Well, I'm totally stressed out now. I found out today that I have to have a
Tetanus shot by the 29th to start my new job. I went to the CDC website to
look at contraindications and I can't find a thing that says that I shouldn't
have it. I hate vaccines, especially with having an autoimmine disorder. It is
not a live vaccine so that does not apply. I cannot find anywhere that I
should not have this. I feel like these problems came on after the Hep B
series I had in the mid 90's. I just do not feel that this is pertinent to my job
and I have been a nurse for 18 years and never have been required to get
this. Does anyone have any information from anywhere that says that
tetanus may be a problem for people with RA? My mother is very allergic to
Tetanus, would this strengthen my case? lol.Have you ever had one? I'll tell you, having JRA - they have NEVER not given me a vaccine. It's not so much the RA you have to think about, it's the meds that you're on. If you're on something that hinders your immune system, then yes you run the risk of getting sick. BUT not with a tetanus shot. You're not going to get tetanus from the shot. You might end up with a runny nose, or a cold, because it was a stresser on your immune system, but nothing serious. Everyone should always be up to date on the tetanus shots, its such a simple thing to get, and to NOT get it....wow. To actually end up getting tetanus? Oh lord, google it. Such a terrible terrible thing to have, and it likes to kill people. You WANT this vaccine.
Do mention to them when you go to get it, that your mother is allergic. They will keep you for at least 30 minutes after the shot, and watch you. You should be fine though I think.
Well, i think it is ridiculous. What could I possibly do to get Tetanus, and
besides, when ppl come into the ER, they give the Tetanus at the time of the
injury. I hate to put one more thing into my body that I potentially do not
need. I did google it and I just do not feel that I will come into contact with
this bug...on a surgical unit. I give very few IM injections and we have the
needless systems for IV's. I got the shot in 1979 and it has not been
required since. I feel it is unnecessary. I have searched and searched and
cannot come up with a reason for not getting it done. It's standard to get it every 10 years. Tetanus is VERY VERY painful when you get it. And ANYONE can get it. Its resilient and lives all over. You can get a cut and walk in mud and pick it up. It would be weird, but its possible. A dog bite, a rusty gate cut, slip and fall and get cut on a rock - any of those things can develop into tetanus. I advise getting it.
As long as it is not a "live virus" you will be ok. Just ask about that. It is important to get one every 10 years. Thanks Katie. I guess I'm just questioning vaccines lately. I really feel that
we are over vaccinated. I'll suck it up and go in and hope I don't end up sick
for a few days over it. I was really hoping I could fly below the radar when it
came to these vaccines, lol. I guess they finally caught up with me."
Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a serious but preventable disease that affects the body's muscles and nerves. It typically arises from a skin wound that becomes contaminated by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani, which is often found in soil.
Once the bacteria are in the body, they produce a neurotoxin (a protein that acts as a poison to the body's nervous system) known as tetanospasmin that causes muscle spasms. The toxin first affects nerves controlling the muscles near the wound. It can also travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymph system. As it circulates more widely, the toxin interferes with the normal activity of nerves throughout the body, leading to generalized muscle spasms. Without treatment, tetanus can be fatal.
In the United States, most cases of tetanus follow a cut or deep puncture injury, such as a wound caused by stepping on a nail. Sometimes the injury is so small that it is never seen by a doctor. Injuries that involve dead skin (such as burns, frostbite, gangrene, or crush injuries) are more likely to cause tetanus. Wounds contaminated with soil, saliva, or feces - especially if not properly cleaned - and skin punctures from nonsterile needles (such as with drug use or self-performed tattooing or body piercing) are also at increased risk."
Hi,
I know that vaccines are a bit of a contentious issue and everyone is thinking hard about having any of them but I just wanted to give another perspective. Vaccines were designed to work with our immune systems based on the fact that low level exposure to some viruses, bacteria etc can stimulate the production of antigens on the body and that these will mean you are highly unlikely to get the disease as your immune response will be "primed" and ready to react at the point of infection, quashing the nasties before they take hold and cause damage. This happens naturally folks, it's how our bodies work, it's why breast feeding is good for you (you get ready packaged antigens good to go from your Mum). Humans come into contact with many pathogens all the time and we respond to them and fight them off. Unfortunately sometimes other things conspire to allow the infection (virus or bacteria) to take hold BUT if you have a vaccine you have a front line defence ready for battle. Obviously if you take drugs that suppress your immune system you need all the help you can get!
Whatever you decide and whatever you have to do I wish you well.
KT
I got the shot last year when I went to my new primary doc. She had reveiwed my records and asked me if i recall having one. Which I didnt remember ever having one. I got one and it didn't bother me at all. My arm was a little sore for a day or two but that was it. I would also say get the shot.I don't think you can "come down with" JRA....I'm not so sure that's how it works....
I also disagree that autism is caused by immunizations...personal opinion after having worked with autisitc children, and having been around them all my life.
My GP said I not only need the Tetanus shot, I need the trio. The vaccines we got as children are compromised because of our RA - and diptheria and whooping cough could kill us. My brother had whooping cough. You don't want it.Hi Fiona,
I too had whooping cough as a child, I was hospitalised for a couple of weeks and it took months to fully recover. And that was when my immune system was working normally! These diseases are nasty and horrible, I missed out on loads as a child because of the whooping cough and it could have been much, much worse... I was lucky, I hope your brother was too!
KT