Flu Jab

[signtalker]

Has anybody had this, or know of anybody whos had this??

As me and DS are moderate to severe asthmatic's its been recomended that we both have it, but my mum delighted in telling me horror stories of people who'd had it, and felt absolutelty awful for days afterwards!

On the other hand DH has been telling me how much press this is getting on the radio etc, concerning people (obviously old!),who have died because the flu eperdemic is gonna be very severe this year

Anybody shed any light??
Jules

 

[marlouwrig]

Jules

DS now aged 17 has been having this jab for as long as it has been on offer (8 or 9 years I believe).

He has had chronic ashtma with the occasional severe attack ever since he was 18 months. He has never suffered any adverse reaction at all and also has never had the 'flu. Like anyone ele he gets colds and runs a slight temp from time to time.

My parents who are in their late 70's also have it and seem ok

Hope this puts your mind at rest

 

[Mazzy]

Hi Jules

I've had the flu jab for the last 4 years, ever since I had flu 3 times one Winter.

The only adverse reaction I have to the jab is a sore arm for a few days. DH doesn't even have a sore arm so it does vary obviously.

I haven't had the flu since starting to have the jabs (touch wood), so it's well worth having.

I didn't know it was suitable for children. Reading the papers this week about children dying from the flu is a bit worrying. Is there anyone with children without health problems who have the jab?

I would go for it Jules, I wouldn't wish the flu on anyone.

 

[Olaf]

My husband is required to get a flu shot every year, and I can't remember the last time he had the flu. He gets a cold once in a blue moon, but that is probably due to his obsessive hand washing.

He does complain of the shot making his arm sore though.

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Hi Jules,

All of us (me, DH and DS10) suffer from asthma and have had the flu jab for the last 5 years. We have also had the pneumonia jab (which you only have to have once) and which you might consider asking your Doctor about. I suffered a slightly tender arm for 2 days this year although DH and DS were both fine. I would DEFINITELY recommend having the jab. We have never suffered any flu like symptoms following the jab but were tired for a couple of days. I hope this reassures you. Don't delay. Any tenderness in the arm is infinitely better than having the flu!

Jackie

 

[WDWfan uk]

I had my flu jab last Monday and have had no ill effects! I have it every year - although I'm not in any 'at risk' group as such, I had flu when my younger son was only two months old and was very very ill ( I know everyone is when they have the REAL flu) but I took two months to recover and my doctor suggested I had the jab annually and so I have since.

My son has just had a letter from the surgery since every year he gets chronic hayfever which results in asthma, and I will not hesitate to book him in for the jab.

Flu (not the very bad cold that everyone calls flu) is extremely debilitating and makes you so sick - I understand that six children have already died of the flu this Winter so far.

I'd recommend you both have it

 

[Goofyish]

I've just recovering from a week off-work with the flu

I still feel totally drained (although England's win today helped ), and I still have an annoying tickly cough. On the brightside I've hardly eaten all week so I may have lost some weight

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Well I'm in on Tuesday to have mine. In the past I've chosen not to have the jab (am mild athmatic), but this year, well, none of us are getting any younger

My concern is DD Katie (10). When I went to book my jab (letter frmo the doctor recommending I did) I asked about Katie since we'd read three children had died at that point through this new Fuijian strain, but the nurse poo-poohed it and said children did not need it. Katie is also asthmatic.

I'm now wondering, with 6 poor little souls now passed away due to the flu, whether I should have dug my heels in and gotten her one. Of course, one nevers know what's the right thing to do - I would hate for Katie to have the jab and then get a nasty reaction (she'd never trust me with injections again, it was bad enough two years ago when we had to have all the usual vaccinations for a trip to the Philippines ), or if she didn't have it and then suffered from a really nasty dose of the flu.


Think I'll ask at the surgery again on Tuesday when I have mine done, they may have updated "advice" now.

 

[signtalker]

Thanks everybody, me and DS are booked in for the Jab on Wednesday.

Jackie DS suffered pneumonia,pluresy and fluid on the lungs at 4 years of age and needed 2 emergency operations which were touch and go, remembering that, has made me decide to have the jab.Both being moderate to severe asthmatics, has also made me realise how awful it would be if we actually got the flu.

Thanks Guys
Jules

 

[edie w]

The NHS gives free flu vaccination to ALL its employees. It's not compulsory of course, but we are all encouraged to have it. The theory is they need us at work, and they need us not to give flu to the patients. They wouldn't be doing this if they thought there was a risk we'd all be off sick afterwards!

My DH says he's had a bit of a sore throat since his but none of the rest of my colleagues have had any problems. I'm getting mine this week - it's the first time in 8 weeks I've not either had a streaming cold or been in Florida!

If you want advice about your children and you think you may not have been well advised by your GP, visit the NHS Direct website, or give them a call.

 

[#1MMFan]

As another NHS employee, I would suggest taking it. The side effects are way better than taking flu itself. And if there is a bad strain of flu going round that is the last thing you need, including any superimposed bacterial infection which is often very serious.

Pneumovac lasts 10 yrs (the pneumococcus vaccine - i.e. not flu). Flu vacc changes each year depending on the predicted strain.

J

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Jules - I'm glad you decided to bite the bullet and get it done. After a scare like you had with DS, I'm sure I would also have been wary about putting any extra bugs into his system, even if it was in the form of a vaccination! However, I'm sure you are doing the right thing.

We have just returned from a hospital visit - DS does judo and someone fell on him 3 weeks ago. I was positive his toe was broken but he had an x-ray and they said no. We got a letter calling him back last week and we were told this morning by a consultant that in fact, his toe had been fractured and was missed by the Doctor. I was a bit peeved since this is a dedicated children's A&E. Still, we all make mistakes. I just think that it is another example of following your instinct as a parent.

Jackie

 

[#1MMFan]

Jackie

I sympathise with you on the missed fracture, but unless it is the big toe it basically won't make much difference management wise (unless it was a fracture dislocation which is unlikely to be missed on an x-ray). All we do is strap toes and pain killers and fracture clinic review. But you are right, everyone makes mistakes and we have all missed fractures on x-rays, fortunately not always with major consequences however.

John

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Thanks for the insight John - it helps to know that the treatment wouldn't have been much different even if they had picked it up at the beginning. I think what frustrates me is the hospital generally. When DS was 4 he fell backwards off a chair and onto our marble hearth, splitting his head open. Doctor at the hospital was great - very gentle with him and DS was really quite relaxed. Then the nurse holding the split in his head together managed to glue her thumb to his head, panicked and ripped it off....... As a consequence, poor DS screamed blue murder and has a larger scar on his head than he should have had. We call it his money box slot!

 

[#1MMFan]

Haha, I shouldn't laugh, Jackie, but it's so easy to glue yourself... that's one of the things you've got to be sooooo careful of! That shouldn't have happened. Hmm, sounds like you've definitely had a few unfortunate encounters at that hospital... considering moving???!!!!

hehe

John

 

[signtalker]

Well we both had the jab this afternoon without much fuss,DS did go abit green as the young lad before us was screaming the place down

I dont think it helped either when the nurse told DS that hes got to come back in 4 weeks time to have another shot because he is under 12 years of age!

Jules

 

[disney daft dad]

Just had my flu and pneumoccocal(sp?) jabs....on Tuesday, nothing major "heavy arm" syndrome and a gritty throat today but that's all. Also I was told the the pneumo jab was a once in a lifetime for seniors but for younger people with chronic illnesses it covers for 10 years then you need a booster, even at that though I'm glad I'm covered.

If I get flu I'm hospitalised!!! I get really bad bronchitis with it...even a bog standrad cold leaves me with laryngitis for 3 weeks!!!


Val
xx
DDM

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Originally posted by signtalker


I dont think it helped either when the nurse told DS that hes got to come back in 4 weeks time to have another shot because he is under 12 years of age!

Jules

Jules, why does he have to have another shot? Is it the pneumo one he is going to have? My son, who is only 10, has the flu jab, but only ever has one shot.

Glad it passed off without too much trouble. Isn't it awful when one child is crying and you know yours has to follow in soon!! Hopefully you will both be ok with little side effects.

Jackie

 

[Ellay]

My DD had a flu jab when she was 13 and was really ill for 2-3 days with a high temperature, sore throat, sickness etc. I was furious as she'd been to the Doc's for something completely unrelated, the Doc said she should have the jab and gave her it there and then. I was sat in the waiting room and feel I should have been consulted before DD was railroaded into it.

DDs medical notes say that she's asthmatic, but it was exertion-related. Even then it's my guess that she pretended to be asthmatic to get out of PE and games lessons, as she has not suffered since leaving school. She can be quite convincing too - we both spent a night in hospital in her early teens when our GP was convinced DD had appendicitis - she just wanted to miss a test at school. Then she wonders why I never believe she's ill.

 

[signtalker]

Jackie,the second jab is a booster for the flu jab,apprently because DS is under 12 they are doing this as routine, and to doubley make sure that they are covered.

jules