Flu jab - should I?

[Dotty1340]

Hello everyone,

I've previously (prior to being diagnosed with Under active thyroid), have had the flu jab (paid for it at Tesco), my query is .... are there any issues with this whilst taking Thyroxine?

Many thanks.

[greygoose]

Nothing to do with the thyroxine, but the question is : should anyone have a flu jab at all? This has been discussed many times, on here. Here are some of those discussions - unfortunately, not in chronological order :

healthunlocked.com/search/f...

Funnily enough, one of my Facebook friends - whom I know to have Hashi's - was saying this morning that she had a flu jab yesterday, and she feels really bad, today. Her friends agreed with her, that they always feel bad after a flu jab. I wonder why they continue to have it... I've never had one, and never will. I wouldn't take that risk.

[Scazzoh]

Scientists have to predict which strains of flu are going to be prevalent the following Winter and they can get it very wrong. So you have a flu jab which is useless. They also contain aluminium which should be avoided in thyroid disease as it inhibits uptake of the hormones.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Most recent discussion healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Ordinary39]

You should get your flu jab free on the NHS because you have a thyroid disorder. I've always had mine and never had a problem. Last year they offered me flu and pneumonia and for the following 2 days I thought I was going to die I felt so God awful! Don't know if it's because I had them together or if I reacted to the pneumonia vaccine. I guess 2 days of feeling like hell is better than getting pneumonia....

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ordinary39]

Hypothyroidism doesn't come under the list medical conditions where you qualify for the flu jab nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinati...

although it does say "This list of conditions isn't definitive. It's always an issue of clinical judgement."

And I dare say if your surgery has enough vaccines left over and not enough people wanting to take up their offer, then they will offer it to other people so they can use them up.

[Ordinary39 in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's interesting, I always assumed it did because I get a letter every year inviting me for one!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ordinary39]

Are you over 65?

[Ordinary39 in reply to SeasideSusie]

No, 39

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ordinary39]

They think you're special then

I've been diagnosed hypo since 1975 and was never offered one until I hit the magic age.

[Ordinary39 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ha! I'm very special 😉

I guess it could be a practice thing, as they do state my thyroid as being the reason.

[Simba1992 in reply to SeasideSusie]

This is really funny. Read recently about a big study that had come to the conclusion that flu jabs work best for those who are between the ages 6years to 65. Older seniors had in fact no extra benefit of taking the flu jab. Just as many cases and hospital visits as those without the jab! So really what's the point if you are over 65!!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Simba1992]

I have really turned into a dreadfully cynical old bat. I always now think that whatever the NHS says, there is a hidden agenda!

My lung nurse rang to book my spirometry check, and she said should she put me down for the flu jab. I said no, I don't want it. She just said, OK then, and left it at that!

On the other hand, for some reason she keeps on at me about thyroid tests. I haven't had one at the surgery since March 2014 (I do them privately as I self source T3 to add to my Levo, which they don't know about). I've dodged them a couple of times and the doctors aren't mentioning it yet the lung nurse is! I've already cancelled a couple of appointments for tests, not sure I can get away with it again. She books them while you're there for your lung review! And seeing I see her every 6 months for my lungs, she's going to keep on about it!

[Simba1992 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I must say I am quite paranoid about the motives of NHS and Pharma😳Going back to flushots the main motivation in vaccinating people is not their individual wellbeing but the goal of getting 30% vaccinated to prevent an epidemic. Better that the sick and the old are the ones who take the risks of the side effects😉

[bantam12 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I'm always offered one from the surgery and I accept it, I'm not over 65 nor do I have any chronic issues other than hypo.

[Marz]

thyroidnation.com/thyroid-h...

I posted this article recently

[Dotty1340]

Many thanks for all your replies, I have always felt terrible 3 days afterwards following the jab, as though I'm coming down with proper flu (not cold). I've only ever had proper flu once before and I was bedridden for 2 weeks, absolutely awful. I'm scared of feeling like that again so that's why I consider the jab. x

[debbies147]

I'm debating flu shot at the moment as my thyroid problems have been getting worse and I know have hashimotos but also have asthma . Not sure which worries me more, not having flu shot and getting flu which my asthma may not cope with or the jab affecting my hashimotos. Doctors know nothing so no point even asking them. Such a struggle 😓

[purple64]

I have the flu jab as I'm asthmatic as well as graves. A chest infection is enough to knock me sideways without full blown flu .

[Dotty1340]

That's settled it for me! Thanks so much for your reply. I have just signed up to Ride London for MIND and I am also hoping to do my first triathlons (sprint) next year. Training can be a struggle for me sometimes as my medication isn't totally optimised yet and a hard workout can wipe me out. I really do not want to risk what you have been through, it sounds horrendous and must have been very very frustrating for you. Hopefully you are getting back to "normal" now. No flu jab for me

[MissFG]

I think it depends on what the medical reasons for having the flu and pneumonia jabs are. I'm on Mycophenolate so have to have both at the end of the month as my immune system is suppressed so I can't afford to catch anything. I've only had the flu jab once and was really ill so dreading having both!

I also can't tolerate egg which I understand wasn't in the flu jab last year and hope it's excluded again this year as that might help