Hi
Has anyone had the above as yet? I am still waiting for my letter. If you have had it, does it hurt??
Cheers Joanne x
Flu Jab!!!: Hi Has anyone had the above as yet? I... - NRAS
Flu Jab!!!
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sciqueen
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I had one last year just before starting the MTX and no it doesn't hurt one bit! We are brave souls who live with RA so a little jab is nothing to us really anyhow. Tilda xxx
sciqueen in reply to
Hi T
I had it also last year and it did not hurt. But some years it does apparently it all depends upon the needle size!
J
Hi joanne,
I have it every year have not had this years one yet.Not at all painful and gives you peace of mind although it does not cover all Flu strains however does cover the most common strains predicted to be relevant each year.
Hope this reassures you a bit.
Christine.
I have one every year around this time. When I picked my prescription up on Thursday there was a note attached telling me to have my bloods done and book my jab appointment. So there being delivered to surgeries now.
No they don't hurt at all but your arm feels a little tender for a few days afterwards, but considering the constant ache/pain from arthritis it's nothing to worry about.
Beth xx
Joanne, your such a wimp! 
haha, saying that, I was doing pregnancy breathing techniques as I sat down to get mine last year, I was terrifed when the GP said, 'thats you done'' I didn't even feel it!!!
xx
Oh Joanne! I bet you won't even notice it!
But I've just got my letter inviting me to go for the jab & I am a bit reluctant. It's not the needle but wondering how the vaccination will impact on my health at the moment. I blame my dog - he's 17 & goes down hill every time he has booster vaccinations or even an antibiotic injection.
And yes, I know that flu could be a lot worse but have not had any infections since starting MTX. Anyone else have similar concerns?
Christina xx
sciqueen in reply to
Hi
I had last year about octobern for the first time and it did not hurt, I was surprise about that. Neither did I get a sore arm.
I am however scared it might hurt this time and or I get the sore arm.
Wiliby called it right I am just scared of any needles 
I will however have the flu jab, as its better to be safe than sorry!
Take care hun
Joanne x
Do we automatically get offered the flu jab and what about the pneumonia one? I'm going to be away a lot on October and November so I guess I should be thinking of these things. TTx
earthwitch in reply to
Yes, you should be eligible, but I wouldn't assume you have been put on the list if you haven't had it before. You might need to remind the surgery that you have RA and are on immunosuppressants. Definitely ask your GP about timing it so you can have it before you go away. Our surgery gets the stuff in several batches, and they know in advance when they are coming and how many they can do.
You should be offered the pneumo vacc too if you are eligible for the flu jab, but I know I missed out for a while because they hadn't realised I hadn't had it, and it only got picked up last year. You only have that one as a one-off (unless you get it quite young the first time, then you might need another one in 5-10 years).
in reply to earthwitch
Thanks - I'm feeling a bit more aware of pneumonia because my sister has just had it badly and my mum had it twice. I think they must both have weak chests and sure I don't but as you say on MTX and Hydroxy my immune system isn't going to be as good as it was. I will ask on Tuesday when I'm having my first injectable MTX lesson (aahhhh!) TTx
sciqueen in reply to
T I asked my gp about this last wk and she seems to think I won't need it. But we left it at" see how I go", kinda thing.
I also spoke to my consultant - she dismissed it to. I think if you seem to be prone to infections, then it is a good thing to have.
I still would like it though, but my next question is does it hurt? and I think this one makes you a bit sick, so its when to fit it around work and hols?
Jx
Got mine next week first time plus was told I'm going to have one something else can't remember what
the prescription charge is more painful ..
I've had them for several years now. Only one out of all of them hurt a wee bit, but not that much. Sometimes it depends on what the formula is that year, and sometimes it depends on the size and type of needle they have packaged. Its also not like you have to have them all the time either - just once a year, and its really going to help protect you, so well worth it.
Yep my point exactly, but I need to prepare if its going to hurt. I will still have it, just might need hubby to come with me to hold my hand - big baby I know
Jx
I've had a cold and bad chest a couple of times following the flu jab so Im a bit worried. It may have been purely a coincidence but Im still getting it done. Mine is booked for October 7th, 1st time since starting mtx. I think I'll ask about pneumonia jab too. x
It's not a live vaccine so shouldnt affect you that way Paula. I'm concerned too because when I was on the higher dose of MTX I got three bugs in a row and that was summer. My GP said that 15 mg of injectable MTX would be more equivalent to 17.5 oral dose and I really don't want to get ill when travelling Edinburgh, London and Italy - so am definitely going to ask but OH gets them as a care worker and says no notices up at work yet. TTx
There was a notice up in the surgery today, so I'm booked. It doesn't hurt and I've never had any after effects. Or flu for that matter. Though last winter I had my first cold for about five years (thought I was really healthy, turns out my immune system is in overdrive) and it really knocked me for six.
Dotty x
in reply to Dotty7
Yes that's what happened to me too Dotty - it makes sense that our immune systems have been too efficient for a long time if we have active RA doesn't it? Tilda x
I have flu jab every year, I then, every time I remember, just give the area a gentle rub so it does't localise - my friend laughed at me for this , dodn't do it, and had a small hard lump for a day or two.
regards,
sandra.
Jab does not hurt one bit so please have it done.
Couple of tips, always carry a bottle of medicated hand wash with
you.
After using a supermarket trolley wash your hands before touching
the steering wheel of your car, always wash fruit and veg.
Even if just going shop to shop always wash your hands once finished,
door handles and trolley handles carry thousands of germs.
I am not a cleanliness freak but I have to admit to leaving shops when
I see or hear someone coughing and spluttering with obviously flu
or cold symptoms.
Last year I called the manager when I was served by a young lad who
was in a terrible state, he looked ill and was coughing and sneezing
non stop, I explained to the manager the fact he was endangering older
people and those with an immune related illness.
Now I do sound OTT ) I assure you I am not.
Ann
Good advice, I do some of the above already, like I never hold public stair rails, as they are full of germs. I never sit infront of someone who appear to have a virus on public transport etc.
Cheers Ann x
Thanks all for all your adice, support and comments.
I am gonna have it done and will express interest once again on the pneumonia vaccine. I will update you all when I get "my calling".
Hopeing it won't hurt again this year
Joanne x
Schools are absolutely full of germs. I stand in front of ranks of sneezing teenagers, all sent in by parents who want them to have good attendance, and know that I am going to get very sick. I won't necessarily catch the colds, but I will get joint pain and fatigue instead. Nice. Something to look forward to for the winter.
Dotty
Sorry Joanne I know I shouldn't tease you about your fear of painful injections but it just seems nuts when you are already injecting MTX and Cimzia and having regular blood drawn for monitoring and have been subject to really bad pain of RA? I'm sure your pain threshold/tolerance will be actually pretty high now. But that said I'm a terrible wimp about dentistry work and daddy long legs and the latter is a proper phobia so I should shutup! Please try and have both as you work in a school. Tilda xx
Sorry Joanne I know I shouldn't tease you about your fear of painful injections but it just seems nuts when you are already injecting MTX and Cimzia and having regular blood drawn for monitoring and have been subject to really bad pain of RA? I'm sure your pain threshold/tolerance will be actually pretty high now. But that said I'm a terrible wimp about dentistry work and daddy long legs and the latter is a proper phobia so I should shutup! Please try and have both as you work in a school. Tilda xx
Hi Sandra
I thought the pneumonia vaccine did not use live vaccine, so was safe to give whilst on mtx? I am not sure whether you can have the vaccine with steroids, but I am not on steroids, so may I can still get it?
More investigations needed,
Cheers Joanne x
I think it is the steroids but not sure.
sandra.
How bizarre, I thought either steroids or MTX meant that you SHOULD have the pneumoccal vaccine, not the opposite! I certainly had it when I was on both, as they both create a degree of immunosupression that means you're vulnerable.
I was told to have it as soon as the rheumatologist diagnosed RA and put me on mtx and steroids.
I am also going to ask about the pneumococal injection again. I see the gp again on the 10/10, so if I haven't got a letter for my flu jab by then, the gp can book a appt for me there and then, just like last year. I will see if I can have both at the same time, in different arms!
Joanne x
not at all, it's just a pin prick
I had one last year, it was the first vaccination I have ever had in my life at age 46! It didn't hurt, only a bit sore afterwards but it did set off a flare up.
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