Likelihood of Getting the Flu?

Updated on February 14, 2008
R.F. asks from Plano, TX
13 answers

My husband started feeling sick on Friday, was fine over the weekend, and now he's been sick since Monday. He's going to the doctor today, but I'm pretty sure he has the flu - achy, fever, coughing, miserable all around. My 20 mo daughter and I both got the flu shot. Since he first got sick on Friday, I'm hoping that we've already passed the window where he was most contagious and would have spread it to us in case the shot failed us. Have any of you gotten the flu with the shot? Are we pretty safe to say that we won't catch it since we haven't had any symptoms yet? As you all know, mama's can't afford to get sick!

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So What Happened?

OK - it's confirmed - it's the flu. He's getting Tamiflu for him and me,and my pedi gave the OK for my daughter to go on it as well. We started last night, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll avoid getting sick!

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C.F.

answers from Dallas on

You guys are protected if it is the same strain, but if it is not then you might get sick. Ask about Tamiflu...it is expensive but works great. It can be given to anyone over 1 year and helps reduce symptoms and cuts sick time in half.

C.

More Answers

T.C.

answers from Dallas on

There is an age limit with the tamaflu, theraflu (whatever it was called! ha!). It might have been not to give it to a 12 month old or younger. You just might want to check to see. We took it when my daughter was sick with the flu last year. It helped us not get it.

My daughter has had the flu shot this year, but we know it won't necessarily work. There are different strains out there, I think. It seems like the shot isn't preventing everyone from getting it. Glad you didn't seem to get it!

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J.J.

answers from Abilene on

I am a nurse in a hospital.We have had several patient's that have been vacinated for the flu.It seems this year the wrong strain was picked for the vacine.It's possible for you and your child to be treated if it is caught early enough.Call your pediatrician or family doctor for advise.
J. J.

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K.P.

answers from Dallas on

My husband gets flu shot every year and has not had it since...I think you should be pretty safe but still be cautious and consistently spray things with lyesol. From what I heard when you get the flu shot it is like you are pretty much getting a shot that gives you the flu but without all the sickness, thats why alot of people will feel weak and a little sick after they get it...II not exactly sure about this but thats what I have heard anyway!!!

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

You know NOTHING is infallable. Flu mutates from one person to another b/c it is a virus. The flu shot cannot prevent all flu's.

I had the flu very severely last week. Started Thurs. 8:30 pm & lasted until 4pm the next day. I'm a stay at home mother of two yr. old twins & KNEW I couldn't get them sick so I sequestered myself into my bedroom. The kids fended for themselves all day. Lots of Lysol.

The kids did NOT get the flu neither did my husband (of course he slept on the couch). I prayed really hard also. What I had was very wicked........chills for 2 days so cold my muscles were tense. I'm the type to wear shorts & sandles in the snow so I never get cold but froze my tail off during these 2 days w/ fever.

By the end of 48 hrs. I was better. Hope you have a great day.

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J.H.

answers from Dallas on

We didnt get sick from my husbands flu! He didnt get better over the weekend though.
But there are diffrent strans going around.
I hope its something diffrent!
Good luck and lock the man in his bedroom!!!!
HAHA

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N.H.

answers from Dallas on

R.-
My son had the flu a couple of weeks ago and none of us got it(and none of us got the flu shot). So, yes it is possible not to get it if someone in your household has it. The doctor did prescribe Tamiflu for all of us as a preventative but he had been contagious a couple of days prior.

Good luck!
N.

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M.Y.

answers from Dallas on

my husband just got over the flu...he was sick like he has never been before...they actually swabbed his nose and he really had the flu...the doctor sent me and our 12 yr. old son a prescription for tamiflu which is supposed to keep you from getting the flu once exposed or it is supposed to cut the duration of the flu if taken within the first 48 hours of symptoms....it was not a cheap prescription even with our insurance but neither one of us has even had the slightest symptoms. you might ask the your doctor about this if your husband actually ends up as having the flu..

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C.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

My daughter and I didn't get the flu shot, my son and husband did get it. Everyone except my husband got the flu. My son and I had it the worst-- our fevers lasted 6 days. My daughters fever only lasted 4 days. The flu shot is supposed to shorten and mild the symptoms of flu, but that didn't seem to be the case with my son.
Good luck.

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M.E.

answers from Dallas on

Hello R.. I don't know how true this is but I have heard the flu shot ONLY works for 3 months! I get a flu shot every year but this year I got the flu. I got my flu shot in October and got the flu in late January. I was sick for a week and a half. After getting better, a friend told me that it only works for 3 months. From now on, I'm just going to take my chances without getting the flu shot!

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C.P.

answers from Lubbock on

My mom recently came down with the flu and the day she started feeling sick she was at our house loving and kissing on my two girls (6 and 2). She was diagnosed that following Monday, and although both girls and I had a flu shot I immediatly got everyone on tamiflu just to be safe. I have known of people to get the flu after getting the shot. My sister in law and her daughter both got it one year after getting the shot it just wasn't quite as severe. Anyway just thought I would let you know that some doctors recommend that even if they are only exposed they might should get on the tamiflu. Hope this helps.

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N.O.

answers from Dallas on

Hi R.,

The flu shot only protects you from catching the most deadly strains of the flu.
There are many different type's of flu so depending on what strain your husband has, you are very likely to catch it.
However, my husband recently had a bad virus (most likely the flu) and I was terrified of catching it. My children both caught it but they didn't suffer nearly as bad as my Husband. Fortunately, I never caught anything!
(None of us had gotten our flu shots this year)
I started drinking some Emergen-C which is a Vitamin C powder that you can mix into water or juice. It helps to boost your immune system. I'm not sure it that's what prevented me from catching it or not but it very likely could have been. Since it's already Weds, you are probably in the clear but good luck to you and hope your husband gets better soon!
~N.~

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T.W.

answers from Dallas on

We are not ones to get flu shots or vaccinations.
I feel they are more harm than good.. personal opinion.
IF we think we are coming down with something we hit the pau d arco tea and olive leaf extract and knock it! I have heard of more people getting sick with flu shots and I have to ask myself... why get a flu shot when you still can get the flu??? makes no sense to me at all...or do I just not get it? one person said her dr said you wont get as sick. does that make any sense to you at all? people are conditioned to expecting to get the flu also it is programed into us by medical profession. I have not had the flu in maybe 10 years. my family has tried to get it a couple of times but we hit our remedies and fought it off in a day or so and they never really got that sick.
why not use the things God gave us to use and take care of it naturally and eat a basic good healthy diet? just my thoughts.

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