Flu jab for over 65's - Lobectomy

Awaiting date for surgery any time now. I am booked in to have a flu jab tomorrow (13th Nov). Now not sure whether I should still have it. The lobectomy is via a thoracotomy.

[JanetteR57]

good luck with your surgery. If medics advise the flu jab, I would have it. Your immune system will be compromised after surgery and a chest infection/flu could be much harder to handle with less lung function. this year's vaccines (different one for over 65s) have different strains in them and should offer good protection. I had my left upper lobe removed via thoracotomy in Dec 2010 and have the flu jab every winter. wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Hidden in reply to JanetteR57]

JanetteR57 thank you for getting back to me.....I got the surgery date this morning, it's in a weeks time, and have been advised to still have the flu jab. I have just had it. Thank you for your good wishes.....positive thinking is my motto. kind regards.

[JanetteR57 in reply to Hidden]

Well done. My surgeon told me when I asked what I could do to prepare and get fit for surgery that I should resume my swimming (swam the night before and the day of surgery not knowing when I'd be back) and that positive thinking helped. I've tried to take that on board ever since although accepting that some days that's harder than others. Good luck with the surgery. There's a lot of helpful information in the roy Castle lung cancer foundation website under 'how we help', 'information', 'treatments', 'my lung surgery handbook' which was put together with help from my local specialist centre (where my surgeon is) and the patient review panel (of which I'm a member). You'll also see a comment in there from me about how my surgeon's explanation of what I'd come round wired up to helped me no end to not panic! best wishes x