Mothering › Forums › Health › Vaccinations › We don't vax, but dh can't miss one day of work now, so maybe he should consider the flu shot?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

We don't vax, but dh can't miss one day of work now, so maybe he should consider the flu shot?  

post #1 of 35
11/17/08 at 10:57am
Thread Starter 
Dh just started a new job last week. He is training for 8 weeks, and if he misses work during that time, he will lose his job. We don't typically vaccinate, but we're trying to weigh the benefits and risks for the flu shot, for just this one year. If he loses his job, we will lose our home. He did get the shot a few years ago, and was okay. What do you think? Things have been rough this year, so we cannot afford for any time away from work.
post #2 of 35
11/17/08 at 11:45am
Do a quick search on the flu shot, on this forum, for the past month. My answer is most emphatically "no."
post #3 of 35
11/17/08 at 11:48am
Thread Starter 
Can you elaborate?
post #4 of 35
11/17/08 at 11:55am
Without even getting into the vax debate, I would not. If I got the flu vax, it would guarantee me to get sick for about 3 days. I'd rather take my chances and maybe catch the flu, maybe not - but I'd rather do that than guarantee it.

That's me and not everyone (some people don't get sick from the vax) but I'm also definitely not alone (many people have the same experience of getting sick from the vax).
post #5 of 35
11/17/08 at 11:59am
Thread Starter 
True. He has never had a reaction in the past before he met me. I know the risks associated with it, but we also know the risks associated with him being out of work again.
post #6 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:02pm
Many people seem to get sick after getting it. But really it's much more likely that he get a cold or some other bug than the flu.

Seems that it would be better to boost his immune system all around.

-Angela
post #7 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:05pm
Your assumption in the initial post, which is the usual assumption, is that the shot reduces the likelihood of getting the flu. But there are risks. So, usually the risks outweigh the benefits, but you think it might be worth it this time.

I don't even know what the supposed efficacy of the shot is if it is a match, and I don't even care, because I think disease management and resistance through nutrition is much more important and much lower risk. The flu is not a dangerous disease in most people, and there was a link here recently about how it doesn't even seem to be as infectious as we are all led to believe.

Vaccines are marketed as magic bullets, and I think that is very misleading. If I were in your husband's position, given my constitution, I would do the following: eat nutrient dense foods, and only nutrient-dense foods. No sugar, no fillers, no colors or processed food. I would eat plenty of whole-food probiotics. I live in New England, and we eat mostly vegetarian, so I also take a high-A and D cod liver oil supplements , as well as vitamin C in a veggie shake in the morning. I would get plenty of sleep, and try to get outside during lunch break or something.

Anyway, that's not a prescription, just how I would manage it if I thought I were at increased risk of illness for some reason.
post #8 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:09pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you, Wallacesmum. Yes, I usually do have a firm stand on this issue, but he is worn out and tired, and stressed...which I fear will lead to the likelihood of him getting sick. He does eat well, at least at home (not the best at work) but I'm just thinking........the chances of the flu shot actually containing the right strain to protect isn't even likely. I don;t know, I h ave to think some more about it. Thanks!
post #9 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:14pm
I think you are right, that the stress is the biggest concern. No one can tell a person not to stress, which is so hard, when you are watching someone that you care about and he is stressed out!
post #10 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:17pm
If he is worn out and stressed out already, he's quite likely to get the flu from the flu shot, plus also likely to get a cold or other little virus this season anyway, on top of the flu reaction. If he doesn't get the flu shot, he will likely get a little cold or other virus, but unlikely to actually get influenza.

Since he can't get any kind of sick this season, to avoid the chance of getting sick, I would suggest first avoiding the flu shot at all costs-- this means staying away from places like drugstores and Target when they have their free flu shot days, also!-- heavily ramping up the healthy supplements-- do probiotics, ecchinacea, Ester-C every day, and whatever else seems like a good idea-- oh, and swallow a small piece of raw garlic clove every day. That works REALLY well. Also, good old-fashioned handwashing is always a good idea, especially at work. And of course, as much good sleep as he can get. Good luck keeping him well!!
post #11 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:22pm
Isn't Ester-C calcium ascorbate? I might recommend sodium ascorbate instead. Garlic clove is great advice - sometimes I crush one and take it like a shot in an ounce of water. I have also recently discovered taking a few drops of oregano oil in some olive oil when I am fighting something - boy has that worked wonders!
post #12 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wallacesmum View Post
Isn't Ester-C calcium ascorbate? I might recommend sodium ascorbate instead. Garlic clove is great advice - sometimes I crush one and take it like a shot in an ounce of water. I have also recently discovered taking a few drops of oregano oil in some olive oil when I am fighting something - boy has that worked wonders!
Yes, Ester-C is Calcium Ascorbate. In my experience it has worked really well for me, in preventing and quickly healing not only colds but also bladder infections. (Often it's almost immediate! Just amazing!) Now, my understanding was that sodium ascorbate and definitely ascorbic acid were harder on the kidneys-- but I am no expert on that, I could be wrong.
post #13 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:33pm
I can't find that old SA thread, but the gist of my memory of the subject is that ascorbate needs the sodium, and it will leach it if it can't find enough readily available. SA can lead to a build-up of oxalates, which is the kidney risk. I feel like I remember something about ester-c leaching calcium from bones, but I don't know, so don't quote me there. Momtezuma explained what you need to add if using CA, instead of SA. I have a huge textbook on vitamin C, I should go consult it.

Do you remember anything like that?

Okay, I found MT's stuff on it: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...alcium&page=10

The risk with the calcium is partly the calcium excess stuff, which I have read other places but have not explored. I know there are a lot of folks who think calcium is a major contributing factor in heart disease.

Just a side-note.
post #14 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:35pm
I guess it depends on the situation for me, but then again I'm a selective vaxer. I got the flu once and I cannot imagine trying to work while I had it. I would much rather risk having mild side effects from the vaccine than go through having the flu. That being said, the chance of your DH getting the flu during the 8 weeks he is in training is pretty low. Even then, the flu vaccine could be for the wrong strains entirely.

I guess I would get the vax if I was in your DH's shoes, but I wouldn't push anyone else to get it in that situation.
post #15 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:41pm
This might help:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7574/912

Quote:
In children under 2 years, inactivated vaccines had the same field efficacy as placebo, and in healthy people under 65 vaccination did not affect hospital stay, time off work, or death from influenza and its complications.
If he decides NOT to get the shot, there are things he can do to strengthen his immune system.
post #16 of 35
11/17/08 at 12:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wallacesmum View Post
I can't find that old SA thread, but the gist of my memory of the subject is that ascorbate needs the sodium, and it will leach it if it can't find enough readily available. SA can lead to a build-up of oxalates, which is the kidney risk. I feel like I remember something about ester-c leaching calcium from bones, but I don't know, so don't quote me there. Momtezuma explained what you need to add if using CA, instead of SA. I have a huge textbook on vitamin C, I should go consult it.

Do you remember anything like that?
Wow, the part about calcium ascorbate leaching calcium from bones, (or whatever ), I never heard before. I guess I should go do an MDC search for vitamin C info! Thanks for the heads up!

ETA: Okay, I found this Vitamin C thread, really interesting, although I haven't gotten very far yet, but it has some good info!
post #17 of 35
11/17/08 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ~Calla~ View Post
Thank you, Wallacesmum. Yes, I usually do have a firm stand on this issue, but he is worn out and tired, and stressed...which I fear will lead to the likelihood of him getting sick. He does eat well, at least at home (not the best at work) but I'm just thinking........the chances of the flu shot actually containing the right strain to protect isn't even likely. I don;t know, I h ave to think some more about it. Thanks!
Every semester during finals I get rundown and sick. When I start feeling that way I start taking sodium ascorbate (vit C) to ward off illness.
post #18 of 35
11/17/08 at 1:26pm
There is a study that I read in Nutrition Action Newsletter but I can't find it online that said that elevating your heart rate through cardio exercise strengthened an immune system better than diet.

I have been wanting to get my hands on the full text of this study to see how they defined "good nutrition" but I would think about this for his stress (cortisol) management. That is sure to help him fight any virus or bacterial infection better than the flu, which is actually not that common.

Most people get viruses that are similar to influenza but aren't.
post #19 of 35
11/17/08 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by xmasbaby7 View Post

Most people get viruses that are similar to influenza but aren't.
This is a very good point!
post #20 of 35
11/17/08 at 2:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ~Calla~ View Post
we're trying to weigh the benefits and risks for the flu shot,
OK, but assessing any possible benefit assumes a lot:

That he CAN'T escape the flu
That the flu shot DOES work
That the strains in the vax WILL match a strain he MIGHT contract
(highly unlikely)
That he might get so sick from the flu that he WON'T be able to work
(it's amazing what we can do, when we have to - mothers especially know this!)
That the vaccine itself WON'T make him sick
That he can't do anything else (handwashing, good sleep, SA) to PROTECT himself from illness
That he wouldn't need to take a day off for ANY other reason
(what if there's a family emergency???)

I completely understand your concerns but IMO they do not justify a flu vaccine.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Vaccinations
This thread is locked  
Mothering › Forums › Health › Vaccinations › We don't vax, but dh can't miss one day of work now, so maybe he should consider the flu shot?