Published Nov 28, 2003
85 members have participated
adrienurse, LPN
1,275 Posts
Did you get yours?
Tweety, BSN, RN
35,402 Posts
I've never gotten a flu shot, except as a child when we were going overseas.
But I'm seriously thinking of getting it this year. I got the flu last year. I've only had the flu twice in my adult life so I've never bothered with the shot.
Of course I strongly believe in wellness behavior as well. There are plenty of things we can do to strengthen our immunity.
There seems to be a nasty strain this year. The experts keep saying that we're all due for a serious pandemic.
psychonurse
291 Posts
Yes i got my flu shot this year again....i have a horrible problem with allergies and asthma and last year I ended up with pneumonia so I am not taking any chances this year....hopefully i can get well and stay well the rest of the winter........
Jay-Jay, RN
633 Posts
I never seem to get the flu, but I get a very nasty reaction to the shot, like a mild case of the 'flu. I had it two years ago, on a Friday. Sunday I shivered all the way through church, came home and went to bed for the afternoon!
I don't need to spend my weekends miserable. Workdays are bad enough!
My nursing buddy had an even worse reaction. A day or so after the flu shot, she was doing a dressing on a patient, and though she was going to be sick. "Is the wound that bad?" the patient asked.
"No, no, I just feel sick!" she replied, and hurried off to the john. The nausea passed after a bit, but then she began to feel faint. By this time, the patient's wife had come upstairs to see what was going on.
"I don't feel well," she told the wife. "I feel like I'm going to pass out!"
"Move over, George," said the wife, "and let the nurse lie down before she falls down!"
My friend lay down beside the patient, and the wife finished off the dressing for her!
ONLY in home care!! :roll :roll :roll
CashewLPN, LPN
348 Posts
i didnt get my shot, and darnit if I'm not hating myself for it now...
I've been sick as a dog for a week...
starting to get better now...
:)
--Barbara
stressednurse
131 Posts
I got my flu shot, Glad I did as I see how sick my patients get with the results of not being immunized.
I had a bout of emesis and diarrhea about 4 or 5 days after the shot, could be from it or something else.
24 hours of sick is better than 5 days of hell.
P_RN, ADN, RN
6,011 Posts
I had to go to several different places before I found someone who still had the flu vaccine.
I got it Wednesday....no problem. I don't think I've ever had a reaction to one.
Back in '75?or '76? when the swine flu shot caused some to develop Guillain Barre' I almost quit then.
deadend
58 Posts
had a severe case of pneumonia about 15 years ago every year i get sick as a dog with the flu whetehr I take the flu shot or not I have already had one bout of the Flu this year several weeks ago and with it for the 1st time in my life (that I can remember) I also got an ear infection with it anyone know what are the chances of being hit with the Flu agin this year? Did not take the Flu shot because when It was offered I was already feeling sick, is it too late my thoughts are that since I have already contracted the Flu this year maybe if I get hit again it may not be as severe
please respond.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
Oh Yes! having seen what the FLU has done to coworkers, patients, and family versus the relatively minor reactions (if any, I had none) to the shot---(and yes it's been NASTAY so far, making me worry what February-April have in store for us)---------------
I considered it fool-hardy NOT to get the shot. SO yes, I did when the employee health nurse was giving them. They were free, after all.
LydiaGreen
358 Posts
In Ontario, the government provides free flu shots for all Ontario residents (they have done so for four or five years, maybe more). I get mine every year because of being in healthcare (I graduate my RN program in May). My daughter has enlarged adenoids... her obstructive sleep apnea is bothersome enough for her (she sleeps 12 hours a night and that is still not always enough) without developing a cold, or respiratory flu. She had tonsillitis in September where her apneic spells (which after six years of this I should be used to) were severe enough to cause me to carry her from her upstairs bedroom to my bedroom on the mainfloor. She really had me scared that time. This new flu is scary because of the deaths that have occurred in Britain, Scotland and Colorado. These aren't all infants and the elderly that have died, some of them are active, otherwise healthy children (two of the ones in Colorado were 8 and 16, I believe). I made sure that my entire family had the flu shot with no adverse effects to any of us.
I know doctors that have never had themselves or their children immunized for the flu before that are marching their kids into the office for flu shots this year because of the WHO reports on the A-Fujian (aka Asian) flu. This one could be more than scary.
I have never had a reaction to the flu shot. I do know that some people develop flu-like symptoms for a day or two after the flu shot... but, I would much rather risk feeling lethargic for a couple of days than getting the A-Fujian. My babysitter's kids did not receive the flu shot and have been home from school for two weeks! My kids have been repeatedly exposed to the flu while at the sitter's (because I had no choice - three absences and you lose your practicum credit) and haven't developed so much as the sniffles. These poor kids are so sick that they don't have the energy to watch television, movies, or even play a game of cards. My sitter did take them to the doctor and he said what all of the doctors are saying, "It's a virus, keep them well hydrated and well rested, bring them back if they aren't peeing once every four to six hours, or if the sputum goes from clear to green, or if they are having trouble breathing."
The kids will get better, but not for awhile yet. I feel so bad for my sitter because her husband has been out of town on a course for the entire time the kids have been ill. She feels terrible for them but it is really taking a toll on her. Cabin fever in the extreme. I've been bringing her movies and magazines and staying for a quick cup of coffee when I pick up my kids just so she can talk to an adult for a few minutes. She's thankful that she had it first (lasted three weeks) and was well enough to care for the kids when they caught it.
It's going to be a long flu-season ladies and gentleman. Universal precautions!
fergus51
6,620 Posts
I got my shot. After the whole SARS thing last year, the last thing we need is any healthcare worker wondering if they have the flu or SARS. I have spent more than enough time with that awful mask on, and don't want a repeat of last year. Frankly, I think people who don't get the shot are a little nuts. Most people have no reaction except a little sore arm, and the flu shot does not cause the flu, so why not get it and offer yourself some protection? Even this year's shot without the Fujian strain still offers some protection, which is a lot better than no protection.