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cellcept and flu vaccinations

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14 years 5 days ago - 14 years 5 days ago #19336 by vaughanderek
cellcept and flu vaccinations was created by vaughanderek
I am 72 and newly diagnosed with simple itp with a count of 8(uk) and am taking pred (10mg) and cellcept (2g) .Counts in the range of 40 to 50 after 6 months.Will I be taking a risk with the flu vaccination with my immune system down?
derek
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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14 years 5 days ago #19340 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re: cellcept and flu vaccinations
You will probably not find anyone that agrees on this subject. Even some doctors would say yes and some would say no.

I am on Prednisone (15 mg's) and Methotrexate (20 mg's). I prefer not to get the flu shot or any other shot. The possibility of Guillain Barre (or some other freaky autoimmune thing) scares me more than the flu.

Do you go out often during the winter, enough to place yourself at a great risk for the flu?
The following user(s) said Thank You: Theresa
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14 years 5 days ago #19347 by Ann
Replied by Ann on topic Re: cellcept and flu vaccinations
If you're immunosuppressed on CellCept and prednisolone, vaccinations don't work too well anyway. But I'd be guided by your haematologist. You're of an age where they recommend the flu jab and if you do get flu it can hit hard.
The following user(s) said Thank You: vaughanderek
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14 years 5 days ago #19349 by vaughanderek
Replied by vaughanderek on topic Re: cellcept and flu vaccinations
Thank you Sandi for your quick response: your views are similar to mine. My hematologist says I could get the flu shot but it would have little effect and could drop my platelet levels. I started at 8k, rose to 240k with IVIg then tappered off.Up and down since,lowest I8k now after 6 onths are hovering between 40 and 50ish, so { don,t want to rock the boat.I shall just have to be more careful in future. Derek
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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14 years 5 days ago #19350 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re: cellcept and flu vaccinations
Well then, it's a toss up if it won't be very effective anyway. Tough decision. Good luck this winter!
The following user(s) said Thank You: vaughanderek
14 years 3 days ago #19366 by
Replied by on topic Re: cellcept and flu vaccinations
Derek,
I basically have to agree with what has already been said.
I took Cellcept for a couple of years as my primary ITP treatment. I got flu shots, but didn't notice any difference either way. I still got the flu. But I tended to get most everything that came my way while I was on Cellcept. It didn't matter if I had a flu shot or not.
Eventually, Cellcept stopped working for me and I took Cyclosporine for awhile...same story.
Then eventually, Cyclosporine stopped working for me, so I started on Promacta (nearly 2 years ago).
Now I would never think of going back on immune suppressants if I do not have to. Nearly two years of Promacta and I have only used a total of 2 sick days at work...and one of those was because my car wouldn't start one morning. My count stays around 40k-50k and I just don't get colds or flu like I did on immune suppressants.
.
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13 years 10 months ago #20450 by vaughanderek
Replied by vaughanderek on topic Re: cellcept and flu vaccinations
Thanks to all for the advice ; today I had the dead flu shot so I guess the answer will come soon.Derek
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13 years 9 months ago #20860 by vaughanderek
Replied by vaughanderek on topic Re: cellcept and flu vaccinations
Two weeks after my flu shot my counts are still about 55k and I had no bad physical effects or bruising. So did the shot work? In one sense I feel happier with my decision but I hope never to have to find out out the hard way.
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