I was at the doctor’s this week. As I was leaving, I was offered a flu jab at my next appointment. I said I’d think about it.
Now as I understand it, people with MS have wacky immune systems that make us less susceptible to colds and flu’s. I can’t remember the last time I had a cold.
On the one hand, I don’t want to not take the jab if it means missing out on extra protection. On the other, I don’t want to take the jab and possibly have a negative reaction to it, either from a flu standpoint or from the MS.
I had a flu jab last weekend. I too ummed and ahhed about whether to have it as like you I haven’t had a cold for years. Didn’t feel a thing and had no reaction … so if it adds a bit of protection against the flu it was worth it …but as MS clearly teaches us …everyone is different and I am sure others may report otherwise …
I was offered a flu jab last year,like you i was in two minds about getting one,i turned it down,in march this year i had a cold which lasted a couple of weeks,following which i suffered a ms relapse which has resulted in knee problems/foot drop/left side torso hug,to this day i can’t shake of these problems,i got my flu jab last week i will never refuse one again.
I was recently advised by my Doc to have the flu jab when visiting her for something else, so I booked an appointment for the following week had the jab and was then asked if I wanted the meningitis jab the same time, kill 2 birds with one stone sort of thing, so I did.
Next morning I felt pretty grotty, not my MS, just a sickly headache cold sort of feeling, I was worried that maybe the 2 different vaccines were a bit too much in one go, and even worried that perhaps it was a bad idea to have the meningitis jab at all, however things settled down over 2 or 3 days and now I’m fine.
I checked online afterwards,(bit late now I know), about having the flu jab if you suffer from MS, and it seems highly advised.
I couldnt find any negative write ups about having the meningitis jab either, which by the way is a one off jab.
I would recommend getting the jabs but maybe separately.
The Flu jab is provided free to people who have MS. I figure this is for a very good reason. Had it last year for the first time (without problems) and was offered another for Pneumonia. I was told to allow a gap of about four weeks between them. Probably too much for the body to manage at once.
I’ve been told for years I need a jab but have just had my first 2 weeks ago and have had no problems save a very slightly tender spot the size of a penny on my arm, which is normal.
given how bad colds have been the last few years for me I decided I didn’t fancy the flu as I worry it’ll turn into pneumonia.
Been having them for ages - heart condition qualified me first.
Went for this year’s jab last Saturday.
Usual questions were asked, including “Are you on antibiotics?”
OOPS
My surgery do not do home visits, and it takes two of us just to get one of us there (and best part of an hour).
Since it was my choice, I said “Left arm, please”.
I was also offered an anti-shingles jab.
Now, I have had Chicken Pox.
Shingles jab is not advised for people with an immune deficiency problem.
So I said NO to that one.
If you have ever had the flu, not a very bad cold (bad enough) bu t flu, you will know you never want to feel like that again.
A bit of a sore arm for a day or two is nothing to ensure I don’t get flu. Colds can still sometimes get you afterwards but they are never bad ones for me. Flu and MS, think I would shoot myself next time! (not to be too melodramatic).
I had my first flu jab before I had an MS diagnosis and I had a terrible flu like bug the week after. It started something off that made me really ill for a week.
I gave it the benefit of the doubt and the next year I had another jab. This time I had a migraine from hell for three days afterwards.
Never again! I have never had one since and I never will again.
There seems to be a big push for folk to have the flu jab these days - even children. I’ve only ever had the flu once as far as I remember - yes it was horrible, but I survived! Now I’ve got MS and I know that if I got the flu it would be worse, but at the moment it’s a risk I’m prepared to take…
I used to work for a company where 3 of my colleagues had the flu jab every year and every year each of them was off work for a couple of weeks with ‘a really bad cold’ . In my opinion the comments of “it would be worse without a flu jab” just don’t hold water. So, for now at least, it’s a “no thanks” from me too.