SHE (Seen, Heard and Experienced) in China is my personal blog about my every day encounters in China
Monday, November 29, 2010
Don't ever take a flu shot
I must strongly advice anyone who’s thinking about taking a flu shot against doing it. Before I took mine, I hadn’t been sick for a year. Since I took it…. Well let’s put it this way, I took it maybe 1,5 month ago and now I’m battling my second cold. Sure, I’m aware of the fact that you can get a mini-flu as a result of a flu shot, but I think this has gone on long enough now. Right now I don’t actually have a flu, but a sore throat and a pounding head (apparently quite a few people have this nowadays –is this the 2010 version of the swine flu?). It’s so annoying! I want to exercise! My yoga membership hasn’t been used for weeks. My legs are longing for a run –gosh, being “sick” sucks! I’ve been good all wknd, resting, taking it easy, eating a lot of healthy stuff including loads of fruits. But no. Still not gone. Anyway, this was not meant to be a pity post, but more like an advice against anyone thinking about taking a flu shot. Save that money for something else.
I'm sorry that you're sick. It doesn't seem like such a good idea though to tell everyone to "never get a flu shot." While the average young person like yourself can just power through the flu, for many older people and those with underlying conditions, a flu shot can literally save their lives. In any case, it sounds like (and you said) you have a cold, which isn't prevented by a flu shot. It's a different virus entirely. Hope you feel better.
ReplyDeleteHm... I don't actually believe that people who read my blog take my advices straight to heart. Everyone has their own reasons for doing things. Let's put it this way then: I advice anyone who hasn't been sick for a year not to take a flu shot. Better?
ReplyDeleteI actually kinda believe the shot is bad from your post :) since you're serious about it hahahaha
ReplyDeleteanyway, I guess before any medication - doctor's advise is important that it's up to our decision to do it or other wise.
Cheers
Why try to fix something that isent broken ;)?
ReplyDeleteI know. I'm kicking myself for this now aftrwards, and once I admitted to my workmates what a bad idea it was, they all confessed and said: "yeah, to tell u the truth we were surprised that u -miss health bug- would do take a flu shot." I wish they would have told me this before I went! Gaaaah, oh well, I deserve getting some shit for this: one of my less smart moves in life.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you got sick! I've been getting the flu shot 3 years in a row now, and have not had the flu since. So it has worked for me. But I think that a good diet, exercise, etc. can work just as well.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better!
/Stina
Jonna, the vaccinations that has been campaigned in the early 40 and fifties causes auto immune diseases, autism, interesting names of diseases (which i can't be bothered to remember ) that are uncommon in the populations...and diabetes. of course, some people have a stronger immune system and it doesn't affect them. Of course, all vaccinations are designed to weakened the bodily functions like a 'slow' death.
ReplyDeletei used to get flu every year but i have not been getting it for nearly two years due to a diet i follow. i'm surrounded by people who get sick often but i have been fortunate to still stay healthy and unaffected!
Cut out any food that is of wheat or foods that contains yeast or boosts bacterial, virus or fungus (-sugar, potato, etc) and your immune system will work better to fight off when you're surrounded by people with terrible colds, gastro sickness
Jonna, I had a similar experience with flu shot a few years and have never taken another one ever since. I was in my mid 30s then, strong, athletic and very healthy. I seldom got sick. Then one year I decided to get a flu shot. The next thing I knew I was crawling on the floor, as sick as it could be, for about two weeks. My entire body ached to the extent that it was easier for me to crawl around than walking. Evidently flu shots are helpful for most people. But for some healthy people, the result may be very different. Did you by any chance not get enough sleep after flu shot? That was the case for me as I just became a dad then and hardly had any sleep at night because of a new baby in the house. Ironically I thought I was being responsible by taking a flu shot so that I wouldn't get sick and could care for the baby and wife. My take is: Flu shot + little sleep = big time sickness.
ReplyDeleteI used to get flu shots every year -- a remnant behavior from when I lived through long Canadian winters with bad asthma.
ReplyDeleteBut now that I am relatively healthy, I've stopped. I actually see no difference in the number of colds / flus I get and whether or not I get the flu jab.
My doctor in Hong Kong says that the shot only prevents against a particular strand or strands. As soon as a new virus appears, or mutates, your shot is useless.
He doesn't recommend it unless the patient is elderly, sickly, etc. He's also against treating every damn illness with antibiotics, which is a common practice here.
Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for the pointers, everyone! As anonymous is saying, little sleep + flu shot = bad combo, and since I'm not the best sleeper my lack of sleep obviously hasn't helped. Anyway, today my throat feels slightly better. Still not ready for a treadmill run but maybe tomorrow. Fingers crossed! And I'll think twice before I take a flu shot again!
ReplyDelete