Your immune system shouldn't be much different from anyone else. If there are colds/flus going around, it may just be that you were lucky enough to catch a different strain after dealing with the first one (or the first one just wasn't quite finished yet).

I never get the flu shot mainly because I never get sick. I always go by the "if it aint broke don't fix it" approach. Watch now those will be my famous last words!

i thought we are supposed to get flu shots, because it helps us not get the flu.

or at least REDUCES the severity of the flu, IF we get it ??

Because, "full-blown" Flu with a j-pouch would not be good, and could make us very sick right? Flu is horrible for coloned people. now with us, means even more dehydration, etc.

my doc advocates for the flu shot and says that especially if you are older, pregnant, immune-compromised, you should get it. even though we are not necessarily all immuno-compromised, we are colon-compromised

i have only had my jpouch for 4 months, so i am not sure if i should get the flu shot or not this year.

i got it with my ostomy, though. i did end up with the flu still, but i think it would have been much worse without the shot??????

I don't think that I get more colds/flus that coloned people (probably less because I am carefuland take tons of suppliments) but I don't take any chances and have my annual flu shot...I on my back for weeks...yes, we get more dehydrated then people with colons and that may mean that it takes us longer to get over it. That said, if you do not believe in the flu shot or have doubts or fears...talk to you surgeon or G.I doc to see what they think.
Mine gave me no choice in the matter...and he paid for it out of pocket to make sure I took mine!
Sharon

fq - are you getting the two flu's mixed up? I think that the flu shot is for the viral kind. I don't think there's a shot for intestinal flu which would be a cause of dehydration.

I've never had a flu shot, but it's individual. If you think you'd benefit from a flu shot, get one. I think many people do.

kathy

Oops, no I meant the viral flu. But I noticed with the ostomy when I had a cold/flu, my output would increase and be more watery. Hence dehydration. So even with just the cold/flu, my intestines seemed disrupted. Is that how it is with a j-pouch? More watery or increased frequency while sick with virus?

thanks for comments all.....

I'm operating presently on assumption that as epic suggested I just got two separate strains over short period of time or I never got the first one totally out of my system and then got it all over again.

I'm still planning on getting a flu shot this year but I guess I will need to wait a bit longer until I'm sure I'm totally over this current cold/flu......

So it doesn't sound like there is anything extraordinary going on for us as J-Pouchers..??.... I was surprised when I was on the immune system reducing drugs for so many years that I didn't get sick frequently??...

As mgmt noted I usually operate on the "not broke don't fix" approach with things and since I have been doing well generally for many months now I'm not really eager to end up in a doctor's office because of cold/flu.... but just wanted to check with all of you if there were other issues we should be aware of.... thanks !! -Mike

fq, I got this cold/flu another time previously and as you noted it did throw my output into an irregular mode as well. It seemed to me then (and now) that it might be the OTC drugs, cough medicines etc... that mess things up...??.....

One thing I have to point out, there is no such thing as a non-viral flu. You could certainly have flu-like symptoms caused by a bacterial infection, but any actual flu is some strain of influenza virus.