Some Facts About Flu Jabs (Influenza (Flu))

Name: tonilouise

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Product:	Influenza (Flu)
Date:	03/11/01 (361 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good for people with breathing difficulties and old people, The advantages outweigh the disadvantages

Disadvantages: May produce flu type symptons shortly afterwards, Needles!, Some swelling after the injection

I thought I would take to opportunity to write about flu jabs from a personal perspective, as someone who, for the last few years has had one and as someone who is frequently asked why I do so?

Firstly, I need to give you some history. I was born with severe asthma. I guess I still am asthmatic, although I feel very strange saying this now, as I am so well these days.

My mother tells me I was very ill and I spent a lot of time in hospital. One time after a particularly bad attack I was put in an oxygen tent, which although I remember the events leading up to the attack, I have no recollection of.

Another time one of my doctors wanted to hypnotise me out of the attack! I remember many a time waking in a panic during the night because my chest felt tight, I was wheezing and I couldn’t breathe.

As I have grown older, my attacks have lessened, although from time to time I still have them. I think the asthma likes to show me it is still in control and it can be quite scary, when you have been feeling fine minutes earlier or worse still if you wake up in the night in the middle of an attack.

I am a non-smoker, because cigarette smoke is one of my triggers, within seconds it can cause my chest to tighten and my breathing to deteriorate.

Every winter, I would feel I was hit much worse by colds and flu, than everyone else. Without fail I would suffer with my chest and throat. I can’t remember the last time I had a cold and didn’t loose my voice, which is very weak throughout the year regardless. It seemed whilst everyone else was on the road to recovery I was still sick.

Needless to say when the opportunity for a flu jab came along a few years ago I jumped at the chance to give it a try and I have had one each year since.

Most people I speak to seem to be aware that flu jabs exist, however that is pretty much the extent of their knowledge. What follows is not a medical opinion,
it is simply my own experience and opinion, which I offer to raise awareness, in order that others can come to their own conclusion.

Basically, when you have a flu jab, some of the virus is injected into you, in order that your body will produce antibodies to fight the infection. As a result, you may find yourself experiencing some mild symptoms shortly afterwards.

The injection is no worse than any other, if you don’t like needles then you won’t like this but like me you can always look away and it will be over in seconds. Some swelling may occur in your arm and it may feel bruised but this will go away within a few days.

The flu jab is different each year dependent on what the people in the know, think will be the best formulation for that year.

If you have been in contact with a virus prior to your jab, you will still be susceptible to it for up to three weeks after, as this is how long it takes to get into system. However, it will protect you for one year.

Flu jabs do not stop you getting colds and flu as common opinion would have it but they do reduce the severity.

My own surgery, seems to have taken the stance that it is a good thing and they offer it to anyone with breathing disorders such as asthma or to people who are over 50.

There are is not a limitless supply of the vaccine and therefore it is reserved for the categories of people mentioned above. Chances are, if you are healthy as an ox year round, you will not be given one.

I personally find it a slightly bizarre concept, that in order to be healthy or healthier than I have been in the past, I have to have the virus injected into me, however, my experience has been a good one and I would recommend it to anyone who can relate to anything I have written above.

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