flu jab

[nellie15]

just wanted to share this info. as i wrote i am on prednisilone and doxycycline for chest infection.my surgery is holding a open day to get jab this saturday, as i am still feeling not to good i telephoned the surgery to ask if it was okay to get jab.definately not ...to wait at least another week.glad i telephoned. worth checking if in my position

[pedantic]

Yes.

I had my flu jab last week & my pneumonia jab today.On both occasions nurse asked me if i was taking anti-biotcs.I am not so hence having both jabs done was ok.

[lavender1]

Hi Nellie much better to wait until you're feeling better. Went for mine yesterday and the place was like Sauchiehall Street as they say here. There was at least 30 people in the surgery some certainly had already had the jab and were told to sit back outside in the surgery to make sure all was well. Imagine the germs flying around if only a few people turned up with colds without checking first. So safety first and hope you feel better very soon.

[cliffy66]

i went for my flu jab today but as im on antibiotics and steroids at moment i have to wait another 4-6 weeks

[359875 in reply to cliffy66]

I had my flu jab on Weds and have felt like crap since. Told the surgery nurse that I was taking antibiotics at present and steroids while recovering from chest infection. She was of the opinion that it was better to have the jab than wait.....Don t know what to think going to ring BLF helpline on Monday if feeling no better.

[nellie15]

my goodness. isnt it scary the mixed messages. wish the"experts" would make their minds up i now dont know what i would do without the information on this site....no more "I'm fine" and being in denial. therefore a big thank you x lavender do you live in glasgow?hope i am not breaking any rules !!

[lavender1 in reply to nellie15]

I was brought up in Glasgow Nellie but have lived for 38 years in the west coast and am lucky to be getting the sea air - am in a rare old state with moderate copd however although o.k. at the moment and I agree Nellie would also be lost without this site. Not breaking any rules I'm sure and still plenty of time to get your flu jab before the winter sets in. Keep well xx

[TuckBox2]

Had my flu jab today as in my earlier email, I finished preddnisilone last Friday and Amoxicillin on Sunday. I was at the surgery Monday was still a bit off and was told they wouldn't let me have it until I was better as I had just finished the steroids & anti-biotics re chest infection 2 weeks ago.

[Gordon57]

When you think about it, the flu vaccine is generated using purified strains of the flu viruses the powers that be say we need to be immunised against. Antibiotics are designed to kill bugs, purified or not, so having the jab when you're on antibiotics sort of defeats the object.

That's why they don't let you have a flu jab until the effects of the antibiotics have cleared out of your system, and also why they don't give usually antibiotics if you've just had a flu jab.

There's more about the flu jab, what it contains and why you need it at nhs.uk/conditions/Flu-jab/P...

The flu jab is free to anyone... with chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis - there's quite a list of who qualifies at nhs.uk/Conditions/Flu-jab/P... - and, in answer to those asking if a carer should have a free jab, it says "If you live with someone who has a weakened immune system, you may also be advised to have a flu vaccine. Speak to your GP about this."

If you do not qualify for a free jab, you can pay for one and have it while you're out shopping! see deals.money.co.uk/deal/1108...

[Hidden]

I wonder what happens if you are on azithromycin?

[pollyjj in reply to Hidden]

I was just thinking the same thing, because on it permanently, will give docs a ring this morning.

polly

[Lynne1955]

My GP is so much later giving flu jabs that many others (about a month later). Bearing in mind it takes a couple of weeks after the jab to have immunity. I think its too late.

I managed to get mine early this year along with my pneumonia jab, but only by being a bit cunning. In future, even though I qualify I shall probably get it done at Boots about 6 weeks before my GP practice does it.

It's right though, if you have a cold they won't do it. Also it is apparently a myth that you have to sit around afterwards in case of reaction. If you are going to react it happens within 10 seconds.

Lynne x

[lavender1 in reply to Lynne1955]

Probably is a myth Lynne. I didn't hang around to find out! xx

[alanjudy]

I had my flu jab on Tuesday. The nurse looked up all the medication I'm on and decided it was better to give the jab than not. I nebulise colomycin twice a day but just had a course of azythromycin on top as I was not well. It's basically down to a risk management exercise. I work in a building with several hundred people in it. The nurse who did mine was the respiratory nurse who is excellent. In the past I had it when taking azythromycin.

The nurse also gave the flu jab to my 23 ye old daughter who has asthma. She asked me why my husband didn't have the flu jab. I said that he'd been told he didn't fall into any of the categories but gets one at Superdrug. The nurse said that because of me he was definitely entitled to one in her books!

Judith

[squirell]

Hi Nellie, I hadmy flu jab on MOnday ans I know they wont give it if you hae cold or flue like symtoms or on meds fo t his. good luck xx squirel

[Hidden]

Our community matron came to our house to give my husband his 'flu jab, so he wouldn't have to risk getting an infection at the doctors surgery.

We have three grandchildren all under 7 years of age, and you would not believe, that after all the times my husband has been in hospital this year with pneumonia due to picking up infections, my sons still want us to child-mind our sick grandchildren (colds, tonsillitis, chicken pox etc) so they can go to work. I honestly cannot believe, that after they have known for 6 years that he has COPD and has to be careful of not catching colds etc. they still get annoyed when we say, no, sorry we can't, if your dad gets ill again that is another piece of his lung gone.

Does anyone else have this problem, we feel so mean because we have literally brought our grandchldren up since they were tiny babies looking after them whilst their mum and dad went to work., and now we are saying no, they are unhappy about it.

[Mocarey in reply to Hidden]

Well done on saying "no". It really is time to think of your health. I am fortunate in that my family understand the nature of my illness and would never jeapordise my health. However I know lots of parents who are not so fortunate and their kids seem to think it's unfair not to babysit to allow them to work. You only get one pair of lungs and we need to protect ourselves.

[caroleoctober in reply to Hidden]

Sorry............ but why did they have children!!

[Hidden in reply to caroleoctober]

The thing is, in our day 1960's/70's I was lucky enough to have a husband who brought home a good wage so I did not work until my children started school at 5 years of age, then I worked one day a week on a Sunday.

Nowadays my sons and daughters-in-law have to work and therefore were lucky enough to have grandparents who lived in the city where they worked, so we were the obvious choice. We did not mind at all, but then my husbands COPD took a turn for the worse and one day they dropped my granddaughter off who had a streaming cold and a bad cough, that is when we put our foot down, they never rang to ask if they could bring her with her being ill.

I honestly do not think they comprehend how bad COPD is, and if they do, it worries me that they are only bothered about having to make alternative arrangements and not about us. We still child-mind but I would like it if just once in a while, they offered to sit with their dad whilst I had a few hours on my own as I am with my husband 24/7 and his carer but it just gets a bit much when it has gone on for nearly 10 months without a break from each other. We love each other but sometimes it is just too much of a good thing.

[tanyamarie in reply to Hidden]

Hello,

I was sorry to read your difficulties with childcare of your grand children. My parents used to help look after my little uns until it became clear that dad could not tolerate it any more due to his health. I totally understand dads condition and do keep my kids away if they have a cold etc. I also get tax credits which helps to pay a big portion of my childcare costs. I think maybe the main problem sweetthing is that copd is very deceptive and if you don't really know or understand it, the sufferer can look perfectly fine on the outside. And sometimes we can be ignorant, although not intentional because we simply don't know or understand so now is the perfect opportunity to explain your situation.

Also, as my mum is my dads carer, she struggles at times not having any 'her' time and so I do make sure that I take mam out at least once a week or fortnight, even if it is just to go shopping. We make sure dad has everything he needs to hand, meds, drink, phones, remote control, urinal etc. because we have no one to sit with him either and my mum isn't well enough to go out on her own. Every little helps xx

[Hidden in reply to tanyamarie]

Thank you, and it is very good of you to answer my comments. I can get out on my own, my husband on the other hand needs 24/7 care, he cannot be left on his own that is why I never have a break. My sons never offer to sit with him so I can have a bit of me time, have lunch with friends, just to get away for a while. He will not help himself, the physio has told him to exercise but all he says is 'I can't', I fetch and carry for him from 7 am until 11 pm, he sits on his bum all day, if I have to hang washing out, he waits while I come back in and asks for something, I get it then he says 'oh, I have forgotten something' so I have to go back and get it.

I thought things were on the up a couple of weeks ago, but once he says he feels ill, everything comes to a stop and he becomes an invalid.

This illness not only ruins the patients life but the lives of everyone around them. I do not know if my husband is a one off, but I have seen cancer patients who have been declared terminal still walking around, my sister was one of them, she was only taken into an hospice two weeks before she died, she would not give in to the illness. I tell my husband he could live for many years if he did what he was told but no, he is feeling sorry for himself and won't do a darned thing.

[Lyn1955 in reply to Hidden]

my daughter has been so good she has had a bad cold for over 2 weeks now and phones or txt me but would never dream of coming round in case I get it or worse. I have stage 3 emphysema and at mo have yet another chest infection. and should be having flu jab on tues but don't think so after reading the posts but will ring gp on Monday to check

[xfox3x in reply to Hidden]

My problem is my mother who thinks I should be OK pushing her round the supermarket in a wheelchair and shouting things twenty times while she pretends to be deaf!

I'm a nurse and have always tried to help, but I got a diagnosis of moderate COPD in July and am trying to look after myself a bit. In reality I am in worse health than her, but she just won't have it and makes me feel so selfish saying things like 'I'm going to go in a home so I'll get looked after properly'. My sister sold her home to live with her and me and my other sister are always taking her shopping, visiting friends etc. She does nothing all day except sit in her chair and moan....about her daughters, neighbours, binmen. GRRRRRR

[derrylynne]

We have looked after our grandchildren since they were babies Sweetthing. After a bad spell we told our daughter that we cannot look after them while they are ill, and one of them would have to take time off to look after them if illness strikes. To be honest we had full understanding. Now they have started school they have to make other arrangements as they are likely to pick up all manner of things at school. Stick to your guns. I myself will not have my grandchildren visit if they are ill as if I catch it I could end up in hospital. You have to put yourselves first.

[HuwieHex]

I was taking Steroids daily until July and, for the past 3 years have been taking Zithromax thrice weekly, in addition to daily Azathioprine and thrice daily N-Acetylcysteine, plus weekly Alendronic Acid. It has never been suggested to me that this is a reason not to get the flu jab. Indeed, I am given it as early as possible each year and this year it was done in mid September. The BLF specifically recommends that I should get flu vaccination. blf.org.uk/Conditions/Detai...

And I can't see anything in the document referred to by Gordon57 which says that I shouldn't get a flu jab.

[Hidden in reply to HuwieHex]

I went for my monthly bloods this afternoon and they offered me the flu jab and I accepted. They didn't mention anything about my current drug regime. Nothing came up on the screen apart from a Pred warning.

M

[keefybaby1]

I have had a chest inesction for 2 weeks, im halfway through my anti biotics but the cough has not let up. I have been given a pump but thats not helping either. I have to wait for this to clear up before I can have the flu jab. I am wondering if its ever going to let up. Whats worse is I am coughing so violently I am wetting myself

[sassy59]

Bit confused now as Pete is due to have jab next Saturday and is always on pred (10mg) and has Zithromax antibiotic every other day to keep chest infections at bay (hopefully) so should he have jab or not? He probably will so long as he is well as otherwise he would never have it. Stay well one and all and good luck with jabs wherever you may be. xx

[nellie15]

perhaps sassy you should telephone the surgery for some guidance, that's how I found out. take care

[angel160560]

i have the same problem with my son, he expects me to be here at his beck and call for my grandchildren and im the one with the severe C.O.P.D.

[maureenjjj]

Wow I am greatfull my babysitting days are over , was a grandmother at 41 and again at 46 while still healthy. Now 63 with moderate copd. I feel for you. Stick to your guns, remind your son that you want to be around to see your grandchildren grow up.

[janie62]

Yes i am just getting towards the end of an exacerbattion and am on steroids, weaning down and antibiotics, but no way can i get flu jab until i have been clear of tabs for a week, so thanks again Nellie for reminding us, as its so easy to forget , kind regards Janie xx

[Hidden]

Thank you, I am 70 years of age, have a 7 years old granddaughter, a 3 years old grandson and an 18 months old grandson. My sons were later in life starting their families hence the reason why it is taking a toll on me as I am also my husbands carer.

The other day my son asked me to have my grandsons - (18 months and 3 years) to give his wife a break.

I said what about you daddy sitting to give me a break. As I have said previously, my husband is on oxygen, nebuliser, wheelchair etc. etc. but no-one thinks about me, they seem to think I am still 40 years of age and don't need help. We have been able to get out more with the wheelchair etc. but I want some 'me' time, to go to the hairdressers, have a massage, get my nails done,anything to make me feel like a woman again and not a minder of children and husband.

I have said before, I sometimes feel like walking out and not gong back because I feel so unappreciated. We get texts from my sons asking us how we are, but never a call from our daughters-in-law. The only time I get a text from our daughters-in-law is when they want a chlldminder, then they cannot even be bothered to ring and ask me.

We have been able to get out over the last two weeks, but I have found that it is only because we are going to a different area to where we live, when I asked my husband why we cannot go to the local shopping mall etc, he has told me it's because he doesn't want to be seen by anyone he knows in his wheelchair.

So if the weather is bad we can't go out as he does not want to be going too far in the car in case we break down. We are in the AA. and have a 12 months old brand new people carrier. If he would go local, we could go out nearly every day but he won't. I can see winter as being an hibernation period until spring comes.