I would never have a flu shot because you never know if it will even help the flu strain of the year but with AD you can be sure to have flu like symptoms from the vaccine that are difficult for us to handle.

Also, I am reactive to eggs and the flu vaccine is cultured in an egg based mixture; this vaccine is a death wish for some of us!

thanks webber for your reply. i thought this year i would be ok taking the flu shot although i had such a horrible time 3 years ago but like i said i took 2 that year. i have now decided that i just can't take them! i was really sick....i had terrible fatigue and nausea for 3 days....also very achey. i keep being told that with AD i really need to take the shot each year. the nurse even told me with my disease i would probably end up in the hospital if i got a real bad case of the flu. even so i think i will take my chances next year without the shot. unfortunately with AD it is hard to deal with any kind of physical stress to our body.

I agree that most physical stresses really send us AD people into a tailspin; but most of time if I follow taking my meds and get good sleep I fight colds and flu much better than I did before I found out I had AD and got on the meds.

Sometimes we have to listen to our bodies and not just what to people who have never dealt with Addison's!
Best wishes of the season along with good health!

again thanks webber. i have just one more question.
have you found that even the doctors don't have a clue what it is like living and dealing with AD? when i have tried to talk to them in the past and be honest about being nauseated and so fatigued some days they say that i should be having a normal life if i take my meds! i always think it is just me so i guess i just wonder if you have this problem too.

Actually, my endo has asked me a lot of questions about how I feel and what it feels like to have Addison's. She is very supportive and has only 2 other patients besides me with AD. She tells me my case is much more severe than theirs and that my answers really help her with the other patients.

Now my regular GP doc doesn't get it. She admitted to me that in med school that her studies only touched on Addison's disease in one chapter of study and she wasn't up on the symptoms and signs. So, yes I agree that many doctors just don't get what we go through on a regular basis. Don't give up on helping them understand what you go through; it may help them with another patient.

you are very lucky with your endo. i have had two...the first was more understanding but i moved and had to find another. this doctor i like but he just doesn't get it. i have finally realized that i have to take care of myself and do what i have to when i have bad days. it is a challenge though. good luck and have a great holiday.

Best wishes of the holidays (holy days) to you too!

I had my flu shot last week. This is my second shot since Addison's and really no major problems. Side effects were abdominal pains for two days, sore injection arm, and a little headache. Better than the flu!

I've had 2 flu shots since being diagnosed and haven't had any issues. With our immune systems I think it's a good idea. Maybe some of you have some sort of allergy or something.

I was diagnosed with AD in 1972 and also in 1975 and 1982. I now take natural supplements since having bad reactions to pharmaceuticals. And I also mhave never taken flu or pneumonia shots. I have not had a cold or flu for about 35 years more or less. I thinkmit is because i am aware of taking care of myself. I eat mostly raw organic greens produced locally and although i go to meetings, church, eyc. I watch that i do not sit next to someone who obviously should have stayed home with their drippy nose and hacking cough.And yes, i am told to get the shots that i will wind up in the hospital with a severe case of the flu or whatever. But my stubborness is stronger than a Missouri Mule and i do not get flu mshots. In addition, I also have anemia and my white cells are almot non existent so I should be getting everything. My red cells are lower than normal also. If I feel fatiqued, I do not know if it is AD or MG which i also have. Most ofthe time it is MG. I can tell the difference, i think althoughn there are suttle differences.

Bambee2, I think you are so wise to not get the flu shot. It is interesting that so many people get the flu shot and have reactions that they never would have had if they never had the shot. In the past I have had the flu and gotten over it in 3days but the times I have had vaccinations for whatever reason I have been deathly sick.

I agree with your thinking; eat right, exercise and avoid the situation were you are most likely to get sick!