Flu jab

[ButtterflyLady]

Just answered a similar thread but yes I always have one, I had flu as a teenager and ended up with DKA and body couldn't fight the infection/virus, seriously ill in hospital for weeks. Since then I've had the flu jab every year without fail. I still have had flu but the severity was significantly less.

Yikes, that sounds horrible. If people are aware of this risk, it boggles the mind that they wouldn't want to do everything they could to reduce it.

 

[Suzannelife]

Do you mean you always get the flu injection and it's not a big deal, or that you get a cold, and it's not a big deal?

Get a cold.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Get a cold.

Compared to the flu, a cold is not a big deal. Some people think they have the flu when they have a cold. The following info may be helpful (for everyone):

"Influenza, commonly called the flu, can be a serious illness that is sometimes fatal. Infection with the influenza virus may lead to a stay in hospital for any age group but particularly if you are elderly or have an ongoing medical condition. Influenza can make an existing medical condition, such as asthma or diabetes, a lot worse.

Even if you do not end up in hospital, influenza can keep you in bed for a week or more, preventing you from doing work,sport or just about anything that requires leaving the house

Influenza is different from a cold. A cold virus only affects the nose, throat and the upper chest and lasts for a few days, whereas influenza can be a serious illness that affects the whole body and can last up to a week or more.

"

Source: http://www.fightflu.co.nz/faq "How can I tell the difference between a cold and influenza"

 

[AndBreathe]

I'm intolerant to a lot of products and tablets so perhaps this is the reason why 2 years ago I was so ill after flu jab for 6 months

I also don't like reading in the media (afterwards) that they had the wrong cocktail mix that year for the fku jabs.

It isn't just vulnerable adults with critical illnesses this year either. They are trying to get up to 4 year olds to have the nasal vaccinations...and of course carers. Suprisingly though in the NHS itself the uptake is very small.

I would say the reason lots of health professionals don't have it done because they end up with fabulously robust immune systems. When I was working, clinically with patients, my immune system really beefed up. My reckoning is that with the number of daily interactions, in my case, in close proximity to others, mean there is a greater chance of bugs being passed around. I reckoned every day was like an inoculation with all the bugs I came into contact with.

I haven't worked as a clinician for quite some years now, but my immune system is still excellent. I rarely get bugs, and when I do I tend to get "snuffles-lite" rather than colds etc.

I sometimes used to have the flu jab, when I was extremely busy with business, on a placebo basis. If I believed I wasn't going to get ill, I wouldn't react to every little niggling throat

 

[Liam1955]

Can anyone advise me please I am type1 and been offered flu jab but I have heard so many things from people that have had it some good some bad I really dnt know to have it or not many thanx

Yes. Have the Flu Vaccine, I've been having it now 15 years - you will be pleased that you had it.

 

[ljmc]

I say give it a go a couple of times. I went without and either had flu or not. Same when did have jab again. Either was ill or not. Really pot luck. Or better safe than sorry. Or prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Arm hurts is the least that will happen. Worse case is serious man flu

 

[_markwilburn]

Can anyone advise me please I am type1 and been offered flu jab but I have heard so many things from people that have had it some good some bad I really dnt know to have it or not many thanx

I had mine this morning. Never had one before so not really sure how I'll react. I was diagnosed about three weeks ago (T2) I also have asthma, so figured the risk of feeling unwell for a couple of days isn't as bad as the risk of flu complications.

 

[ackroyd]

Had my 'this years' Flu jab a few days ago and to be honest I have all but forgot about it already! I think it will have been the 4th time have the jab and yet to experience any after effects. I would recommend any body who is able to have it just to go for it!

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

I have the annual flu jab and have not experienced any ill effects from it.

When diagnosed T2 I was offered the one-off pneumonia jab. Felt a little ropey for a couple of days after it, but it may not have been related. Worth it though.

Welcome to the forum @_markwilburn and @ackroyd

 

[Croc]

If you are 52, then you should be having it every year not wait until you are 70 this years vaccination will only cover you for this year and every year the vaccine changes so you really do need to keep up with it

Having flu every year? I know all about the vaccination thank you and how effective (or not) it is. Its the flu I'm not due again till I'm 70 odd if I catch it at the rate I have in my life up till now.

Also like someone else said working in healthcare (GP surgery) I'm exposed to all sorts every day and catch nothing. My immune system is excellent.

 

[Brian79]

I would never recommend getting the flu jag as I got it once and was ill for about 2-3 weeks and now I have fibromyalgia and a specialist said he couldn't rule out that it was the flu jag as it is possible

Have a look at Bill Gates vaccination program in Africa the amount of kids he's killed or made severely disabled with his vacations is disgusting, it's all about the big pharmaceutical money making machine

 

[X-entricity]

I have had it for the last few years but am missing it this year. I haven't had full blown flu but every time I have it, I feel rough for a few weeks. I will see how life goes without it.

 

[noblehead]

Booked in for Monday to get the flu jab

 

[copey399]

Had mine today. Had forgotten it already til I read this thread. Already had the one-off pneumonia and the shingles ones a couple of years ago.

I'm not going to say that I don't have a reaction because that's tempting fate

 

[Frances_ann]

Can anyone advise me please I am type1 and been offered flu jab but I have heard so many things from people that have had it some good some bad I really dnt know to have it or not many thanx

I'm type 2 and reading the bumph and success rate of the flu jab - I don't bother , as yet I have never had flu - a heavy cold maybe but you would know if you had full blown flu. Just a case of looking after yourself.

 

[smag3]

I have had flu jab twice, and those years I got so ill I had to be off work. First with a horrendous throat infection that nearly closed my throat and second time a horrid infection in the corner of my mouth which was very unsightly and took months to cure. I am never ill, never had flu so, no, I don't have it any more. Cannot of course prove that the jab caused these illnesses by messing with my immune system but I know what I think.

 

[endocrinegremlin]

I always get mine and always have. How badly the flu can floor and dehydrate a type one diabetic far outweighs the risk of feeling sick with getting it.

 

[Prem51]

I had the (real) flu once about 10 years ago when I was fitter and non-diabetic. It was awful and I felt really ill, hardly able to even stand for a week. I wouldn't like to go through that again.
The practice nurse did offer me the flu jab when I was diagnosed T2 last month. She said I would be affected more by flu now that my immune system is weaker. I told her I didn't like injections but would think about it.

I have a real phobia about needles and injections, going back to childhood. I have only had one injection in almost 60 years since my childhood immunisation vaccinations. I don't even have injections when travelling overseas to countries where it is recommended.

One of the reasons I thought I would never get diabetes is because I thought my fear of insulin injections would prevent me from eating too unhealthily. That didn't work unfortunately. But I am determined to keep my condition under control by diet and exercise so that hopefully I won't need to inject insulin.

It's only injection into muscle that scares me. I don't mind the needles into veins for blood tests, and I used to give blood for years.
I did have a flu vaccination once at work, but that year they did it with a high pressure spray through the skin. I would do that again if it was available, or by nasal spray, but I really can't face an injection.

 

[Donna68]

I had flu when I was 19 (no other conditions) and I was really ill. I had the flu jab for the first time last year when diagnosed - along with the pneumonia jab on the first visit with my DN. I had my flu jab this year when invited. Yes I felt a little tired and warm that night - but my daughter also had the sniffles so who knows? I do know people who have stopped because they have had reactions, but the only way you know how it affects you is to try it. I certainly wouldn't want to be that ill again, not when trying to control blood sugars as well. But only you can decide.

 

[Suzie Quartly]

I had flu in 2000 that made me extremely ill, and took 6 months to recover from, 2 months of which I could not walk comfortably as it inflamed my hip joints. Never again thankyou, I will take the jab. However I think the pnuemonia one is not as good as it sounds as I still got pnuemonia last year, which knocked me out for about 6 weeks.