Flu shot dropped my counts

I got a flu shot on Thursday. Felt crappy for about two days and noticed blood in my nose, some small bruises, and that fatigue where the distance from wherever I parked to wherever I'm going seems insurmountable. I'm feeling much better already today, it was temporary, and I didn't get a count. But I don't remember noticing the low platelet symptoms after a flu shot before, I get the shot every year.
Erica

sinve you didn't have a count done you don't really know if count dropped or not - I've had symptoms before and count turned out decent [not normal] and really not cause of symptoms.

so i'd say you can't say for sure counmt was down - and i'll hope it wasn't

with the IGg low and a new diagnosis I',m not supposed to have any immunizations - will take my chances though with the flu shot

sorry tpying a mess - just had hand surgery I'm not use to only one hand available or being a leftie.

And my count was up to 162k [around there] - bled a lot so she had to put drain in.

You're right Melinda, without a count I can't be certain, but I'm one of those with very distinctive signs when my count drops and I always guess very very close when I get a count. Maybe it's because my ITP is secondary not primary, so it's the main disease that is active and that's what I can feel.
Erica

You could be right, but I feel that way every day and my counts are fine. Do you have Lupus fatigue? I always have bruises but not blood in the nose. At any rate, I hope counts are on the upswing if they did drop! It wouldn't surprise me if the flu shot caused a drop.

Melinda - glad the surgery is over...get better soon!

I know you know your body Erica but are you sure you are 100 percent all the time - god i'm from Missouri, it would have had to be proven to me that my count dropped because of it - evev when I knew my counts down the show me state came out in me.

thank ypou sandi - I had a wonderful 2 days of Percocet - NO pain from neuropathy [well some], no pain from when I fell down a couple steps, no pain from ankle tendonitis - no pain!! haven't been pain free since before 2005, really it was amazing, I had forgotten what that felt like. but no more surgery pain so not taking Percocet anymore thimgs back to "normal"

That would be great - pain free days! I dream of having a good morphine drip just for a day.

You fell down stairs?

My 3yr old was diagnosed with ITP and has had one does of IVIG at the onset. We've watchedh er platelets yoyo over the last 6 months, but it wasn't until she had her flu vaccine about 10 days ago, after my inquiry from her pediatrician who advised me that it was safe, that we proceeded, but only after a cbc before administering. A couple days later, the mucousy nosebleed on and off, bruising, etc. and we checked her platelets 3 days later--they were only 9! So, yes, I believe in her case, it was definately related. Best wishes.

I have no doubt an immunization can cause a drop - my ITP was triggered by a gamma globulin injection and had a crash due to a tetanus booster - my new hematologist found my IgG low, sent me to an allergist because of my history w/immunizations and lots more blood work done - I'm not supposed to have any immunizations now.

I just feel saying something lowered my count should be backed up with a count that was taken so yes one knows "it" lowered count.

I'm so sorry your daughter has ITP - horrible when our child has an illness/disorder/disease, I know that feeling of helplessness. I hope she is doing well!

I'm really debating getting a flu shot this year. Last October I got a shot and I got this horrible bruise ( this was prior to diagnosis) and then diagnosed in Dec. I feel there is a 95% chance that the immunization did not set off the itp, but the other 5% of it does wonder. I work with kids so I probably will get one but still slightly freaked out.

Each year my dr pushes me to get my flu shot...but I'm too scared to. Don't want my platelets to crash and deal with trying to bringing it up again.

My flu shot is scheduled for Oct 10th. Never had one affect my count in the past.
Right now, my platelet count can't really drop much lower anyway....so no worries.


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My thing is - even though I was recently told I should have no immunizations - the flu is very nasty, friends have been in hospital due to it, people die from it so I will take my chances and have the flu shot! Have had one yearly since 1992 and , knock on wood, have had no problems. I inhale so my chance of catching it is high, I like lowering that chance

I've had the flu shot before and had my platelets drop right afterward. They gave me the CBC right after the shot and the platelets went down. But, slowly, they came back up.

My initial bout of ITP was probably triggered by having the flu. Now I have gotten the vaccine every year for six years, never had a drop.

Evening All!

I am going to call my doc tomorrow about getting a flu shot and I am going to ask about the Pneumonia shot. When you get my age and Sandi's age you have to think about both.

Jeffrey

I had the Pneumonia shot about 3 years ago, along with the one for Meningitus. I think it is definitely a good idea

Sandi won't be getting any shots. I've never had a flu shot and only had the real flu once when I was 10 years old. Since a person can still get the flu even with the flu shot, I don't believe that it will do much. I've known too many people who had serious reactions to the shot, so it scares me.

DeeDee Marie wrote: I had the Pneumonia shot about 3 years ago, along with the one for Meningitus. I think it is definitely a good idea

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My pneumonia shot was a couple years ago and no problem - wasn't offered the meningitis vaccine. However my MD would forget I have ITP and tell me I need the shingles vaccine to which I'd reply it is a live virus vaccine and I have ITP and also have had shingles twice.

This was before hematologist sent me to allergist and it was decided no more vaccines - but as mentioned I will take the risk and get the flu shot since it is a dead virus vaccine and just hope count stays good and that they guessed correctly as to which strains will make the rounds this season.

I'm with Sandy on the flu shot. I know a person with really bad allergies (and she was a PA), and she told me that the flu shot has something in it that she is very, very allergic to. Since I have allergies, I stay away from it. My husband has had the flu shot many times and still gets some kind of flu anyway. So, he, too, will not get it. But, I think he should get the Pneumonia
shot.

Have had my Flu shot on Saturday as have had every bug that goes around each winter since having ITP, and nearly ended up in hospital with pneumonia year before last.
So decided it couldnt make me much worse.

Levels sit around 35-55, so where I live (UK) that means nothing gets done other than a 6 monthly blood test, even though my doctor does admit I get more bruising than I should with the levels I have.

Currently slightly regretting flu jab already as arm very sore- rolled onto it in the night and woke myself up.
Nurse was not much help did the 'arm may be a little achy line, and said take ibuprofen if needed'- I gave up listening at that point!

shall wait and see, but hope I get less flu this winter!- and hopefully not the one that make you go oink! :laugh:

My hematologist mentioned today that if I wanted the flu shot she would recommend that I get a nasal inhalation type flu vaccine. She said because the shot goes in your arm there's slight risk of a hematoma and therefore inhaling the vaccine would be better. I've never heard of that before! I'm so glad she wasn't pressuring me to get a flu vaccine. She just mentioned it. I prefer to avoid the flu vaccine altogether.

I'd never get the nasal mist flu vaccine - it is a live virus and I was told ITPers should not have that type of immunization.

www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm
Should the nasal spray flu vaccine be given to patients with chronic diseases?

No. The nasal spray flu vaccine is approved for use only in healthy* people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant.


www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flulive.html
There are two types of influenza vaccine:

You are getting a live, attenuated influenza vaccine (called LAIV), which is sprayed into the nose. "Attenuated" means weakened. The viruses in the vaccine have been weakened so they can't make you sick.

A different vaccine, the "flu shot," is an inactivated vaccine (not containing live virus). It is given by injection with a needle.

Wow, the stuff Dr.s will offer you... I know they're only trying to help but no thank you! :sick:

With all of the conflicting information, it's a wonder we all survive. :S

sem40 I was at my HMO today - the LPN told me they only give nasal mist to children [he feels it is for needle phobias and it does a disservice to children].

Sandi I don't know - is it conflicting information - I've been told since day 1 no live virus vaccinations, that's why I always refused the shingles vaccine. I think many here were told the same thing about live vaccines.

I'm saying that patients are given conflicting information; not saying that you provided it.

I was speaking generally about everything (with a bit of sarcasm), not just vaccines.

Getting a vaccine is just like any type of medication you take. They all have side effects and can all cause adverse effects. As someone who for a while gave vaccines to infants and children I learned much more than I wanted to.

The flu shot is usually a mixture of strains that are based on the viruses that were prevalent the year before. All vaccines whether live or not stimulate the immune system. Which means it can impact on your ITP. The theory is if you get the flu shot you gain immunity from those strains and lesson seriousness of other strains.

Before deciding on getting the shot think of the following:

How many times have I had the flu? (true flu not just feeling unwell)
What are my risk factors for coming in contact with the flu?
What are my risk factors if I get the flu?
What are the possible side effects of the getting the flu shot?
What benefits will I receive if I get the shot?

This web site has a chart that helps you tell if it is a cold flu or allergies.
blog.whiteglove.com/cold-flu-allergies/


PS: you would be really surprised how many people who think they have the flu are tested and they do not. The only true way to tell is to be tested.

Julia - those are some pretty good questions to ask before deciding on the vaccine. And you're right, the word 'flu' is overused. People use the word 'flu' when they have a fever or other symptoms when it is not the flu at all.

The flue vaccine contains "thimerosal" as a preservative which is a form of mercury. A friend of mine who is a PA says that she and many others are very allergic to this.

This is part of the reason I do not get the flu shot. Plus, I don't seem to get the flu very oftin.

Dee Dee:

It's interesting to know that your PA friend will not get the vaccine. I understand it's because of the allergy, but so many health care providers push that vaccine it's unusual to find one who probably doesn't. I wonder how she'd feel about it if she weren't allergic. Even if a person isn't allergic, you'd have to wonder what that does to your body.