Flu jab - still sitting on the fence

[Myosotis]

Sorry, it's me back again, still sitting on the fence about whether to have which flu jab.

I have the choice of the one with the adjuvant, which I'm scared of in case I have a flare, or the quadrivalent one, which I had no problems with last year, but I've heard it doesn't really work if you are over 65 and I'm 72). I'm pretty much scared about getting flu too, for the same reason about the possibility of a flare as well as getting very ill, though I haven't had flu for years and rarely even get a cold.

I suppose I'm also worried because my GCA appeared to be triggered by shingles (and both probably triggered by lots of stress at the time) so it was a bad reaction to a virus in the first place.

So what have others done, and what reaction did you have , if any? I appreciate that nobody can really tell me what I ought to do. My consultant says I should be fine with the one with the adjuvant and my GP is happy for me to decide, but I haven't managed that yet!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Look at the side bar at related posts - many of them are discussing this.

It wasn't something I had to decide - here in Italy the criterion is whether you need the subcutaneous version because you are on anticoagulant therapy or not!

All I can say is that if you don't get on with it it will be a bit late - and I would say you need to get one or the other. Some over-65s were refused the under-65 version - so maybe that is the factor you need to investigate?

[Myosotis in reply to PMRpro]

Oh, thanks, PMRpro. I was looking for other posts and didn't find any, but now the links are all there by my post. I found plenty of help there so there's no need for any more replies from anyone. I think I've decided to go ahead with the over 65 one, and I already have an appointment with the doctor.

[HeronNS in reply to Myosotis]

I had an anti-flu shot last week. (Note I used the term anti-flu because I think we need to start modifying terminology surrounding vaccinations to try to make it less likely that new parents will be swayed by anti-vaxxers. The polio vaccine was originally referred to as the anti-polio vaccine. ) I think I noticed a very slight stiffness in that upper arm but compared with all my aches and pains surrounding arthritis it was nothing and I certainly didn't feel ill in any way. But here I have no choice. There is one vaccine supplied to people in "long term care facilities" and another for all other adults. The vaccine was late arriving here because they held off until the last possible moment to get as good a match as they could to the upcoming versions of the virus so people around here are just getting their vaccinations now.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

I’ll echo PMRPro’s advice - you need to get yourself off the fence, or you may find you’re too late and into the flu season - not what you want with PMR or GCA.

Go for the over 65s as advised by Rheumy. And soon!

[Myosotis in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks, DorsetLady. That's pretty clear!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Myosotis]

Yep, didn’t mean to sound rude, but I had flu jab all though my GCA days with no problem. In remission since Sept 2016.

I had last year’s as well, but still got a mild case of flu for 36 hours which floored me (think I was a bit down after replacement hip operation so succumbed) - and although it didn't last long I never want to go through that again. And definitely not with PMR or GCA thrown in!

[Myosotis in reply to DorsetLady]

You weren't rude! Or if you were, it was very helpful!

[enan-illuc]

Myosotis,

I had a Flu Shot two weeks ago. I got the "senior" shot and had no problems. Both my General Practitioner and Rheumy suggested I get one. I hoe this helps.

[SheffieldJane]

I am due to have my fu jab this month, I barely got a reaction last year - sore arm and a bit seedy. Whereas full blow flu would be terrible, having had it before, I don’t think I could stand it now.

[paulst955]

Had mine 2 weeks ago no problems what so ever. Flu does kill lots of people every year I cannot understand why people don't have the jab. 10 years ago the flu left me with pleurisy so I have the jab every year.

[Rose54]

Hi

I had mine for first time this year like you was concerned about having it as I know lots of people who say thay had a bad reaction .

Had the one for over 65s and apart from having a sore arm for 4 days was fine .

So glad I did have it and know I will be protected

The only thing the Nurse pointed out was due to having a impaired immune system thay could not guarantee level of protection.

[Marcy47]

I am 72, I had the flu jab with adjuvent 2 weeks ago with no ill effects. My arm was a bit achy and the next day I was a bit tired and had a nap after lunch but OK now, just starting a reduction of Pred 7 to 6.5. My hubby had his last week and he was fine. It's much better than getting the flu and possibly pneumonia.

[Mai45]

Lot of good advice here. Personally I was due to have mine last month, but couldn’t. You’ve probably guessed why - I had flu. It had started as a cold and sore throat and I’d been hopeful, but after a few days it turned into something very different.

Stuck in bed feeling totally miserable for several days and very tired once it finally cleared. So when I go for my rebooked appt I’ll just accept whichever my GP has listed me for. I don’t want another bout of flu if I can possibly help it, and judging by my experience the past few years even if it doesn’t stop a recurrence altogether the vaccination certainly reduces the effect.

Hope it works for you, Myosotis

[Myosotis]

Many thanks for all the comments. That's pretty much convinced me to have it as soon as I can!

[Jackoh]

Yes had mine about three weeks ago. Had the over 65 one ( I’m 69) Couldn’t have had the other one even if I’d wanted it as it didn’t arrive until last week. I too looked at all the posts, did my own research but decided I’d better get on with it otherwise I might get the flu!! I would say that my arm was sore for about a day and I had a bad headache for one day, which responded to paracetamol.