Flu Shots and MG

[rogerm213]

Sorry if I missed this but I was wondering what experience any of you have had with Flu Shots and MG? I asked the neuro and he said I should get one but I had read elsewhere it may not be a good idea. At 55 years old I have never had one in the past but I am worried a bit with my immune system now being compromised.

[AnnieB3]

This is yet another personal choice. If you have an egg allergy, you shouldn't have the flu shot. They haven't changed that protocol yet (eh, Brennan?).

They did a stupid thing this year with the flu vaccine (per my allergist). They thought adding Formaldehyde would be a good idea. The squalene in vaccines can supercharge your immune system. I'm not trying to scare you, only inform you.

Do your own research. Ask Mrs. D. (Moderator) about it.

Some MGers can have the shot and be fine. Others can't. Talk to your primary doctor if you have any concerns. Have you had a shot in the past? Of course, the shot does change from year to year.

Washing hands and staying the heck away from people works too. But I can see why your doctors would want to "protect" you since you aren't doing well right now.

Annie

[Stellatum]

This is a difficult decision. There are risks either way. I personally decided to get the flu shot because I'm on immunosuppressant drugs, so if I got the flu it could be harder for me to fight; and also because it was the flu (H1N1) that either caused or exacerbated my MG in the first place.

It is typical for MGers to get worse MG symptoms when they have any kind of infection. I have never had a bad reaction to a flu shot, but I have had a bad reaction to the flu! That's my reasoning. But I think the decision to avoid vaccines is a reasonable one, too, especially for someone who's had trouble with vaccines in the past.

One thing I do know: anyone who's on immunosuppressant drugs and who decides to get the shot should have the shot and not the nasal spray (because the nasal spray contains a live, but weakened, form of the flu virus. The shot contains a dead form).

Abby

[Brennan068]

Originally Posted by AnnieB3

This is yet another personal choice. If you have an egg allergy, you shouldn't have the flu shot. They haven't changed that protocol yet (eh, Brennan?).

Annie

:P

Not that I"m aware of... I agree, if you have an egg allergy you probably should not have the flu shot. The vaccine is normally incubated in chicken eggs (although it looks like there may be some research into incubating it in insects instead... wonder what kind of crazy superbugs they'll end up developing with that idea.)

And yeah, it is really a personal weigh the odds thing. I get the flu shot every year and the pneumonia shot every 5 since developing MG (of course, the pneumonia shot doesn't seem to work as well as the flu... I've had pneumonia every year for the past 3.)

Brian

[southblues]

I had a flu shot about two weeks ago and I have had no problems with it.

My decision to take the shot was based on the fact that I absolutely will be exposed to flu this year. I have 200 students. Over half of them work in the health care field. They are walking virus factories. They are going to cough and hack flu germs at me all winter. In my case, the benefit outweighs the risk.

I think that avoiding the modified live vaccine is a very good idea for people on immunosuppressive drugs. (As was mentioned, the nasal spray is a modified live virus.) I don't see any reason that there should be a problem with the killed virus.

[StephC]

I have never gotten it as i had guillain barre syndrome in 1984 and although i dont know if a flu shot was cause, i cant say it wasnt so i have never wanted to risk it...who knows maybe there is something about my genetics that combined with flu shot that caused it...doctors have always said no problem, get it but i still never did. I am not really a risk taker. Now i notice new advertised shot explicitly has disclaimer about talking to your doctor if youve had GBS. Think i am gonna just try to maintain minimum contacts with germs (which i can actually do pretty well).

I also feel as if too easy for our doctors to say yeah get it without really thinking through potential effects, nor do doctors have to live with what might happen.

[southblues]

I think that there were some cases of guillain barre syndrome that were blamed on flu shots back in the 70's. I'm not sure of the date. I am also thinking that those flu shots were modified live vaccines. That would make a huge difference. Live vaccines have a way of reverting to their wild state.

I have MG for 3 years now.
First year I got the flu shot, but was not on immune suppressants. I got a real flare up of the disease. But because it was my first year of MG, it was possible it was just a coincidence.
Second year, I was on prednisone, methotrexate, etc, I got another flu shot.
Well, there was another good flare up: I couldn't say one word in 3 weeks, and was on liquid food.

I am sure it was because of the flu shot. My docs told me this could happen, because there is something in there that activates your immune system.
This is my first year with mg, and withouth flu shot. Just see what happens I'm still on immune suppresants, and also have other diseases that have recommondations to get the flu shot. And I still have breathing problems etc due to MG, so if I do get the flu....well, just wait and see I guess.

By the way, if you are seronegative, then it may be a different story. But for me it was: flu shot -> activation of immune system -> more anti AchR -> more weakness for 2 - 3 weeks.

[southblues]

Thanks for sharing this. I am seronegative. I had no problem with my flu shot.

[Gracemary]

With the flu shot . What is MG? Thanks