Got my flu shot a few weeks ago and have my prescription for the Prevnar 13 vaccination....I just need to remember to wear a short-sleeved top the next time I'm near a pharmacy.

Got my flu shot weeks ago, in early October, and got the pneumonia shot on Monday. It was my second one too and my arm hurt like heck.

We're 'all shot up'. Prevnar back in April at the new MD's office and flu shots about four weeks ago at a CVS Minute Clinic (where they mixed my info with DH's DOB and I got a bill that should have gone to Medicare). I believe I would never have had to be hospitalized for four days last March with pneumonia if my *now former MD* had given me the Prevnar.

Good for you! I got my flu shot in Sept.

My doc says I don't need the pneumonia vac, but I'm might veto that opinion ;-) (I did receive a version many years ago)

We got our flu shots in October, and had the Prevnar 13 several months ago. A friend who is a public health nurse had insisted we both go for the Prevnar 13, we'd been helping a neighbor with pneumonia and she said we needed protection from the contagious types. And, we had the other pneumonia shot when young enough (in our early 50's) that we both need a booster now for that one, will probably get it after the first of the year. The pharmacist had warned me our insurance might balk at two each within the same calendar year....that not all companies had caught up with the new recommendation for adults.

Neither one of us had any soreness from the Prevnar 13 at all, but my sister did....

DH and I got ours back in October. I hope we didn't get them a little too soon.....

Long ago, for about six straight years, I got the worst cases of flu for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I even began planning for the out-of-commission time it was so predictable! So I began getting flu shots. For 4-5 years I got them, and every year my arm would hurt and my entire body would be achy and tired for 2.5-4 weeks following. My reasoning became the flu would be a shorter period of misery. That was probably a decade ago since I stopped getting the shots; now I cannot even remember the last time I caught the flu. I have no idea the whys of any of those things.

But I am not advocating not getting the shots. And as I age and the dangers of catching the flu increases, I will probably be smart to cave to my doctor's recommendations. But I'm not ready to do that yet!

I hope you get the flu shot. The symptoms that you experienced will in no way be brought on by the flu shot you receive now. That's not to say you won't get sick after, it just won't have been caused by the flu shot (sx last up to 2 days).

It could save your life!

The symptoms that you experienced will in no way be brought on by the flu shot you receive now.

midipadv: Because??? They said I would only feel discomfort for a few days, at most, when I got the flu shots then, too. That is true for most people; it was not my experience, though. True, if I tried to get a flu shot now, I may not have the extended discomfort. Or I could. What makes you so sure I won't experience extended symptoms now? Extended symptoms immediately following the shot, five years running, cannot logically be considered coincidental.

We both got our flu shots in October and do every year in that month. We had pneumonia shots years ago. Will be seeing a "new" doctor in April and will discuss that with him then.

ok that's what confuses me...do you get just the one pneumonia shot just once? so it's not yearly? we haven't done it yet (flu last month) believe me wish I had a flu shot as a toddler. ended up in a home made (by the dr) tent, with the flu and measles at the SAME time...was about 2 yrs old, and spiked a fever bad enough that all my adult molars were affected...and my mother could recall the horrible flu when she was a child, that killed thousands...if your doc recommends it follow their guidelines...

I have never had a flu shot, nor a pneumonia, nor shingles shot. At my age I am now afraid to start.

Susan: Most people need only one dose of the standard penuomonia shot that's been given for years, the PPSV. Although a second dose is recommended for certain high-risk groups. People 65 and older should get a dose even if they have gotten one shot before they turned 65 (like we did).

The newer Prevnar 13 (sort of newer, my friend at the health department has been giving them to babies for years, it's just recently they are now recommended for adults) vaccinates against 13 strains of pneumonia that are not included in the other shot -and as far as I know, that's a one time injection too. Neither are annually like a flu shot, they are only repeated under certain conditions.

Got ours in November although usually we get them in October....

I am entirely pro vaccination except for the flu shot. I'm not high risk for dying from the flu and I am not going be be part of the guessing game of did we vaccinate for the right flu bug this year. As long as viruses mutate flu shots will remain unreliable. I believe people at high risk for complications from the flu may as well take the "precautionary" measures and be vaccinated. As for me I'll pass.

I had measles as a child. Horrid illness, Many of our generation had lifelong effects. It was often misdiagnosed as "the flu" before the outbreak of spots appeared since early symptoms are similar. Mine was. In fact the doctor gave me a penicillin shot (dark ages when they gave penicillin for everything, even viral stuff) and then thought at first my rash was a reaction. LOL So I think the same may have happened to susanjf. Not the flu, just the horrid effects of measles which came with all the symptoms of influenza and then some.

gyr_falcon

The symptoms that you experienced will in no way be brought on by the flu shot you receive now.

midipadv: Because???

******

I hope you get the flu shot!

I read an article concerning where on the arm the vaccine is given. Too high can cause achy pain for weeks and weeks--I believe this has happened to my youngest dd who now has a needle phobia. Now I always ask the nurse to aim lower than my shoulder.

The last year we skipped a flu shot, my father in law was still living. I remember because DH had the flu, and missed his dad's birthday dinner. It's the only days in his entire working career he missed work due to illness. FIL died in 1986.

The day DH was returning to work, I woke up unable to lift my head from the pillow with headache and chills. I had his flu. We have never, ever skipped an annual flu shot again and neither of us have come down with the flu again in approximately 30 years.

I got my flu shot in late august or early Sept. My pneumonia shot was given to me 2 years ago and it was for a lifetime. I'm thinking about getting the shingles vaccine though I have had the shingles about 3 years ago. Mine were mild but my hubby said they looked bad.

I don't get them anymore. I know people say it's not possible to get the flu from a flu shot, but I always get extremely sick after I get one. My husband also vomits and feels cruddy for 24 hours. Maybe not the flu but some sort of very unpleasant reaction so we generally just take our chances since we don't have any other health issues.

mimipadv, Since you didn't answer in even the slightest way why you think I should get a flu shot now, although I have experienced lengthy discomfort in the past, I am left to wonder if you just wish for me a month's worth of suffering. Not sure if I think that is funny, or sad. Or just confusing perhaps. Yeah, confusing mostly.

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serjin, that is interesting about the placement. I had to think, but I recall only one of the shots being given high, and at least two were much lower. I don't think it completely changed my reactions, but some years had more pain and discomfort than other years. I wrote that off to whatever strain mixture they made that particular year. Maybe placement played a roll, too. Something to consider, anyway.

Although I fathfully get the flu shot every year I always seem to pick up some stomach problem with vomiting and feeling very sick for days...apparently it's not the flu the doctor says..then I wish they would make a vaccine for whatever it is.

Everybody, the Prevnar 13 pneumonia vaccine is strongly recommended by the medical community in conjunction with the other vaccination you may have had. Especially for older folks, very young children, and those with compromised immune systems.

Your doctor will write a prescription and the pharmacy will administer the shot. Not every pharmacies seem to carry it.

Prevnar 13 is now covered by Medicare. I put off getting it because of the cost, but this year they started covering it. I highly recommend everyone on Medicare get it!

I love to hear the word FREE!!!

Audrey, I don't know how old you are, but the shingles shot isn't given to people under 50, and it's usually given only once, so every person who gets the shot gets it for the first time. :-)

I seem to remember that you were experiencing breathing problems. Maybe it would be a good idea to ask your doctor if you should get the pneumonia shot. Some learned advice wouldn't hurt.

morz8 thank you!! so will get dh and I back to target...(our pharmacist is great on shot on giving shots)

I do not get the flu shot and have never gotten it for any of my children either.

It's funny, I remember my pediatrician asking me a few years ago, during a regular check up with scheduled vaccinations, if I wanted my oldest to get the flu shot. When I said no, I expected some chastizing, instead she told me she doesn't give them to her children either but she is required to ask every patient.

Re: bad reactions- they absolutely can and do occur. The flu shot given in 2013, my dad got so sick the day of that he had to take off work, I've only ever seen him do that once. My best friend had to as well. When I talked to a friend of mine that works at a local hospital that requires all employees to be vaccinated, she told me everyone was having the same reaction. Horrible nausea, achy, etc.

I'm not suggesting others don't get the flu shot, I actively recommended that my grandparents get it, and if any of my children were immunocompromised then we would all get it is well but since none of us have an issue and the vaccine is, at best, just a guess as to which strains MIGHT be prevalent, we don't get them.

We all had the flu a few years ago and sure, it wasn't fun, but its not life and death either.

gyr_falcon

mimipadv, Since you didn't answer in even the slightest way why you think I should get a flu shot now, although I have experienced lengthy discomfort in the past, I am left to wonder if you just wish for me a month's worth of suffering. Not sure if I think that is funny, or sad. Or just confusing perhaps. Yeah, confusing mostly.

*****

Calm down, dear. No on is wishing you ill. Have some egg nog, and get a flu shot since you seem a rather sickly person.

No one wants to catch whatever the heck you think you have! Or wants to die because you're too selfish to think about how your germs could harm others.

Maybe read some literature?

"Influenza may cause bad cold symptoms. But in the United States alone,36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized each year because of the flu. MYTH: You can't spread the flu if you're feeling well. Actually, 20% to 30% of people carrying the influenza virus have no symptoms."

10 Flu Myths

If you’ve ever had the flu, you know how sick you can be. Chances are good that some of the advice friends and family gave you about avoiding or dealing with the flu was wrong. There seems to be no shortage of misinformation and bad advice when it comes to dealing with the flu.

Here are 10 common myths about the flu.

1. MYTH: You can catch the flu from the vaccine.

The vaccine is made from an inactivated virus that can’t transmit infection. So people who get sick after receiving a flu vaccination were going to get sick anyway. It takes a week or two to get protection from the vaccine. But people assume that because they got sick after getting the vaccine, the shot caused their illness.

1. MYTH: Healthy people don’t need to be vaccinated.

It’s true that the flu vaccination is routinely recommended for people who have a chronic illness. But anyone — even healthy folks — can benefit from being vaccinated. Current guidelines suggest that children ages 6 months to 19 years old, pregnant women, and anyone over age 49 be vaccinated each year. In addition, the flu shot is recommended for healthy people who might spread the virus to others who are particularly susceptible. For this reason, health care workers are routinely advised to get the flu vaccination to protect their patients.

1. MYTH: Getting the flu vaccination is all you need to do to protect yourself from the flu.

There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself during flu season besides vaccination. Avoid contact with people who have the flu, wash your hands frequently, and consider taking anti-viral medications if you were exposed to the flu before being vaccinated.

1. MYTH: The flu is just a bad cold.

Influenza may cause bad cold symptoms. But in the United States alone, 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized each year because of the flu.

1. MYTH: You can’t spread the flu if you’re feeling well.

Actually, 20% to 30% of people carrying the influenza virus have no symptoms.

1. MYTH: You don’t need to get a flu shot every year.

The influenza virus changes (mutates) each year. So getting vaccinated each year is important to make sure you have immunity to the strains most likely to cause an outbreak.

1. MYTH: You can catch the flu from going out in cold weather without a coat, with wet hair or by sitting near a drafty window.

The only way to catch the flu is by being exposed to the influenza virus. Flu season coincides with the cold weather. So people often associate the flu with a cold, drafty environment. But, they are not related.

1. MYTH: Feed a cold, starve a fever.

If you have the flu (or a cold) and a fever, you need more fluids. There’s little reason to increase or decrease how much you eat. Though you may have no appetite, “starving” yourself will accomplish little. And poor nutrition will not help you get better.

1. MYTH: Chicken soup will speed your recovery from the flu.

Hot liquids can soothe a sore throat and provide much needed fluids. But chicken soup has no other specific qualities that can help fight the flu.

1. MYTH: If you have a high fever with the flu that lasts more than a day or two, antibiotics may be necessary.

Antibiotics work well against bacteria, but they aren’t effective for a viral infection like the flu. Then again, some people develop a bacterial infection as a complication of the flu, so it may be a good idea to get checked out if your symptoms drag on or worsen.

The flu is a good example of how medical myths can get in the way of good medical care. When it’s flu season, take the necessary steps to stay healthy. That includes separating fact from myth.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/10-flu-myths

I'm glad Mimipadv pointed out that flu can be a life-or-death illness, even today.

But that said, I'm back to not getting my flu shot. I got it faithfully for years, after reading that it can have a long-lasting beneficial effect on one's immune system. But then one year every joint in my body was on fire with intense pain following a flu shot. It lasted all day and into the night. I couldn't do more than lie on my back and try not to move.

I have fibromyalgia, and the next day looked up flu shots on a FMS message board. Sure enough, many people described the same burning pain, some lasting longer than mine. A couple of people said it never went away.

That was enough to put me off flu shots for years. I started getting them again when my grandsons were born, but not this year. Apparently they're not such a good idea for people being treated for tick-borne illnesses.

PS: My mother described bodies lying out in the hallways of her apartment building in NYC when she was a child in 1918 during the Spanish influenza pandemic. That was a form of what we call the flu.

I got my flu shot last week. I had H1N1 Influenza 2 years ago and I really thought I was going to die. Never want to experience anything like that again. My friend's healthy brother was diagnosed with H1N1 the same time I was but he lost his life a week later from it and his children lost their father.

It's not too late to get the flu shot. This year's is more on the money than last year's.

Most 'stomach ailments' (vomiting/diarrhea) are the result of something you ate or drank -- sometimes food poisoning. This is not the influenza *virus*.

I would urge everyone to "Ask your doctor" about getting the Prevnar 13. Also ask if you need a booster for the pneumonia vaccine you got years ago. Each vaccine protects against different strains of pneumonia; you need BOTH to get as complete protection as is currently available.

I've had one mild case of shingles, caught early enough (within 72 hours) to be treated with an anti-herpes medication. I got the vaccine as soon as I could after that subsided.

Do these things for yourself AND for others. If you get sick, stay home. It chills me to hear, "He never missed a day (of work) (at school)."

No....didn't get a flu shot. No....not going to get a flu shot. I have never had the flu....haven't had a cold in at least 20 years. My doctor used to always ask me if I had my flu shot and I got tired of him asking me so I told him, yeah....I got it at the pharmacy.