Question:
Flu-Vaccine or no Vaccine?
With all of the news about the flu and being a kind of new post-op I have a few questions, 1- are we more "at risk" of getting the flu as a post op 2- Is the flu more dangerous if we were to get it post-op 3- should we get flu vaccine or not, my PCP says it is a personal choice. — Reeda (posted on December 11, 2003)
December 11, 2003
My doctor said that it was ok for me to get my Flu shot this year. I work
in a doctors office, so a lot of "crud" floats around. As far as
being more "at risk", I'm not sure about that. Sorry. But I do
think it's a personal choice to take it or to not. :o)
— Ashley S.
December 11, 2003
My surgeon said to hold off prior to surgery, in case I got sick from the
shot, but was all for it a week or so after surgery. He said that our
immune system was going to be a little low for a while, and the shot would
definitely help. Then again I'm over 50, so there is that angle also.
— track
December 11, 2003
The flu shot DOES NOT make you sick; it's made from a dead virus. If you
can find a place giving out the shot, get it. Or you can take your chances
and maybe luck out and you'll miss it this season.
— lizinPA
December 11, 2003
I am glad I got my shot early - I used to get the flu every year, and being
at a higher risk I didn't want to take the chance of getting sick again. I
live in Wisconsin, and I have heard that many places are running out of the
vaccine.
— kultgirl
December 11, 2003
My doctor recommended I get the shot and I am glad I did. People all
around me are getting sick left and right and so far(knock on wood) I
haven't.
— tazfan
December 11, 2003
I am 46, and now just about 10 months post-op. I got the flu shot 2
months ago. Funny thing---I didn't think twice, but I am glad I did. Like
some of the others as well as the news reports have said, this has been a
horrible year for the flu.
— Fixnmyself
December 11, 2003
I had mine! You know, I never ever got flu shots until a few years ago. I
never got the flu. But that one year, I had a normal case of the flu, and
it developed into Pnemonia, which had me hospitalized. I've been getting
the shots ever since. Don't want to go thru that again.
— lorien
December 12, 2003
I can't imagine we are "more at risk" of getting the flu. As far
as being more dangerous, I would guess only that we get dehyadted (sp?)
easier from losing wieght. And depending on your age, it is a personal
choice. I always get one, had one within a month of my surgery for WLS. I
would avoid the new flu mist, as this is made from a live vaccine.
— barbara A.
December 12, 2003
Since I had surgery my white blood cell (WBC) count has been seriuosly low.
I know this because I am a nurse and look at my own labs. My surgeon did
not mention it but my pcp did- she is great beyond words. I called the
surgeons office and asked about it. he said it is extremely common after
WLS. the WBC count is a reflection of the immune system. You can bet I was
first in line for a flu shot in early November.
— **willow**
Click Here to Return