After posting on here that I’ve never had a flu jab or want one...my oncologist told me to do it...apparently there’s a nasty Australian flu probably coming our way
So I might take her advice though I don’t really think they help as the flu mutates before the vaccine can be made to combat it
Do you ladies have it?
Barb xx
Hi barb
Not had the flu jab over the last 2 years but been advised to have one this winter. I'm glad your on line was hoping if you could give me some advice about dental work was told 2day need a filling is it ok to have when receiving bone injections . Xx
You’ll be fine having a filling as it’s not invasive...different if having extractions or implants
Barb xx
Thank you barb xx
My dentist wants me to get all my teeth work done BEFORE Doc puts me onto Exgeva....
Odd yesterday I was told by my onco that my CT scan (I have mets in the lungs) now show two breast mets (or holes) on my T-15-L-2 (Have no idea what that means) but now besides the Verzenio and falsodex injections, I also have to get Xygeva(?) shot in my arm going forward and she told me I have to start taking calcium supplements because I have an extremely low level of calcium in my body. So not thrilled to have another shot (got it yesterday along with the falsodex) but my onco specifically told me NOT to have any invasive work done in the mouth at all. She said it was very important. She asked me if I Had planned to have anything done and I said no. She said check with me if anything happens that require any dental work. But she also did use the word invasive. Something about it can use locked jaw or something. UGH...not happy with new shot and a new drug but what can you do?
I have that xgeva shot every month it’s no big deal...I also take calcium tablets...most of us in here do
Ostenecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is extremely rare...I’ve treated many patients on xgeva and bisphosphates in the past ( only minor dental work) but never had anyone get this happen nor have any of my colleagues
Barb xx
It is rare however I have had it, there is no cure only antibiotic treatments.
Ive had it for about ten years. Ive had a 'touch' of flu a couple of times but nothing lke the full blown version. Even if the virus mutates the jab gives you some protection.
Hi Barb, I had it on Thursday, my arm was a bit red and irritated around the injection area for a couple of days but no other issues. I Think it’s a good idea to get it. Anne
I’ll look into it. I don’t see a downside
Yes we ( husband and I ) had it on Friday at the Lloyds pharmacy in Sainsbury’s while we shopped !!( booked it online - both got it free ) we had no wait as would have done at our doctor’s and convenient for us . Slight arm ache a few hours later but nothing ! Do have it just for peace of mind ! And I’ve also read that a bad Aussie flu is heading this winter !
I’ve had the flu jab 3 years now and never had the flu but always get a bad cold each winter ( had one early last month too with a 100 degree f temp !) .
Take care x
My little pharmacy does them so I’m booked in for Friday...after all we go through I think a flu jab is totally a walk in the park
Barb xx
And get your husband to have one ! It’s free for partners too ...so might as well ! Have a good day ! x
Yes usually every year. Takes about 2 weeks to build antibodies. The strains this year are bad says cdc.♥️
I had mine three weeks ago. Slightly sore arm that evening but then I forgot all about it. Every little bit of protection that we get can be helpful. Elaine
Even though I said in my other post I was going to wait until my neutrophils came back up, I had already set the appointment for my husband and myself and didn’t want to change it. We got it today. Just a little tender in the arm. I haven’t had a flu shot in forever, but my oncologist also recommended it.
I get my flu shot every year. I did check with my PA first.
Hi Barb,
I had my flu jab a fortnight ago. My GP also said that we're expected to have a nasty strain of flu this year. My arm was sore for a few days and about 17 hours after the injection I developed a slight fever and headache. I took a bath and some ibuprofen and was fine after that. I would recommend that you get the flu jab.
Sophie ❤
Yes, I had it for the first time last year, after getting proper flu in 2017 I don’t want it again, especially now! I couldn’t get out of bed for a fortnight!
I didn’t have any side effects for the jab.
I’ve had the flu jab for about the last 8 years and thankfully never had the flu! I think it’s well worth having! Mines booked in for next Tuesday.
My oncologist gave me the go ahead and I got it before I went on vacation. I only had a sore arm for a few days but no other side effects. I think with a compromised immune system it’s best to get it. I just got over some strange GI issues. Just symptoms of nausea and cramping and a fever of 101.5. Who knows where you pick up these viruses but I fought it off pretty well.
Hi Barb, my very healthy friend died last year from the flu , so definitely get the flu jab x
Hi Sandra,
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.
Sophie ❤
Thank you Sophie x
That’s devastating. Sorry to hear
Thank you , we all thought he had “man flu” but it was serious and he died within a week
Everyone should get a flu shot. If everyone got it, less people would be sick and people with immunosuppressive systems would not be hospitalized and or die.
I get the flu shot and everyone in my home and family also get one.
There was a big out roar in Brooklyn last year because some kids' parents decided that they did not need to have vaccines because of their beliefs and then a whole bunch of kids at that school in Brooklyn got the measles. One of the kids that was not vaccinated got the measles and it spread quickly and it became a major epidemic at this school. School officials decided that if parents did not get their children vaccinated they would not be able to let their kids go to that school and this was a highly religious Jewish school. They fought against having to have their kids get the vaccine, but they lost and unless they did get their kids vaccinated, their kids would not be allowed to come back to that school.
In Greece all children have to be vaccinated before they can go to school
If they choose not to vaccinate their own children, they should have their own schools and not risk the health of other children.
When my kids were young, they were not accepted at daycare or school with a state vaccination list from their doctors. Who ever changed that is just dumb! Were asking for all these childhood diseases to return including polio!
I’ve gotten it because I work with over 200 kids a week...I think you’d be fine without if you’re not working with the public or a massive amount of kids...😀
Not true. I always got the flu shot for as along as I remember and I worked in a law firm with about 10 attorneys at the time and had my own desk set up area. I decided to test the theory and did not get the flu shot that year and I got sicker than I ever was before. I had such thick mucus coming from my mouse and mouth that I could not lay day. It was awful and I was put on major antibiotics and was out of work for a full week. You are around people and the flu can be air borne. If you are around people at all, get the flu shot.
Not true! Anyone with a compromised immune system should get the flu shot, its not about you getting it, its about other sicker people getting it. Think globally!
I've had the flu shot almost every year since they were first created. My maternal grandfather nearly died in the big flu epidemic of 1918 and it took him a full year to recover! The first several years that I had this cancer, they were giving them right at th cancer center, and my onc recommended I get one. Right now I have a bad cold and will get the flu shot as soon as my symptoms calm down. I got mine last year at the local pharmacy and the pharmacist got it into my arm without any discomfort to me, so I'm hoping to get it from him again, lol!
In agreement on the mutation piece. Flu and pneumonia vaccines are not perfect and don’t provide 100% coverage but they do help for certain strains and are known to lessen the effects if one does contract a mutated virus. I had the flu....the real flu and not the bad colds that many call the flu. I was in my 40s ...so much younger and I thought I was on death’s door! I was under the covers with shaking chills for 2 days. Ever since that incident I have gotten the flu VAC every year. I received mine last Thursday and received my pneumonia VAC yesterday. I was hospitalized 2 weeks ago with pneumonia. And for completeness on vaccines I will get my shingles vaccine in 2 weeks. I got the shingles this past summer and once agai wouldn’t want to go through that again.
Given our immune status, it seems to me the benefit outweighs risk the strain of flu mutating.
Have a great day!
I have never had a flu shot! However, I will ask my Oncologist about it next week.
My onc wants me to have a flu shot after my bloodwork on Tuesday.
I have always gotten the flu shot for as long as I can remember. My onco even advised last year. One year about 6 years ago I had decided not to get it bc I knew some people that never had gotten it and said they never got sick. So I wanted to test out the theory. Never again. I got the flu and I felt so unbelievably sick. I was out of work for a week and had very very thick mucus (sorry, green and yellow) coming out of my mouth that I felt like I was going to choke to death. I was shivering, teeth chattering and I felt like death. I felt awful and I was so upset with myself that I did not get it that year. I will never try that again. I got mine two days ago. I may get a cold or whatever, but nothing like what happened the time I did not get it. I have also read that this year's flu is even stronger than it has been in the past. Please take your onco's advice. It cannot hurt to get it, but could be worse if you don't so just go ahead and get it.
Haven’t had a flu shot in years and when I said I didn’t want one my oncologist didn’t argue with me. 
I think people that never got them in their life (like one of the attorneys I worked with and he said he never got the flu) so I tried to see what would happen. I think if people never got the flu shot in the past they seem to have no issues but once you start getting the flu shot, you need to continue to get it. Because the one year I did not was the year I got sick. I have gotten the flu shot for as long as I can remember. My friend in FL said doctors and other rite aids and drug stores are already running out of the vaccine and she is on a waiting list to get it in two months. She is so frustrated. Her own doctor told her he wasn't giving them this year bc the flu vaccine for this year is so expensive. So she had to call one of those urgent clinics (she tried several) but the earliest she could get a shot would be in two months.
that makes sense, I haven't had the flu in many, many years and I don't take them because every time I took it I got sick, I think I tried two or three times over the course of 40 years. mama always got a pneumonia shot every year once she became a senior citizen .... may get that ... I don't know. Oh and I might mention that the enumerable nodules they said I had on my lungs are all gone; I had gone back to vaping and it gave me a nasty cough this time and I had read about a woman that was diagnosed with lung cancer and whose symptoms went away when she stopped vaping; so I told the doctor that and sure enough, after about 3 months off the vape the xray showed my lungs CLEAR! Over here in the US, most of the vape cases are caused by people vaping THC they have said, and various other oils and substances they don't need to put into their lungs; not to mention a lot of vape liquid comes from CHINA ... there I go, off-topic again, but newsworthy I think! <3 xo GBY!
Great to hear that your lungs are clear. I was also vaping, and now plan to stop after reading the above. Oh, with the flu shot, always, like a day or two after the shot, I feel like I am coming down with a slight cold but then it goes away so I am used to that. I used to, when I worked, get it done on a Wed. or Thursday so if I felt a bit off I not be in work anyway. That is the norm.
we quit smoking and vaped for like 8 years with no problems, matter of fact, my breathing was better than ever and I never got sick. then I quit and started again and maybe we got a bad batch of eliquid I don't know but it gave me a cough so I quit. hubby still vapes, no cough, new juice, same supplier for the last 5 years and they are good, like I said, I must have gotten a bad batch. they are e-liq.com and U.S. based. I found out about them from the vape shop years ago because I asked where their juice came from and they actually told me. I get sixteen ounces 70/30 mix pg/vg 24 mg. nicotene for around $40 which includes shipping. I still have to order it coz hubby still vapes. Hope this helps as China sells bad chemicals sometimes and you really have to know where the chemicals you are inhaling are coming from. At the risk of repeating myself, I heard on the news that the deadly occurrences were from ppl vaping THC and oils, and other chemicals that should NEVER be inhaled, let alone heated up and vaped. GBY <3 xo
Barb, I had one, but my onc said it probably wouldn't do much good because of low blood counts. I decided even if it only helps a little bit to take it. Blessings, Hannah
Hi Barb
I never had a shot until last year. Work started putting pressure on us to get them done.
The reason I didn’t have one is because I have treated several people that got Guillan Barre after having a jab. The chance of getting it is very small.
As I say, I had it last year and I had one 2 weeks ago. The lady giving it said that there are 4 strains (from different countries - Australia is included) in the vaccine this year as a particularly nasty one from Thailand hit us last year.
If anyone is against harm to animals, there is a vegetarian vaccine as well!
Clare xx
Sister/warrior I have not had a flu shot in 15-18 years. I have been told by my allergist, who I have seen for 25 years, who is in agreement with me in avoiding taking take the flu shot. My allergist, and I do take the pneumonia shot. . I am hearing there is a new method where you take two pneumonia shots that will last for the rest of your life. I will get in touch with my allergist who believes in a lot of the same natural modalities I practice. I will also find more information from my G.P. when I have my check up, and blood work done. XoXoX.
My oncologist told me to get it last year and I did. I do not usually get the flu but was very sick with diarrhea for a few weeks. Never was convinced it was flu. It went on too long. I think it was the Xeloda. I love the term "flu jab." In Canada we call it the flu shot, but truly it is a jab in the arm. I like your term better.
Have had it for several years I have never had the best immune system, have very rarely gotten the flu since I started getting vaccinated.
I’m in the US and take the flu shot every year. I was diagnosed with mbc in June and my onc wanted me to take it this year. The flu season started in September here.
Try fly shot without preservatives. It was a 100% different fir me. No swollen arm like hit with baseball etc.
Hi Barb: I got my first flu jab on Monday. No side effects! My oncologist highly recommended it. ❤️🙏❤️🌈
Flu or meds
Grandson has flu
Sickness due to low neutrophils
Third covid jab / covid booster
