<p>In advance of frequent visits to medical offices and the like, it may be a good idea to review one’s vaccination history and get any needed boosters and any vaccines for which immune status is not known.</p>
<p>This suppresses an otherwise good immune system or are the issues mainly from being around tons of opportunities to get various bacteria/viruses?</p>
<p>I’m still mulling this one over… I work in a petri dish (public school high school). Kids/other teachers are always getting sick from a variety of things including colds, the flu, and even whooping cough (not too long ago). I’ve never had the flu even when co-workers took their turn with it (with or without the vaccine). I missed whooping cough even when my best friend got it (last year?).</p>
<p>I’m still rather against extra “stuff” going into the body when it’s not needed, so this one has been on my mind lately. I’m not against everything on a principle - as stated before - we do keep tetanus up to date merely because we live on a farm and we consider it worthy. But I’m not so convinced about the rest. </p>
<p>(Before anyone takes this farther than it needs to go - our kids did have all recommended vaccs on a normal schedule (except chicken pox where they had the disease instead). It’s generally healthy adults I’m talking about.)</p>
<p>They suppress an otherwise healthy immune system. As for radiation, it can depend upon the illness/location. But absolutely, chemo and steroids suppress the immune system.</p>
<p>Just a comment on this one. Untreated diabetes can cause terrible complications. Really awful complications, like blindness and foot amputations. And you might feel fine while still having diabetes. You should be tested, and if you turn out to have diabetes, you should treat it right away. Treating Type II diabetes might not involve drugs; it could be a change in diet and lifestyle. I urge you not to wait, if you think diabetes is a risk.</p>
<p>When I brought up the flu shot, it wasn’t about you moving about in new germ pools or the impact of radiation. (Though that’s a valid concern.) It was that the flu has risks, even in when we are otherwise healthy. And now your body is already dealing with one issue. You might say, it’s distracted.
If you said, eg, that radiation was being delayed til after flu season, that you wouldn’t be visiting clinics for a while and only staying within a few miles of home, I’d still say now’s not the time to take this chance. </p>
<p>Creekland, none of what we’re raising is really about discretionary “other stuff.” I’m not crazy about extra things, too. But sometimes, you make the choices that will more likely help, in case. Same as the tetanus decisions. I’ve never stepped on a rusty nail. I’m sure they have web access in Bora Bora and we want you to post us from there. :)</p>
<p>I have… as a kid. It wasn’t fun, but it sure was memorable. We don’t leave boards with nails around on our farm. I wish others had done the same in my youth!</p>
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<p>No, you probably don’t want me posting from there. My brain is thinking of it as an alternative to dealing with all this stuff. ;)</p>
<p>But I’ll see how next week goes and get a handle on what I might be dealing with before thinking about that a lot more, otherwise it’s way too tempting. It doesn’t “help” my “escape” plans that youngest is a senior in high school this year rather than already being at college, but like most seniors, he’s wanted to be independent already - for a couple of years… Or, the south pacific could give him great experience for his marine bio future. He could do a scientific comparison to diving in HI and/or FL. He already has enough credits to get his high school diploma. Spring semester is all extra.</p>
<p>Yeah, I need to stop thinking about it…</p>
<p>But thanks for the info as it did answer my question.</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid of local hospital. They are smart enough to know when you need to go elsewhere and will refer you. Small hospitals get a bad rap needlessly. They don’t and can’t do everything but they know when to say “when” and get you to another level of care.</p>