Flu shot

Normally I get a flu shot , but this year I'm not sure I should. What has other people's Dr. said about getting the flu shot? I have a Dr. appt Thursday so I intend to ask the question about flu shot and ITP. Thanks Christina

Everyone differs on this subject. Doctors do too and it's all what your doctor personally believes. Most of them are flu shot pushers though.

I believe that the flu shot can stir the immune system and cause problems (and not just ITP related). A person can still get the flu even if they get the flu shot. I've never had a flu shot in my life and I've only had the true flu once when I was 10 years old.

The other side of the coin is that the flu can also possibly cause counts to drop.

I agree with Sandi about what might happen either way. I personally get the flu shot every year and have never had any platelet or other problems from it. I think the flu is just so awful and will do what I can to avoid it.
Erica

I've heard from a teaching nurse, a newly graduated nurse and a nurse in the step down unit in Cardiac unit that the flu shot is not a very good thing. They say there is a whole lot of "other stuff" that is put in it, unnecessary stuff. Didn't get any specifics but I trust them all.

You pretty much hit it, server. The additives are more dangerous to the immune system then any flu ever will be. I'd rather puke my guts out for days then allow a needle close to me ever again.

My hema has always said no on the flu shot.

I get a flu shot every year. My lowest platelet count (3K) was when I was sick, and my platelets routinely drop if I'm ill. I actually get a bit nervous if I have to sit next to someone who's sick on a plane or in a meeting. My counts have been great -- low 100s -- for a couple of years, but when I'm sick they drop into the 70-90K range.

The flu shot is a no-brainer for me. I don't subscribe to the theory that the manufacturers would add unnecessary ingredients that could be harmful. JMHO.

I get one every year, no problem.
My hematologist hasn't had a problem with it either. He even recommended it, back when I took immune suppressants for ITP treatment.
Everyone is different though.
.

Being spleenless, I have no problems getting my flu shot. Both my hema and family doctor stress the fact that I get one every year. In fact, my mom told me our doctor will be giving them next month so I'll be making my appointment!

I'm with Tamar.

And good lord the flu is just not puking ones guts out for a few days - geeze - that was an ignorant statement!

How about death!!!

How about a sweet young life snuffed out because the parents didn't get her the flu shot - my friend went to the funeral of a little girl last year, confirmed flu case, who died from it.

I know people who have been hospitalized due to the flu.

Whilst I have just about always have had the influenza vaccine and hasn't caused any problems for me. One year I did get mild flue afterwards and GP reckond by the timing I would have got it anyway.

But other than that I haven't had any negative experiences and two year ago now I got the swine flue vaccine too without any affect on the immune system and ITP

I believe you are not meant to have live vaccines if you are on steroids but other than that it is upto you.

Melinda wrote: I'm with Tamar.

And good lord the flu is just not puking ones guts out for a few days - geeze - that was an ignorant statement!

How about death!!!

How about a sweet young life snuffed out because the parents didn't get her the flu shot - my friend went to the funeral of a little girl last year, confirmed flu case, who died from it.

I know people who have been hospitalized due to the flu.

That was not an ignorant statement - it was for exaggeration. In reality, what most people call the flu (throwing up) is more characterized by severe body aches, fever, and pains and can be accompanied by vomiting at times. There. Do you feel better now?

And quite frankly, any child that actually died from the flu had more then flu issues. Perhaps a parent who didn't pay attention and take them to the doctor when they should have? Or how about the child had underlying health issues that meant a flu should have been addressed much sooner then it was? It's not about the flu and if a flu shot would have "prevented" it. It's about a parent being wise enough to know when it's time to seek help - before it's too late. The flu shot would not have necessarily prevented that child's death. THAT is an ignorant statement.

Going to the hospital b/c of the flu scares me much less then putting crap shots in my body. :sick: You just go ahead and get your flu shot, dear. You are welcome to all the immune system damage you want. :blink:

In reality, what most people call the flu

In reality what most people call the flu is not The Flu - the flu shot is for The Flu, not what most people call the flu. There, happy?

So you know the parents of this child who died - you know they ignored her symptoms? You know she had underlying health issues? Wrong my dear! She was a healthy beautiful loved little girl, - however she did die of complications from The Flu. And that can happen to anyone.

Here is some specific information about vaccine additives: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm
You don't have to go by what some person tells you, who knows what they know - look up the facts. Also you can look up studies about the effects of the different additives rather than going by hearsay.

I consider myself in a high risk category, having more than one immune disorder, and the flu can be a killer. I avoid the nasal mist since it is live virus but have not had a single problem with the flu shot for many years and happily no flu either. I know it's not a guarantee because other flus can sneak in.
Erica

Okay - NOT the friendly, helpful discussion I was hoping for. Can we please be nice? Pretty please?

To each his own on this. I can't tell you how many times I hear people say that have had the flu, and it's not the real flu, just a two day virus. That word is very abused and overused. The true flu can be very dangerous for some people, and yes, it can be deadly. Getting the shot may not prevent that though. If you are asplenic, it is a must!

I got it as a must before I was asplenic as had heart surgery. I had ignored it for long enough through no particular reason and once I happend to be in the GP at that time so the doc 'got me' Since then I have been fairly good about renewing it. Though get confused on the rules with steroids. One is not meant to have a live vaccine whilst on steroids but how long must one have stopped taking them for?

I have had two bouts of mild influenza. One wasn't properly diagnosed but the other case was as was at Uni at the time. I got to lectures okay, but as good as crawled home (luckily for me the same road) and went to bed as soon as I got in though didn't really sleep and didn't want much to eat and a few days I went home and to own GP who himself said it was mild flue - not me

The choice is yours at the end of the day and the er discussions here show you how a hot potatoe of a discussion the flu vaccine is.

If you have your spleen and nothing else is wrong with you and normally don't bother with the vaccine, I would keep it that way unless your doc tells you otherwise or your job circumstances says it is a must. I got the flue and swine flue free (England) but know a few people who even paid for it all in England because they are not in the at risk categories. I am.

If you have had a splenectomy then go for it. If not and your health is okay then just carry on as you are is my twopenneth worth and hope this helps.

The flu is not a live vaccine so no problem for asplenic people. Myself I have refused it as my platelets are stable and I don't want to risk upsetting things. Anyway, work offered it today and I have a cold so they wouldn't do it anyway so no choice to make.

Ann, I think the nasal mist that the offer mostly to kids is a live vaccine but the shot isn't.
Erica

Yes I've read about the live mist on here. We don't use it in the UK.

tamar wrote: I get a flu shot every year.

What a wonderful surprise to see a post from Tamar. Hiya Tamar!

Gort wrote:

tamar wrote: I get a flu shot every year.

What a wonderful surprise to see a post from Tamar. Hiya Tamar!

Hi back atcha, Steve!

I just had my once-a-year hema checkup (platelets were 112K, no treatment sice Feb 2008). I check in once in a while but usually don't have much to add to discussions that hasn't been said.:laugh:

I've kidney disease, C.O.P.D., heart disease, and recently I.T.P.

I've gotten the flu shot every year for the last 10 years, as well as the pneumonia shot, (as needed)

there are so many theories on side effects etc... but I can't afford the respiratory issues of influenza,

I get a flu shot every year. My hema recommended I do. I have never had a problem with the shot.

I consider the flu shot really important for my daughter with ITP. A cold is bad enough- for 3 days of a cold getting worse, her platelets go from normal to 30-50K. A flu shot gives her mild petechia. A 24 hr fever drops her platelets from normal to 2K. Extrapolating from a cold to five days of fever, I don't even want to imagine it. Not to mention bronchitis and other complications that often occur. Then there's the week of lost productivity from illness and spreading it to others.

When I get flu my count goes up. My neutrophils go down which really shows that it's a fluey virus I've got and not just a natural high count. I don't know what the flu jab would do. Interesting thought.