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Pneumonia Vaccine

4K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  Bunjee 
#1 ·
I'm a newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic. My doctor wants me to have the pneumonia vaccine. She said that she recommends it for all her diabetic patients and that I should read about the vaccine online and make a decision. I don't recall Dr. Bernstein saying anything about it in his "Diabetes Solution" book. Have others here had the vaccine? And, if so, what were your experiences?

The online list of side effects for the vaccine (pneumovax 23) seems fairly long, although I don't know how common they are and they generally don't seem serious.

The vaccine also prevents sinus infection. However, so far in my almost 60 years, I've never had a sinus infection or pneumonia and I'm not sure I've ever even had the flu.
 
#2 ·
While I'm not in favor of a lot of vaccines, I did get the pneumonia ones because I often get bronchitis when I get an URI and I'm getting old now (70 yrs), so I thought it would be prudent. I had no side effects except soreness at the site.

No doctor told me that I should get it just because I'm diabetic. But most doctors' patients aren't as well controlled as the majority of those on this forum.
 
#3 ·
Hi Carolyn.....
I am 66 and have been a type 2 for over 10 years. I found this LCHF model in the spring of 2015, it saved my life and changed it for the better.

My doctor also has told me to get the pneumonia vaccine. I have not and paid for it this year. My wife and I had a major round of upper respiratory infections starting at about Thanksgiving. After two round of antibiotics and feeling sick for 3 months I am beginning to get back to normal. My wife got so bad they did an xray on her and actually found some lung damage....not good. She has always been very healthy and never smoked. So now we are worried need to get another test, MRI or whatever. They say having the shot may have helped both of us....so from now on...I get the shot....I have always done flu shots....
 
#4 ·
I don't recall Dr. Bernstein saying anything about it in his "Diabetes Solution" book

its not a solution... people with diabetes are more susceptible to pneumonia so thats why I assume they are saying to get the vaccine. not that it will help diabetes but you minimize he risk of pneumonia
 
#6 ·
Dr. Bernstein updated his book in 2011, which means he completed rewrites by at least 2010. In 2010, they were only recommending the pneumonia shot for those over 65 and those who had repeated bronchitis, pneumonia or other lung issues like asthma. However, that recommendation changed a couple of years ago. My doc says it's because more studies are being completed and thus the recommendations change. For instance, they discovered a lot of folks needed a booster 5 years after getting the original vaccine.

It is still not a blanket recommendation, but they have lowered the age range where they recommend it if you have certain health issues like diabetes. There are actually 2 pneumonia shots - my doc recommended only the one for me.

Here's a link that explains more about the shot as regards to seniors, but not diabetics.
Seniors Need 2 Pneumonia Vaccines, CDC Advisory Panel Says – WebMD
 
#7 ·
Thank you for sharing your experiences, VeeJay and div2live. And, thanks for the info and the link, Bunjee. I will check it out. I will probably get the shot(s).

I got Dr. Bernstein's book from Audible.com. The audiobook version had a release date of Nov. 2016, so I hadn't even realized that the actual book was released in 2011.

My mother, who is 87, has been hospitalized for pneumonia twice in the past two years, so I know how serious it can be. She has problems with swallowing (and now must drink thickened liquids), which causes food and drink to be aspirated into her lungs.
 
#8 ·
The problem with getting pneumonia, is that it frequently leaves some permanent tissue damage. If you get it repeatedly you may become a COPD patient which is degenerative disease that results in death over the long run. I watched my mom die this way, took 10 years, but her heart finally failed. She was on oxygen for the last 4-5 years. Just saying, this is nothing to mess around with....
 
#9 ·
If you get it repeatedly you may become a COPD patient which is degenerative disease that results in death over the long run.
I did not know that. That explains a lot of my grandmother's problems - she had repeated pneumonia and then was fine for a decade and then started having breathing problems. Never a smoker or lived in a smoking environment. COPD would certainly explain that but they didn't really have tests for that in the early 80s.
 
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