Do You Get Regular Tetanus Shots?

[Christine]

I have not had a tetanus shot since I was a child.

I keep reading about how everyone should have a booster every 10 years or so. I go to the doctor pretty regularly (I see a few of them actually) and no one has EVER recommended that I have one. I don't even know anyone that gets them either.

Just wondering if I was unusual.

 

[mrsltg]

It's definitely a good idea to have the protection. Both of my adult shots have been when I was hurt and was close to needing one anyway. I don't know of anyone (aside from dh and dm) who gets them regularly.

Erin

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I don't get them "regularly." My doctor has never asked about them. The only time it has come up was when I've been injured (maybe 3 times as an adult).

 

[mickeyfan2]

My Dr. keeps mine up to date. I think I get a booster every 10 years.

 

[Kae]

Just got one last Weds. it had been since June of 86 since I had one. My arm still hurts.

Kae

 

[Christine]

Well, then I wonder why I have not had once since I was 10 years old. I've gone out of my way to make sure I am going to very good GPs/internal medicine docs/etc. No one has ever suggested that I need one.

 

[rt2dz]

I've never had a dr. routinely suggest one to me. As I need another one, I asked about it. Dr. said Yes, get it. Adults are on all sorts of weird shot schedules since Dr. visits vary from when you're a child and they kind of expect you to be in charge of knowing when you're due for your shot.

 

[shortbun]

My doctor keeps mine up to date as a matter of routine.
My husband had and survived tetanus. It's not pretty. Get the shot as a shot after an accident is no guarantee. We are VERY aware of that in our family. If your doc doesn't ask you, ask them.

 

[floridafam]

Both DH and my Mom have to get them due to their jobs.

I cut my hand last year and went to get one (really didn't need it.) A couple weeks after that I cut myself on a nail and was glad I had gotten one.

Mine did bother me for a few days .

 

[chell]

No, I don't. Mine has been due for several years now and I'm afraid to get it. My aunt who has some of the same off the wall allergies that I do had a terrible reaction to her last shot. Yes, I am a huge chicken.

 

[Disney Doll]

I get one when I injure myself and they ask me when the last time was that I had one and I can't remember.

 

[Microcell]

Not intentionally! I usually get injured somehow and get one as protection every 10 years or so.

Opposite of the OP, I feel almost harassed about it every time I go to the doctor they mention how soon I need one (like I want to rememeber).

 

[Microcell]

No, I don't. Mine has been due for several years now and I'm afraid to get it. My aunt who has some of the same off the wall allergies that I do had a terrible reaction to her last shot. Yes, I am a huge chicken.

It does make your arm sore, but it is not as bad as a cortizone shot!

 

[ilovepcot]

I've never had one...ever. The only people I know who get them regularly are other glassers. Due to getting cut so frequently and the glass being filthy, it's a good idea. One I should consider really. I have cuts *all the time* from working with "dirty" glass.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

My doctor always makes sure to keep mine up to date. After breaking my finger 2 weeks ago I now know why. The ER asked me 3 times if mine are up to date. If I had to be given a tetnus shot while in pain with my finger I think I would have died.

 

[chell]

It does make your arm sore, but it is not as bad as a cortizone shot!

Making my arm sore I can deal with. But it made my aunt loose some feeling on one side of her body.

 

[froglady]

I've never had one...ever. The only people I know who get them regularly are other glassers. Due to getting cut so frequently and the glass being filthy, it's a good idea. One I should consider really. I have cuts *all the time* from working with "dirty" glass.

Were you born in another country, or did you live in a county/state that didn't require immunizations for school? Or did you have a medical condition that precluded your getting one? If yes, you don't have to be specific.

I only ask because they have been part of the standard childhood immunizations in the US for decades, and are usually given in a combination series- DPT -completed before the age of 5. Most school systems require that the series be completed before a child can attend school.

And yes, I've had one within the last 10 years, but will be due for a booster this year. I've also seen tetnus up close, and it was an awful way to die.

 

[arminnie]

It is a regular question at my yearly physical with my doctor who is probably the most thorough doctor anywhere. She has a list of questions a mile long including asking if you wear seatbelts in a car.

I have a second doctor (different city) and she also makes sure that I am up to date on tetanus.

It's not that big of a deal to get the shot vs. the consequences of tetanus.

 

[ElizK]

My last one was when I was 14 (school required it). I'm 37 now. Think it's time???

 

[Christine]

You know, I just start to wonder if EVERY doctor I go to is crap or are they just so busy now that they don't keep up on these things. Pretty much when I go to the doctor, I'm always nervous and I forget to tell him a lot of things. I'm kind of counting on him to at least question me about stuff.

I'm really at my wit's end. I've been having a lot of smallish health problems for a few years and I have taken great care to weed out the docs that don't spend any time with me.

I finally feel like I've gotten to a point that I'm on board with some good doctors (I see three on a regular basis). They've all come highly recommended, they are written up every year in our local magazines as "Top Doctors" both by their peers and their patients. Yet, not one of these doctors has ever, ever mentioned a tetanus shot.

Oh, and some of you have remarked about your "yearly physicals." My doctors generally only do physical once every 3 years for a person my age. If I hadn't of begged for my last one, I don't think I would have gotten it.