$*@%!! flu shot!

When I worked at places that had free flu shots I would get the shot ONLY if it was given on a friday...or even thursday afternoon. The shot makes me achy for a day or two, and sometimes gives me a fever, but rarely full blown flu. I just want the weekend off in case it should.

Having said that, I don't get the shot anymore, unless I feel I'm really going to need it. That is, I'm going to be coming into contact with folks who are likely to get it....and give it to me. I wash my hands A LOT more nowadays, than when I was " a kid". It really seems to make a difference.

In reply to wbjones:

you are correct about pneumonia- it is a broad term with many causes. Influenza is not usually a pneumonic illness.

As for everyone who's not getting vaccinated, I bet the majority aren't in recommended populations to take the shot anyways- i.e. healthy 20-50 year olds.

There were more than 12000 H1N1 deaths last year alone (most people under 65 yo for what it's worth) and thousands due to regular flu. For what it's worth- Jim Henson died of Streptococcal pneumonia and sepsis

I wish people won't go around spreading the common myth that the flu shot can cause the flu. It could definitely make your body mount some kind of immune reaction, which would give all of the symptoms everyone here describes (fever, achiness), but you cannot get the flu. It really dissuades some people in high risk categories that need it the most.

cardiacdog wrote: In reply to wbjones: you are correct about pneumonia- it is a broad term with many causes. Influenza is not usually a pneumonic illness.

thanks for clearing that up

and the rest of ya dumb a$$es get the shot... YOU CAN DIE FROM THE FLU... more easily than from a lot of other things.... think MVA ... more flu and pneumonia deaths / yr than deaths from MVA's and most of you do your best to stay out of them.... don't ya ?

Maybe it's a myth that you can't get the flu? Maybe the pharmaceutical companies are spreading that myth so more people will BUY the flu shot, then BUY something so they can feel better? I mean, it's not like politicians, weathermen and the medical community have never steered us wrong before, right?
Do I believe that? Not really, I'm not a conspiracy theory kinds guy. But I can tell you the last time I got the shot, I had the worst "flu like symptoms" of my life. Generally speaking I don't get sick so I absolutely don't believe that in the last 12 years or so I had the flu twice, each time within 24 hours of getting the shot. I think I'm one of those folks that has a wicked reaction to the shot.

Soo....

You can get the flu, which is a virus and mutates regularly. This gives you symptoms of the flu.

Or, you can get the flu shot, which is a few strains or one strain of a deactivated virus, which can give you "flu like symptoms".

Sounds like they're trying to hit a moving target.

So I can possibly get the flu or certainly get "flu like symptoms". Thanks but I'll roll the dice on possibly feeling like E36 M3 instead of making it certain.

bequietanddrive wrote: I wish people won't go around spreading the common myth that the flu shot can cause the flu. It could definitely make your body mount some kind of immune reaction, which would give all of the symptoms everyone here describes (fever, achiness), but you cannot get the flu. It really dissuades some people in high risk categories that need it the most.

Right, because only having "flu like symptoms" (nausea, dehydration, E36 M3ting out of every orofice) is not nearly as bad as actually having the flu.

I fail to see how you can have all the symptoms of the flu and not actually have it.

integraguy wrote: I wash my hands A LOT more nowadays, than when I was " a kid". It really seems to make a difference.

Do yourself a favor and DO NOT use anti-bacterial soap.

E36 M3ting out of every orofice

You should see a doctor about that. It should only come out of one orifice.

It's a very tough concept for people to understand how you can have all of the symptoms of the flu, without actually having it, but I'll try my best to help.

For many infections caused by a virus or bacteria, many of the symptoms that you get are not actually caused by the virus or bacteria itself. For example, when you are infected with the flu, you get a fever. A fever is your body's own way of turning up the thermostat to try and kill or whatever is infecting you. Sometimes, the virus or bacteria releases things called pyrogens which actually make you have a fever. Your body can also make it's own immune chemicals that act as pyrogens, raising your temperature.

In addition to fever, most of the symptoms you get when you feel sick are actually caused by your own body, as defense mechanisms. Coughing, runny nose, stuffy nose, etc. are all just defensive ways of your body trying to get rid of something it doesn't recognize.

When you get the flu vaccine, your body recognizes that there is something in your body that isn't supposed to be there. In this case, it would be the dead flu virus. So, your body makes a fever, you don't feel so great, etc. But, after your body is done, it can remember what the flu virus was like. This way, if you get the real, live flu virus inside of you, it can take care of it much more easily and quickly than if it had never seen it before.

I hope this helps.

Also, believe me, big pharma companies don't make much money at all for developing vaccines. It would be much better on their pocketbooks for you to actually get quite sick and need expensive medications. Back in the 80's it was very unprofitable to make vaccines, so the govt. had to step in and provide incentives to produce them. This still holds true today.

Trans_Maro wrote:

bequietanddrive wrote: I wish people won't go around spreading the common myth that the flu shot can cause the flu. It could definitely make your body mount some kind of immune reaction, which would give all of the symptoms everyone here describes (fever, achiness), but you cannot get the flu. It really dissuades some people in high risk categories that need it the most.

Right, because only having "flu like symptoms" (nausea, dehydration, E36 M3ting out of every orofice) is not nearly as bad as actually having the flu. I fail to see how you can have all the symptoms of the flu and not actually have it.

Thanks for the education, no sarchasim intended. I understand all that is going on, I didn't know a few of the terms but I know what's going on. From my reading last night (everything on the internet is true, right?) I'm just one of those people that has a very bad reaction to it.
My biggest issue was not the sick feeling or painting the toilet bowl or the cement mixer stomach. It was the extreme fatigue. More than having the flu. The best way I can describe the feeling is that I was heavily sedated, like before surgery. At one point I wanted to go to bed but I really wasn't sure if I'd make it to my bedroom. Not that I'd faint, but that I'd fall asleep walking down the hallway....

If I were you I would be pretty hesitant about getting a shot that made me feel that way too! I guess I'm one of the lucky one's in that I don't get a bad reaction to the shot. For most people, getting the flu isn't too big of a deal. For some though, it could be very serious.

bequietanddrive wrote: For most people, getting the flu isn't too big of a deal. For some though, it could be very serious.

Yeah, I know. That's what get's me. It's been like 12 years since my last flu shot and I figured it was just a coinkidink that I felt like crap so I got it again. I've heard of people saying they felt a little achy or tired but I figured that's normal, you were just injected with a virus, active or not.
But now I know. I'll deal with the real flu, if I ever get it.
The funny thing is, some of the folks in the office asked if I was getting the shot and I said no. They asked why and I said "I don't get sick. Seriously, if one of my kids brings home a nasty bug it'll run it's course through my kids (3) and my wife (1 that I admit to) but I get the sniffles if anything. I'm telling you,I don't get sick." Then the next morning I call in sick I heard about that Thursday when I got back to work.