Flu' Injection and Thyroid

[nightingale-56]

Does anyone have any links to papers saying why we should not have a flu' injection if we have hypthyroidism please? GP phoning this afternoon to say why he wants my special needs son to have it. Neither my son or I have had this injection for quite a few years now. Official links wuld be good to show him if anyone can point me in the right direction.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

As far as I'm aware there is nothing to say that we shouldn't have it, but there's plenty to say that we should (chronic health condition comes within the "at risk" category I think).

It's purely a personal decision which no medical professional should push us into.

If you've happily gone without the jab for many years, and you have no reason to believe it would be important for you or your son to have it this year, then don't be pushed into it. Personally I prefer to ensure I do everything possible to boost my immune system and make sure my Vit D level is good.

[nightingale-56 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your answer SeasideSusie . My son's Vit D level is 82, so could be better and will be having blood taken soon. Just as I have started this post I have had a message frm surgery to say that the GP thinks it is in my son's best interest to have this injection. As I do not have Deputyship under CP for Welfare for my son, I have no option but to let this go ahead now.

[Marz in reply to nightingale-56]

There was a piece of research or an article posted here saying that VitD was more effective than the Flu Jab ! I went to the GP this morning with hubby for our first UK visit. No mention of the Flu Jab - we were amazed - and with advertising bunting everywhere ! Will try and find the post

EDIT : Found it ...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[nightingale-56 in reply to Marz]

Thanks for that link Marz . It was done yesterday! I am now looking to gain Deputyship for Welfare, for Court Of Protection.

[Marz in reply to nightingale-56]

Hope that's not too stressful for you ..

[nightingale-56 in reply to Marz]

I think I am coping much better now I am on NDT thanks Marz . It is a really long drawn out process though as it has to go through a Court Case. Went through it in Summer 2018, but Judge did not have any papers we had processed, so did not read my very good reference from the Disability Living Nurse, who I have known for a number of years and who is attached to our local hospital. A Case went through by Rose Monckton et al (Dominic Lawson's wife rectifying the fact that Parents were not being given Deputyship for Welfare., so I will now try again. Also my son's Care Manager said she thought I should not have it as I was not actually looking after my son every day. Neither of the 2 GPs at our practice contested this, nor three other people. Pretty sure there must be some money in it for care companies to want to do this!

[Marz in reply to nightingale-56]

Oh dear that does indeed seem a stressful battle for you. Hope you get the support you need - and thank goodness you are coping well. Long may it last ... 🌈

[Lora7again]

I haven't had it because I had a bad reaction last time. When I worked in the NHS we were encouraged to have it every year but I still got flu. I do think it is safe for thyroid patients especially if you are a pensioner or have ill health like my Dad who has COPD but I decided not to have it.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Lora7again]

Sorry you reacted to it Lora7again . I know it has not been good for the last few years. Neither my sn or I have had it in recent years and have nt had flu either.

[Lora7again in reply to nightingale-56]

I tell you what I do to avoid flu. I wear gloves all the time when I am out shopping because you can pick up the virus from anything a flu sufferer has touched. Also avoid anyone who has the virus or just a cold because someone only has to sneeze or cough on you and thats it you will get flu.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Lora7again]

Good advice, thanks.

[Lora7again in reply to nightingale-56]

You are very welcome ... I also use anti-bacterial gel on my hands. I just can't be ill this time of year because I have too much to do with Christmas approaching.

[TSH110 in reply to Lora7again]

Impossible on my bus and train to work - they are coughing and kecking everywhere most don’t even cover their mouths. They banned bicycles on the train 🤬 previously I cycled and avoided the bus and I was a lot less sick too. I don’t drive so have little option and all efforts to get a job closer by have come to naught. I am seriously considering my first ever flu jab this year has been rubbish for me one bug after another ☹️😷

[nightingale-56 in reply to TSH110]

Are all your vitamins and minerals good TSH110 ?

[TSH110 in reply to nightingale-56]

Not sure, j_bee. It is not for want of trying I got a diy blood test with Thriva - good extensive thyroid health job - I found getting blood with spigots impossible then by chance I had a cut on my leg that bled nicely so I collected that but it clotted really quickly (vitamin k must be good!) it filled the phial so I sent it off as per instructions but got an email saying something was wrong with the blood and it could not be analysed. To their credit they have sent me a new test free but to get a venous draw (clearly I need that collection method) you need to pay another £50 and it is not clear if it is more for weekends or non standard hours - you have to pay up front then book the time. Not very transparent. I can’t find anyone locally who does phlebotomy privately. It is a darn menace, hopefully I will sort it out in due course. My last blood test at docs seemed all in order but it was not very extensive. In the past all has been ok bar vitD but if I take D3 nowadays I get terrible cramp in my feet and legs.

[nightingale-56 in reply to TSH110]

Are you taking the co-factors with the Vitamin D3. Vitamin K2 needs to be taken to direct the extra calcium generated by the D3 t the bones and Magnesium is then needed to keep it there. £50 is a lot for a blood draw and most hospitals (apart from private ones) seemto charge about £25. I pay £25 for a Nutritionist who is also a Phlebotomist, to take mine. Blue Horizon and Medichecks have various options.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to nightingale-56]

Blue Horizon is £49 for a home phlebotomist. Medichecks are cheaper but not sure how much, I think it may be nearer £25. I used Blue Horizon on two occasions as the test that I was doing required a venous blood draw (I can usually manage fingerprick when the test allows that). Because where I live is rural north Wales, and the only phlebotomist who covered this area at the time was 2.5 hours drive away, I had to wait until noon for my blood draw, couldn't get here any earlier. I hope that if I need a venous blood draw in future the phlebotomist network has expanded!

TSH110 Are you taking magnesium? I take the recommended cofactors of D3 (Vit K2 and magnesium) but still occasionally get a cramp in my foot or leg in bed. When that happens I have some New Era Mag Phos Tissue Salts in my bedside table (tiny little pills that dissolve in seconds) and those help, also I have some topical magnesium gel and after rubbing that in the affected area for 3 or 4 minutes that helps too. I don't like the feel of the gel but it does get the job done

[nightingale-56 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I tried the BH home phlebotomist once and never again. as you say they don't usually get to you early enough and when BH received my blood (which I let the nurse return for me), there was one test they could not do. Not sure it got sent back early enough. I think now Medichecks can arrange for a blood draw at a local hospital (there is a list on their site) at a cost of £25. And if you have a test at a Spire Hospital via BH, then the draw is free.

[TSH110 in reply to nightingale-56]

That’s useful to know i’ll Use them next time there is a spire hossie quite close to me I wonder if they do 8:30am draws.

[nightingale-56 in reply to TSH110]

I think it was 9 am, so not too bad.

[TSH110 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I meant to get some magnesium tablets but was unsure which ones to get I thought I’d try malate but I need to locate them. I have the mag spray but I have had such dreadful itching especially in my legs my shins are a mass of hideous scabs so I can’t use the spray ☹️ No idea why I have this darn itching it seems to have reached this zenith since getting a horrible ear nose and throat infection that refuses to go away it has been plaguing me for a month now it seems to go away then I get a relapse. The skin on my shins looks weird all shiny with what looks like bruising underneath. There is a funny lump on one shin but I don’t remember bashing it. They are a mess I am trying my level best to ignore the itching. I have developed a swollen lymph node in my neck so at least my body is fighting back but have a strange swelling around my collar bones that is also very itchy and seems to have little bumps on the afflicted skin plus the skin looks a bit dark. I am trying not to worry given the family predisposition to non Hodgkins lymphoma. I get suddenly hot but my bedclothes are never wringing wet or anything not sure I could describe my sufferings as including a fever. I bet it is this darn bug causing it all. Will try and grab some of those mag tablets. My cramp has stopped for the mo (my good news 😎) tho I had a mega attack a few weeks back so it could strike at any time. If I can get that blood test sorted that might be helpful. I do wonder why my blood seems so extra keen to clot. I’ll be thinking myself into embolisms next 😂🤣😂

[TSH110 in reply to nightingale-56]

It was a long time ago I took D3 and that was before I found out here it is best taken with the co factors. Once I twigged the cramp was related and I had been feeling really well for some time....I assumed vit D was all ok again so stopped taking them plus I work outdoors....until I started getting poorly this year and it has been one thing after another ☹️

[nightingale-56 in reply to TSH110]

It does rather sound as though you are low. Do you have your blood levels you could post, then those that are more knowledgeable might be able to see what is going on. If you put these blood results in a new post then someone may be able to help.

[Treepie]

Having to avoid infections as a result of recent chemotherapy I reluctantly had a flu jab, the first for a few years . I had no after effects. Strange that my wife had a painful arm overnight and two days feeling ill after the jab!

[nightingale-56 in reply to Treepie]

It affects me the same as your wife Treepie . Hope it keeps you free from flu.