Comments on: The best you can

By: "Jeremy Ottara"

"Jeremy Ottara" — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:37:18 +0000

Very great information.

By: Gwensarah

Gwensarah — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:05:57 +0000

Do your kids normally get flu shots each year? If so or if either of them have underlying health issues then by all means get them the H1N1 shot too, if not then I say trust your gut.
I have respitory and heart issues so getting the flu is at best a month long hell and at worse could be Very Grave Indeed so I’m bound and determined to snag one of the H1N1 shots or at the very least a seasonal flu shot. As for my kids, my 11 year old will probably only get a seasonal shot (I doubt there will be a wide spread swine flu outbreak in our area) and the verdict is still out on my 7th month old, somehow giving her either shot when she has zero health problems, is not in day care, ect. makes me highly uncomfortable.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me that each swine flu case which resulted in death or hospitalization, the patient had underlying health problems. This isn’t like the Spanish Flu of our history books.

By: Melis

Melis — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:07:54 +0000

As someone who just *had* H1N1, I would not wish it on anyone. My son got a seasonal flu shot yesterday and I will likely put him through the initial and booster for H1N1 once it’s available at the end of the month as it is running rampant in our city and schools.

To me it seems the medical community is conflicted-my chiropractor says NO NO NO but my primary care physician says let’s give it a go to protect the wee one. We’ve got doctor’s who are being told they can’t even administer the test unless the person is hospitalized with symptoms. HUH?!?! I’m fortunate enough my son and husband haven’t gotten it…yet. Maybe they’ll stay lucky and miss it but I’m going to take my chances and immunize the kiddo when I can.

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:31:28 +0000

Anna, I’m sorry about your loss. I’m 7.5 weeks pregnant right now and have already had a miscarriage this year. Not after having a flu shot, but still… the idea of having one when pregnant scares me for all sorts of reasons – mercury being one of them. But, having the flu while pregnant scares the shit out of me too.

It’s a complicated decision. The media is NO help. I’m really glad to read all your comments and information. Better to make an informed decision! But it’s still tough.

By: HollyB

HollyB — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:38:27 +0000

I’ve never gotten a flu shot and won’t now. A friend of my mother’s died from a flu shot years ago – it’s terrified me ever since. She was young, healthy, with 2 young kids. It took her and her family by surprise – at least with the flu you have time to say good-bye (so morbid, I know!). I just can’t get over the story from a personal standpoint – so I’m anti-vaccine…

By: Sundry

Sundry — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:48:13 +0000

Anna, I am so sorry. I hope you have a really wonderful doctor right now who can help you decide.

By: Anna

Anna — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:44:42 +0000

I’m happy you posted about this. I am SO torn about what I will do (I’m 12.5 weeks pregnant) and it helps to hear so many stories from people in my position. Although it also makes it harder because the stories are so conflicting.

Like you my gut tells me to just be careful, wash my hands, consume vitamin C – but what if I’m one of the unlucky ones who contracts the virus and has a worst case scenario? I was pregnant last year and had a regular flu shot at 6 weeks. It is most likely a coincidence, but my baby stopped growing at 6 weeks. Whether or not the two were linked I will never know for certain.

I wish there was an option C) Crawl into a hole and emerge in April when my baby is due.

By: laura

laura — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:10:28 +0000

I had a lengthy discussion with my father (an anesthesiologist) about H1N1, and here’s the thing… statistically the people who have died from H1N1 have been otherwise healthy children and adults, because it is not the virus itself that kills, it is the body’s immuno-response to the virus, i.e., people who are otherwise healthy, might have an immune system that kicks into overdrive, causing H1N1 symptoms that can result in death (like having your lungs fill with mucous, congestive heart failure, seizure inducing fever, among other things).

I’ll take my chances with a vaccine, over that virus any day of the week. I know several people who have had H1N1 with no complications, but I’d rather not be one of the people who does!

Oh, and I don’t know if it has been mentioned in the comments yet, but the Flumist nasal spray seasonal flu vaccine does not contain Thimerosal. It is available in limited quantities, but many doctors offer it at this time of year on a first-come first-served basis. There is also a Thimerosal-free injected flu vaccine available that is reserved for children under the age of 2 and also pregnant women (although I had no luck finding it last winter when I was pregnant!)

By: jen lovely

jen lovely — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:51:09 +0000

i’m not getting my daughter vaccinated for the H1N1 virus, for the same reasons that I may not get her vaccinated for HPV. it’s too new, and because of that i don’t trust it.

i have friends that are nurses who refuse to get the H1N1 shot basically for the same reason. the research isn’t there yet to show just how well it will work.

i think my favorite quote that i’ve heard concerning swine flu is this.

“90 people get swine flu, everyone wants to wear a mask. millions of people have HIV and no one wants to wear a condom”.

it kinda goes to show just how much the media has built up the whole thing.

By: Kim

Kim — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:09:11 +0000

OMG. This is making me so stressed out. Information overload! Please figure it out for all of us and we will just follow your lead. ;-)