[Surferboy]

Folks, my luck is such that I also now have a bout of the flu and am a little worried that it'll make my SLE worse.

I went to my GP the other day to get the flu jab but was told that as I had a runny nose and slight cough that I'd have to wait for the jab. And it was that same night that I got the flu!!!

I also want to ask if there's anything in particular that us Lupies should do when we have the flu?

 

[greenhaggis]

Hi there Surferboy,

Sorry youre not feeling to well and hope youre feeling better soon!

A visit to the GP is in order if you do have flu and just to monitor how things go really!

Take care,

Lesley

 

[Maia]

Nothing special - just lots of rest. Some people will get the flu prescription drugs to try to recover from it a few days earlier but by and large they don't prescribe those that much; and you need to have flu confirmed by a quite uncomfortable procedure around here at least before getting the prescription for the flu drugs. If you've had it for more than 2 days then you aren't eligible for them either.

If it lasts much over a week with a serious cough and fever, then you may want to revisit your GP to make sure it hasn't morphed into some kind of pneumonia. Hope you're feeling better soon.

 

[Roseanne]

My Lupus doc said that I should always get the flu jab when it comes in to make things simpler. This year I was just going along to the doctor for something unrelated and a poster reminded me about the jab, so I asked my doc when they would be in and she said "They just arrived about half an hour ago...I can do that for you now!". You should know, I am terrified of needles, but this time with no time to think about it it actually went a bit easier! Still hate needles though...

RM

 

[Surferboy]

I really wish I'd had the flu jab a few weeks ago. I'm still down and out

 

[Katharine]

On the other hand, some docs don't seem to favour the flu jab at all for people with lupus.

I know that it seems to be the norm (certainly in English speaking countries) but I used to get it due to my job and now neither the rheumy nor my GP recommend it despite my being on immunosuppressants.

So, there you are, I guess we all just have to trust our docs and do the best we can with the info we're given.

It's certainly true that getting it with a cold is never advisable.

Katharine

 

[sandy123]

Hi Surferboy

Sorry about your flu,i did get flu and phnumonia injection from another doctor and i must admit i have been bad ever since. I did get flu last month which was confirmed just after the jabs was ok for a week and now i have a viral infection which is affecting my lungs.
I will be thinking twice next year about having the jab.
Any way hope you get better soon.
Lots of love from Sandy

 

[KarolH]

Hope your feeling better.

The flu bug is going around here too.

A lot of people sick for Christmas.

 

[onetay]

Surferboy,

I start in on dayquil like things at the first sign of a cold or the flu and it seems to work. I take it for at least 4 days, it seems to make it shorter or at least not as bad. Since we have so much trouble fighting things anyway I think I should give my body every weapon I can find. I also plan a like rest time during these days no matter what else is going on as the rest helps to fight sore body that often joins in on the fun of cold and flu. Well this has always helped me hope if you try it that it will help you.
Tammy