A question .... maybe Admin could help ................... it would be really interesting if peeps who post on this forum highlighting their "Lung" issues could say if they have had any regular NHS winter ailment injections to help preserve their health or whether they just rely on their supposed natural immunity. Just curious.
Reading over the wide range of posts very few comment, so I am assuming those that highlight their infections also have not had injections against a range of winter ailments.
I get it that many folk have sound medical reasons for NOT having injections, so we can leave them out of the exercise, but those that are able to have them do they or do they not and just trust their luck. Then the other feature is if they do have their injections .... do they still get sick anyway ?
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BenHall1
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I doubt admin have a record of vaccinations or who has posted what.
For myself, I can tell you that I have had all of the jabs I am eligible for. I am in my 50s. Since being diagnosed with asthma and COPD I have been eligible for flu jabs and pneumonia jab. I have been eligible for most Covid jabs and have wangled eligibility for the remaining ones via other health conditions I have. The one time my GP messed me around and did not deliver a Covid booster was when I promptly got Covid a couple of weeks later and had to have an antibody infusion.
Despite my full vaccine cover I got some sort of cold or flu last year which progressed to a very nasty case of bacterial pneumonia, involving nearly 2 weeks in hospital including a stint in ICU.
In terms of preserving my health, I most certainly do not rely on my natural immunity. I avoid crowded places where possible and am scrupulous about hand hygiene. If someone near me is obviously unwell I get the heck out of there as soon as I can. I was careful about this even before the pneumonia. It has had lasting results on my lung function and I now have to be even more careful to avoid respiratory infections if I possibly can. I also take care to exercise because that is of huge benefit.
I’m not sure that Pete has much of a natural immunity now and we both have all vaccinations offered to us. So far so good I must say but we have to take care all the same. I endeavour to keep us both well. Xx
Having read your post very carefully twice, I find it very difficult to understand how you have come to the conclusion that people who post about their lung issues do not have the vaccinations available to them. I have had bronchiectasis since I was 3- 73 years and I have been a member of this forum for many years.This forum has people with many different lung conditons-mostly copd,asthma and bronchiectasis. All of these conditions have their own problems which result in different kinds of exacerbations for which members gain support from others by posting of their issue.
On top of problems associated with these conditions,
Viruses such as flu, covid and srv are dangerous to anyone with these conditions because very often a bacterial infection takes advantage of the weakness in the lungs caused by the virus to breed, and a nasty exacerbation of the underlying condition can occur.
It is my experience that most people on this forum are very sensible and have every vaccination available to them and some that they have to fight for, in order to gain as much protection from the viruses and secondary infections as possible.
Some are immuno suppressed and most know the need to boost the immune system. I have not encountered anyone with one of these very difficult conditions who thinks that their own immune system is strong enough to fight these infections by itself.( although, as is always said ' there is probably one)
Your wholly baseless presumption and inference that people posting about their lung conditions have generally failed to do their best to keep themselves healthy by having the available vaccines is hurtful and insulting to those of us who have spent a lifetime doing EVERYTHING that they can to manage these conditions and to support others who live with them.
My comment is the same as I made to Mopsey1897 ...................... "Well that puts me in my place ! I wasn't concerned with being right or wrong ............ I have just (within a few days) been awarded the label of ACOS. So am just starting to explore this new territory ".
So, for your information .... my baseless presumption was that of a newbie not something or someone to be picked apart. I also have one other healthcare condition.
I have had copies of my test reports and the diagnosis is a summary. I meet my GP next Tuesday when I guess a way forward will be discussed. I will keep in mind the Respiratory Clinic you and others talk about. Have to say - never having lung/ breathing issues before I am feeling totally cream crackered. Hope my GP has a magic wand. 😱😱
Good luck Tuesday. You sound well prepared and hope the GP helps with a plan going forward. I have learnt so much on this forum and it has helped me so much. Keep in touch and take care.
Absolutely agree with everything you say Swizzy. My Bronchiectasis was diagnosed at 5 years old after whooping cough and pneumonia. I had a two lobe lobectomy. I’m now 75 and I have every jab going in order to keep as well as I can. I take Azithromycin 3 times a week but I still get chest infections. It’s part of my life. I count my blessings as I’m sure you do too 😘
My mother refused to let them do a lobectomy on me when I was 3 and with the scattered extent of bronch that I have it preserved albeit damaged lung tissue for me to use for oxygen. Now we have reached an almost unimaginable age I have found that there is very little difference between those who had lobectomies back then and those who didn't. We are all on the merry go round of physio, avoiding infection and managing exacerbations. One thing I can tell you - we are tough old birds!
I think the problem is there are many of us here with more than just lung issues. So any survey would need to be very detailed and way beyond what admin could provide. I myself have a supressed immune system from a rare condition. Therefore my vaccines were put in place by Immunology a long time ago. My Bronch diagnosis followed later. I also now have a multiple Endocrine problem. Which once again lowers ability to heal. Add in those who have a suppressed Immune system due to medication such as Dmards for Arthritis, Auto-Immune conditions, and Cancer etc. Far too complex and I have only just touched the surface. Take care Ben.
I have COPD with emphysema and I have had all the vaccinations; flu, Covid, pneumonia, shingles and RSV. I don’t take any chances. I notice a lot of people have had flu recently even though they’ve been vaccinated, and people still get Covid after being vaccinated. No vaccination is 100% reliable so your assumption is wrong.
Well that puts me in my place ! I wasn't concerned with being right or wrong ............ I have just (within a few days) been awarded the label of ACOS. So am just starting to explore this new territory.
Sorry Ben I didn’t mean to sound harsh. No excuse but I’ve got a friend severely ill in ICU due to RSV; she was deemed too young to have the vaccine at 69 even though she has severe copd. Wishing you good health x
No worries Mopsey1897, I am sorry for you and your friend and I do hope she is strong enough to pull through. In anycase, I am still learning so much from this forum and treatments applied to so many good folk .............. kinda makes my earlier condition on another forum (cardiac) a walk in the park by comparison to lungs and breathing issues.
I have had all inoculations available to me. My lung condition is COPD/asthma overlap. I also have other significant health issues. Had flu, Covid , pneumonia jabs (that I can quickly think of). I have had pneumonia and pleurisy a number of times which has significantly affected me for months. I also had Covid 2 years ago- picked up during a hospital stay and shielding for 2 years. Grr.
I still believe I would be worse off without inoculations. When there are many different strains of bugs I believe an inoculation can’t necessarily “pick up’ everything.
I totally understand what you mean ....... I miss bus driving soooo much and the friendship of my work colleagues. Something about the job thats gets ya 😊
I drive my OH mad as we drive around our area ... I burst out with ....... oh, I've driven that bus, or, I wave at a driver who I know and often get a wave back 'cos my old work mates know my private car.
In the last two years of driving I was part time and did a major College run. The girls were always perfect young ladies. The boys were a junior mob of gangsters ! Inevitably it all came to a head one day on the evening run home. I pulled the bus into a large layby, opened the doors, shut the engine down and sat it out. It took the kids about 20 minutes before anyone woke up to the fact that we weren't moving. Someone came to me and asked why we weren't moving.😊
I then read them the riot act ........... never ever had a problem again. There were two ways of doing things ... my way and the wrong way !! 😊😊
I have 2 lung conditions from autoimmune diseases which arose 2+ years ago. I had always had the usual COVID and Flu vaccinations in the past and since getting ill my husband (now my carer) gets those he's eligible as I am on immunosuppressants which keep me alive. Interestingly the only time I have had COVID so far was when my husband had not been eligible for the COVID vaccine that season and kindly brought it home for me on my birthday! 😲Since then I have also had pneumonia and shingles vaccinations and would like to have the RSV (my little great nephew was nearly hospitalised with this just before Christmas).
My understanding is that the vaccines do not stop us catching any of these which is why we need to wash hands regularly, mask when necessary, be careful to avoid those who may be carrying any of them. What my respiratory consultant says is the aim is to reduce the severity and if at all possible keep us out of hospital - where you can often pick up other things e.g. norovirus or COVID while in there!
So yes, we do get sick even if we have all the injections available to us - but hopefully with much less lethal consequences.
Hope you can work out what's right for you. Asthma & Lung UK's helpline is very helpful if you have questions. I don't really have a respiratory clinic as such as my primary consultant is a rheumatologist but she will always check things out with respiratory when necessary (e.g. when my GP said I wasn't eligible for the shingles vaccine when the media campaign stated that I was!) ☺️
I am in the unusual position of having an overactive immune system. Disadvantages are horrible skin conditions and alopecia. Advantages are that I have had one mild cold in 4 years, never had COVID. I did get bacterial pneumonia 3 years ago. I nursed my husband through bad COVID twice and didn't catch it and have had numerous contacts with quite sick people without problems. Big advantage with COPDI take a COVID vaccine and flu and had the pneumonia vaccine a few years ago ( after the hospitalisation with pneumonia). I believe in vaccinating myself just in case
Having lived with ACOS for nigh on 22 years and suffered some nasty lung infections The symptom burden with ACOS is generally higher. I always advise taking vaccinations offered. Recently diagnosed with bronchiectasis as well.
With all these infections despite having vaccinations I can’t imagine that I would still be here alive if I didn’t have them every year.
One thing I would suggest is have them separately, say a week apart, rather than on the same day.
There are many other helpful aspects of self management to try to prevent exacerbations. Good activity levels, good nutrition, stay hydrated, symptom control, staying warm in winter, mucous clearance to name a few. Do you have a care plan ?
Hi Ben. I have every injection I'm offered and make sure my husband gets them too. Sadly we are too old for the RSV vaccine, and so are you. I have had Covid twice in spite of the jabs, the first time not too badly, the second time nastier. I had a nasty chest infection last year after my daughter brought a cold into the house. Moral- avoid people with colds if you can. We don't get out much so avoid crowds most of the time, but I am going to the hairdressers next week so wish me luck.
It's a funny one this isn't it Ben. I had the flu injection many years ago and was very poorly so have never had it since, I also have only had the real flu once in my life (lucky maybe). I have rheumatoid arthritis and the meds reduce immunity leaving me susceptible to infections. I had the first 4 covid injections because I was afraid and wanted to travel to my daughters, but when they changed it over I had a bad reaction, and after reading up about it decided I didn't want another. I was persuaded by my daughter to have the shingles vaccine this year and ended up in hospital with shingles in my ear. As you can imagine I am not one for having vaccines now and think it must be something in my body that just doesn't like them. I am not against having them just have to be careful. I do look after myself with a good diet and take supplements if I am ill , and use a cold and flu gel in my nose when going out and always use a nasal rinse when i get back in. I have bronchiectasis with overlap asthma and try to be so careful not to pick up infections as they stay with me and affect my sinus's. I hope this has helped with your query x
I have ACOS and mix with some large meetings every couple of days on avrage. I always get any vaccines offered, and also take care to clean my nose and sinuses and gargle after such meetings to reduce the number of bugs I may have breathed in. My handbag also has NasalGuard's Cold and Flu Block and Vick's First Defence which I use when near people with obvious respiratory infections. If I think an infection is trying to take hold, I light a salt lamp in the room where I spend a lot of time.
Since 2020, I have not had flu and only caught Covid once, which was very mild in comparison with what others had experienced. This is probably as much luck as taking care, and could change tomorrow.
I accept all injections available, make sure that I eat healthily, exercise, avoid internal social contact as much as possible, wear a mask on flights and public transport, practice hand hygiene. I have had no adverse injection affects. Post injection, I managed to avoid covid and flu after exposure to infected family members. We will all catch colds as they operate outside of the vaccine protection and these can be hideous. However, keeping ourselves as well as possible with our various conditions gives us the best possible chances. There is no such thing as "natural immunity" - except retained immunity to strains we have caught in the past. The flu is different strains of a virus and the strains can change from year to year so the vaccine varies to account for this. In my opinion, the vaccines are a godsend. I would probably have been extremely seriously ill or worse had I caught it from my family.
Hi, good luck with the magic wand bit. I would imagine most folks other than half-baked anti-vaccers have the usual flu and now Covid jabs. I can`t think of any medical reason not to have them. Hope tat your consultant is on the ball and can produce good results for you. Have a good day, Chris.
I have had asthma and bronchiastasis for years and always had my vaccines since on clinically vulnerable list, unfortunately my pleura and pericardial now have fluid due to MCD, RA and Sjögrens so my lungs are under attack constantly with inflammation. I’ve had Covid once which I got whilst in hospital recovering from another bout of pneumonia.
I do think most people in our situation get there vaccination.
I have had the necessary one off vaccinations for Shingles and, pneumonia so don't need them anymore. I have received the annual Flu vaccine., my nurses called and administered it at my home so that was easy.
As regards to all the on Going Covid Vaccinations I choose not to have them.i don't believe in pumping myself with all this vaccine.. I was ill when I used to have it so obviously doesn't agree with me and causes my Copd to go worse .Luckily I have never had covid so far .🤞🙏
.
This is MY choice and I don't advise you or anyone else to follow me.I am not medically trained I just know my own body.
Do whatever works for you.
I take a high dose of Vit D daily supplied by my doctor on prescription. Take care.do what is best for you and consult your Respiritory team or Dr. If you need advice. Stay safe xx.Sheila 🙏😍
One feature of all these replies is that I notice many folk refer ( as you did) to your Respiratory Team, or Respiratory this or Respiratory that ............ so when I meet with my GP on 14th Jan it is something else I'll add to my list of questions in terms of what Respiratory services my surgery offers. If any !
I find your questions and the replies interesting.
We have an acquaintance who insists that with every injection we are being given something illegally eg a chip of some kind to monitor us with - all down to dodgy dealings in the government apparently.
Yes, I know most people are unlikely to subscribe to this idea, but as a result of reading some strange, unconfirmed, reports on the internet, this young man has become determined to NEVER have any kind of vaccination.
So there may indeed be others out there in our own Lung community who feel the same but don't wish to post their views for fear of being vilified by the pro-vaccine members.
Personally, I sat on the fence over the COVID jab for a while as I remember what happened with the Thalidomide vaccine that was not properly tested. The COVID jab came about much too quickly for my liking and, initially, I feared a similar outcome. However, I discussed it with my RESP consultant who I trust and he said, 'You must make your own mind up, but it may help you to know that when it becomes available to us all, I will be first in the queue!'
So I've had all the jabs I've been offered, plus an extra one they sneaked in for me when I accompanied my husband who was completely fit and well, but in the right age range, whilst I had been shielding for months as 'vulnerable' due to having what had been diagnosed initially as COPD, Asthma and Bronchiectasis but was just outside the permitted age range! (For the sake of clarity, I'll just add here that my diagnosis has been re-classified and is now Chronic Asthma with Fixed Airways and Bronchiectasis).
I've also had every flu jab, the shingles jab and the pneumonia jab (twice).
So I am not 'anti vaccine' in principle - I just prefer to know that they have been properly tested.
Like you, I would find it interesting to see the statistics showing the percentage of those vaccinated who still became ill, but I understand that it's about improving the odds against getting certain diseases and reducing their severity. Therefore, I agree with some other people that the data, specifically for our group, would be difficult to collect, given the many other co-morbidities among our members.
Please don't be put off by some negative responses to your post as you had a perfect right to pose the question and I'm surprised that some have taken it as an attack rather than a perfectly reasonable enquiry.
I welcome you to this group. Ask as many questions as you like. You'll always get mixed responses, but that's because we're all different and can sometimes be very unwell, so some days our tolerance levels may not be as high as others - no assumptions being made about other replies to your post - merely an observation based on the fact that I've been a member of this group for years now and have been aware of many ups and downs due to the fact that we all have our own views but some days we may express them less positively if we're not feeling so good. I can certainly speak for my self there!
I hope you manage to navigate your way around the information in a way you find helpful. Perhaps if you do find any statistics you think might be helpful to the group, you could post them on here. People can make up their own minds then regarding their usefulness.
Thank you ( and also one or two others as well ) for taking the time to put together such a lengthy and informative reply and for your welcome. I have been a member of two similar forum on a different health scenarios for some 15 years or so now and am well used to these "negative responses" that occur from time to time ...... just a case of putting up with them or putting them down - whatever!
I have saved all these posts and will interrogate them in the next day or so but by an large there are many helpful bits and bobs that will enable me get a better understanding of Lung issues and their various medical terms and enable me to be better prepared for my GP session on 14th.
I too have had all jabs offered to me. (Severe COPD, with bronchiectasis changes plus other issues) Also I have attended all courses offered, e.g. pulmonary rehab, COPD and me and am starting one this week, ' Living well with breathlessness.' I TRY to eat healthily, but cake is so delicious!🤣 and attend yoga and pilates classes. However, I will NOT be forced to live as a recluse, (I did shield during covid) I see friends, go to the theatre - a lot! enjoy shopping and holidays etc. I practice good hygiene during and after everything and try and sray away from anyone obviously ill. Hope this helps.
Interesting questions BenHall1. You can ask posters who are ill, if they've been immunised.Pls be aware yr assumption that those who post & are ill,haven't had their winter immunisations, is probably,at best,a very misplaced assumption
I'm 59 years old. I was hospitalize for 4 days back in 2020 due to a nasty exacerbation. Diagnosed with COPD and emphysema. I haven't been sick since. ( Except a nasty cold just before Christmas)I've never had a flu 💉
Never had the flu
I've never had a COVID 💉
Never had covid, or wore a mask
I've never had RSV 💉
Never had RSV
I've never had a shingles💉
Never had shingles
I haven't had any 💉 since childhood.
I eat right.
I make it a point to get a good night's sleep.
I take 11 supplements daily. (One being NAC, it's great for lung health.)
Eat a lot of garlic
Apple cider vinegar
Limit sugar
I'm not anti vax. My children were fully vaccinated. They're adults now.
One got covid 💉 she gets sick all the time. One didn't get the covid 💉 most he gets is a cold.
I curbside my groceries, I don't socialize in large groups or dine out. We never really did.
Back in early 2021 i was going into stores without wearing a mask and still never got covid. My disease is progressing so I'm limiting going into stores till the winter illness season passes.
I've always washed my hands and disinfected surfaces ( even before covid)
My best friend and her family every year lined up for flu shots. Every year her WHOLE family got the flu.
That same best friend got the covid shot, all the boosters so she could be around her elderly parents. Sadly January 31st will be 2 years since she passed away due to blood clots.
If you want to get whatever 💉 you feel you need, just do it. Same goes with me making my own health decisions.
I couldn't say about anyone else I have copd I get flu jab and had covid I had a pneumonia jab about year ago because nurse said you only need one in life time instead off every 5 years that what she said to be honest don't know if that's right but I've never questioned that but I just get normal jabs no other jabs or treatment and just hope I stay as well as possible just like others I'm 63 years
Have COPD, have all annual vaccinations & have had all one off ones too, every year I have generally 4 chest infections but they are always triggered by the cold weather, usually start end of October beginning of November until February/March, nobody's ever noticed that until I was seen at Royal Brompton & had a chat with a doctor who picked up on it straight away, in fact he also apologised on behalf of the doctors I have here for having “ slipped through the net “ as he politely put it, I don’t have a respiratory team, I have a nurse I see once a year if I’m lucky,it’s been over the phone until last year when I insisted on face to face, & a nurse I see at the thoracic clinic once a year to check on my oxygen use, hope you have better care at your surgery 😊
The doctor at Royal Brompton didn’t prescribe anything, I had to use my rescue pack , have only ever had Amoxicillin, that never really works but won’t give anything else so persevere with it, it’s in my rescue pack I have so once I’ve started using it I reorder it 😊💐🌷
Oh I see. My GP has started to give me doxycycline in my SOS pack. She told me thee are t amoxicillin is not doing the job now. Maybe your GP would help if amoxicillin is not working? If a medication is not working there seems little point in continuing with it?
Yes you’re right, but they won’t change it, they just say do an econsult & if we think you need more we’ll write a prescription up, such a waste of antibiotics when just changing it would make a lot of difference but I’m not the medical professional just the patient, so I’ve given up on it now, it’s a terrible surgery at the moment, but there’s not another one that’s not under the same practice near by, I don’t drive so need to have one accessible by local bus transport 😊💐🌷
What about your respiratory consultant? Would they help? I think it might be worth a go but also raising it with the practice manager because prescribe meds that don't work is a waste of valuable resources, as you said.
I haven’t got a respiratory consultant, I have never seen one, I had COPD diagnosed by the doctor after an X-ray , I see the nurse once a year if I’m lucky for the annual check & a thoracic nurse once a year to check on my ambulatory oxygen, that was only picked up by a nurse at pulmonary rehab classes, & she got me an appointment to see someone for that, but have never seen a respiratory consultant 😊🌷💐
Oh I see. You are entitled to a second opinion if you feel it's not right. Problem is, if you are having repeated chest infections and the amoxicillin isn't working, aren't you at risk of worsening the condition of your lungs making things even worse for you?
Yes that’s true, but you can’t get to see one doctor here let alone get a second opinion from another one, it really is bad here the health care, pretty much non existent at times, but I will keep pushing it 😊🌸🌷
Hi Ben 👋 and welcome. I have quite serious lung problems & have had since infancy. I’ve also got an immune deficiency. It amazes me there are people, even quite ill ones, on the forum who don’t have all the vaccines available. That’s their choice, of course, but I have them because covid or flu could kill me. The vaccines lessen the impact, even if they don’t offer full protection. I’ve had nasty side effects before but what’s a few days ill in bed compared with intensive care!
Hi Ben. I have COPD emphysema and think I’m more Severe than moderate they always seem to diagnose annually. I’ve had all my vaccinations except RSV, too young by 1 year. A joke! I’ve had pneumonia once about in 2018 but cleared well. Had COVID once but it wasn’t bad at all and I was infectious for 11 days. I am careful and always clean my hands whenever I’m out. I take NAC and Vit D daily. I had hip replacement surgery last October and had a chest infection followed by badly congested lungs for weeks. It finally cleared recently but my breathing not great. I have a T/C respiratory review annually. Usual list of questions etc but not particularly helpful. I eat healthily (apart from odd treats) and excercise when weather is good. Roll on Spring!
Interesting. I have to say I have done the complete reverse. I smoked from the age of 17 to 41, ending up as a 40 a day guy. I stopped because I needed money .... I had 4 young kidz to bring up, my wife, and a mortgage. I also needed a bigger car to drag my kids around to varying sporting activities as they grew up. I went to a local Hypnotist near where I lived and after 2 sessions I stopped smoking, that was October 1985. Never smoked since.
I have never bothered about putting myself out about staying fit. I have however eaten properly. I guess I have also relied on family genetics, both sides tending to get into their 90's and one grandmother to 102. So, really, I have specialised in an unhealthy life and lifestyle. I still booze on, but, less so than I did when younger. In fact very little these days. I'm not proud of it all ............... BUT - it is a fact of my life.
Most certainly though, it is the latest breathing/breathlessness issue that is dragging me down, far more than my heart arrythmia has ever done.
If my GP does come up with a magic wand I'll certainly let you know. Not holding my breath though ( sorry about the pun) 😀
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