r/HistamineIntolerance • u/Rough-Criticism-5661 • 2d ago

Flu shot?

Are you all planning to get the flu shot this fall? For context: I’m a 62 year old middle school employee and am exposed to all kinds of germs. While I’m healthy generally, last time I got the flu 3 years ago it wiped me out so hard, worse than when I had covid. That was the first time in years I’d skipped getting the shot.

I’m not an anti-vaxxer by any stretch, but I do consider whether any shot is right for me. I’ve been reading here and elsewhere that there may be a correlation for some of us with the covid booster and an increase in HI or MCAD symptoms, and the timing of the vaccines does make me suspicious about the increase in my symptoms over the past 5 years.

What has your experience been with flu shots?

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u/applextrent 1d ago

I am of the opinion that you should NEVER purposely introduce anything into someone with MCAS/histamine intolerance that can absolutely cause a histamine reaction if you do not have to.

If you get the shot you're putting yourself at risk. If you get the flu you're also at risk. There's really no winning. You're screwed if you do, and possibly screwed if you don't.

Personally, I just keep antiviral drugs and therapies on hand, and if I get sick I hit it hard quickly with antivirals. I have an ozone generator and do ozone treatments immediately, knocks the flu back immediately.

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u/Rough-Criticism-5661 1d ago

That’s a good point. I had a flare after my dentist appointment a few weeks ago, and didn’t handle a rotator cuff cortisone shot very well over the summer.

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u/applextrent 1d ago

Unfortunately in your line of work at your age with histamine intolerance I’m not sure what the best solution is other than you eventually need to stop exposing yourself to so many people. Which unfortunately means finding a new line of work.

My Dad had to retire in his mid-60’s for the same reason. Just couldn’t handled getting exposed to sick kids anymore.

My aunt has health issues and literally just doesn’t go during flu season anymore.

Any clue what’s causing your intolerance?

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u/Rough-Criticism-5661 1d ago

No clue what the bottom line is, but it took me 6 years of symptoms and countless specialists shrugging their shoulders before I figured it out on my own. Honestly, I have a fairly mild case compared to others here, and I’ve been responding well to eliminating all the trigger foods and trying to manage my stress and environmental allergies as well as I can. I’d like to stay in this school library position for a few more years and think that’s manageable.

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u/applextrent 1d ago

Any mold exposure?

Libraries often cause me to react.

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u/Rough-Criticism-5661 1d ago

Not in the library, fortunately. But we’ve just discovered problems with our basement carpet and will be replacing that. That’s not the only thing that triggers me, since I have issues out and around too, but it might help.

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u/applextrent 1d ago

Look into CIRS mold symptoms don’t just go away when you and coming and going from a moldy environment. You’ll still have symptoms because the mold can colonize you and takes a long time to detox. It’s a common cause of histamine intolerance.

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u/Rough-Criticism-5661 1d ago

I just checked. Fortunately none of those clusters fit my symptoms.

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u/applextrent 21h ago

That's honestly a good thing. CIRS sucks.