I've had the flu .. but if you take care of yourself during it ... in a few days you'll start to feel better
But I do think the elderly .. especially those in bad health may need the shot
I used to get the flu shot when my husband's mother was alive. She had chronic obstructive pulmonery disease, along with her cancer, and it would have been deadly for her to get the flu. So my husband made sure that any of us who were around got the flu shot. I've gotten one occassionally since then, but I haven't actually had a bout with the flu for probably 13 years. I did get it back then, and I was down for the count. If I remember correctly, I think I was reallllly sick for about a week and a half, then just miserably sick for another couple of weeks. I got bronchitis on top of it. What a misery. I was living alone at the time, and it was a major effort just to get out of bed and open up a can of chicken soup and try to eat it. I had friends drop by and bring me a little food, but I still lost about 12 pounds. Of course, as soon as I felt better, I gained it right back.