First Infection of the winter!

[john]

Hi All,
I am just getting over my first cough and chest infection of the coming season (!), as I imagine lots of us are.
Fortunately mine responded to a big dose of Co-prax, for which I'm grateful because tomorrow I will be getting my 'flu jab!
We had a patients Meeting on Monday, and we discussed vaccinations. It was pretty much decided that we should have the flu jab, but the new offer of a shingles jab is not so clear, and the advice is to talk it over with your immunologist and not rely on your GP to know what is best for you!
The board is very quiet at the moment and I hope that the reason is that we are mostly feeling OK!
Keep in touch, if only to play in the fun and games room with us, we'd love some freshers on there!!

[s162216]

Sorry to hear that you've got an infection already John (I've only had one minor one so far this year) and I hope that it sorts itself out quickly.

I looked it up, and the shingles vaccination is a live type so it should not be given to those with PID, especially if their on immunoglobulin therapy. I'm going to have my flu vaccination in a couple of weeks, its just annoying to think that it could all be for nothing though as its just random luck as to whether those with PID will form a response against.

Sam

[john]

Hi,Sam,
The doc who,spoke to us did say that as a live vaccine the shingles jab wouldn't be suitable for most of us, but there are, as always, exceptions to every rule, and that some pid people might benefit.
With all vaccinations it is important that the folk we share our lives with are vaccinated, to minimise the risk of bringing the bugs home to us, so i do advise looking into it!
The flu jab......because Sue and I go for it together, it's always the case that she gets a lump on the site, an achy arm and feels below par for a few days, whereas I don't even know I've had it a few hours later, so I'm pretty sure I don't form a response!

[elained]

Oh dear John, no fun being sick. My Immunologist would have advised against the shingles vaccine except I had it in 2007. I have a morbid fear of shingles and the entire herpes family. I've seen people lose their independence from a bad infection that just took them straight to the nursing home.

And I got the OK for the flu shot which I had three or four weeks ago. Can you tell that I try to stay on top of things? Fat lot of good it does me sometimes!

Hugs, Elaine

[john]

I SO,agree Elaine, sometimes it seems that we'll never step off the treadmill of infections, reactions, medications and injections!!
Sue and I just got our flu jabs, so we'll see if there is any change in this years vintage for me!
It is important that the people we live with get the jab, don't want t.hem bringing the bugs home to us now do we?
You are always up beat and optimistic, anda pleasure to have on our forum..... Just thought I'd say that!!!

[elained]

How nice of you to say that, John. Yes, I would say I'm a crystal goblet half full of champagne sort of person.

But when my immune system acts up, or I get sick, the inflammation brings on depression and just confounds me. I take so long to figure out what's happening.

My outlook gets all gloomy and I'm sure I'm doing everything wrong. A few smiles on our games, and a bit of chat with people who understand help me realize what is going on.

I still don't 'like it' but then, when were were guaranteed to get just what we like? I thought it was in there somewhere, but turns out, no.

Fortunately, when my immune system is back in the cage and on an even keel, I'm much better. It seems those of us with CVID get the 'best of both worlds!

Our immune systems don't protect us adequately, therefore we have the IVIG or Sub Cut, AND for some of us our immune systems 'act up' and outright attack our own bodies! Which produces all the effects of an infection, except our immune system thinks WE'RE the infectious agent and busily goes to work on us.

The results are inflammation, fatigue, pain, depression and a host of other goodies. But we can keep each other company along the way, thank goodness. Even transatlantically.

Hugs, Elaine