I’ll let you in on a little secret. Until this year, I never bothered to get a flu shot. I’m not against them or anything. I guess I just never got around to it. And I get lots of colds but hadn’t had the flu in forever. But this year, I happened to remember to ask about a flu shot at my September endo appointment. Honestly, both my doctor and the nurse were shocked that I never had a flu shot. “Never?” “Never.” “Never ever??” “Yes.” And with that, my first flu shot was administered. I felt cruddy the rest of the day. My arm ached for longer than I expected. And then reports came in that this year’s round of flu shots wouldn’t protect against newly mutated strains of the flu. I rolled my eyes at the irony of my situation and put it out of my mind.Until, however, Pete came home sick from work. The next day I was also sick, and we thought we had really bad colds. But for every symptom I had, Pete had a more severe version. And many of his symptoms never hit me at all. Four days later I was much better, while he still had fevers over 100 degrees and aches and pink eye (which I thankfully escaped) and was sleeping almost 20 hours a day. It took a trip to the doctor and a round of antibiotics and eye drops to get him back to 100%. In fact, although he’s no longer contagious and has gone back to work, I think he’s still not quite 100%. (Just ask the snoring that keeps me up at night . . . . )
So it looks like I picked the right year to start getting a flu shot after all. Because it’s the year that we actually came down with the flu. And even though diabetes usually makes sickness worse for me, in this case my flu shot gave me the upper hand. (Although as a side note, diabetes did throw a sticky low at me as we left for Pete’s doctor’s appointment. He didn’t feel up to driving, but ended up driving both ways because it took treating three times to get me back into range. So much for having the upper hand . . . . )
Glad you're feeling better and the fly shot probably helped you. I dutifully get them every year. I haven't had the flu since grad school in the 1970's and the horrible memories of that illness are enough to keep getting the shot without fail.
ReplyDeleteGlad both you and Pete are better now. I am shocked you never get the flu shot. I had it once and that was enough. I am a regular flu shot person. I get mine at work which makes the process easier and I am more likely to get one as well. My Endocrinologist always ask me if I had the flu shot. Surprised yours did not check every year.
ReplyDeleteThank God for those pockets of victories! One should really seize those as much as possible, wherever and whenever we can get them; either through our laser focused drives or through the most precise of medical treatments. Anyway, I'm really glad that you are feeling so much better. May it continue on until you reach full recovery. Take care!
ReplyDeleteAgnes Lawson @ Pain Relief Experts
Glad you are feeling better... The flu was a doozy this year, we all had it. The only one who escaped was Elise (she had the shot). The boys (one shot and one mist), had a very mild form. And of course, Fred and I who didn't get the shot were so sick.
ReplyDeleteso glad you didn't get as ill as pete. hope he's back to 100% soon!
ReplyDeleteI have no opinion on flu shots. Once, I got them regularly and I sometimes got sick, and sometimes didn't. Then one year several ago, we got them and both came down with the most severe cases of the flu we'd ever experienced. And in the years since, we haven't gotten them and haven't been flu sick. Of course, if I worked in an office or if we had kiddos, then I might automatically do them without question. But, I've typically not had to wrestle with any of that for now.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you're both doing fine now. I just don't either get why not getting a flu shot ever is so surprising.
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