[SueAndHerZoo]

#1060194

Hi there.
I have never been a fan of annual flu shots and only got one once in my life (years ago). However, this year I am actually thinking about getting one, probably because my sister ended up in the hospital last year with the flu and with my crazy immune system, perhaps I should go for it. But then I wonder about the flip side of that and with so many auto-immune issues, maybe I should continue to live without flu shots – what would a flu shot do to someone with auto-immune issues?

Has anyone heard or read any benefits or disadvantages to flu shots and being hypothyroid (or in my case, having NO thyroid?)

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and feedback.
Sue

[Kimberly]

#1181169

Hi Sue – We had a thread about this a while back, and the only conclusion was that both doctors and patients are vastly divided!

My own doctor does encourage getting a flu shot, but others said that their doctors had advised *against* getting a flu shot.

I would suggest letting your primary care doc make this call, as he/she knows your entire medical history and can better help you weigh the risks and benefits.

[LaurelM]

#1181170

I get a flu shot every year for myself and also have my children vaccinated. My doctors have always encouraged me to do so. The only caution I was ever given was when on the ATDs was to make sure I get a ‘dead’ virus version instead of a ‘live’ virus version such as the nasal spray. I believe the reason for this is the thought that the ATDs might convey some immuosupression properties. Usually, with an autoimmune disease, our immune systems are not compromised. If anything, they are overzealous.

I personally am a firm believer in vaccines and believe that I have a responsibility to help protect those who cannot be vaccinated including babies under 6 months, cancer patients, or others who would be particularly vulnuable to a disease outbreak. Its that herd immunity concept. I do understand that other people will have different opinions about it but I feel confident in my choice for myself and family.

Oddly enough, I was offered the pneumonia vaccine while in the hospital. Apparently the reccomendations are expanding for that ne as well.

Laurel

[barbra]

#1181171

That is a big question for me too.
I did get a flu and a pneumonia shot last year when my husband was still alive, actually the first one ever, but now I don’t know.
I was one of those people who never got a cold or the flu or any of the other stuff coming down the pike until, of course, I got Graves. I always said: “I have a great immune system”. Yeah, well.

Hugs.

Barbra.

[snelsen]

#1181172

I got my flu shot. Am a believer. Never have had a physician discourage me from getting one.
Shirley

[gatorgirly]

#1181173

I have worked in healthcare for years, and always got my required shot until I was diagnosed with Graves’. My endo was not comfortable with my getting a flu shot while my levels were still fluctuating. Of course, my levels fluctuated for three years so that meant three years of no flu shot. I had to wear a mask whenever I went into patient areas for work, and did get the flu one year. Now that my levels have been stable, I got my flu shot last year and plan to get one every year from now on.

By the way, I’ve moved twice since my diagnosis. My first endo, who seemed to be the most involved and up-to-date on the latest research, was the only one who didn’t want me to get the flu shot. He admitted about 50% of endos recommend it, while the other 50% recommend against it. He said we just don’t know enough about how it affects patients with unstable thyroid levels. I can see that. But my new endo in MA and my new PCP in Boston (who’s a Harvard physician) both recommend I get my flu shot every year. Will do!

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1181174

I have a call into my endo but I’m not sure I’m going to totally trust his opinion on this issue as I’ve not been impressed with some of his theories so I need to keep doing my OWN research. I know there will be articles and finding to both sides, but here’s an excerpt I just read:

The issue of this connection between vaccination and other autoimmune illnesses is a controversial one, however. Some practitioners caution their autoimmune disease patients to avoid immunizations whenever possible, because they believe that the safety of immunizations for people with autoimmune diseases — including autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease — has not been sufficiently examined.

Richard Shames, MD, author of Thyroid Mind Power, Thyroid Power and a number of other popular books about thyroid and autoimmune disease, has said that he is careful about recommending the flu vaccine to his patients with autoimmune thyroid disease:

Generally, the people at higher risk should be concerned about getting the flu shot. But if you have Hashimoto’s disease, having a flu shot is an immunological event. The determination needs to be made more carefully, then, because there is the potential for the flu shot to trigger the Hashimoto’s into flareup or exacerbation.
Kent Holtorf, MD, founder of the Holtorf Medical Center network of health and hormone clinics, generally does not recommend the flu shot:
While the overwhelming majority of people are fine with the shot, I have seen it — and hear about hundreds more a year — precipitate chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in asymptomatic people, or severely exacerbate symptoms. The body has two sides to the immune system — TH1 (cellular) and TH2 (antibody). Normally they are balanced, but many conditions are associated with low TH1 and increased TH2, contributing to symptoms such as fatigue, CFS, fibromyalgia, asthma, allergies, ADD, and autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s, etc. The flu vaccine intensely stimulates the TH2, and can worsen symptoms — subtly or dramatically — or precipitate these conditions. For those who do get the vaccine, we recommend the Flumist nasal spray, which stimulates TH1 in the nose, so is much safer and as effective, especially for those who have any of the above conditions.
Ultimately, when it comes to seasonal flu shots and other immunizations, thyroid and autoimmune disease patients should talk to their physicians about their own flu risk factors, as well as the benefits and potential risks of the vaccine.

I’m sure it’s probably just coincidence but my two autoimmune issues became apparent within a year after my last flu shot. My jury is still out on this one.
Sue

[Raspberry]

#1181175

Me – I won’t get one, it’s an unacceptable risk to me because I know I have Graves and TED which are mild but still active in me with significant antibody counts – the last thing I need is for my immune system to be stimulated further. Most vaccines have adjuvants in them – which are agents that enhance the immune response to the vaccine creating more antibodies. I can’t imagine wanting that because that immune enhancement would extend to everything not just the vaccine.

And like Sue, my first real noticeable dive into autoimmune problems (hypothyroidism) and Raynaud’s was shortly after getting a DPT vaccine – the first vaccine of any kind that I had had in many many years.

[ChristinaDe]

#1181176

Wow, that’s a really good question Sue – and I can see how this is going to be one w/ a divided response. I hadn’t thought about my annual flu shot until you mentioned it. I know my PCP would be onboard w/ getting it since she offered me one right before I went for TT last year (didn’t take it cuz I just didn’t want to introduce my body to anything else right before surgery).

But what to do this year? Hmmm. The excepts you posted make sense, and so does protecting yourself against the flu when you’re dealing w/ a chronic illness. Going to email my endo to see what she recommends I do.

Thanks for bringing this up!

[Kimberly]

#1181177

I think it’s important to note the quote above is the opinion of one MD, and doesn’t appear to be backed up by research.

Obviously, a flu shot comes with risks, which is why they make you sign a page-long disclaimer to get one! But *not* getting a shot comes with risks as well. So I think it’s important to have someone who is familiar with your personal medical history to sort this out.

[Stymie]

#1181178

Hi sue,

I was thinking about this too.

If autoimmune diseases are triggered by a virus, and vaccines and flu shots essentially introduce a virus into your system, then common sense says people who already have one ( autoimmune disease) should stay away from these shots.

My theory is that you could go your whole life and never be exposed to the virus that will give you lupus, guillen barre, or any one of the diseases. Why risk triggering an autoimmune disease that is laying dormant in your body?

That is just my humble opinion.

Good luck to you sue.

Diane

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1181179

Hi Diane. I’m with you – I’ve done a lot of reading and decided against getting a flu shot. I have too many health issues going on to risk introducing something foreign into my body that may or may not exacerbate existing conditions or precipitate new ones. I’ve had the flu a few times in my life…. fortunately for me it has never caused anything major and I think my body is strong enough to fight off a common flu if I catch one.

Thanks for your input and opinion….. much appreciated.
Sue

[Kalty]

#1181180

I get a flu shot just about every year. It’s recommended by my PCP and neuro.
We get so many vaccines through the years, starting almost at birth, that I can’t imagine a flu shot doing any damage.

My husband is ill, so even if I weren’t getting one for my own good, I would get one just not to bring the flu home to him.

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