worse and for much longer. That time the Dr made the connection and said I probably shouldn't ever take the jab again. I have refused it ever since but this year I wonder if I should, maybe the vaccine has changed sufficiently to avoid the inner ear problem? I have only once had flu, on the last day of a cruise when the Drs diagnosed both type A and type B and I was isolated in the suite until we left the ship and flew home from the USA.
I sometimes used to itch for weeks after having the jab. I found that some versions used formaldehyde that I’m allergic to kill the virus. After that I always asked for a formaldehyde free version.
We were due ours Thursday 17th but had a phone call two days before saying their vaccine has been delayed and now to have it on October 1st. This has happened on at least two previous years.
I’m delighted all was well after your flu jab, Bob - always a relief. However last year I did go back into AF after mine - not my imagination but a possibility backed up by my cardiologist. I was in AF for 3 months and came out in February this year and have been fine since.
Last week I was contacted by my surgery to go in for my jab again and I’ve already made the appointment. Can’t not as far as I’m concerned. Will I/won’t I go back into AF? Who knows but I do feel the benefits must be considered. Maybe I’ll be ok this time🙂
I went into AF for the first time during my open heart surgery last year to replace my aortic valve. I had it for 3 months and then it disappeared until I had my flu jab last year . I’m on Bisoprolol for my AVR and am put on Apixaban when I go into AF. But as I say since February I’ve been out of it. But it would seem a virus or something unusual like the flu jab can effect it. How about you?
I suffer from persistent AF and having CV next Wednesday. I’m not sure if the vaccine sparks AF but initially debated having flu vaccine before CV but have been advised against this from my GP. Everyone is different and don’t think there is a right answer! I think the majority just get a sore arm and that should be it.
Had mine 2 weeks ago, been having it for years with no reaction until this year. After 2 hours very sore arm then 2 days of feeling unwell, shivery, a hey. Unpleasant but I've had flu and it was so horrible I never want it again and this bad reaction won't put me off having the vaccine next year.
Your post reminded me of the time the cat brought in a magpie. I'd got up early, sitting in the conservatory marking exams, with a nice cuppa. Cat flap in the conservatory door, cat came in, let the magpie go, jumped onto the table, knocked over the cup of tea, soaked the exam papers, magpie flapping round, pooing everywhere, including on the tea soaked exam papers, cat chasing it. It wasn't a good start to the day!
Flu mutates - so it is a challenge - new research is hopeful of a universal vaccine against strain A. There are imperfections in any public health response - as risks with every medication - but my vaccination not only protects me but protects folk like you who do not get vaccinated.
Years ago my GP explained the difference between man-flu and real flu. If you have man-flu and look out of the window to see a £50 note sitting on your garden path you get up and go and pick it up,. With real flu you really can't be bothered.
Was ill after last year’s flu jab. Pulse shot up to 145 which was unfortunate as we had walked to a local cafe for tea and cake. Hubby had to go home to fetch the car and rescue me.
This year, jab done in a marquee set up in the surgery car park. Went straight home. Been fine ever since.
I have had one for about 6 years now, because of my mild asthma and underactive thyroid. I get a bit of a sore arm for a day or so, but cannot always tell if the grogginess is from the jab or how I normally feel.
I do however get ill EVERY year, may not be flu, but always get another virus going around and when I get even a simple cold, I know it will turn into another infection or illness that lasts forever and weakens me.
It was hard to get a test this year as my useless GP are not doing them. Could easily have people queue in a car park and get it done outside. Even my chemist not doing them. So had to wait in a long virtual queue on the Boots website and thankfully got a slot on 8 October. Would thought more doctors and chemists would been doing them this year as more people are getting a flu jab. Even my husband is and he has no health conditions, but his workplace are paying for it.
Oh dear. Yes, big pharma is real. So is good pharma. And we depend on it. You have your opinion. I trust who I trust.
Thanks bob. With my cardioversion next Wednesday I was told to wait until after I’ve had it from my GP. I’m not convinced that’s right as post CV it could set off my AFib again. I’m still wondering what to do as my pharmacist friend has said he’s happy to give it to me.
I can’t know. I am only an anecdote. But researchers can know or try to know. And I prefer to trust the doctors I know who have read the research papers than lay folk who may be furnishing their fears. Enough - anti vaccination folk are unlikely to change their minds. Bye. Good luck with AF (the reason we are on this site!)
I'm having mine tonight. I usually just get a bit of a sore spot for a day. Nothing to notice.
This year the NHS want's as many of us as possible to get the jab to reduce the flu load on the hospitals because they expect to be full of Covid patients. I'm happy to oblige them.
You can find excuses for everything in life. I prefer to do the best I can to protect me and mine.
I’d never touch it It leaves you open to other viruses corona particularly
I'm with you John and haven't had the flu jab since 1968 when one actually gave me flu! A friend of mine has one every year, but she still gets it. Three years ago I had what we called the Aussie flu and was ill for two weeks and lost half a stone in weight over that time. My doctor said come down and I'll listen to your chest, but my answer was no way would I do that and risk giving it to others and was too weak to get there anyway.
As I've said here many times, I used to get coughs and colds every year since retiring from work, but taking vitamin D3 and Vitamin C has seen me have the last two winters without so much as sniffle.
Many years ago someone I know nearly lost their son after he had the measles vaccine. I also remember the effects thalidomide had and when I was pregnant with my first daughter I took Debendox for sickness - that was soon withdrawn as was causing problems. This turned me against inoculations totally. My girls had the triple vaccine as babies, but I never consented to them having any others and said they could have them as adults should they see fit. Both are and have been fighting fit and are never ill ages 47 and 50, both have never had time off work ever, My youngest daughter works in a large hospital and has worked closely with people who have had cdif etc, but not once has she caught it. She said to me the other day, I'm sure I don't get these things because you never let us have inoculations.
We must all do as we think is right and bear the consequences if we discover that we're not.
Your message made me laugh!! Just had my flu jab, done that before! No probs with AF afterwards done that before! Great to read a funny meassage as of course AF ... is a ... but do we all have to be so very serious even with our health problems?!!
No it isn't anyhing like that. I believe it is a little like a trojan horse that makes the body think it is being attacked so it makes antibodies but that is only my understanding. You CAN NOT catch covid from the vaccine though you may have a few minor simptoms for a day or so. Use the pinned post to watch the video.
Dear BobD thank you for your kind reply, my worry was that I wouldn't be able to take the covid vaccine because I take Warfarin, have AF, am Diabetic. I am 82years old. I don't have any allergies and had no problems with the flu jab I think that a lot of us oldies have worries with these issues and of course wether the vaccine is live or not. A lot of us are not technical enough to know how to find out how or where to get this information! Once again thank you for your help! Mind Regards Gladys xx.
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