Asthma sufferers: Do you get a flu shot?

[luvwinnie]

I never have gotten a flu shot...haven't had the flu in about 6 years despite being on immunosuppressants. I am wary of vaccines since the smallpox made me SERIOUSLY ill as in infant (I was hospitalized). Of course, they now know to NOT give infants the smallpox vaccine. I'll ask my doctors what they think, but wondering you all do. THanks.

 

[momoftwins]

I have asthma and take Flovent and Serevent everyday. I have gotten the flu shot every year for the past 4 yrs. What drove me to that decision was the fact that when I seem to get a cold, it always settles in my chest and I ultimately end up on prednisone.

Last year, I spent the day in the ER on an IV with liquid prednisone and several breathing treatments throughout the day. This was after I was on two separate scripts of the pill form of prednisone.

I figured I do not want to take the chance of getting the flu and having my asthma go out of control. But, who knows if the shot keeps anything away! My doctor recommend I get the shot, and it has caused me no harm that I am aware of. I have never had any side effects.

I would make sure your doc knows about the incident in your childhood so he can understand the cause.

 

[ahutton]

I do. I use Pulmicort and Albuterol for asthma control but if I get a cough it escalates very quickly and gets very bad. Last time I got a cough I was coughing so much that I damaged the nerves in my throat and started having larnyx spasms. Very scary. Asthma is you can't get the air out to make room for good air, the spasm closes the airway coming in so you can't get air in. It took a long time for that to heal. I'm first in line every year for my shot, and also make sure everyone in my house gets one too so we don't end up sick. We haven't had bad reactions to them, but if you have food allergies make sure to let the doctor know.

 

[Denine]

I do, but I get it free at work. I take Advair to control my asthma.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thanks all. I'll have to discuss with my various doctors. Sounds like I should though.

 

[EthansMom]

Both of my kids have asthma and get the flu shots. Since I am their primary caregiver, I also get the flu shot. I make sure to get the kids' and my flu shots as soon as they are given in the fall. Last year, my doctor's office didn't have any flu shots available, but I was able to get one during the shot clinic at Costco.

DH's company gives free flu shots to employees. Last year, due to regional shortages, the company didn't give out the flu shots until late in the season.

 

[Pooh67_68]

No I never get the flu shot. I will get a cold in the winter that I need an antibiotic for, but it never last long.

 

[luvwinnie]

No I never get the flu shot. I will get a cold in the winter that I need an antibiotic for, but it never last long.

Does it aggravate your asthma?

 

[Christine]

My son (who is 11) has asthma and we have been getting him the flu shot since he was about 2. He is allergic to eggs but seems to do fine with the shot. I shudder to think how bad his breathing could get if he got the flu.

I also had a bad reaction to the smallpox vaccine when I was a child. My mother said that I was so sick for almost 3 weeks--she was scared to death.

 

[sajetto]

I do, but I get it free at work. I take Advair to control my asthma.

This is the exact response I have.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I use albuterol and do not get the shot. They were given free at work about 4 years ago and became very ill within 30 minutes of the shot. I was off 3 days with dizziness and an upset stomach.

 

[donaldduck1967]

I use advair and never get a flu shot.

 

[momsgonwild]

My son who has had asthma since he was little has taken a flu shot every year because any type of respiratory infection, including the flu, definitely interacts with asthma. Having asthma automatically puts you in an at risk group needing the influenza vaccine. He has never had a bad reaction so far. The one time he did actually catch the flu anyway, was really bad. Took almost a month to get him completely over it.

Now that being said. I was diagnosed with Asthma, and was advised by physcian to take the flu shot faithfully every year. I took the shot three years in a row. Each year I got really sick with pneumonia, flu, asthma, approximately two weeks after the shot. The last time I ended up on antibiotics for almost two months. I am not allergic to eggs, or any other
thing they warn you about before taking the shot. I have now been told
that I can NOT take the flu shot. There is something in it that I react to.

My advice is if you can take it, do so. Respiratory Illnesses and asthma don't mix.

 

[lorli]

I'm on Advair, Singulair, and Albuterol and I get the flu shot every year.

DH is on Pulmacourt and Albuterol and he gets the flu shot every year.

DD (5) is on Singulair and also gets the flu shot every year.

 

[LindaG4458]

I take Singulair, Advair, and Albuterol for my asthma and get a flu shot every year. Any kind of respiratory illness wipes me out for at least a week. Since getting the shots (about 7 years) I haven't had a serious cold or flu.

 

[tbthomps]

I suffer from asthma and YES, I get a flu shot every year. I work in a school and the flu shot saves me many days of illness each year.

 

[RitaZ.]

DH has asthma and our insurance company offers the flu shot to him for free. He has asked his pulmonologist about getting the shot, but he was neutral about it and basically left up to DH to decide. DH doesn't get sick very often and when he does it's mostly minor colds. His asthma is well controlled.

 

[Cool-Beans]

My son has asthma and gets the flu shot. All the kids and I do. DH doesn't, because he is a big baby and afriad of a tiny little shot. I see 90 year old ladies protest less than him. Wimp.

 

[Nicolepa]

My son who has had asthma since he was little has taken a flu shot every year because any type of respiratory infection, including the flu, definitely interacts with asthma.

If my daughter gets even a simple cold she is pretty much out for the winter. She just does not recover well from any respitory issues (we are talking months of coughing, wheezing etc). I have never given anyone in my family a flu shot until this year. Her Dr. said that it is a non negotible issue and that she HAD to have the flu shot. Dr. also wanted her brother to get one too, but that one was negotible.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

.. I have gotten the flu shot every year for the past 4 yrs. What drove me to that decision was the fact that when I seem to get a cold, ....

...I figured I do not want to take the chance of getting the flu and having my asthma go out of control. ...... But My doctor recommend I get the shot, and it has caused me no harm that I am aware of. I have never had any side effects.

Ditto

Get the flu shot every year and the pneunomax once.

DDad ,74 still ill after a month of fighting pneumonia.