Jim gets the flu shot every year and the pneumonia shot every so many years. His doctor highly recommends it because the flu and pneumonia are not a good mix with ms.

I would ask your doctor if you still feel worried about it.

Earl, we noticed that too. My arm hurt for at least a week. :-(

I've never had one. I'd think that the possible reaction to it might cause some sx to flare up. But...everyone is different.

Definitely your choice but I have gotten one each year since diagnosis. I recently had my new GP say that I should continue getting them because the flu can wreak havoc on people with MS.

FWIW, and I know that people have had different experiences, with a dead virus you should not have any side effects from the vaccine itself.

My neurologist and an RN friend both strongly recommend the flu shot. In the past, I had a job that required the flu shot, so it was no big deal to continue getting it, after I left that job.

My nurse friend feels so strongly about me having the flu shot, that she says everyone in my HH should get it, to provide even greater protection for me.

~ Faith

i get one every yr.
when i was nursing we had too because we came in contact with so many sick people.

my pcp and neuro strongly recommended it.
i believe the NMSS positiion is to get one. the reasoning is that if you get the flu it can cause you to have an exacerbation.

they will ask you a few Q's before you receive it to make sure you're not allergic.

Oh, tough call if you're unsure and can't ask your neuro. I do get one every year as suggested by all my doctors and neuro.

From a more medical point of view it is probably the increase in GAMMA INTERFERON that occurs when we are "sick " that that causes MS flairs.

GAMMA INTERFERON causes many BAD things to become elavated that are key to the MS destructive processes.

In 1984, researchers first administered Gamma Interferon to humans who had MS in the hope that it would help them. Unfortunately, the patients' symptoms became even worse. This made researchers wonder if Gamma Interferon itself might be directly involved in MS. Sure enough, when researchers monitored Gamma Interferon levels in MS patients, they found that the levels shot up just before and during MS attacks.

This discovery:
Showed that Gamma Interferon can play a key role in MS relapses.

I have some rules that I follow about this;


2. The number two rule is "be a bad host to diseases of all kinds". Since MS
is an autoimmune disease getting sick (either bacterial or virus) will
result in a heightened immune system response that could cause a MS
exacerbation. This is why you should get the flu shot unless you are
currently having an active relapse. The flu shot will cause two to three
days of heightened immune levels but if you get the real flu you could have
two or three weeks of VERY HIGH immune levels which really increases the
chances for a major MS relapse.

3. Third rule is do not overstimulate your immune system to produce more
Gamma Interferon. Generally you should avoid anything that increases Gamma
Interferon, Il-12, or TNFa and some other nasty T-cell things. Conversely you should take those supplements that reduce these things and do no harm.

jackD

I've often heard it being suggested especially for the elderly and anyone with an irregular immune system. I don't get them now because I had the same problem as Flygirl, the shot making me more miserable than the flu.

I have a very jaded view on flu shots as for 20+ yrs I had no choice being military. Sure they supposedly do good for you (if u get the right strain vaccination)for that year. I have vowed to NEVER again have one, I'll take my chances....

I had to get one for my job for several years, and have continued getting them since then. I do feel a little "fluish" for a week or two after, but always recover and never get really sick the rest of the season.

Cherie