Monday, November 26, 2012

What Good Is A Flu Shot?


Every year we get our flu shots.  My oldest has a seizure disorder and according to the research I've done, most kids that die from the flu have an underlying neurological disorder.  Therefore, we take no chances and everyone gets the shot.  I keep Purell by every sink and I Lysol the door knobs.  Everyone washes hands when they get home in the afternoons.  

I just can't take the chance.  I'm not a germ-a-phobe, but just in case, what's a little shot?  And we get the shot, not the mist up the nose and also it comes from our family doctor, not some table set up at the local store, administered by volunteers.



I seem to be the only one that thinks it hurts.  I whine and complain the whole time which makes everyone else giggle at "what a wimp mom is".  That's ok.  If it keeps my kids safe, so be it; yuk it up, clowns!

But at the same time, I also get sick every year.  I always tell myself it can't be the flu because I got the shot, but here I am:  sniffling, sneezing, not sleeping, tired, stuffy, fever, nauseous, coughing, and overall -- miserable.  

I'm always the only one to get sick, too.  Every year I ask myself the same thing:  Why do I bother?  My husband says his workers are calling in sick, my kids say half the class is empty from sick kids, and I glare at them knowing at least one of them brought something home and sneaked past my defenses.


To my grave, I'll never understand why I'm the one who gets sick every year.  Why I'm the one who suffers when everyone else is chugging along like nothing is happening in our house.

"What's for dinner. Mom?"  I don't know, soup?

"Want to watch a movie, Mom?"  I don't know, can I sleep through it?

"You don't look so good, Mom."  Gee, thanks, I tried to get dressed, but didn't have the energy.

Even as I type, I'm trying to figure out how to get out of cooking, make everyone happy, make it to bed early with a bottle of Nyquil, and I have twenty minutes before the masses descend upon me.  I guess I better go get the vacuuming done and move the laundry to the dryer, because I know nobody else will do it...




2 comments:

  1. My oldest has a seizure disorder espresso makers and according to the research I've done, most kids that die from the flu have an underlying neurological disorder.

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  2. Barbara, what kind of sickness do you get every year? It may or may not be flu, or just a side effect of the flu shot. Moreover, the effectiveness of flu shots also depends on the age and health status of the person. Aside from that, there is the degree of match between the viruses strains used for the shot and the actual virus on spread. Anyway, it’s a good thing that you’re not taking chances and still getting a shot for you and your family every year. Stay healthy!

    Eleanor Dawson @ Michigan Health Specialists

    ReplyDelete

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