Pneumonia Shot - Confused!

[TOBEY32]

I've heard both regarding this. The last from my lung doc who suggested I get it.
I've gotten the flu shot w/ no problems.
Did you get/has it been suggested you obtain the pneumonia shot? Any problems if you did?

[HypnoticEyez]

I got the flu shot before being discharge from the hospital 9/16/2011 and had no problems because of it.

[TOBEY32]

Got the flu shot already. It was the pneumonia shot I wasn't sure of...

[HypnoticEyez]

I was suppose to get the flu shot when I was in the hospital, but at the time they were only giving it to hospital employees. Because I had already started Cytoxan while in the hospital my doctor said It was too late to get it. She wasn't very happy as she thought I had already had it in the hospital.

[annekat]

My lung doc suggested a flu shot but I haven't gotten it. He didn't suggest a pneumonia shot, possibly because I am on Bactrim DS. A doctor friend, a pediatrician, on finding out I have WG, suggested I get a pertussis shot (whooping cough) because cases are on the rise. I haven't rushed out to get any of these shots because I don't know the repercussions for people with WG on immunosuppressants, and neither of these docs are WG specialists. I've actually never gotten any of these shots, since before knowing I had WG, and haven't felt it was a big deal not to. I've always felt pre-WG that my immune system was pretty good at fighting these things off. Maybe I just don't like shots.

Anne

[Dirty Don]

The explanation I got from my doc was that since I was already on mtx & pred by the time they even thought about shots I shouldn't get one or either...but, they did recommend my wife get both of those shots as they don''t want her getting anything to pass on to me. I have been told that mtx and pred react and suppress even the shots...immune system thinks we're sick again and the mtx is already battering it...LOL...anyway, best of luck, keep an open eye and mind to this thing...

[Thakator]

My rheumie insisted on my getting both the flu shot and a pneumonia shot before starting me on cytox. - - especially the pneumo. one. There's a particular form of pneumonia (a nasty one) that needs to be guarded against while immunosuppressed, hence the shot. She also put me on Bactrim and kept me on it all the while I was on the cytox.

[annekat]

My rheumie insisted on my getting both the flu shot and a pneumonia shot before starting me on cytox. - - especially the pneumo. one. There's a particular form of pneumonia (a nasty one) that needs to be guarded against while immunosuppressed, hence the shot. She also put me on Bactrim and kept me on it all the while I was on the cytox.

My understanding was that the Bactrim DS, three times a week in a pill, is to guard against that particularly nasty form of pneumonia, unless you are talking about a different nasty one. But a shot in advance of that would certainly help, too.

Anne

[Sangye]

Personally I don't get within 10 feet of any vaccines. The assumption is that the vaccines actually do what they say they do and that they don't harm you in the process. I think both those assumptions are wrong.

But if you do want to get a vaccine, it's important to do your research beforehand and make a decision based on facts, just as you would with any other drug or medical procedure. If you feel the facts support the decision to get a shot, then do the shot and don't look back. And shots or no shots, you still have to do the same things to protect yourself from infection.

[delorisdoe]

Is the pneumonia shot different than the flu shot as far as a live virus vs a dead virus? also, If you take bactrim does that negate the need of the shot.