Having the chance of a flu jab would have been nice.  My Mum and Dad had no effects from theirs.

I'm getting mine next week.  I hope I don't have a bad reaction.  I'm still debating whether to get the Swine Flu jab.

I'm giving that one a miss.
Even NHS staff are turning it down and it makes me wonder why. Is there something that they know that we don't?
Besides, after the reaction to the ordinary flu jab this time, I'm not even sure if I will have it again.
I need to have a chat with my doctor.
My gp surgery write to me to remind me about the jab each year, if I don't book an appointment within a week, they phone me and basically tell me to get my finger out. If I'm having problems with my arthritis, they come to my house and give the jab........there is no escape!

I paid for a flu jab last year, but haven't had one yet this year.  I wonder if I could buy a swine flu jab, or will that only be available for certain groups of people?

My surgery does an open clinic for the flu jabs, but they are all on Wednesdays and I can't attend on Wednesdays.  It's recommended that I get a swine flu jab as the swine flu would probably kill me.  I'll discuss it with my GP next week or my consultant later this month.

I think it's only available to at risk groups to begin with, but will probably be available later.  I don't know for sure though.

Took my mother for hers on Wednesday and was nabbed by one of the nurses to have one because I care for her, had no side effects whatsoever... although I know loads of people down with a bug and have very similar symptoms to what you have described Nanalou, might be just bad luck or coincidence. Hope you feel better soon

I should have had mine two weeks ago but I was not very well  I cancelled it, I always get a bad reaction I dread having it to be honest, but know it is for the best I  will be getting it next week all being well ...

I fall into the category that should have the flu jab but can't as I'm allergic to eggs and they always have egg albumen as part of the serum to deliver it.  I'm gonna assume that the swine flu jab is the same, so won't be able to have that either.

Hi Pengy I am very wary about the swine flu jab as they are still testing, having no autoimmune system I will be offered it but dont know what to do to be honest, it is a shame you are allergic hope you will be  well and okay this winter

I'm in the same boat, although I have been off the immunosuppresents for several months, I still worry that my immune system won't be able to handle any bout with flu.  I'm not sure if I could handle another few months in hospital.

I've had the regular flu shot a couple times with mild reaction like sore arm and tiredness. But, the last time I had the injection, I had a weird rash (like poison ivy) on my legs. After a couple days it finally stopped iching and went away. I'm not sure I will ever get the shot again. I've heard there is mercury in the serum as a preservative, I don't know if that is a rumor or true. It sounds unsafe

When I worked at the hospital we had the option of having the flu jab every year... but apart from a handful of people, the vast majority of the staff would turn it down.

I had it once, my arm hurt for over a week.... but I actually did get mini flu for a few days afterwards (for our works xmas do as well), so I turned it down after that.

My parents have their flu jabs every year, with no ill effects.   Dad had his last week and was quite ill for a week afterwards, first time ever.    He actually took to his bed for 3 days!

(and no, I probably wouldn't have the swine flu jab either...  as there is a very small chance of quite serious side effects .....   However, I would take this risk and have the swine flu jab if the virus mutates to its more deadly form.... i.e. the death rate increased significantly... )

I got the flu jab a week last tuesday and still have a bruise but it is well worth it as those who have had flu will know.

Do you see a Consultant Immunologist as part of your hospital team Suzi?  They'd be the person to best advice you. xx

Not anymore, just the renal consultant after they stopped giving me the drugs to kill off my white blood cells.  I stopped being "interesting" when I startedto improve!

lol... aw!   As you were officially 'under an Immunologist' (so to speak)... I'm pretty sure you could ring him/her to ask their advice  (dunno how it works in your area... they are usually housed within the haematology dept). If its Addenbrookes you are with, then I know their Immunologist is in Haematology (they used to provide a remote Immunology service to my area when I was working there.)

I'll just ask for a print out of my latest bloods when I go to dialysis on Monday and see what my white count is.  The problem is, though, if I get an infection and my white count goes up, it could mean the onset of another bout of Goodpasture's and I have to go through months of chemo drugs and all that.  I just don't think I could take that again - either physically or mentally.

I'll get the flu jab and think some more about the swine flu jab.  It might be worth the risk.

I had my flu jab at Boots this morning, and asked the nurse about the Swine Flu jab.  She said that they were definitely expecting it to be available to anyone who wants to pay for it in the next few weeks.

I had the flu jab every year for several years until about 4 years ago - I've never got round to it the last few years - I bet if I went to my surgery for it this year, they'd probably send me off with a flea in my ear as I haven't taken it up the last couple of years.
Do you think they'll probably say I'm not entitled to it any more?

Thanks for that info. 

If you're in an at-risk category, you'll still be entitled, I'd have thought.

I'm due to have mine tomorrow. I've only had it once before, last year, and got no reaction. I hope it's the same this time.
As it happens, I haven't had flu for donkey's years, and one cold in the last 6. Mind you, I got a funny reaction to that cold, and ended up in hospital because my wrists and hands got really swollen. Still don't know the real cause of it. (I do have arthritis in my wrists and hands).

I had mine a couple weeks ago,  and apart from  a very sore arm and some sniffles the day after (which might have been just a coincidence), I have been fine