Hi,
I'm curious as to the general consensus and/or unique personal experiences with getting the flu shot. I'm mandated by my employer (yes, I know, very frustrating) due to working in healthcare. I've had it now for several years in a row with minimal issues... though sometimes a bit tired and achy for a day or two after.
Having said that, I realized how quickly things can change, with this recent diagnosis of CC and VERY different lifestyle thereafter. I am nearing the final month of a very slow Budesonide taper with very minimal to mostly no symptoms at all-- sticking to my very limited GF, soy and dairy free diet with daily bone broth and would be very disappointed to set myself back.
Any insight would be gratefully appreciated!
Jacqueline
Flu shot
Moderators: Rosie, JFR, Dee, xet, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
Hi Jacqueline,
It's good to see that you are doing so well. Personally, I've never had a flu shot, but I live on a farm and I try to avoid people during flu season (and I wash my hands if I'm around people). You're in a high-risk position, and a flu shot might be a good idea.
If you don't get enough responses, try a search of the archives using the words "flu shot" and select the option to "search for all terms". I got 155 "hits" doing that.
Tex
It's good to see that you are doing so well. Personally, I've never had a flu shot, but I live on a farm and I try to avoid people during flu season (and I wash my hands if I'm around people). You're in a high-risk position, and a flu shot might be a good idea.
If you don't get enough responses, try a search of the archives using the words "flu shot" and select the option to "search for all terms". I got 155 "hits" doing that.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I have LC and am in the 13th week of a 40 week budesonide taper. I had a flu shot two weeks ago and had no side effects from it, stool-wise or otherwise, just I've had no side effects from the flu shots before I had LC.
Since budesonide can lower immunity, recovery from infections can be more difficult while on it, as when on other oral steroids. I am thus of the opinion that it is even more important to minimize the risks of getting the flu now that I am on budesonide than it was beforehand, and that a flu shot is therefore even more important to get.
Here are some relevant medical sources, which I'll paraphrase and then link.
People who have suppressed immune systems because they take long term steroids should have annual flu shots of killed virus, but not the nasal spray of live virus, even though the steroid use may make the flu shot less effective.
- Flu Vaccine Guidance for Patients with Immune Deficiency
It's okay to get a flu shot if you have celiac disease.
- University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center
If you have egg allergy, you should have a flu shot; but if it is a serious egg allergy (more than hives), the shot should be administered in an inpatient or outpatient medical facility.
- CDC Recommendations: Flu Vaccine and People with Egg Allergies
And, finally, a "recent survey of 1,500 people with gluten-free diets found that more than 40 percent of those with self-diagnosed gluten sensitivity bought into anti-vaccine, anti-GMO pseudoscience, maintaining that vaccines weren’t safe despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary."
- Gluten-Free People Buy Into Pseudoscience
- HERE is the study itself.
Since budesonide can lower immunity, recovery from infections can be more difficult while on it, as when on other oral steroids. I am thus of the opinion that it is even more important to minimize the risks of getting the flu now that I am on budesonide than it was beforehand, and that a flu shot is therefore even more important to get.
Here are some relevant medical sources, which I'll paraphrase and then link.
People who have suppressed immune systems because they take long term steroids should have annual flu shots of killed virus, but not the nasal spray of live virus, even though the steroid use may make the flu shot less effective.
- Flu Vaccine Guidance for Patients with Immune Deficiency
It's okay to get a flu shot if you have celiac disease.
- University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center
If you have egg allergy, you should have a flu shot; but if it is a serious egg allergy (more than hives), the shot should be administered in an inpatient or outpatient medical facility.
- CDC Recommendations: Flu Vaccine and People with Egg Allergies
And, finally, a "recent survey of 1,500 people with gluten-free diets found that more than 40 percent of those with self-diagnosed gluten sensitivity bought into anti-vaccine, anti-GMO pseudoscience, maintaining that vaccines weren’t safe despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary."
- Gluten-Free People Buy Into Pseudoscience
- HERE is the study itself.
There's an interesting suggestion I read while doing research. Because the flu vaccine may not be as effective in persons who are on long term steroids, it's been suggested that such people be injected with the highest potency flu shot in order to compensate for this.
As background, flu shots come in different potencies for people of different ages. Seniors over 65 get the highest potency dose, which has four times the antigens as the regular adult dose.
The suggestion is that people on long term steroids such as budesonide should get the senior dose even if they are younger than 65. Your doctor, of course, should make this determination.
Since I unfortunately waved bye-bye to 65 a while ago, I get the highest dose as a matter of course, budesonide or not.
As background, flu shots come in different potencies for people of different ages. Seniors over 65 get the highest potency dose, which has four times the antigens as the regular adult dose.
The suggestion is that people on long term steroids such as budesonide should get the senior dose even if they are younger than 65. Your doctor, of course, should make this determination.
Since I unfortunately waved bye-bye to 65 a while ago, I get the highest dose as a matter of course, budesonide or not.
Flu shot
Hello everyone~
As follow-up to my previous inquiry on the flu shot, for those who are considering or are employer-mandated, just wanted to share my recent experience.
The hospital that I work for received a shipment of FluBlok, the official egg-free version of the vaccine. I found this out by communicating with employee health, who also informed me that they had given it (or similar egg-free versions) to folks with Celiac or pertinent allergies, in the past. My explanation of need and concern was taken seriously and they were happy to help out.
I had the vaccine on Friday the 2nd and had minimal soreness and really no symptoms at all (other than the very minimal swollen lymph glands for several days and just a hint of tenderness in my upper arm.)
Hope this helps anyone looking for a potentially more safe and cleaner option.
Best to you all this weekend!
As follow-up to my previous inquiry on the flu shot, for those who are considering or are employer-mandated, just wanted to share my recent experience.
The hospital that I work for received a shipment of FluBlok, the official egg-free version of the vaccine. I found this out by communicating with employee health, who also informed me that they had given it (or similar egg-free versions) to folks with Celiac or pertinent allergies, in the past. My explanation of need and concern was taken seriously and they were happy to help out.
I had the vaccine on Friday the 2nd and had minimal soreness and really no symptoms at all (other than the very minimal swollen lymph glands for several days and just a hint of tenderness in my upper arm.)
Hope this helps anyone looking for a potentially more safe and cleaner option.
Best to you all this weekend!
Jacqueline
I work in long term care and I have the option of wearing a mask, which I will do. I don't provide resident care, but if I am within 6 feet of a resident I must wear a mask. The flu shot is an individual decision...I haven't gotten one for several years (even prior to LC) and I will never get one again. My husband got CIDP from the vaccine (Google) and was paralyzed. It will be two years in January and he receives an infusion every 5 weeks or he wouldn't be able to walk. The vaccine that changed our life forever.....I'll take my chances with the flu!
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou