I didn’t prioritise my flu jab and I ended up in hospital

I had asthma as a child but seemed to grow out of it. Unfortunately my symptoms came back when I was an adult, and I’ve had a few really bad asthma attacks over the years.

I caught the flu and I was struggling to breathe

One year, I was called up for my flu jab, looked at my diary, but I just couldn’t fit it in. I didn’t really prioritise it. Then I caught the flu and had all the usual symptoms - aching body, sore throat, cold-type symptoms.

But then it started to affect my lungs, and my asthma symptoms got a lot worse. I was struggling to breathe, and I felt absolutely dire. This went on for about 2 weeks before I went to see the nurse, and she prescribed me some steroids and antibiotics, which seemed to help for a while.

My sister took one look at me and told me to go to hospital

I tried to go back to work, but I just gradually got worse and worse until one day it got really dangerous. I was dizzy and struggling to breathe, and my inhalers weren’t working.

I rang my sister and she could tell I was in trouble. She came over straight away, took one look at me and said you need to be in hospital. 

When we got to the hospital, I couldn’t even speak to the nurse. She took my oxygen sats and when she saw how low they were, she pressed the button for immediate help, and I was rushed into resus. That’s when it got really scary. It was terrifying. 

I urge everyone to prioritise their flu jab

I was in hospital for 2 weeks but thankfully didn’t have to be put on a ventilator. I think if it happened again, I would end up on one. So now I always prioritise getting my flu jab and I would urge everyone to do the same. It’s simple, easy and takes hardly any time. I have mine done at my local pharmacy, 5 minutes down my road. So my message is to make sure you get it done.

Getting your vaccine can help protect you and other people from becoming seriously unwell.