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Flu Shots, Mercury, And Leaky Gut


frec

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frec Contributor

I have always gotten a flu shot every year, and it always makes me feel sick for a few days. I also have ongoing intestinal complications (leaky gut?)--suspected Candida and an ever-increasing list of food intolerances. Don't the flu shots contain mercury? Is it a bad idea to expose myself to the mercury? What do you all do? Are there any flu shots without mercury?


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darlindeb25 Collaborator

This is a very hot topic among people everywhere, especially in this forum. You will receive all kinds of answers. Some believe flu shots are wonderful, some don't care, and some will not ever get one. I am in the last group. My sister, celiac also, and a dietician in a hospital, gets a flu shot every year.

I had a visit with my PCP a few weeks ago and we did broach this subject. He asked me if I needed a flu shot, I told him I have never had one, and with all my intolerance's, what does he suggest. He said, "We will discuss flu shots again when you are 65, until then, no, you should not get one." That's good enough for me.

ShayFL Enthusiast

Im in the last camp also. I have not had the FLU since I was a kid. I dont believe for one minute that our immune systems forget. True, you will get a different strain of influenza, but the body "remembers" what needs to be done. Vaccines arent natural and not only do they contain mercury and other chemicals, they also have constituents of "egg" which can cause "egg" intolerances in some people and start off an autoimmune reaction. They inject the virus into eggs and use that for the vaccine. It isnt how Mother Nature intended and I believe there will ALWAYS be consequences when you go against mother nature.

I do not dispute that vaccines have saved lives and made certain horrible childhood diseases a thing of the past. But I also believe it was a trade off for increased autoimmune diseases and neurological diseases.

For the FLU, I agree, that they should only be considered on a case by case basis. (no I didnt mean it that way at all).

And that is my 2 or 3 cents. :)

Darn210 Enthusiast

The flu mist does not have mercury. You can also request a mercury (all preservative?) free shot. I don't believe you would be able to just pop in somewhere and get it though . . . probably would have to be scheduled through your doc so they can order it in and administer it within a certain time frame.

For the FLU, I agree, that they should only be considered in the weak, frail and/or elderly.

Shay, I'm sure you didn't mean it this way, but that line really rubbed me the wrong way . . . I don't consider my son weak, frail, or elderly (he's 9) but has asthma tendancies (sometimes . . . depends on the bug). Would he recover from the flu . . . I'm sure he would, he would probably miss at least two weeks of school to do so. Also there are a whole host of other people that should consider getting a flu shot . . . medical staff and teachers and caregivers or anyone living with someone that should be getting the flu shot.

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular

Unless you have health issues which have in the past caused you to become severely ill from the flu (i.e., needing hospitalization to recover from the flu), or if you have reason to believe that will be the case if you get the flu this year (like if you are undergoing chemo or on enough steroids to shut down your immune system), then I believe that your best bet would be to wash hands frequently, get an hour of outdoor exercise daily (exposure to the sun is the best source of virus-fighting vitamin D), eat properly, get enough sleep, etc.

And then if you do get the flu, let your body fight it the way it's supposed to and you will be less likely to get it in the future, even if it does mutate.

My daughter's experience with ear infections:

The first one lasted 2 weeks (no antibiotics).

We felt smug.

Then she got another one 2 weeks later. We were shocked.

But this one only lasted 5 days. (no antibiotics)

We felt very smug.

Then she got another one two weeks later. We were totally horrified.

I called the doctor in tears, and asked if we were going to go through this every 2 weeks forever?

He said to hang in there and call him in 2 days.

In 2 days, it was gone.

I called him, and asked how he knew. He said that this is the way the immune system is SUPPOSED to work. He added that he highly doubted that she would ever have another ear infection.

That was 5 years ago, and she hasn't had another one.

How many of us have had doctors tell us to give our child antibiotics for ear infections, but then they keep getting repeat infections, and repeat antibiotics, and tubes, and on and on and on?And then the kid's immune system can't fight off anything.

And what do you want to bet that the pharmaceutical industry is trying to come up with a vaccine for ear infections?

ShayFL Enthusiast

My daughter has only had 1 ear infection and it was a doozy. So bad, that I GOT IT TOO!! We both had the most horrible ear infection. She was only 2. So we went to the doctor who Rx antibiotics for both of us. I asked him what would happen if we didnt take them. He said your body will fight it off and that will be the end of it. So I never filled that Rx and within a few days we both healed. She never had another one and will be 13 in January. :)

So I agree that letting the body do what it is meant to do is key. Unfortunately, so many parents rush to antibiotics from the first sniffle and it sets off a cascade of infections that they seem to never shake. I dont blame parents as who wants to see their child suffer. I blame the medical establishment for not educating parents and not Rx antibiotics for everything under the sun.

But I am going to back out of this thread now, cuz I can see it getting heated in here very quickly.

purple Community Regular

My opinion...I have never had a flu shot nor will I ever get one. If my dd's were little, I would not let them get them ANY shots.


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AliB Enthusiast

I have never had the flu shots either and I am supposed to have as I am diabetic. I will not go there.

I never can see the point. The flu virus mutates and next year it will be a different virus to this year, so how can they possibly predict what virii will cause problems at any time? I agree totally that we should allow our bodies to build up immunity to these things.

Many of us have acquired compromised immune systems because of antibiotics given throughout our lives - had we been left to our own devices and been exposed to these things as children our bodies would undoubtedly have the ability to fight off most things.

Yes, people do die of flu, but do they die because previous use of antibiotics has robbed their bodies of immune strength? Do they die of complications because their bodies are so weakened they cannot fight infections?

There are virii out there that are so powerful they will overwhelm even a healthy immune system, but as far as 'normal' virii are concerned, I too believe that we are better off letting nature take its course.

I feel strongly about MMR too, that exposing children to mutliple virii in one fell swoop also undermines the immune system. Ok, we may be exposed to one virus at any one time, or two, but three or more? My little grandson was given 7 in one go! He seemed to have got away with it but many don't. I wonder what part the medium in which the MMR is given also contributes to later health issues, especially if they contain mercury or some other equally obnoxious stuff.

Man meddles with what he does not know........

LisaJ Apprentice

When I got my flu shot a couple of weeks ago, it said right on the form that you could request a mercury free injection. I think they are becoming more widely available.

purple Community Regular
I have never had the flu shots either and I am supposed to have as I am diabetic. I will not go there.

I never can see the point. The flu virus mutates and next year it will be a different virus to this year, so how can they possibly predict what virii will cause problems at any time? I agree totally that we should allow our bodies to build up immunity to these things.

Many of us have acquired compromised immune systems because of antibiotics given throughout our lives - had we been left to our own devices and been exposed to these things as children our bodies would undoubtedly have the ability to fight off most things.

Yes, people do die of flu, but do they die because previous use of antibiotics has robbed their bodies of immune strength? Do they die of complications because their bodies are so weakened they cannot fight infections?

There are virii out there that are so powerful they will overwhelm even a healthy immune system, but as far as 'normal' virii are concerned, I too believe that we are better off letting nature take its course.

I feel strongly about MMR too, that exposing children to mutliple virii in one fell swoop also undermines the immune system. Ok, we may be exposed to one virus at any one time, or two, but three or more? My little grandson was given 7 in one go! He seemed to have got away with it but many don't. I wonder what part the medium in which the MMR is given also contributes to later health issues, especially if they contain mercury or some other equally obnoxious stuff.

Man meddles with what he does not know........

Perfectly stated AliB! May I add one thing only to point out to others. Your grandson SEEMED to get away with it...but those kids that come out ok, who knows about years from now what could happen...I pray your grandson is protected from future complications!!! May God bless him with good health :)

purple Community Regular
When I got my flu shot a couple of weeks ago, it said right on the form that you could request a mercury free injection. I think they are becoming more widely available.

I "read" somewhere last week that mercury was "removed" from shots but really wasn't. It was on something about experimental vaccine testing on the military...without them knowing what they were getting. Could be on gulf war syndrome or persian gulf. Sorry I didn't save it now. We can't trust big pharma.

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular

It's common practice in the military to subject them to vaccines and not tell them even what they are being vaccinated for.

It's also standard for foreigners wanting a green card to have to submit to vaccinations, no matter what vaccines they received in their own countries. They, too, are not told what vaccines they are receiving.

Children adopted from foreign countries are assumed to have had no vaccines, even when records indicate that they did, and they are not only given the same number of vaccines as American-born children, but, since they are usually at least 8 months old when they arrive here, they are given them on an accelerated schedule--usually4-8 multiple vaccines at a time, and then more every MONTH until they are "caught up."

Then, when the child develops autism, ADD, ADHD, or neurological problems, those are blamed on foreign orphanage practices, poor prenatal care, anything except too many vaccines.

purple Community Regular
It's common practice in the military to subject them to vaccines and not tell them even what they are being vaccinated for.

It's also standard for foreigners wanting a green card to have to submit to vaccinations, no matter what vaccines they received in their own countries. They, too, are not told what vaccines they are receiving.

Children adopted from foreign countries are assumed to have had no vaccines, even when records indicate that they did, and they are not only given the same number of vaccines as American-born children, but, since they are usually at least 8 months old when they arrive here, they are given them on an accelerated schedule--usually4-8 multiple vaccines at a time, and then more every MONTH until they are "caught up."

Then, when the child develops autism, ADD, ADHD, or neurological problems, those are blamed on foreign orphanage practices, poor prenatal care, anything except too many vaccines.

Fiddle-Faddle, Thanks for posting...the "system" makes me sick.

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