Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 My rheumatologist does not think people with RA should have flu shots. I've never had one. He believes it can cause a flare. Have any o you heard this? ette > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 My rheumatologist does not think people with RA should have flu shots. I've never had one. He believes it can cause a flare. Have any o you heard this? ette > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 I've never heard that. I get the flu shot every year through work. I don't believe I've ever had the flu once in my whole life! Cary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 I've never heard that. I get the flu shot every year through work. I don't believe I've ever had the flu once in my whole life! Cary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 To clarify my previous post- I was speaking of all different types of vaccines, not only flu vaccines. My RA is suspected to have been triggered by a series of vaccines I recieved to begin nursing school. I have 2 children with autistic spectrum neuro illnesses- which has been possibly linked to childhood vaccines. This is a personal thing for me..... and it hit home very personally and it is very difficult for me. The intent of my previous post was to offer ideas to people to help them prevent the flu in the event they were unable to get a flu shot. The choice as to whether or not to get one is between a patient and their doctor. But yes, I have heard that flu shots can cause a flare. But flu is also not something to be taken lightly, either. approx 36,000 people die from flu each year. SOmething else to keep in mind is that flu is viral, antibiotics are not going to cure flu. Another thing is that flu vaccines are developed against specific strains of flu predicted to be a problem in any given year. Sometimes different strains of flu are the ones that hit. The vaccine does not prevent ALL strains of flu, only the specific strains predicted to be a problem. You CAN still get " flu " AND---- they are finding out some people need more than one dose of vaccine... some people need booster vaccines, and flu vaccines do not " take " in all people. As for the safety of vaccines in general? THat is a seperate topic to be researched seperately. You could start at the Vaccination Injury Compensation Program, if interested. - In , " Warren Portnoy " <wport@c...> wrote: > > My rheumatologist does not think people with RA should have flu shots. I've > never had one. He believes it can cause a flare. Have any o you heard > this? > > ette > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 To clarify my previous post- I was speaking of all different types of vaccines, not only flu vaccines. My RA is suspected to have been triggered by a series of vaccines I recieved to begin nursing school. I have 2 children with autistic spectrum neuro illnesses- which has been possibly linked to childhood vaccines. This is a personal thing for me..... and it hit home very personally and it is very difficult for me. The intent of my previous post was to offer ideas to people to help them prevent the flu in the event they were unable to get a flu shot. The choice as to whether or not to get one is between a patient and their doctor. But yes, I have heard that flu shots can cause a flare. But flu is also not something to be taken lightly, either. approx 36,000 people die from flu each year. SOmething else to keep in mind is that flu is viral, antibiotics are not going to cure flu. Another thing is that flu vaccines are developed against specific strains of flu predicted to be a problem in any given year. Sometimes different strains of flu are the ones that hit. The vaccine does not prevent ALL strains of flu, only the specific strains predicted to be a problem. You CAN still get " flu " AND---- they are finding out some people need more than one dose of vaccine... some people need booster vaccines, and flu vaccines do not " take " in all people. As for the safety of vaccines in general? THat is a seperate topic to be researched seperately. You could start at the Vaccination Injury Compensation Program, if interested. - In , " Warren Portnoy " <wport@c...> wrote: > > My rheumatologist does not think people with RA should have flu shots. I've > never had one. He believes it can cause a flare. Have any o you heard > this? > > ette > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 My hope is that people will make the decision whether or not to get the flu shot or any other vaccine based on conversations with their MD. I personally had RA at least 10 years before I had a series of vaccines for nursing school, which did not worsen my illness. I have a healthy son (luckily) who is now 18 and has had all of his vaccines. There are studies going on to decide whether vaccines have caused problems for some people, and others have had vaccines without a problem. I worry that a person will read something online and use that to decide vaccines are dangerous and then end up in the hospital from catching the flu while immune suppressed. So the best thing is lots of handwashing, lots of research and a candid conversation with your doctor. Just my humble opinion.......Cary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 My hope is that people will make the decision whether or not to get the flu shot or any other vaccine based on conversations with their MD. I personally had RA at least 10 years before I had a series of vaccines for nursing school, which did not worsen my illness. I have a healthy son (luckily) who is now 18 and has had all of his vaccines. There are studies going on to decide whether vaccines have caused problems for some people, and others have had vaccines without a problem. I worry that a person will read something online and use that to decide vaccines are dangerous and then end up in the hospital from catching the flu while immune suppressed. So the best thing is lots of handwashing, lots of research and a candid conversation with your doctor. Just my humble opinion.......Cary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 Sierra, There is a big shortage here in Oklahoma. I am going to try to get find out Monday if I can get one. This is really crazy! So, we will have to be more careful this winter, > > Hi all, > I'm facing my first flu season as a person on methotrexate. It's a > bit disconcerting to learn about the shortage of vaccine this fall. > I will call my PCP on Monday to see if I can get a shot. Has anyone > gotten one yet, or had trouble getting one? > > Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 Sierra, There is a big shortage here in Oklahoma. I am going to try to get find out Monday if I can get one. This is really crazy! So, we will have to be more careful this winter, > > Hi all, > I'm facing my first flu season as a person on methotrexate. It's a > bit disconcerting to learn about the shortage of vaccine this fall. > I will call my PCP on Monday to see if I can get a shot. Has anyone > gotten one yet, or had trouble getting one? > > Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 ette,.....My rheumy encourages me to take the flu shot. I have never heard of going into a flare. --- In , " Warren Portnoy " <wport@c...> wrote: > > My rheumatologist does not think people with RA should have flu shots. I've > never had one. He believes it can cause a flare. Have any o you heard > this? > > ette > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 ette,.....My rheumy encourages me to take the flu shot. I have never heard of going into a flare. > > My rheumatologist does not think people with RA should have flu shots. I've > never had one. He believes it can cause a flare. Have any o you heard > this? > > ette > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 Yes, some docs say a flu shot or other vaccine stimulates the immune system, and can cause a flare. The drugs we take are to suppress an already overstimulated or over aggressive immune system. Please notice I said " some " THere are things you can do if you are unable to get a flu shot--- and they can help a LOT towards preventing the flu (and other illnesses, such as colds). I posted those things earlier today. - In , " Tawny " <tawnyokc@s...> wrote: > > ette,.....My rheumy encourages me to take the flu shot. I have > never heard of going into a flare. > > > > > > > > > > > My rheumatologist does not think people with RA should have flu > shots. I've > > never had one. He believes it can cause a flare. Have any o you > heard > > this? > > > > ette > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 Yes, some docs say a flu shot or other vaccine stimulates the immune system, and can cause a flare. The drugs we take are to suppress an already overstimulated or over aggressive immune system. Please notice I said " some " THere are things you can do if you are unable to get a flu shot--- and they can help a LOT towards preventing the flu (and other illnesses, such as colds). I posted those things earlier today. - In , " Tawny " <tawnyokc@s...> wrote: > > ette,.....My rheumy encourages me to take the flu shot. I have > never heard of going into a flare. > > > > > > > > > > > My rheumatologist does not think people with RA should have flu > shots. I've > > never had one. He believes it can cause a flare. Have any o you > heard > > this? > > > > ette > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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