For The Pregnant Ladies - Will you be getting the H1N1 vaccine?

[dnikki0928]

As you are all aware of the H1N1 flu (or swine flu), Doctors and researchers are stating that kids and pregnant woman are top priority in getting this vaccine - they are also saying it really isn't affecting the elderly population. But that pregnant woman are much encouraged to get this vaccine when it becomes available. Me, I basically work in the healthcare world - I'm a Massage Therapist and I come into contact with many people throughout a given day. So, with it being a new vaccine and all, will you be getting the vaccine? What are your thoughts?

[Melissa0116]

My real main issue was that my temperature was not going down at all and I could not eat anything since food just made me nauseaus.  Also, I lost 7 pounds over three days and that really started concerning me.  I have drank plenty of fluids which is what the OB told me to do so that the baby was still getting the nutrients.  I have only gained 10 lbs so far and losing 7 concerned me so that is when I decided to call the OB again and let them know.  From what I read about tamiflu, if the benefits of taking the antibiotic outweigh the risks to you and your baby of getting worse from the flu then it is definitely safe to take.  

My OB was the one that prescribed the Tamiflu to me but I still am concerned if it is definitely safe.  I was feeling a little better and then I took the first dose and a couple of hours later I felt terrible.  Maybe since it is so strong of an antibiotic it just definitely kicked my butt.  I am going to see how I feel tomorrow after taking the second dose tonight and will let you know how I feel in the morning.  

One thing that is truely comforting is that the baby is moving around all the time.  I hope that all goes well for you and that they do not find that you have the virus but I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and prayers.  

Everyone here is always in my thoughts and prayers.  God Bless you all!

[akl_cdl]

I hope you feel better and hope you don't have the virus.  I came in contact with some one over the weekend who had H1N1 and later I started feeling bad.  I had a low temp. of like 99.5 and just didn't feel good. I went to my family doctor yesterday and they did a blood test for H1N1 and told me to come back today for results.  Well they didn't have them, it takes up to five days to get results just like you said.  I felt better so I didn't get the tamiflu I don't think I have it.  Did your OB say anything negative about the tamiflu?  I called my OB's office and they told me not to take it.  I am so confused because it's supposed the one thing that helps.    

[Melissa0116]

Oh yeah I am not due til the end of January so i totally understand where you are coming from.  

[Melissa0116]

See, that is the thing I do not even know if I truely have the H1N1 virus and neither do the Docs.  On Monday, I started vomiting around 1am and did not stop until around 6 am and had the chills really bad.  Then I started getting a fever and it continued no matter if I took tylenol or not.  My fever was 103 and the doc told me that if my fever ever goes above 100.6 to call them.  So, I originally called on Monday and she asked if I thought that I might have the flu and I was not really sure and told her that i would like to see how I do over the next 24 hours.  So, this morning, which was actually 48 hours later, I decided to call the doc. again since my fever and nausea and not eating has not going away.  They ordered the tamiflu for me an my husband but the peditrician did not see the necessity for my son to be on it.  So, that just totally confused me.  I took the meds. but now I feel even worse so i just hope that the meds will not cause me more issues.  I asked the doctor if she thought that I had the virus and she said that they are not actually testing for it since it takes too long to test for the virus and by that time you cannot treat it with the medication.  

Just all sounds so fishy to me but I want to trust the doctors.  I just pray that they know what they are doing but why is it that my son is not being put on the meds but my husband was put on them.  Just not sure.  

[dnikki0928]

I'm not putting you down for not getting it and I do respect everyone's decision. It's still hard for me - I keep going back and forth whether I'm going to get it or not. I'm not due until Feb and that is right smack in the middle of the flu season. DH and I also have a trip in about 4wks to go to Puerto Rico that we won...But my SIL is an ER doc and she is sending me the good face masks to wear on the plane. Also, I'm thinking about how I can further protect myself. When I do client's intake forms, I'm thinking about asking them if they've had any flu-like symptoms in the past 48hrs or so and if they have some sort of respiratory thing going, then I will wear a mask to do their massage. I don't want to put myself at anymore risk.
BTW: Since you currently have H1N1, how are you feeling? What were your symptoms that led you to see the doc?

[Melissa0116]

Yeah, I did read that, thank you so much.  The problem isn't that they are testing the vaccine, it is actually that they do not know what the long term effects will be.  I do not think that the vaccine would be as much of an issue if it was tested longer but if I was someone in the health care profession, I would probably be worried about it as well.  I am not saying not to get it, I am just questioning the length of time that it has been used and tested.  And of course, that is an individuals decision.  My son is 11 and I have never refused to get him vaccinated since it is so important to do but he will not get the new H1N1 vaccine.  

I just want you to know that I am not putting you or anyone down for getting or not getting the vaccine.  I would never do that.  I totally respect yours and everyone else's opinion on this matter.  This is not an easy decision to make along with all of the other worries that pregnancy brings.  I am just not sure how much I truely trust our Government no matter who is in charge.   Just recently I had a recall on medication that I was taking but of course the FDA did not notify anyone until 2 months after they found the mistake.  This is rather scary since the recall was based on a superdosage of a medication which they said could be from 10 to 20 times the actual dosage.  Which would mean that it was an extreme overdose for everyone that took it.  Now, I will have to monitor my baby for the rest of her life since they screwed up.  Other wise if they would have said something 2 months earlier then I could have stopped the medication and saved myself and the baby alot of heartache.  As you can see, it is hard for me to trust what the Government says regarding a new treatment.  

I trust my heavenly father over any of them or anyone for that matter.