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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want the Flu Vaccine ?

56 replies

GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:18

Just wanting some advise , don’t hate me for this .
5 weeks pregnant , not referred to midwife yet but calling tomorrow to self refer .
First pregnancy.
I never ever had the flu vaccine ,I work at the hospital and they do offer them free for staff but I never had it and never had the flu . I got the vaccine for the first time in December last year as we were getting married this year and I was joking saying it would be typical for me to get the flu this year before our wedding.
I got the flu twice despite getting the jab! First time was two weeks before our wedding . Next time was shortly after our wedding and it resulted in hospitalisation and I was very unwell. I was off work for 6 months due to the affects it had on my body.
I’m now scared to get the vaccine because of how Unwell I was. It affected me that badly I had hundreds of seizures , endless vomit , couldn’t move. I told the hospital I had got the vaccine but they said I was unfortunate to have caught the flu anyway . I’m fine now obviously but it was an awful time.

Please advise me on what you’d do because I’m so torn as I know you should get it if you’re pregnant but I am really scared.

OP posts:
HotSince82 · 29/12/2019 22:22

You had hundreds of seizures?
YANBU, I wouldn't touch that vaccine if it previously caused me such an adverse response.

Winona45 · 29/12/2019 22:23

Hundreds of seizures?
That wasn't flu...Confused

Winona45 · 29/12/2019 22:24

6 months off work with flu ?How long were you in hospital for? What was the diagnosis?

Crunchymum · 29/12/2019 22:27

The flu jab isn't live. Whatever you caught, it wasn't from the jab.

If you had a reaction to one of the ingredients, then this should have been explored at the time.

june2007 · 29/12/2019 22:30

Some things on your post don't add up. But basically if you feel that the vaccine was not affective or perhaps was part of the problem then of course your not unreasonable to avoid it. And that's a decision for you to make not for do goaders and nay sayers.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 29/12/2019 22:31

You didn’t get the flu from the vaccine though.

If the flu made you that ill I’d have thought that would be more reason to get the vaccine not less. Especially since being pregnant you are a) more likely to contract flu and b) more likely to get complications if you do.

dementedpixie · 29/12/2019 22:32

That doesn't sound like a reaction to the vaccine if you had the vaccine and then the flu months later. Did they establish the strain of flu you had? It may not have been one that was in the vaccine.

It may be in your best interest to get the flu vaccine while pregnant as flu during pregnant can be dangerous for both mum and baby

Bluebutterfly90 · 29/12/2019 22:32

If you work in the hospital you surely know that the flu only protects you from a certain strain of flu? So it's still likely you caught another strain of flu.

Also, hundreds of seizures? That's really not normal.Hmm

Justneedatemporaryname · 29/12/2019 22:32

HUNDREDS of seizures?!

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:33

@ HotSince82 @ Winona45 @ Crunchymum yes and they gave me Diazepam etc to stop the seizures and they just said it was due to my temperature . I know the vaccine didn’t cause the flu they just said I was unfortunate to catch the flu despite having the vaccine .
I know it can obviously cause normal aches and pains and people think that it means they’ve caught something from it but I understand how it works , and it’s not live, but hospital said it was the flu . I was off work for 6 months because of how many complications there were and it took ages to get my back to normal . It’s honestly caused me so much distress . It sounds silly probably but it really has

OP posts:
Alsohuman · 29/12/2019 22:33

The illness you describe wasn’t flu and nothing to do with the flu jab. I think it’s stupid to take risks when you’re pregnant but it’s your choice at the end of the day.

Justneedatemporaryname · 29/12/2019 22:34

If the flu made you so ill it makes no sense that you WOULDN'T want to get vaccinated!

Also in all my years I've never heard of someone being off work for six months because of the flu! So unlucky!

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:35

I had on average 40 seizures a day for a week . They didn’t tell me what strain of flu I had but they said it was the flu as initially I went to the walk in centre and they sent me to a&e

OP posts:
RhodaDendron · 29/12/2019 22:35

I’d ask your GP rather than Mumsnet! S/he will be able to tell you more about the vaccination and what caused your serious six month illness.
I’ve had very interesting chats about vaccinations with our GP. Honestly, the internet is awash with nonsense on the subject - speak to someone qualified.

dementedpixie · 29/12/2019 22:35

Surely they would have taken swabs to find out which strain of flu it was especially if it caused such complications

24hourshomeedderandcarer · 29/12/2019 22:35

as a family of 2 adult 2 kids all of us are entitled to have it for free for years now

we have never had it and not one of us have got sick so you chose whats best for you

gamerchick · 29/12/2019 22:36

If you react like that to flu then imo it's more of a reason to get it.

Schuyler · 29/12/2019 22:36

I really doubt you had hundreds of seizures from the vaccine and not have fairly significant damage but I’m not a doctor and your body, your choice. Personally, I’d have it.

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:37

@ Justneedatemporaryname I was in hospital for a week and a bit , and then discharged and then got worse And was sent back in for three days and then signed off work to recover (mainly from the seizures), they had me on Clobazam which helped the seizures settle.
Forgot to add I do have epilepsy not completely random seizures out of nowhere but I was well controlled before the flu . That’s the main reason I was off work, because I couldn’t physically work and working in a hospital it wouldn’t have been safe for the patients

OP posts:
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 29/12/2019 22:37

I understand that OP, I have s family member who was hospitalised from complications from flu and it took months for them to get better.

I’m just not sure that refusing the one thing that would reduce the chances of that happening again makes much sense. I think it’s probably worth discussing this with yourGP or midwife.

Thelnebriati · 29/12/2019 22:37

You had a very serious reaction to the flu, why wouldn't you have the vaccine?
What does your midwidfe say? Its all in your medical records.

Justneedatemporaryname · 29/12/2019 22:38

How did they stabilise your seizures?

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:38

@ RhodaDendron will do thank you . Just wanted some advise but will call the dr tomorrow . Late night thoughts you know what it’s like

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 29/12/2019 22:39

I'm the same, on the years I had the vaccine I had the worst colds ever which turned to chest infections, haven't had the jab for 6 years now & never had a cold once. I won't ever have it again.

HotSince82 · 29/12/2019 22:39

I'd personally be reticent to receive even an inactive strain of the virus if it had previously caused such a reaction. Individual immune responses do in fact differ and not every vaccine is beneficial to every person. I would make an appointment with your GP and thoroughly explore your past experiences and options.