Should I get a Flu Shot??
 

Hi All,

Someone told me yesterday that they were giving out free flu shots rigt down the street from my house. They are doing it on Monday, I have no time to call Neuro office to see if I should get one. Is it wise get a flu shot with MS?

Input would be appreciated.

Thanks

Joe

I cant tell you if you should. But, my neurologist suggested that I get one last year. He told me to NOT do the live virus one (the spray they make you schnork up your nose)

Is it a nursing association that's doing the shots? Ask the nurse there and see what they say.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/liv...ons/index.aspx

This is the NMSS information link on flu shots for people with MS.

When I was in the neuro's office for my clinical trial visit 2 weeks ago, the neuro recommended I get a flu shot. He is the Principle Investigator for the Tovaxin Clinical Trial for which I am currently enrolled along with being the Head of the MS Clinic at Providence Hospital in Portland, OR.

That's my story. BTW, I don't get one b/c the shot makes me sicker than the flu. :(

I had a bad case of the flu in my second year after diagnosis. I have gotten a flu shot every year since, I got mine last Wed, my shoulder still aches but small price to pay for not getting the crud.

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.

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.

GAMMA INTERFERON connection
 

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 would definitely get the flu shoot - my husband and I have been for some years - both my neuro and my primary strongly suggest it - it's dead virus as opposed the the shot for shingles which is a live virus and not for us with MS - worse to get the flu and perhaps have a problem because of it -

mine suggested yes get it and my caretaker especially needed it, as the doc said. the fever from the flu will knock you down big time that was my neuros reason plus my bad lungs

The flu shot is the only immunization that I'll allow them to give me.

About 2 or 3 weeks before my right thigh and hip went numb in April of 2006, I had an MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) booster shot. (the mumps were going around in Nebraska and Iowa at the time)

I had no idea at that point that I had MS. It wasnt until I had Optic Neuritis in August of 2006 that I even had an idea that I might have MS. (went to the doctor for the numb hip, and she told me it was a sprain and to put heat on it...moron!)

I'm pretty sure it was the MMR booster that woke up the MS Trolls and got them started on screwing around with my nerves.

I've had two flu shots since I found out about the MS, havent had a problem with them at all, other than a sore shoulder and the sniffles.

Seems like I havent had the flu that often for the past few years, had a few icky colds, but nothing that reached the level of the actual flu. I'm pretty sure the flu shots have been working for me. I've been getting the flu shot since 1995, and the only problem I had that first year was that I caught mononucleosis. The flu left me alone that year.

I just got a flu shot. Mo problrms and I intend on getting a pneumonia (sp) shot too. I talked to a nurse and she said that I have a compromised immune system and it would be a good idea.

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

Charlie

I too got a LOT of shots from the military and was shocked when I found my "shot record" in the bottom of a box of my military papers.

I think the flu shot was not the one you should be worried about!

It was awsome to see how many I received!!

They also gave many of them at the same time! They did not care what it did to your immune system. I might post the complete list. The only good thing is I got out before getting that terrible Anthrax shot.

I had MS for many years but hid the symptoms from the military. This messed up any VA disability claim. Big MS attack got me booted out in 1995 after 28 years.

JackD (MSgt -retired USAF/USAFR/ANG)

Oh the flu shot always worked for me--every time I got one for work I got the flu. If I didn't get the shot, I was flu free every year.

It's personal preference. Some people (as you can see) say yes, get one and others say nope, don't. I prefer not to given my past experience with how excellently it worked to give me exactly what it was supposed to prevent. ;)

I have never gotten the shot before and I don't THINK I ever got the flu either, my neuro said it is OK to get the shot with Tysabri but she didn't say YES get one for sure........I am getting really fed up a bit with this neuro, why wouldn't they commit and tell me YES for SURE GET one........they are leaving it up to me..........

Gazelle you make me think I have never had one before I am not going to get one now, but I really don't know.........

Thanks everyone for all the reply's I still MAY get one but it is going to take some thought........

Joe

Here's my two cents on why your neuro hasn't given you an answer..

There haven't been any conclusive studies done on "Tysabri and flu shots". The decision is left up to the patient.

I asked and that's the answer I got.

Well, Joe, that's what everyone should do about their medical treatment--think before getting something done. Sometimes it's a no-brainer. Other times, you really have to go with your gut and do what feels right for you.

BTW, I wasn't trying to talk you out of getting one--just sharing personal experience. :)

i got mine yesterday--neuro said go 4 it
 

arm still hurts but made my freaking no fun avonex shot seem like nothing today...this is my first year w/ms so was apprehensive about potential side effects--but i have little kids so want to do everything to avoid additional yuckies!

Oh, I know you weren't trying to talk me out of it Gazelle, my GUT tells me NO don't get one, I never had one BEFORE why get one now.......



Av8girl, that statement is almost to the EXACT words MY neuro said........seems like MY doctor is no different then many of us here.....

Thanks for all the input!!

:-)
Joe

I worked in a hospital for many years B4 taking disability retirement. I always took the flu shot every year...Neuro and PCP both recommend that I still take it. I never had a problem with my MS symptoms getting worse and I've never had the flu. I guess everyone is different though.

Hmmmmmmm what's your neuro say
 

I never had a shot of flu but a shot or two over the neuro's head may give them the insentive to give you better answers on rather or not you should.
HAHAHAHAHA GO PHILLIES

Go RED SOX

Wouldn't that be more like the 70's? I had the swine flu when I was about 7 years old. That would be about 1973. :)

I've had one every year for about the past ten years at least. My MS neuro recommends it because the flu can trigger MS symptoms.

If the body gets stressed with the flu, it might be more likely to have a flare up also? :confused:

Some info that was posted on another forum (thanks Agate):

http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/...ine102307.html

Cherie