Flu vaccine????

[terry40]

Every year, mid October I get a flu shot.

Should I worry about it this year???

Our county just came out with the schedule for administration, any feedback from any of you knowledgable people?!

I did read Al's info on the subject.

Thanks in advance

Terry

 

[Ross]

Get the flu shot every year! Is there something special about this years that your wondering about?

 

[Kevin M]

My doc's recommend a flu shot every year and he is well aware of my heart stuff. I'm certain there is no adverse affects aside from the usual ones.
Kev

 

[Christine]

Hi all.. speaking about the flu shot.. i'm currently working for a chiropractor.. who's a quack... not one of my better decisions...looking elsewhere again.. anyway, they of course are against immunizations and vaccines.. i've been getting the flu shot for years... I don't even voice my opinion anymore because i'm an opinion of one and they try to sway me the other way.. any thoughts on the subject..

christine

 

[Ross]

Christine how about tuning them out? For the life of me, I can't figure out why someone would want to risk sickness after what they've been through getting their hearts fixed. The chances of getting sick vs not, with the vaccine is quite high. I don't have the exact numbers, but to me, it's not worth taking any chances.

 

[Nancy]

Joe gets one every year, with his cardiac and pulmonary problems, if he got anything that compromised his lungs, it could cost him his life.

I also get one because I have asthma and don't want to risk pneumonia.

I got the flu really severely when my children were little, we were all sick. I don't think I have ever been sicker. I remember laying on the floor in the children's room with a blanket over me because I wanted to be near them in case they needed me, and I was too sick to drag myself from another room. Don't want to have that again.

 

[Les]

The real irony of flu vaccinations is most medical insurance won't pay the average $15.00 for the preventative measure. However, if you do get the flu, regardless of how long you are ill, or any additional complications you acquire, they'll pay for that regardless of how expensive! Doesn't make sense....like that's a surprise to all of us here, having dealt with the medical insurance "profession".

P.S. Get the flu shot!
__________________
Les AVR '93 / 95

 

[carlapv]

Flu shot

Flu shot

2 years ago I did not get the flu shot and guess what- I got the flu and ended up in Intensive care with severe Atrial Fib. Had to have a cardioversion. My doc says no matter what I have to have the shot. Also got pnuemonia shot because I got pneumonia last summer and wound up with Atrial Fib again and was in the hospital for 6 days. No way will I miss the shot!

Carla

 

[Granbonny]

Had my first one

Had my first one

Last year. PCP said..take one. No colds, ect. all winter. Bonnie

 

[KathyH]

Anyone with a chronic illness should take the flu shot every year. It won't prevent common colds, but it does prevent the flu. I have been taking the flu shot for about 7 years now, my company gives it to the employees. A couple of years ago I was out on sick leave and missed the shot. Of course I got the flu and was back home in bed for a week. Needless to say, I recommend taking it
Kathy H.

 

[hensylee]

Christine, you already know that your opinion doesn't count where you are working so just nod your head and go about your other business and offer no opinion. All you hafta do is say "I have no opinion" - and go someplace (walmart will do it) and get your shot. It is very important for you and all of us.

 

[pegne]

Flu shot

Flu shot

I get mine every year. I have never gotten sick from it and my doctors recommend it. I also got a pneumonia shot. I had pneumonia a few years ago and I was pretty sick so the following year I got the shot. It lasts for several years. Other than a slight cold I haven't been sick at all in three years, knock wood.

 

[fyrfytr]

My Cardiologist asked me if I get flu shots and I told him I have been getting them every year. He said he recommends it to all his heart patients.
Have A Great Weekend.

Dave
________________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[joy]

Wow, I guess I am the only one on the site who doesn't get the flu vaccine. I had one years ago, and it prevented nothing. I had a pneumovax two years ago, and from what I hear it is good for more than one year. I am sort of afraid of needles, and allergic to eggs. I get hives. So, I never get it. I have been told not to.

 

[terry40]

I've read the last years fluzone insert, no contraindications.

My mind must be going, 'cause I remember reading something about problems with the flu vaccine and coumadin.

For those of you who have gotten only 1 pneumonia vaccine, it needs a booster, I found out last year when going for my flu-shot.
and they can be given at the same time.

I've never had a problem getting insurance to pay for my flu vaccine, but I've had heart disease since I was 23 and I worked in a healthcare setting. This area has had a problem with shortages, so I go to the County and I go early.

Thanks for all the responses,

Terry

 

[hensylee]

I used to go to our local health dept for my flu shot and when I asked for the pneumonia shot, she made me come back in a week because, she said, if I had a reaction of any sort, they wouldn't know which shot caused it. I know some places give them at the same time. But have you ever noticed that doctors don't prescribe (or shouldn't) two new medicines at the same time. It's because if there's a problem, they won't know which one caused it. A good practice, I think.

 

[Ross]

The only problem is that your INR may rise for a while after the vaccine is given, outside of that, no other problems. Just have your INR checked soon after the vaccine.

Anyone who is allergic to eggs should not receive the vaccine.

They don't have the 2004-2005 vaccine stuff listed yet, but it will be found soon at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/Flu/default.htm

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Pros vrs. cons........

Pros vrs. cons........

Months prior to surgery I took the flu vaccine for the first time in my life. Being that my immune system was still compromised from surgery.....and the first year they were giving the "live virus.... I ended up with the flu real real bad. 104 temp in the hospital on Christmas to boot. Actually, I had the flu twice in a 6 week period. Might have been a fluke. Or that I had a toddler in pre-school at the time.

Three years following I have used the vaccine with great success. Also give it to my daughter age 7. I have seen a dramatic change in her during the winter months. Last year the flu hit her school in epidemic proportion. She had a low grade fever and missed one day. Vrs. some of the children missing almost two weeks!!!

In a nutshell, despite my negative experience "it's a good thing". Get you shots people!

ON the INR...very slight elevation noted. Was still under 4.0. Not too bad.

 

[terry40]

Hensylee

Hensylee

That a good practice your doc has, I wish more would follow that.

When they sent me home post surgery with 10 different medications, I'd thought I'd die, my family doc, only after blood test results, reduce it by half, who knew which medication I was reacting too, eventually we found the pain meds, potassium supplement, and the higher dose of coumadin, which we had no choice but to split the dose.

Terry

 

[terry40]

Ross & Gina

Ross & Gina

Ross, I'm out of the loop (healthcare loop) so thanks for the website for the cdc. I should have know that!

I read Al's site about flu vaccine and increase INR, That doesn't seem to be a problem the lower INR is always my concern, Too many green veggies.

Gina, I had a flu, pneumovac & adult dt before my surgery last year, no reaction Thank God.

I had the flu vac when it was live,years ago, there was always a small reaction for about 2 days, now with the inactive type it's good!

Terry