Flu after Immunization????

Nurses General Nursing

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Can you get the flu even after you have gotten an immunization? I looked it up on the CDC website and it was not very specific. I asked an infectious disease doc and he said "yes" if you are exposed to a different strain but you won't get "as sick". Everyone here in So Cal is sick with something, coughing, sneezing etc. and I thought I was being careful but something has hit me hard.

I'm alone in a hotel room surviving on advil and bottled water. This sucks being far away from anyone taking care of me but I'm feeling better bit by bit.

If you get sick after getting your flu shot you were most likely already incubating something, the shot cannot give you the flu. Also like another poster said, the flu shot doesn't offer protection against every flu out there, but it does offer protection against what's supposed to be "this season's" bad flu. It changes every year.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

My first year of nursing school we were very strongly encouraged to get a flu vacc. I had worked in a hospital for the previous two years through flu season without problem. In fact, I had never had the flu. I did take the vacc that year. Two weeks later I thought I would die, and tested positive for the flu. I've never taken it since, and never had the flu since.

My husband takes it yearly, and has the flu yearly.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
My first year of nursing school we were very strongly encouraged to get a flu vacc. I had worked in a hospital for the previous two years through flu season without problem. In fact, I had never had the flu. I did take the vacc that year. Two weeks later I thought I would die, and tested positive for the flu. I've never taken it since, and never had the flu since.

As you have read the flu vaccine does not give you the flu. It's totally impossible as it is a killed virus unlike flu mist which is a live virus and can make you feel as though you do have the flu.

Whether or not you choose to get the flu vaccine is totally your choice and you should make it based on correct information and on your life situation.

I had the flu x 2. Once at age 18 and once again at 34 while 5 months pregnant with my son. Sure I felt really bad but I got over it.

I made the decision about 10 years ago to start getting the flu vaccine because I did not want to chance passing the flu to my elderly parents who also now (praise God) get the flu vaccine.

This year at age 52, I got my flu vaccine as usual but this year I also got the flu. I thought I was going to die and didn't care, at the time, if I did. As a result of the flu I ended up with pneumonia and nerve deafness in my left ear. After 2 weeks I'm beginning to feel human again.

If you have elderly parents or small children I would urge you to take the flu vaccine but in the end it's solely your choice...make a well-informed decision. Stay Healthy!

My husband takes it yearly, and has the flu yearly.

No one gets the flu every year. A bad cold, sure.... but the actual "flu", no it's not a yearly event. He'd be making the history books. Be informed.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
...this year I also got the flu. I thought I was going to die and didn't care, at the time, if I did. As a result of the flu I ended up with pneumonia and nerve deafness in my left ear. After 2 weeks I'm beginning to feel human again.

Hey Dutchgirl, I've read a couple of your posts mentioning your flu. I'm sorry that the virus finally got you.

I'm wondering -- is your nerve deafness believe to be transient or permanent? Might some intervention have prevented it or is it just one of those random complications?

Wishing you a quick and full recovery.

ps - I was fortunate to have business in Holland many times and simply loved the place. tulip.gif

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I'm wondering -- is your nerve deafness believe to be transient or permanent? Might some intervention have prevented it or is it just one of those random complications?

Wishing you a quick and full recovery.

ps - I was fortunate to have business in Holland many times and simply loved the place. tulip.gif

Thanks for the compliments on Holland. It is wonderful but I wouldn't want to live there again. Too changed, too dangerous.

Dr. ENT say's there a good chance that the deafness is transient. He said it's like Bell's Palsy, the nerve get attacted by a virus and the results are varied. Today I'm noticing that I can hear musical tones from my left ear but still no voices so I get like a stereo effect listening to TV. I take that as a good sign. Just had the shot of depo yesterday afternoon. What an ordeal. Thanks for the well wishes.

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No one gets the flu every year. A bad cold, sure.... but the actual "flu", no it's not a yearly event. He'd be making the history books. Be informed.

I think sometimes people do not know what the flu actually is. Many believe a stomach virus is the flu. And like you mentioned a bad upper respiratory infection is sometimes defined as the flu.

I get the vaccine every year and this was the first year I have had the flu. I waited too long to get it and did not have the full immunity when I was exposed OR I had another strain not covered by the vaccine. It was not as bad as it could have been though. So I did get some benefit from the vaccine.

I agree, people need to be informed and stop passing around the notion that the flu vaccine gave them the flu. It really will scare off people that really need to get the vaccine.

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If you get sick after getting your flu shot you were most likely already incubating something, the shot cannot give you the flu. Also like another poster said, the flu shot doesn't offer protection against every flu out there, but it does offer protection against what's supposed to be "this season's" bad flu. It changes every year.

Exactly - I've said this on other "flu" threads.

If you get the flu after getting a flu shot, you probably got it prior to the shot by touching the handles of the grocery store cart. Or the doorknob to the bathroom at work. Or shaking hands with someone already exposed.

steph

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Exactly - I've said this on other "flu" threads.

If you get the flu after getting a flu shot, you probably got it prior to the shot by touching the handles of the grocery store cart. Or the doorknob to the bathroom at work. Or shaking hands with someone already exposed.

steph

Exactly, including telephones, computer keyboards, any work surface, a stapler, an IV pump, there's just no end to the list. I saw a lady last week at the store coughing into her hand as we think is appropriate and then she promptly opened the store door with the same hand, coughed into it again, and then grabbed the shopping cart with that hand. I saw a study on 20/20. Public toilet seats are far far cleaner than door knobs and pay phones. The worst culprit is the computer keyboard at work.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

NO vaccine is 100% effective and the flu vaccine, in many studies, has been shown in certain populations to be very INeffective. There is a lot of controversy about how effective it really is.

I have had the flu twice in my life and yes it sucks. I got the flu vax once in Oct and in Jan tested positive for the flu strain that the vax covered. I think the flu vax is a joke and wouldn't ever get it again. The year I had the vax and the flu I ended up with pneumonia btw....could be totally unrelated but maybe not.

Like I said I've had the flu like twice in my whole 34 years of life. I'm around the flu and never get it.

The best defense is a good diet, plenty of rest, wash your hands!

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I finally went to the ER last night because I had stabbing pain behind my right breast and could not catch my breath. I was treated right away and told them I had been working different facilities for the past few weeks. When the ER doc brought up my HRT it hit me like a ton of bricks. She was suggesting a PE!!!! I never dreamed! But, fortunately the CRX was clear and I was sent back to my hotel room in the pouring rain with an RX for flexaril, took some advil, plenty of water and today I am here in lovely Palm Springs with my darling Dad. Had some soup and comfort and feeling better day by day. The drugs help too! Now I can take a deep breath. See you soon Dutchy. In the meantime, this season is killer for the flu, shot or not. Rest up and watch a lot of TV. You'll come back stronger quicker. Big California hellos to my special friends....

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I finally went to the ER last night because I had stabbing pain behind my right breast and could not catch my breath. I was treated right away and told them I had been working different facilities for the past few weeks. When the ER doc brought up my HRT it hit me like a ton of bricks. She was suggesting a PE!!!! I never dreamed! But, fortunately the CRX was clear and I was sent back to my hotel room in the pouring rain with an RX for flexaril, took some advil, plenty of water and today I am here in lovely Palm Springs with my darling Dad. Had some soup and comfort and feeling better day by day. The drugs help too! Now I can take a deep breath. See you soon Dutchy. In the meantime, this season is killer for the flu, shot or not. Rest up and watch a lot of TV. You'll come back stronger quicker. Big California hellos to my special friends....

Oh my goodness - that is scary. Glad your xray was clear.

steph

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I finally went to the ER last night because I had stabbing pain behind my right breast and could not catch my breath. I was treated right away and told them I had been working different facilities for the past few weeks. When the ER doc brought up my HRT it hit me like a ton of bricks. She was suggesting a PE!!!! I never dreamed! But, fortunately the CRX was clear and I was sent back to my hotel room in the pouring rain with an RX for flexaril, took some advil, plenty of water and today I am here in lovely Palm Springs with my darling Dad. Had some soup and comfort and feeling better day by day. The drugs help too! Now I can take a deep breath. See you soon Dutchy. In the meantime, this season is killer for the flu, shot or not. Rest up and watch a lot of TV. You'll come back stronger quicker. Big California hellos to my special friends....

I thought PE immediately, esp since you've been in bed. But I ask CXR only? We always do a CT Chest PE protocol to rule out a PE. Was a d-dimer done? Please take care of yourself. If you have more chest pain especially accompanied by SOB please return to the ER and ask for the CT. Dutchie

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