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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Flu Vaccines/Heart Health and Web-Savvy Seniors

My goal is to spend less money and energy on health problems. I am not cheap. My first goal is to protect my health! However, being healthy costs less than being ill. Cancer, heart disease, orthopedic problems, can be devastating.  I also believe in vaccines.

You may have your own reasons for not have the flu vaccine. I probably don't agree with you. But, in a new study, it appears that a vaccine can protect against heart attacks.

I don't think I have ever had the flu, but with increasing age, I decided maybe getting the vaccine might be prudent.

Web-Savvy Seniors are more likely to exercise more, to eat fruits and vegetables, and have vital testing done.

My gastroenterologist just diagnosed a strange condition that needs further testing. That will be another story.

Your turn
Have you gotten your flu vaccine? Will you? Maybe you will encourage elderly parents or friends to be vaccinated. Do you use the Internet, reading about preventative measures and necessary tests?  Does your Internet usage encourage you to pay more attention to your health?

25 comments:

  1. Yes I have gotten the flu vaccine. I also got a shingles shot at the same time. Last year, along with the flu shot, I got a pneumonia shot. All of these injections I got at Walgreen's. All were free with my Medicare card, except the shingles one That one was about 150.

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    1. Kristine,
      That is where I got mine. Due to my Medicaid, the shingles vaccine was free. However, the shingles vaccine is less expensive than the shingles. Plus, I hear it is excruciating.

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  2. I will not get the flu vaccine. My dh (much older) has already had it. He will also take our school age brood in for the vaccine. He had Shingles last year (dreadful) and still has flare ups so cannot get the vaccine. I am getting THAT vaccine though. But, our insurance won't cover it for me due to my sub 50 age. ..that may change. Regardless, I am getting vaccinated. Great post.

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    1. Great! Get those vaccines when you can. Doctors can prescribe the shingles vaccine for any patient deemed high risk. High risk for what? I don't know. Thanks.

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  3. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one, Linda. Some friends and family have had some pretty devastating experiences after they, or their children, were given vaccines.

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    1. Sue,
      Okay.

      I had a really serious reaction to a tetanus shot. When my daughter was two, she had the same serious reaction when she was two. We just don't get the tetanus shot of booster in my family (two children and me), but I don't avoid all vaccines on the basis of those two personal experiences.

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    2. But, it is scary, so I understand the fear.

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  4. Every year. Since over age 60, my husband gets his pneumonia shit also. When I was at my beloved docs office a couple months ago, he told me he had shingles twice. I found out my insurance covered it at 100% with no age restriction, so I got mine at age 54.

    I'm glad too. My new insurance will cover NOTHING until I hit $7,500 deductible, including prescriptions. Oh, wait, I get a "free mammogram" with it. ;-)

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    1. Rita,
      My daughter is 43 and I think she needs the shingles vaccine. She just got new insurance, so I many mention that difference insurance might be a different cost. That is a really high deductible! Well, get that mammogram.

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    2. Ooops. My husband gets the SHOT. Stupid IPad. Lol.

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    3. Rita,
      I laughed at him getting a shit. But, when you corrected, I really howled with laughter.

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    4. "his" getting a shit, not "him."

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  5. I had the flu in January of 1987. The fact that I remember it can be taken to suggest how bad it was. Since then, I hear people say they "had the flu last weekend," and so forth, indicating that they don't have a clue what sure 'nough influenza is like.

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    1. Snowbrush,
      I laugh at those people and usually know those people are drinkers. They had the flu last weekend, so they cannot come to work on Monday...lol...yes, the alcoholic's excuse.

      After I left home to go to college and was not subjected to Daddy's smoking, I was rarely ill with any lung problem. After I got a divorce, I was really well. When I got a kerosene heater as only heat source, I was ill for three years. From then on, using other heat source, I have been well. When I get a sinus infection that moves to ears, throat, and races to my chest, I have lots of people tell me I have the flu or had the flu. I laugh at them and they assure me they had it last weekend or yesterday. You are right, people do not know what the flu is. Now, after getting the pneumonia vaccine, I have fewer sinus infections and even fewer ear, throat, and chest problems.

      I think people use the "flu' as an excuse because no one wants to be near anyone with flu. Most of the people who "had the flu last weekend" still managed to bake a cake or mow the lawn or attend a ballgame. I don't think so.

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  6. One of my sisters in law never has a cold - it is the flu. She never gets headaches either. Migraines every time. I think she is after sympathy. But her terminology means that she doesn't get much from me.
    I haven't had the flu, and have a shot each year. I do get migraines. And no, I cannot garden or visit friends while I have them.

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    1. EC,
      Oh, yes. I know those people to whom the worst possible tragedies happen to fall. Nothing is simple with them. However, they do seem to do what they want to and try hard to draw sympathy to themselves. I know she is after sympathy! I had migraines for three years or less, but they finally stopped when I quit devouring cheese in exorbitant amounts.

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  7. Those same ill informed people also tell of catching a cold because they went out with damp hair or because they became chilled. BS a cold is viral and having wet hair is not where you pick up the virus. I also have to shake my head at the people who diligently wipe down their grocery cart then enter the store and open and close refrigerated cases and use the point of sale machine to pay for their purchases. I don't mean to say that you shouldn't wipe down your shopping cart......just don't think that by doing so you will avoid all the "cooties". The best thing you can do is wash your hands often and keep your hands off of your face!


    My Dr suggested that we wait until the end of the month to get our flu shots....This being the 24th that time is here! I will go to Costco for mine. It is $12 less than at Target. I have had all the shots and boosters. It is my understanding that shingles is one of the most miserable conditions known to man. As a girl I had a tough time with the chicken pox and have scars to prove it! I am thankful to have received that immunization last year.

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    1. Janet,
      I have always gone out with wet hair and never have gotten sick. However, if I get sweaty, I will be ill. I heard that a person's body spends time warming up and cannot fight off bacteria. Then, research said that was not true.

      I am one of those silly, inconsistent people who wipes down the grocery cart and then touches everything else in the store..lol.

      My daughter had chicken pox when she was one-year-old. the doctor said that he had been practicing for over 30 years and she had the worst case he had ever seen. So, I fear she might have a worse time with shingles. That poor child does not need another misery in her harried life.

      I am glad you received your vaccination.

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    2. I meant that if I get sweaty from exertion or being overdressed and then get chilled by going outdoors, I get ill. So did my children.

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  8. I haven't gotten my flu shot yet because I've been sick, but I'll get it soon. My insurance doesn't cover much, but it does pay for the flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccine. I'm going to ask about the shingles vaccine because I've seen so many people go through the misery of shingles.

    Love,
    Janie

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    Replies
    1. Janie,
      My friend's mother lost her eyesight due to shingles on her forehead that gradually moved to her eyes. Another friend of mine was losing her hearing when shingles on her neck moved into her hairline and then moved to her ear. THAT scares me.

      Shingles is more than the debilitating pain. Besides, it can keep returning over and over for years. There is no cure.

      Get it.

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    2. My wife and I have both had shingles. Mine were around my eye and would have most likely resulted in blindness if my wife hadn't been a nurse who was able to diagnose the problem right away enabling me to get an early start on anti-viral drugs. She got shingles because her insurance didn't want to pay for the vaccine, and it took over a year of appeals to get them to change their mind. Meanwhile, she came down with shingles, but she too started the drugs early. I know two people who didn't have the vaccine, and didn't start the anti-viral drugs early, and they've been in terrible pain for over a year.

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    3. Snowbrush,
      Yours is a cautionary tale if I ever heard one. The worst part is that shingles can come back for the rest of your life. And, the vaccine does not work after a person has shingles.

      You definitely are lucky your wife is a nurse. My friend's mother who went blind, did have some procedure about 20 years later to restore her sight.

      I am quite sure the insurance company spent more to treat her than the vaccine cost! Medicare paid for mine. Since I paid FICA for over 40 years, I don't feel bad at all about using Medicare.

      Thank goodness your wife recognized the signs. Thank you for sharing this.

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    4. I looked at the http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles-vaccine/AN01738 and the http://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/shingles/ sites after reading your comment that the vaccine doesn't work after you've had shingles, and they both said people should still get the vaccine. Maybe your belief came from someone who had the shot after getting shingles and still got shingles again. However, a person can get shingles after the shot even if he or she never had shingles before. In other words, the vaccine isn't foolproof. I had shingles at age 59, and I hadn't had the vaccine at the time because i was waiting for insurance to pay for it when I turned 60.

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    5. Snowbrush,
      I usually read the mayo clinic site as my real expert site. However, I don't know where I read that. Thanks for the correction. So, I got the vaccine and am keeping my fingers crossed that I am not one who gets shingles after the vaccine.

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Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.