Asthma sufferers: Do you get a flu shot?

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Both of my girls have asthma and don't get the flu shot. Younger DD has seizures of unknown origin and DS had an adverse reaction to other shots so their pulmonologist has advised against the flu shot and other vaccines for both of them.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have asthma and my worst attacks are from URIs. I get it every year for over 10 years and never get the flu. This year I knew many people who had the flu and were in bed for about a week. The shot is so worth it.

I also get the pneumonia shot every 10 years.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I use advair and never get a flu shot.

For all you advair users do you know about the deaths associated with using this med. I use to take it but not anymore. Advair seems to render the rescue drugs less effective. Even the commercials now say there is a risk to be on this med for longer than 6 months. The AMA considers Advair to be a drug of last resort. The dangerous drug is the Serevent, which is not sold any longer, and not the other component Flovent. I just take the Flovent and my asthmas is just as well controlled and the added risk is not there.

 

[SadieDog]

For all you advair users do you know about the deaths associated with using this med. I use to take it but not anymore. Advair seems to render the rescue drugs less effective. Even the commercials now say there is a risk to be on this med for longer than 6 months. The AMA considers Advair to be a drug of last resort. The dangerous drug is the Serevent, which is not sold any longer, and not the other component Flovent. I just take the Flovent and my asthmas is just as well controlled and the added risk is not there.

I was just checking to see if anyone posted this info. My daughter was on Advair but I had her taken OFF. Her Dr also called her other patients to put them on different meds. From what I understood, it's now only used in most severe asthma cases. My daughter does get a flu shot. Her asthma is triggered from cold/flu.

 

[RitaZ.]

For all you advair users do you know about the deaths associated with using this med. I use to take it but not anymore. Advair seems to render the rescue drugs less effective. Even the commercials now say there is a risk to be on this med for longer than 6 months. The AMA considers Advair to be a drug of last resort. The dangerous drug is the Serevent, which is not sold any longer, and not the other component Flovent. I just take the Flovent and my asthmas is just as well controlled and the added risk is not there.

DH took Advair for several years. It's a powerful drug which controls asthma really well. However, DH definitely noticed changes in his body while he was taking it. He generally felt less strong and it did slow down his body's ability to heal. He had an insect bite that took over a month to heal. We didn't make the connection right away. Also, he noticed that his muscle strength was lacking in Tae Kwon Do, that was the first indication that something was off. He noticed this change when his doctor switched him from Advair 250 mcg to 500 mcg. DH just didn't feel right and told his doctor that he didn't want to take Advair anymore, so he put him back on Flovent, Albuterol and Nasonex. When he stopped taking Advair, he realized how weak he had been feeling while he was on it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We make sure DS 17 always gets a flu shot. Once I had to beg the pediatrician because the allergist didnt get his supply. He takes 3 drugs a day advair, singulair and allegra plus he uses albuterol alot. We got the flu the other month and his symptoms were not as bad as ours but he did have a cold, sinus and sneezing, we all had the high fever, chills, aches etc plus what he had. So I know it helped him. His immune system is always in a weakend state so he needs all the help he can get.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I have asthma and I get the flu shot every year. My mom also has severe asthma and also gets the flu shot. My doctor makes sure we're on the high risk patients list. Two years ago he even had to "steal" some from his wife (a pediatrician) because he didn't get his full shipment. Asthma and chest colds do not mix well.

My job also will give free flu shots. But they do it a little late in the season and it's first come, first served...so it's a mad house. And if there is any shortage in the vaccine, they don't receive any. I'd rather just see my doctor and pay for it.

 

[beattyfamily]

Yes, I do.

Both my regular doctor and my allergy and asthma doctor recommend that I do so I do!

 

[Alyssa88]

I have asthma with a history of severe childhood attacks. Now I have it under control, I take Flovent and Singulair for daily maintenance and albuterol as my rescue inhaler. I have never had a flu shot, and I don't plan to get one. Seriously, I have never had the flu, and it seems to be the pattern in my family that as soon as you get the flu shot you get the flu. Its strange, but I am staying away, lol.

However, I am on am 3rd week now of Bronchitis and thats certainly been affecting my asthma. They had to put me on prednisone.

I do tend to get sick easily, so maybe I should.

 

[Ariel Mae]

I've had asthma for years, now. I got my first flu shot last year, at the age of 18.

Didn't really want to, but with living on campus, mom and I decided it would be best.

I might as well keep it up, ya know?

Other than that, I use Singulair, Albuterhol when needed, Asmanex daily, and Seravent when needed.

 

[KikiFan]

The one year my daughter and I got flu shots turned out to be the very worst year we had healthwise. I even wound up in the hospital. Since then I refuse to get it. Neither one of us has had to go on prednisone since the year we had the flu shots - six years now!

But I'm really proactive - the minute my daughter sniffles I start dosing her with herbs and drag out the vaporizer.

 

[Poppinsme]

I'm a Respiratory Therapist that has Asthma. And yes I get the flu shot. Some people have negative side effects from the shot, no drug is perfect. But I don't take any chances.

 

[Lachesis00]

My husband was hospitalized the one year he didn't get it for pneumonia for 4 days. So he doesn't mess around.

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.