People with MS Should Seek Medical Attention for Flu Symptoms

I hear over-and-over that people with MS has an over-active immune system (I disagree, I think it is a dysfunctional immune system). So if it is over-active the only reason someone with MS should need to get the FLU vaccine is because they are on one of the CRAB drugs which suppress and harm the immune system? I think that the untested vaccine is too dangerous for anyone to take, if those with MS and other autoimmune diseases just take Low Dose Naltrexone that will help to regulate their immune system and will help their body fight off whatever foreign element it may come in contact with.

– A healthy diet
– No caffeine
– LDN
– Exercise
– Vitamin D (10,000 IU daily?), make sure you get your levels tested first.

…and any other supplements your body may be lacking (even hormones).

And until there is a cure, I feel this is the best way to live a normal life.

I live in Canada and my Dr here is hesitant to give me the H1N1 vaccine until he does some research into the additive (?) that has been used here to stretch the available # of doses (up to 4 times). And here in BC they are being very cautious about giving the vaccine as they are worried it may actually make you more susceptible to the seasonal flu?!? .

I agree with the first comment. I take LDN, a high dose of Vitamin D and try to live a healthy lifestyle. I oppose ALL flu shots.

I got diagnosed with MS 3 wks after one of the mandatory vaccinations for health professionals. No more shots for me! Especially, I would be very cautios about the vaccine tested on small number of people for just about 2 weeks that also has a history of prior suspension due to neuroimmunological complications. I would much rather take one week flu than MS exacerbation + there is also an option to take Tamiflu.

I agree with everyone here. In fact, I just recently asked my naturopath about recommendations for the vaccines for people with asthma or MS. Here is what she wrote:

“There are no studies documenting efficacy in these populations (people with MS) for the regular flu vaccines, and there are no studies to speak of on the swine flu vaccine (a few hundred healthy people inoculated with the inactive virus when those at highest risk are getting the live attenuated virus is not a study in my opinion). The drug companies get a “free pass” as soon as a health authority says we “may have” an epidemic.”

I think this epidemic status is blown way out of proportion. That being said though, I do think the flu is a concern for everyone, and we shoud do what we can to avoid it. All of the things mentioned above. Plus, Dr. Andrew Weil (an integrative medicine physician/Harvard graduate) suggests that people take astragulas to boost the immune system. I wonder how this works with people on the CRAB drugs? Thanks for this post. It is very important and useful to talk about this subject. Pam

Wow, you people are giving some dangerous advice. Flu vaccines have a long and very solid safety record, and years of data show conclusively that their benefits vastly outweigh their risks. Don’t get caught up in the dangerous anti-vaccine quackery! The point of this blog entry was to point out that MS sufferers are a high-risk population, for whom it is extra important to get the vaccine. For high-risk people (and actually for normal risk people, too), catching H1N1 could be much worse than just a week of feeling bad. The “untested” part of the H1N1 vaccine is the question of how effective it will be against this specific strain of influenza; its safety should be no different than normal flu vaccines, which are extremely safe. Don’t take my word: check http://www.cdc.gov or webmd for some facts.

Also, given that an official diagnosis of MS requires evidence of disease activity occurring over a period of months or years, not weeks, getting diagnosed with MS a few weeks after a vaccine cannot possibly be related.

Thank you, Brett, for your words of wisdom. I was concerned by the other comments, too, that are anti-vaccine. While I admit I am a little hesitant to get the H1N1 vaccine until it’s been out long enough to see if there are serious effects from it (i.e., Guillain Barre Syndrome that happened with the 1976 inoculations), I am not anti-vaccine. I get the seasonal flu shot every year, because not only do my neurologist and PCP recommend it for me, it’s just smart. But hopefully, instead of taking the advice of someone random on the Internet, people will talk to their own doctors, who can better determine if it’s appropriate for them.

“Someone randon on the internet” — that’s an odd thing to say, especially since you’re offering your opinons on the internet. Actually, I don’t think anyone here was giving advice, just things to think about. There are even complimentary medicine doctors out there that are waiting to see what the longer term studies show on the H1N1 vaccine before running out to get one. Rather than jumping right into getting any vaccine, it’s always important to check out the research, the long-term studies, and weigh the possible risks, rather than just doing whatever your doctor says. It’s ALWAYS best to use your brain to figure things out. Doctors don’t always give unbiased advice. They’re Medical doctors — whose jobs it is to dispense medicine. What do you think they’re going to tell you to do — eat a few vegetables and take astragulus? Only complimentary physicians would do that. But without dialogue, how would we even begin to learn what is safe and what is not! Good thoughts everyone!

My G.P. even agrees that getting the H1N1 vaccine may cause more harm that good. But then again he is not a “normal” doctor he treats the patient rather than the medical condition. Some (Brett) may say he’s a Quack because he really tries to treat and cure the person and not just give the same treatment to all no matter what.

“With open dialog and open minds we can and will find the solution”

-yg

Brett and Jamie both make prudent points.

The anti-vaccine movement is indeed dangerous because the diseases we develop vaccines for are so infectious and extremely deadly. Anyone considering not getting a recommended inoculation might want to rethink that decision until the liability issue is settled. Like Aids, there are rumblings out there about prosecuting people (who forgo recommended vaccines and transmit a preventable illness that results in someone else’s death) for negligent homicide.

Interesting that you mention the liability issue. I heard on a news program the other day that because this flu is considered an “epidemic”, that there is a law that the drug manufacturers cannot be sued if in fact this drug (heaven forbid) ends up like the Vioxx drug (i.e. having complications that were not discovered prior to the FDA approving the drug for sale). Also, did you know that there are states that do not even test people that have flu symptoms for the H1N1 virus — they just assume that they have H1N1? What that means is that people with the seasonal flu are counted with the people that have H1N1, thereby inflating the epidemic numbers for the H1N1. These things are very interesting.

Just visited my doctor Tuesday and discussed the current vaccine situation both seasonal flu and H1N1. I asked if he thought I should get the vaccines as my place of employment is “making” everyone get them and the university where I attend also wants us to have them. I am an RN with MS, and do not want to take them. He advised me to stay as far away as possible from the vaccines as I take Copaxone daily which is an immune modifying drug and acts like a chemotherapeutic agent. Therefore, I am NOT taking these vaccines. Also, seems strange that the seasonal vaccines take so long to be made year after year, and yet when this flu came on the scene–the vaccines were already in the works. Could it be the drug companies are using the virus from 1976 to develop the vaccine so fast? Just a thought.

For the first time in my life I decided to get a (regular) flu shot and a pnuemonia shot based on the advice of my PCP and my MS Dr. Unfortunately I think I have had a bad reaction to either one or both. My MS Dr. just ordered a dose pack of steroids for me to begin tomorrow. This could just be coincidence but I have wanted to sleep non-stop the last couple of days. Just thought I would share my experience. Although when all is said and done I’m happy I decided to get the shots.

Pam,

You know what they say about politics and religion (!), but I agree the legislation to protect drug manufacturers from liability is troublesome (to say the least). But, to all who wonder, I’ll point out that that’s yet another “benefit” of having our Congress overrun by corporatists whose lobbyists not only write favorable legislation to increase the profits of their businesses, but then bribe our representatives to cast votes in favor of laws designed to leave their real constituents (“we the people”) totally at the mercy of unscrupulous corporations who could care less about our health. You’re right to think that’s “very interesting.” I think its downright frightening.

And it’s happening again in the current healthcare debate. The language of the Baucus legislation was written by lobbyists who are spending $1 million a day to ensure the favorable language is not changed, and they padded Baucus wallet with $1.5 million to keep him in line, and remaining true to their desperate determination to have no serious competition to their present monopoly, by denying “we the people” what we need – and want – a public option.

That said, I believe the global importance of the vaccine makes the potential for it to have been manufactured shabbily slim.

I was diagnosed with MS within a few weeks of recovering from H1N1 earlier this year. There were old lesions in my brain when they did the MRI, so I’m not saying H1N1 caused my MS. But my immune system may have been so activated by the H1N1 that once the virus was cleared my immune system attacked my brain causing the symptoms that led to my MS diagnosis.

I’m not getting vaccinated, because since I already had H1N1 I should already have the antibodies. But I would much prefer the jab in the arm to the potential consequences of becoming sick with H1N1.

In you listing encouraging people to seek help if they feel sick (…some people are more likely to get flu complications), under “People who have” you list many types, including:

“Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord)”
and
“Neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis)”

Multiple Sclerosis is NOT a Neuromuscular disorder. It is a Neurological disorder.

Joe,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromuscular_disease

“Neuromuscular disease is a very broad term that encompasses many diseases and ailments that either directly, via intrinsic muscle pathology, or indirectly, via nerve pathology, impair the functioning of the muscles.”

I agree the more precise definition pertains to pathologies “intrinsic” to the muscle, but MS is included in the “broad term” because of its “indirect” effect on muscle function via the (damaged) nerves.

We need the protection of any umbrella we can squeeze under!

Pam,

Just want to point out that Wikipedia should not be believed with 100% certainty as it can be edited by anyone. It even states at the top of the page:

“This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009)”

As for the flu shot and H1N1 shot, I am still undecided. I have MS and some flu like symptoms (sore throat & cough, but no fever) but authorities are saying not to even go to the doctor’s office if you have “mild” symptoms.

http://rxmedicaretax.com/ rxmedicaretax.com Make your King-Kong twice larger