H1N1 Vaccine ?

[OldFatChick]

I have been diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, Sjogren's and hypothyroidism.  My husband has a history of TB and emphysema and is wanting to get the H1N1 vaccine.  I thought about it, but am concerned it could kick my auto-immune diseases into hyperdrive.  It has just been the last month or two that the meds are starting to help a lot.  I am feeling better than I have in years and I DO NOT want to throw my immune system into upheaval.  Has there been any info regarding H1N1 and autoimmune disorders?

[AireScottie]

If you do decide to get it, make sure it's the shot, not the mist.  The mist contains a small amount of the live vaccine, and doctors are saying pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems should have the shot.  Do you get the regular flu shot?  Do you react to that?  The reaction should be about the same.

I've been going back and forth on this one too, because I haven't been on Plaquenil quite six months yet.  However, when I came down with regular influenza a few years ago, I got really sick.  My immune system went into hyperdrive, my BP bombed and I had trouble breathing (because my immune system attacks my nerves).  After that, I started getting regular flu shots, because they're a whole lot better than coming down with the actual flu.  I did have a few days after the regular flu shot this year where my temp went up, my salivary glands and eyelids swelled, and I was utterly exhausted.  My mom and brother, on the other hand, don't get flu shots, because even the shot sends their immune system into overdrive.  Luckily, they have such overactive immune systems that they NEVER get the flu.  I finally decided to get the shot when it's available, because even if my immune system flares up for a week, that's still better than what will happen if I get the actual virus.  

I hope you get more responses, 'cause I'm curious what others are thinking about this

[OldFatChick]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer. I have only had the flu twice in 53 years, so I am not really that concerned about catching  the flu.  I work at a very small company and the two of us in the front office have separate offices, so we don't share a phone.  We use lots of Purell and if anybody gets flu symptoms they are told not to come in. I just got leveled off on Plaquenil and I have felt so much better that I actually ran with my grandson down the beach last weekend (for a really short distance).  My daughter even commented on how long it had been since she had seen me move like that.  I am not ready to go back to the pain and fatigue.  If the side effects I am hearing about are factual, I am very inclined to NOT take the vaccine. My auto-immune system is pretty hyper already, so now that I have it sort of reined in I'd like to enjoy it for as long as I can, lol.

I don't really catch many colds, even.  I mostly get sinus infections because of the Sjogren's drying out my sinuses.  I can count on a couple of those a year.  Cough hands on for weeks.  It *****.

[AireScottie]

Have you tried one of those Netti Pots for the sinus infections?  They're great!  I've learned to do the same thing with just a regular saline spray bottle, but it takes some time to learn how to do it right.  The way the Netti Pot works, it gets the saline up into your upper sinuses too, washes them completely out.  I use it every night that my sinuses start to feel dry, then they don't build up bacteria in there.  My mom used to have constant sinus infections, and now none (she also has Sjogren's).  I also sleep with a sonicator humidifier blowing right over my face, turned up as high as it will go without condensing on the pillows.  Vaporizers work well too.  When I was able to work, I took a humidifier to my office too, because the company "policy" was 30% humidity, and I'd get a searing sinus headache 10 minutes after walking in.