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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:
Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:41

@ RafaIsTheKingOfClay thanks I feel like I probably sound stupid but it’s that fear of it happening again but then that makes no sense I know because really it should make me want to get it but I’ve worked in the hospital a long time and never caught the flu , it was weird .
Nobody will understand the complications unless they’ve had it before I don’t think.

And for those asking about talking to the GP, I will do, not been referred to a midwife yet but will contact them tomorrow . Just late night thoughts and thought I’d give it a shot asking on here in case someone else has experienced similar

They stabilised my seizures with clobazam

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 29/12/2019 22:41

The vaccine didnt cause the reaction though. OP had the flu months after she had the vaccine

HotSince82 · 29/12/2019 22:42

Don't make any rash decisions OP.
Make sure to discuss this with your GP, please.

Tentativesteps133 · 29/12/2019 22:43

So you caught and had a severe reaction to a strain of flu that unfortunately wasn't covered by the last vaccine you received, and now you want to put yourself at risk at catching more strains by not being vaccinated at a time where you are more susceptible to infection? Not sure on that logic.

ProfessionalBoss · 29/12/2019 22:43

You work in a hospital, but obviously not as a medical professional with statements like "I got the flu twice despite getting the jab!"

The flu jag does not stop you getting the flu, it makes the symptoms less than what they would have been had you not had it.

"I had on average 40 seizures a day for a week ." so now that we know this was how your body reacted to the flu, with symptoms lessened, I think you'd probably be dead if you hadn't had the flu jag!

So you're questioning getting your flu jag why exactly? Are you pregnant and suicidal?

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:43

@ Nat6999 thanks for making me feel less crazy and ridiculous :)
@ Schuyler it caused significant damage and took me a long time to recover

I don’t want people thinking I’m trolling , regular active user on MN I promise

OP posts:
Sunshinegirl82 · 29/12/2019 22:44

If I'm reading this correctly you had the vaccine but then (unfortunately) still contracted the flu. The flu (not the vaccine) caused you to be very unwell? Is that right?

Obviously the vaccine isn't 100% effective but on the face of it I'd have thought you'd want to do everything you can to reduce your chances of contracting flu again which would include getting the vaccine. What is your reasoning for not getting the vaccine?

That said there is clearly a complex history here so I'd suggest discussing it with your GP.

Cohle · 29/12/2019 22:44

Wow, if the flu had made me that ill I would be doing everything in my power to avoid catching it again. Including having the vaccine. Especially if I was pregnant.

In the circumstances why don't you speak to a medical professional about the risks (or lack thereof) of having the vaccine in your situation.

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:46

@ProfessionalBoss very true . Again I was thinking irrationally and panicking I think. 100% pregnant 100% not suicidal !

But I’ll talk to my doctor and get their advise it’s just the fear of what if , but having a baby to think about makes me want to risk and get the jab because I’d never forgive myself if something happened .

Ignore me, just being panicky that’s all

OP posts:
Schuyler · 29/12/2019 22:47

Sorry I misread, I now see that you caught flu some time after the vaccine. You caught flu and were seriously unwell with a huge number of seizures and likely brain damage. That’s a massive risk to take when pregnant, especially as you have epilepsy.

1Morewineplease · 29/12/2019 22:49

I’m not one to poo-poo the flu vaccine but my husband has it every year and it hasn’t been effective every year.
FIL had the pneumonia vaccine and ended up in hospital with pneumonia.
Like I said, I’m not anti-vacc but ive come across a fair number of folk who’ve gone on to develop the very disease that they were vaccinated against.
I appreciate that the flu vaccine is for only one particular strain, but it doesn’t seem to make a jot of difference to those who’ve had it.

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:49

@Sunshinegirl82 thank you ! Yes that’s what I’m saying . The flu made me ill not the vaccine . I evidently worded it wrong but I know enough that you can’t get flu from the vaccine. The drs all said I was just unlucky to still catch it . My husband who didn’t have the vaccine caught the flu off me but was bed ridden for a week and recovered .

I have been known to have complexed Epilepsy in the past as a child but it was controlled until the flu and is controlled now I’ve recovered fully (went back to work a few months back and I’m fine now.)

OP posts:
veryvery · 29/12/2019 22:52

I think you need to decide whether you want to make the decision based on the information you have or whether you actually want further advice. If you are absolutely satisfied with your reasoning then there is no need for further discussion. You can decline, it is your right. However, if you want to know more this involves discussion with the people who are experts on the subject such as your GP. You might be able to find out what the routine advice would be. At a guess, it would probably be to have the vaccine because of the public health risks of flu being in circulation.

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:52

@Schuyler I hope I didn’t come across as rude to you ? Sorry if I did . I don’t want people thinking I’m being ridiculous because I really was ever so poorly and my husband is a nurse and even though he sees some awful things at work he was genuinely worried sick about what was going to happen . I had EEG’s, MRI’s etc all confirming the complexed seizure activity and then tests for the flu but they never told me what strain I caught .
That’s why I don’t want to risk the pregnancy but I see why other people will say ‘you’ll be risking it if you don’t have it’ which I totally get . We’ve wanted a baby for ages and I was actually told I won’t be able to have them when my seizures got bad as they said obviously the risk of carrying a baby and having seizures where I wouldn’t wake up for hours would be life threatening for the baby but now I’m well and pregnant I don’t want to ruin it all

OP posts:
DukeChatsworth · 29/12/2019 22:53

So you had a severe reaction to a strain of flu that most likely wasn’t covered in the jab. You would’ve caught it jab or not.

Yet now you want to leave yourself open to also include the strains the jab protects against. Thereby increasing your chances of getting one of the many strains.

Yeah that seems bonkers. If I were you I’d be keener to get the jab than ever.

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:54

Thanks everyone I’ll leave it here and talk to the GP tomorrow and also get the referral for the midwife sorted .
I appreciate all your advise and tips . You’ve all given me a good shake and seen sense :)

OP posts:
Sunshinegirl82 · 29/12/2019 22:54

But why do you think you'd be taking a risk by getting the vaccine OP? If you know the vaccine doesn't cause flu?

veryvery · 29/12/2019 22:55

When I was pregnant the flu jab wasn't routinely offered. Didn't even think about it.

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:55

@DukeChatsworth ridiculously isn’t it ? Not sure what I was thinking , but I’ve posted it now and probably made a lot of people think here’s another wolly on MN 😂

OP posts:
ProfessionalBoss · 29/12/2019 22:56

@itsemily I'm really glad to hear that!

I'm on immunosuppressive medication, (disabled, life limiting progressive disease)...

I know that at times medication, side effects, viruses, bacteria, etc (Mysophobia is real) wondering of you're making the best decisions at the time with all the available evidence can be overwhelming, but the thing which calms my overactive brain is comparing the safety of the flu jag, and the horrendous symptoms and complications of catching the flu, (like you had). I know I'd rather have that little prick!

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:57

@Sunshinegirl82 it sounds silly I know but it’s the fear of being as ill as I was but whilst being pregnant . Whereas I have had a few colleagues off recently with flu (I say a few , it’s two) and my husband got it off me and they were all poorly in bed for a week and then better . So I’m almost associating my bad luck with the jab and thinking if I was that Ill before will it happen again ?

OP posts:
Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:58

@ProfessionalBoss Thank you for understanding. You talk sense . I’ll call them first thing . Thank you x

OP posts:
Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 29/12/2019 22:58

Night everyone , thank you :) x

OP posts:
Schuyler · 29/12/2019 23:00

@itsemily

You weren’t rude at all! I was just tired and misread your initial post, apologies.
I understand you must be nervous. Do talk to your GP. :)

ProfessionalBoss · 29/12/2019 23:01

@itsemily no problem, I remember my sisters pregnancy brain well... Goodnight, x