Had flu jab for the first time - now have flu.

[Shell]

I've managed to avoid the flu jab over the years. But this year after so many chest infections and then siezures my GP basically said "here's the jab - give me your arm."
So I had the jab.
October came and went and I thought "Wow! no flu" Every since since I've been ill I get the flu round Sept or Oct.
So here I am mid Dec and I'm floored. I think this is the worst one I've had since the month long one I had many years ago.
Don't know if this is of any "beware" use to anyone - but I thought I'd post it.

Anyone know if there's any info on flu following the jab?

 

[Firestormm]

Sure it's flu Shell? I wonder if it's worth you checking back with the GP? Only if you've had chest infections before you don't want whatever it is to progress. Better to rule out than worry.

I've been lucky with my jabs I think. Am exposed to the rugrats and get whatever they bring me (loverly) but haven't had full-blown-flu develop.

Mind you. I'm not exactly 'exposing' myself to infection. Except from perhaps the cat who is now sat on my bed replete with muddy paws - little buggar

Hope you get better soon. Ring the quack. Get a second opinion and some reassurance. It's what I would do

 

[maddietod]

They can only put a few strains of flu into the shot, and some years they miss one that turns major. It sounds to me like you got protection from what was in the shot.

 

[taniaaust1]

Many of us who have ME do not produce antibodies to our vaccines and hence they may not even work for us at all.. hence for some of us they just pose a risk to us without the benefits. This is why some ME specialists say for us to avoid flu shots.

Im one who hasnt produced antibodies to some of my vaccines causing them to get done again and again.. that may of been in the acutal year I developed ME (or it was the year before).. I still dont know if I ever ended up protected from the Hep B shots which on me werent doing anything... no antibodies to vaccine.

Or as madietodd said... flu vaccine each year they guess what the main affecting kinds of flus are going to be and you may of got one of the other kinds. (So unfortunately they also give due to that, some a false sense of safety)

 

[IreneF]

It's true that flu shots don't provide 100% protection, but partial protection is better than none. They can help lessen the severity of what you *do* pick up.

 

[urbantravels]

IreneF is right - a vaccine is never a 100% guarantee, just an odds-improver. I always follow these things closely, and for us in the Northern Hemisphere, it's shaping up to be an unusually bad flu season, with bad strains showing up very early in the season. Of course that's no argument not to get a flu shot - that would be as if you saw that you were driving in unusually dangerous road conditions, and decided that was a good reason to take off your seatbelt.

I've heard only anecdotes about vaccinations causing CFS flare-ups. It's never happened to me. I've had the flu shot every year that I've been ill, and one year, the TDAP along with it. Never a problem. I get a sore arm for a bit, as I always have. In my risk/reward weighting, the misery of getting even a common cold on top of my ME/CFS is so extreme that I am very motivated to avoid the flu if at all possible.

 

[Little Bluestem]

I got flu shots for years after getting ME. I did not know that I had ME and did not want to get another nasty flu like the one that caused my problems. I quit a few years ago partly because I read that they were controversial for ME patients.

Like urbantravels, I have been hearing about the bad flu season here. I have always had a reaction to my flu shot, indicating that my immune system is responding, so I think I am going to get one this year.

 

[Shell]

Thanks folks. I really feel rough. Fever, chills, aches and that blasted horrible cough that hurts like hell.
A friend says there's reports of a "new" flu like thing going around so maybe that's it and why I've got is worse and later than usual.

Thought I could get rich suing the vaccine co and Lemsip people because I'm ill and the lemsip hasn't made me suddenly better or lit the fire for me I would have spend my compensation on ME/FMS/Dysautonomia/MAST cell and mito research

Oh well, the kids get a day off home education. I just can't do anything. They've promised to do their reading at least bless 'em.

 

[urbantravels]

I don't think you could build much of a case for a reaction in December to a flu shot in October Sorry you're feeling so rotten.

 

[In Vitro Infidelium]

Thanks folks. I really feel rough. Fever, chills, aches and that blasted horrible cough that hurts like hell.
A friend says there's reports of a "new" flu like thing going around so maybe that's it and why I've got is worse and later than usual.

Some other virus is probably the most likely explanation. Obviously different people get different levels of illness, but 'flu' has come to mean anything that includes standard flu symptoms but at even minor severity. As a rule of thumb if you haven't been knocked of your feet for at least three days, had a temperature that registers significantly on a thermometre and had very supressed appetite - then it very likely it isn't influenza of any strain. Having the jab may not prevent infection but can reduce the effects.

My experience is that unprotected flu infection causes relapse of at least 8 weeks duration and 4 months to regain previous functionality. The jab's not for everyone though and some years it can be pretty nasty in itself even for those of us who make a point of having it annually.

IVI