Flu Shots?

[Calico]

Are your doctors recommending flu shots for those of us with aps, or not? I'm getting conflicting advice.

[KellyO]

My Doctor said I could get a flu shot if I wanted to. I haven't yet because I'm scared.

[daftdog]

hi all, i was advised yesterday to have the flu jab, (to be honest im scared of it to ) as last year i had a cold on the thurs evening and was in hospital with pneumonia and swine flu by the sunday night, and i never want it again, so think i be having the jab !!!

[jetjetjet]

my beloved DC McCall always had me get them -- her outlook was i didn't need any other complications than i all ready have !!

[Renae]

My doctor gives me the flu and pnemonia shot every year because of lupus.

[APSmum]

Yes I have had flu jab with no complications. INR stayed level. Better then getting the flu I am sure. Not sure what getting he flu would do to my INR - probably send it through the roof!

[Hidden]

I am fortunate that my employer offers a free flu shot to all staff each year so i took them up on the offer this year and last. Can't be bad, surely?

[sangje]

I would agree with all of the above - on the down side i had a very sore arm (though no worse than what i already get anyway) but also a bit of a 'mini flare' but i still think its worth it - i just think if that was the jab - imagine how the real thing would be !

[travelnut]

I had the flu shot back in October. Arm a bit sore for a couple of days but nothing major. I did find my INR went up a bit and I think that was down to the jab. On a risk v benefit basis I decided it was definitely worth having.

[Hilda_G]

I received an invitation for a flu jab from my doctor exactly a week after I paid eight quid to have one at Sainsbury's! This is the first year that I have been offered the jab by the doc (APS since 1994). I have been suffering the cold and cough from hell this week (four days off work), so do strongly advise anyone to have a flu jab.

PS If anyone has any warfarin-friendly persistant dry cough remedies, please let me know!

[annie330]

I will be having it again but not till January, I've just had rituximab and have to wait three months (something to do with B cells coming back). It was the same last year, I would prefer to have it before the rituximab but it hasn't been available in time. I think check with your drs to make sure there is no reason why they don't want you to get it.

[Manofmendip]

Hi.

I'm going to be negative about flu jabs. I had one in 2008 and one in 2009 and I felt like I had mild flu for 5 - 6 weeks after each jab. I'm certainly not having anymore of them. I also have heard that they contain some mercury, which maybe true or false.

Has anyone else had bad experience with them?

Besy wishes.

Dave

[sharonap]

Hi I had flu jab last year and had it done on wednesday didnt hurt no sore arm. No problem last year or this year .xx

[jean48]

I live in the US and my Rheumy insists I have the flu shot. He says if I get the flu my immune system will kick in and that's not good when you have overactive ammunity. My best bet is to avoid sickness at all times.

Jean

[aps-and-ph-sufferer]

I have a flu jab every year and never have any problems. I just feel I can't afford to gamble when it comes to bugs but that may have more to do with my lung condition. Either way I realise it's a personal thing, I guess you have to go with the advice you get from your doctors. Hope you all keep bug-free this winter! x x

[pinkpink]

I was able to get the flu nasal spray. It did not hurt at all. I am not sure if it is available everywhere though. I believe the spray does not contain thimerosal.

[margaretjo]

I had the jab nearly 3 weeks ago and have had no problems (at least any i can link to it ) so far. I was told to take it easy for a day or two which i did . My doctors advise was that any one with long term health issues should have it.

[77tiger05]

I don't know about you guys but you couldn't pay me to get a flu shot, not here in the US anyway!!!!!

[Barnet]

Originally had a bilateral pulmonary embolism and had a flu shot every year since 2004 with no issues at all,

Paul G

[Zaney3622]

I have been diagnosed since 2006 and have gotten a flu vaccine every year. But, the day after my vaccine I always have slight flu symptoms - exhaustion, body aches, low fever. But, by day two (which is today) I feel back to normal.

[shell64]

hi i had my flu jab a couple of weeks ago . all i had was a sore arm for a couple of days .just inform your hosp or clinic for your INR that you have had the flu jab it may affect it but i would have it done its worth the sore arm just explain to the nurse or doctor before you have it done your worries about having it

[Suzypawz]

Hi, yes I had mine lsat week.......I have had it now for the last 2 years, it is recommended for auto immune diseases & asthma patients....amongst many others! x

[Calico]

One doctor said no problem with getting flu shot; another said with an overactive immune system why add to it and recommended against it. I've never had the flu (0ver 50); got the flu shot last October for first time and was in the hospital in January ultimately leading to aps diagnosis.

[Calico]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I feel more comfortable getting the flu shot basis your comments.

[julieej]

I've gotten it every year since 2005 with no problems.

[Hidden]

Personally, I have had a flu jab for the last ten years and never had a side effect.

For those of you who are not members of the HSF charity, here is the article on flu shots which appeared in our winter edition which was mailed on Saturday. If you want to become a member of the charity, please visit: hughes-syndrome.org/members....

Flu vaccines and APS

With winter almost upon us again, flu outbreaks are likely to occur. For most people, flu is an unpleasant illness, but it is not serious. If you are otherwise healthy, you will usually recover from flu within a week.

However certain people are at greater risk of developing complications of flu such as bronchitis and pneumonia, so each winter the NHS offers the flu vaccine free of charge to those most at risk. This year you are eligible to receive the free flu vaccine if you:

are 65 years of age or over (including those who will be 65 by 31st March 2013) 

are pregnant (including women who become pregnant during the flu season) 

have a long-term condition including respiratory disease such as severe asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis;

heart disease including heart failure; diabetes;

kidney disease;

liver disease such as hepatitis; neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease;

problems with your spleen; or a weakened immune system as a result of having treatment that suppresses the immune system

are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility (not including prisons or university halls of residence) 

are in receipt of a carer's allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill 

Although APS is a chronic condition, its unpredictable nature means that people can be affected very differently—some people are severely debilitated by the condition while others seem hardly affected at all. Therefore, it is best to check with your GP’s surgery to see if you are eligible for the free vaccine; in most cases surgeries do like to vaccinate anyone who has a long-term condition just in case.

If you do have the flu jab, APS patients generally do not have any side effects from the vaccine and it is considered safe and effective.

If you are taking warfarin it is important to monitor your INR a day or two after having the vaccine, as it has been reported that your INR can increase slightly.

[Calico in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, Kate.

[Suejane]

Hi,

I don't have a spleen due to blood clots with APS and have to have a flu shot - to avoid getting pneumonia. As other people have said, you might get a sore arm for a couple of days but nothing else. My view is that I would rather not get flu, have to take antibiotics and then muck my INR up.

[MaryF Administrator]

My doc is not keen to give me a flu shot, due to the extroadinary drug reactions I have had over the years, and reactions to virus. Never had one. Mary F x

[ddhl]

The last 3 years I have had the flu shot. Each time my arm is very sore for days and feels like a knot in it. But it's better than the flu.