flu shot ?

My 17 year old has had the worst case of flu I have ever seen. Husband took her in on Monday (she has been sick since Sat).We have had her quaranteened to her room upstairs and me to mine.I  have been looking for a place to get the flu shot (was unable to get it earlier due to low counts) but have been on procrit for a month now and levels should be okay.Has anyone else been told NOT to have this shot? I am going to see my son and his pregnant wife and don't want to take any chances. Tennessee has a shortage of this right now.Should I wait till my counts come in or should I keep looking for a clinic that has this vacination?

[ringading]

good morning, well just my opinion but i do not believe the shots are worth it...most people i know that have gotten it get really sick anyway....AND the strain that everyone is so worried about this year,(strain A or something like that ) isnn't even COVERED in the flu shot....my advice...no way..espeacially while on treatment...now as for your family all getting the shot, is it not late in the season to be getting now anyway...i know they were really encouraging people to get it a few months ago...i wouldn't bother personally, but wait and see what others say.....cause i've really only just gotten up and only have had ONE sip of my coffee....SO I WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME THIS EARLY!!
kimmy

[hph5477]

I asked by GI PA on my last visit about getting the flu shot.  She said it was a good strain this year for the flu that was going around and if I wanted to get one, get one.  I'm not big on flu shots and rarely get sick so I haven't done it yet.......but we'll see.  Of course, it doesn't cover every strain that is out there so you still have the possibility of getting the flu but maybe it wouldn't be as bas a case if you get the shot.

[jevs2]

I would definately keep looking for somewhere to have that flu shot. I had mine a month ago with no ill effects.
There is no reason to wait for your levels to rise,in fact the lower your levels the more you do not want to catch the flu.
The flu around this year is from Asia and is particulaly nasty, I know that the flu jab cannot guarantee that you will not catch it but any help is better than none!
Best wishes
Joanna

PS I'm on week 15 and feel like sh**.

[ringading]

hey guys, just to re-iderate....the strain that everyone is so worried about this year...IS NOT COVERED in the flu shot.....just something to keep in mind

[terriri]

I got the flu shot a while back. My 17-yr old son had the flu recently & was briefly bed ridden. I did get a very mild version of the flu but nothing much. I think the shot was definitely worth it for me because I am prone to catching the flu every year & it seems to drag out over months. It

[GI.PA]

The EXACT strain isnt covered but the family of this strain is.  At minimum this should provide some protection if not complete protection.  Remember there are multiple stains out there that are covered by the vaccine and an ounce of protection is worth it.  I strongly suggest a flu shot/or the nasal vaccine for all my patient on treatment or off.

GI.PA

[ringading]

well....glad i admitted i had only ONE sip of coffee before that response!!!...then 3 sips, by the second response....thats why i leave the serious stuff up to the proffessionals....why trust ANYTHING a women who shoots rodents would say anyway...

thanks for clearing that up....
cheers

[jamit_a]

Hi, I got my Flu shot about a month ago and I was on week 16 of TX with no problems. I also just got my Hep -A and first Hep-b shot last week! I did feel a little tired after my shots but, it could have been the TX that I took the day before the shots!
The only major problem I'm having right NOW on TX is my sinuses.
I bleed everytime I blow my nose!! I went to my ENT and he perscribed antibiotics more pills!!!!
So I'n my opinion get the shot if you can find it.

Best wishes and Happy Holidays!

Jamit_a

[jonihs]

On the news last night, they said there is a severe shortage of vaccine everywhere (even in Montana)lol. the 2 companies making it are busy making more, but if I had a chance to get 1 now, I'd do it. My G.I. wouldn't start tx. until I had both flu and Pnuemonia (pneumonia) shots. He also said that the spray is not as effective. My $.02 worth. Joni

[slarso]

I am just wondering how often you folks with mild sides see their GI

Thanks

[jamit_a]

Hi, I see my GI every 2 weeks! he goes over my blood counts to see if I need a dose Modification. So far I'm doing OK on shot 19 of pegasys & copegus.

Happy Holidays!

Jamit_a

[OkieJim]

My GIPA just called me. PCR came back negative. 2B or not 2B has been answered. Thank you all for being here. Newbee's the wait was killer. Just hang in there the battle can be won!!!!

<B>Merry Christmas</B>

[slarso]

Mery Christmas!!!!!!! woo wooo!

[cindee]

Oh yeah I meant to ask......I am now a little past one month post tx....my head is itching sooooooooooooo bad...haven't changed a thing, so does anybody know what's up? It's absoutely DRIVING ME CRAZY.....skin is itching again too....still using alpha-keri. It worked great during tx. It itches so bad it gives me cold chills! Whatsup???????? Thanks, Cindee

[Ambush]

slarso ~ I see my GI once a month since the second month.  More often the first month.  I am going six weeks this time I think because of the holidays and the fact that my numbers are steady and have been for a few months.

OkieJim ~ Great News!!!  The wait is a bear, huh?  I waited 3 weeks for my 24 wk.  You like to think you can be patient and not worry about it, but no amount of mind control can do that.  I think there was a computer problem and it lost me, because when I called the office at the three week mark, I pressed harder she called the lab and had them fax the results over.

ambush :)

[tikerberi]

Yesterday I heard that they are beginning to run out of flu vaccine here in the cleveland area, but Marymount hospital, Lutheran hospital, McCafferty and some other public health stations are offering them on a fcfs basis, for 15-20 dollars a shot.  

They emphasized, on two different news channels, that people who are very young, very old, or those with chronic illnessnes are priorities and should get them.  Thing is, that when theys say chronic illnesses, they often use diabetes, ms, etc., for examples, but I haven't heard them say HCV--although I know it's a chronic illness.

I haven't asked my doc or PA about it yet, but should we heppers get the flu shot?  Are our risks greater of getting it since our immune systems are compromised?

I can't remember the last time I had the flu.  Anytime I thought I may have, it turned out to be a hangover. :)  I've got lots of allergies, and have had many surgeries, but I've hardly ever been sick from viral or bacterial infections, except this hep c (including the liver failure in May), and the hep A I had back in the hippie days.  I honestly can't recall when I last shivered in bed with the flu...it has to be at least a decade, if not more.

Should I go through the trouble of getting the flu shot?  Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[Tim in Tenn]

According to the news this paticular strain of flu is worse in children especially those with compromised immune systems.There have been a few deaths and large numbers of children are having to be put on ventilators.Since those of us on tx tend to have lower white blood cell counts our ability to fight off illnesses is lower so if you can get the vaccine it would probably be a good idea.I've had the vaccine but unfortunately my daughter hasn't.She seems to have come down with it this evening and her school has reported over 200 absences today.Thats a lot for a small mountain community in Tennessee.

[jonihs]

Way to go!!! Congratulations and keep up the good fight!!!   Joni

[layla]

I saw my hep doc first to get my script then the bxt time was to go over my 24 week labs. That's it so far. I'm at week 41. If I have a problem I call the RN in the office and they return my call within 24 hours. There is always someone on call for emergencies but I haven't had go in or have them paged ever. If I needed to I could go in for more regular appointments with the RN or the PA but there is really nothing they can do now. I ask questions and get plenty of info here for my needs.  I do have an appoinment after 1 year tx so we can touch bases again on my extended tx. LL

[cindee]

I am so confussed....my G.I. told me Not to get a flu shot because I have a live virus in me. I got one last yr before starting tx.     p.s. my G.P. agreed w/ my G.I.  HELP!!!! Cindee

[AK - Hepper]

I got a flu shot about a month ago. no problems at all.

[LvdByGod]

CONGRADULATIONS OKIE JIM, what a big relief!!! now you have a great chance of going all the way!!! praise the Lord!!! what a nice blessing. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! SANDI

[Tosser]

http://www.goofyfun.com/cmas/wewish.htm

[jonihs]

I've only seem my G.I. twice. My initial meeting, and when he came in to do my colonoscopy(I think it was him) His N.P. stays in constant contact w/ me, as does his R.N. I live 120 miles away but am to see the N.P. next week and every month as long as things are going well, more often if things start going bad. I also have a G.P. and psychiatrist here, that I can see anytime if i, or they feel the need. I have cirrhosis so I have blood work weekly and they will let me know if they have concerns.    Joni

[tikerberi]

Thanks for your comment about children getting on ventilators because the flue is so bad.  Reminded me, that I have asthma, and am usually congested and have recently begun to experience some sleep apnea type problems--like my teeth clamping down on my tongue in the midst of sleep, and "sudden jolts" and so on. Perhaps I should consider the flu shot after all, considering all that along with my hep c.

Again, thanks.

[cindee]

Lori, thanks I will try it. Yeah my hair started coming out again too......and I still have this awful rash on forehead. My G.I. doesn't understand why I am getting these sx after I have finished tx. Much love Cindee

[jonihs]

Do you use a humidifier? I highly recommend 1. No matter what the weather guy says the humidity is outside, alot of things dry it out inside. Also let your Doctor know cuz it might be something to do w/ your blood counts.     Joni

[hph5477]

My dr schedule has been at 1 wk, 2 wks, 4 wks, 8 wks, and now will be every 6 wks as long as nothing goes awry.  Looking forward to not going so often, however, I do like keeping track of the blood counts.