Flu Shot

I had pretty bad arm pain this time around-have never had that before,just a little bit of soreness. Was taking ibuprophen every 4 hours for three day. All is good now. I wonder why the pain this time? Oh well,it`s absolutely nothing compared to the pain and aching the flu will cause!
 

Davey Jones said:
I get the shot every year,now this year they have a"high risk ,for over 65 ,shot thats only available at the doctors office..

Ill stick with the "regular" shot at the pharmacy.
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Davey-Here they offer the "high risk,over 65" shot at the pharmacy as well. At least they did at the Safeway pharmacy where I went. I`m not 65 yet so I didn`t get it but hubby will this afternoon.
 
nwlady said:
I'm inclined to agree Bonnie, I don't plan to get one. Heard too many folks say it made them sick. I just can't afford that with what is going on with the rest of my health right now. Plus the fact I believe I have strong, immune system goin on.
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Denise-Did you ask your doctor about this? Generally,it`s people with existing health conditions that they really advise the shot for as getting the flu could cause severe complications.
 

I didn't feel a thing, not even the needle, when I got the flu shot. Commended the Pharmacist for that. BUT, when he gave me the pneumonia shot, I could feel some pain as the serum was going in. Glad I got both, but now taking Motrin and using ice packs! It's not bad pain, until I lay down/go to bed, but there are times that the area does let me know that I had the shots. I wasn't thinking and rolled over onto the shoulder last night in bed........it really told me, "HELLO, DON'T DO THAT" and I rolled back on my back very, very quickly.
 
For those that don't want the shot, that's entirely up to them! All I know is, on New Years Eve Weekend 2009, I was sick! Coughing, coughing, coughing. Only thing I could eat/drink was Jello, soup and juice. Sleep......couldn't even spell the word, let alone do it!

Well, there went our New Year's Eve Celebration, even if it was at home.
 
My Wife and I had flu shots at the Doctors on 10/8 of last year. Hers caused pain in her arm and only quit hurting the other day...almost a year later. She had 6 sessions of PT, which didn't help. It remains a mystery. We will repeat the shots soon, hopefully without complications.
 
I've thought a lot about the flu shot since reading this thread. I recently got a hot-shot, rarin to go, young doctor. He didn't know any of my history, specifically about my heart issues (3rd degree AV Node block, and shortness of breath/light-headedness over the last, 4 months). We discussed it, and he understood, I think, there is no diagnosis/decision yet, on why the shortness of breath, etc. has started recently. But, regardless of that information, he wanted me to get a flu shot, and shingles, and give me a bottle of pills for depression.

Just my logic, but would it be wise to shoot me full of something when he doesn't know what is wrong with my heart? How could he know if these things would have an adverse affect on the heart situation? These kinds of things I am noticing more nowadays, now that I pay attention.

I am all for people getting vaccines, it is their right, and if it keeps them healthy, all the better. I would actually like to have one, as well as the shingles, but I don't feel secure in getting them. I just don't trust every tom, dick and harry doctor.
 
Mrs. Robinson said:
Denise-Did you ask your doctor about this? Generally,it`s people with existing health conditions that they really advise the shot for as getting the flu could cause severe complications.
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You are absolutely right M.R.. It's people that have chronic health conditions... particularly heart conditions that most often die of Influenza. They cannot stand the stress of this violent illness and lung involvememt that happens with the flu.. it strains the heart and respiratory system as it is.
 
No, and I suppose that wasn't fair so I will. I also thought about the shortness of breath, and having the flu or even a cold scared the crap out of me. I will ask my cardio as well, what he thinks. I am also afraid because some people report "getting" the flu, or sick, after the shot. It's damn scarey not knowing which way to go.
 
QuickSilver said:
You are absolutely right M.R.. It's people that have chronic health conditions... particularly heart conditions that most often die of Influenza. They cannot stand the stress of this violent illness and lung problems.
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Oh, yes, most definitely. Normally, doctors will 'urge' people with chronic heart issues, COPD and the like to get the shot. Like I said earlier, I get the "high dose" shot at my doctor's insistence and I have no heart issues, except PVC's, which are more of an annoyance than a problem. I believe that the medical profession is of the opinion that anyone over the age of 50 should start taking better care of their health by being properly vaccinated. I get the flu shot every year and 3 years ago, I had the pneumonia vaccine and the shingles vaccine. Have you ever seen anyone with the shingles rash? Holy Cow! They showed it on TV yesterday during a commercial urging people to get the shot. I think what's going on is that insurance companies, after so many years, have finally figured out that paying for prevention is cheaper than paying the price to cure the patient if they should contact the disease.
 
nwlady said:
No, and I suppose that wasn't fair so I will. I also thought about the shortness of breath, and having the flu or even a cold scared the crap out of me. I will ask my cardio as well, what he thinks. I am also afraid because some people report "getting" the flu, or sick, after the shot. It's damn scarey not knowing which way to go.
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This is from the government, so take it as you like:


  1. No, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot or the nasal spray. The flu shot contains inactivated (killed) flu viruses that cannot cause illness. The nasal spray contains weakened live viruses. The weakened viruses only cause infection in the cooler temperatures found in the nose.
 
oldman said:
This is from the government, so take it as you like:


  1. No, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot or the nasal spray. The flu shot contains inactivated (killed) flu viruses that cannot cause illness. The nasal spray contains weakened live viruses. The weakened viruses only cause infection in the cooler temperatures found in the nose.
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Thank OM, I will have to make a decision, both vaccines are ordered, all I have to do is go up and get them, no appt. necessary. I called and checked with his nurse to check with him to make sure with my "undiagnosed" condition, if he still recommends it. My pacemaker is working fine according to the check on Wed., but they dont' know why the shortness of breath has developed. I tried carrying a typical case of water to help my sister yesterday, and barely made it about 10 feet. I'd sware my muscles are not getting the usual oxygen anymore. Don't know what is up, but if they want me to have the shot, I'll get it.
 
nwlady said:
Thank OM, I will have to make a decision, both vaccines are ordered, all I have to do is go up and get them, no appt. necessary. I called and checked with his nurse to check with him to make sure with my "undiagnosed" condition, if he still recommends it. My pacemaker is working fine according to the check on Wed., but they dont' know why the shortness of breath has developed. I tried carrying a typical case of water to help my sister yesterday, and barely made it about 10 feet. I'd sware my muscles are not getting the usual oxygen anymore. Don't know what is up, but if they want me to have the shot, I'll get it.
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You know you can request to get a blood test from your doctor that will show the O2 level in your blood. Many factors can cause shortness of breath, but when you are having a heart issue I need an answer, not the usual, "I don't know what's causing it." That is just unacceptable to me.
 
oldman said:
Oh, yes, most definitely. Normally, doctors will 'urge' people with chronic heart issues, COPD and the like to get the shot. Like I said earlier, I get the "high dose" shot at my doctor's insistence and I have no heart issues, except PVC's, which are more of an annoyance than a problem. I believe that the medical profession is of the opinion that anyone over the age of 50 should start taking better care of their health by being properly vaccinated. I get the flu shot every year and 3 years ago, I had the pneumonia vaccine and the shingles vaccine. Have you ever seen anyone with the shingles rash? Holy Cow! They showed it on TV yesterday during a commercial urging people to get the shot. I think what's going on is that insurance companies, after so many years, have finally figured out that paying for prevention is cheaper than paying the price to cure the patient if they should contact the disease.
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Yes,take my word for it-you DON`T want Shingles! Dh will also get the Shingles shot along with his flu shot. I have asked my doctors over and over if I need it since I`ve had Shingles and no one can give me an answer. The pharmacist last week was the first to ever give me a straight answer-he said that I am at high risk for getting it again since I`ve had it once. Now I got it when I was under an unbelievable amount of stress-something had to give,I guess. I don`t anticipate that happening again. But once I have Medicare (next June) I will get the shot,just to be sure. My question had always been A) Do I NEED the shot or am I now immune because I`ve had Shingles and B) Would it hurt me to get the shot? I`d rather be safe than sorry as long as it wouldn`t harm me.
 
Also,most people that say they got sick from the flu shot actually contracted the flu before the shot took effect. It does take 2 weeks for it to be effective. I think most people,if they were to get sick after two weeks,would most likely say that "it didn`t work",rather than "I got sick from the shot!"
 
Excellent read Mrs. R, thank you much. I also went through the myths etc. I plan to get the shot, at this point, I just feel down about my whole health situation, and I'm just willing to take the chance, that it will help in case I do get exposed to the flu. I mean, unless the doctor calls back and says no for some reason. He already said yes, and set it up. I was just double checking that he understood I DO have some undiagnosed issues going on;)

edited: yes, saw your next post after I already posted this. I saw that too, the only other "first-hand" thing I saw was my sisters arm swelled up and her doc told her she shouldn't have another shot, I don't know for sure about that. My sis is not good about even seeing a doctor.
 
Mrs. Robinson said:
Yes,take my word for it-you DON`T want Shingles! Dh will also get the Shingles shot along with his flu shot. I have asked my doctors over and over if I need it since I`ve had Shingles and no one can give me an answer. The pharmacist last week was the first to ever give me a straight answer-he said that I am at high risk for getting it again since I`ve had it once. Now I got it when I was under an unbelievable amount of stress-something had to give,I guess. I don`t anticipate that happening again. But once I have Medicare (next June) I will get the shot,just to be sure. My question had always been A) Do I NEED the shot or am I now immune because I`ve had Shingles and B) Would it hurt me to get the shot? I`d rather be safe than sorry as long as it wouldn`t harm me.
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I can get this too, it's all set up for me to go get it. Can you get both at the same time or what?

Guess I can ask my doc on that one too.
 
I am one who totally believes in vaccines, but I do believe that infants and children are sometimes hit with way too many at once. If I had babies now,I would ask for them to be spaced out a bit-even if it meant making more trips to the doc.
 
I also understand that when a person gets the shingles they are in unbelievable pain for a month or longer.
 
oldman said:
You know you can request to get a blood test from your doctor that will show the O2 level in your blood. Many factors can cause shortness of breath, but when you are having a heart issue I need an answer, not the usual, "I don't know what's causing it." That is just unacceptable to me.
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The only thing I found out from the last visit with the last Oxygen level was when my sis took me to emergency about 2 weeks ago. My oxygen dropped below 80?? Someone in emergency said that is not good for it to do that, but heck if I know. I just know how I feel. So it is happening more often now. I suppose they'll figure it out. I have been as pushy as I can "without them calling in the police to take away a crazy person", but they can only test me, I guess, and keep testing me until they hit on the answer.
 
I've had the pneumonia shot.. I'm getting the shingles vaccine next month when I see my doc for my check up.
 

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