Re: Hi - I am new - about the Flu shot

[Guest guest]

My rheumatoid arthritis doctor told me that

I should get the shot . He said it's not made of the live virus like

the previous flu shots. I had one and didn't get sick and was barely

sore in the arm. I'm sure that some people may have some effects from

it. Sounds like you had a lot of complications from yours. That would

scare me too.

Some information on the flu vaccine

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie

http://www.4HockeyFans.com

http://www.4FloridaHockey.com

MSN: Maggies1429

AOL: Maggies85

lisamamma18 wrote:

Hi All

My name is , I am 45 years old and new to these boards. While scrolling around I noticed quite a bit of talk about the flu shot.

People with auto immune illness SHOULD NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT! Do some research. Especially if you have multiple auto immune issues.

I was given the flu vaccine in 2003. I had anti-phopholipid sydrome and anti-lupus autobodie, was taking plaqueneil to stave off full blown lupus for years. I had Fibromyalgia, Epstein Bar, Oesteo with 35% bone loss in early monopause on hormone replacement. I had a spinal cord injury which left me with a metal implant from c2-c7 after 2 fusion and esophogeal damage asa well as cord damage. The primary risk of the flu vaccine is a virus called Guillan Barre. It can be fatal. Or you can survive. Or you can get a cronic progresive form called CIDP. That's me! Cronic Immune Demylanating Polyneuropathy. An easy way of understanding it is like MS of the limbs up. The mylan leaves starting at the feet and works its way up.

So if you DO ge the vaccine and get sick from it.. the vaccine should NOT MAKE YOU SICK! GO to the hospital! Anything more than a slight fever needs to get attended to.

For me it was yet another attack on my already compromised immune system. There is no cure; there is no telethon and the treatments ar few and dreary and lifetime. But not for Guillan Barre. So take it seriously. I receive IVIG every other week. Iv immunoglobulin the treatment takes 6 1/2 hours and I have to take beyndryl and tylenol for the headache and allergic to other peoples antibodies. It flattens me out for a while, but without it I am in a wheelchair or bedridden and the disease is progressing and will kill me. If this fails to continue working the next step os plasmapheresis (blood washing), similar to dialisis. But so far we are holding our own.

Then this past year we added Rhuematoid Arthritis to the mix. I cannot take any of the new med with CIDP because they with give me MS. I don't know why.. I got Methotrexate poisoning and wound up in the hospital. Sulfasazaline as well gave me fluid in my stommach and yet another hospital stay. So status quo: RA, CIDP, Fibro,Lupus, Antiphoslipid (not that important after childbearing years), Oesteoporosis, Spinal Cord Implant with lesions, (due to auto accident). Now they are saying Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Basiclly every part of my body is attacking

itself. I, however feel blessed to be alive remarkably. I have four children. Four dogs and three cats and a wonder and thankfully patient

husband.

Every day is just another step on the ladder of life and there is always somebody less fortunate than I.

God Bless!

Feel free to contact me

[Guest guest]

Thanks Maggie, Excellent Link... It clearly states risks od GB and complications of nerve problems for fevers or compromised immune systems. Most importantly if you do have more than a minor reactio such as a slight fever or sore arm and you get actually sick. See the doctor. Those number are deceiving and people with auto immune illness are at far greater risk. Thanks for responding to me, ~Maggie~ <meshouse@...> wrote: My rheumatoid arthritis doctor told me that I should get the shot . He said it's not made of the live virus like the previous flu shots. I had one and didn't get sick and was barely sore in the arm. I'm sure that some people may have some effects from it. Sounds like you had a lot of

complications from yours. That would scare me too.Some information on the flu vaccinehttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85

FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

[Guest guest]

I kept expecting really bad arm pain as my

friends who had the shot kept telling me that they were in severe pain

and they are healthy people. They scared me really bad! lol I guess

the RA meds helped keep the pain away. I was conerned about catching

the flu because I'm on humira, MTX and prednisone...this is the first

year I've ever had a flu shot and have been on MTX and prednisone for

many years. Last time I had the flu it was really bad on Christmas Eve

1999. *kncok on wood* So this time I wanted to take percauctions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie

http://www.4HockeyFans.com

http://www.4FloridaHockey.com

MSN: Maggies1429

AOL: Maggies85

lisa pellow wrote:

Thanks Maggie,

Excellent Link...

It clearly states risks od GB and complications of nerve

problems for fevers or compromised immune systems.

Most importantly if you do have more than a minor reactio such

as a slight fever or sore arm and you get actually sick. See the

doctor. Those number are deceiving and people with auto immune illness

are at far greater risk.

Thanks for responding to me,

[Guest guest]

While I recognize that the flu shots may be harmful to some, the flu can also be fatal to people with reduced immunity. All of my doctors recommend the flu shots. The nasal spray is a different story because that is a live vaccine that can cause the flu in people with compromised immune systems. This is one of the many choices we face to determine which is the lesser of two evils. There is no "one size fits all" answer to many questions including this one. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: lisamamma18

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 9:56 AM

Subject: Hi - I am new - about the Flu shot

Hi AllMy name is , I am 45 years old and new to these boards. While scrolling around I noticed quite a bit of talk about the flu shot.People with auto immune illness SHOULD NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT! Do some research. Especially if you have multiple auto immune issues.I was given the flu vaccine in 2003. I had anti-phopholipid sydrome and anti-lupus autobodie, was taking plaqueneil to stave off full blown lupus for years. I had Fibromyalgia, Epstein Bar, Oesteo with 35% bone loss in early monopause on hormone replacement. I had a spinal cord injury which left me with a metal implant from c2-c7 after 2 fusion and esophogeal damage asa well as cord damage. The primary risk of the flu vaccine is a virus called Guillan Barre. It can be fatal. Or you can survive. Or you can get a cronic progresive form called CIDP. That's me! Cronic Immune Demylanating Polyneuropathy. An easy way of understanding it is like MS of the limbs up. The mylan leaves starting at the feet and works its way up.So if you DO ge the vaccine and get sick from it.. the vaccine should NOT MAKE YOU SICK! GO to the hospital! Anything more than a slight fever needs to get attended to.For me it was yet another attack on my already compromised immune system. There is no cure; there is no telethon and the treatments ar few and dreary and lifetime. But not for Guillan Barre. So take it seriously. I receive IVIG every other week. Iv immunoglobulin the treatment takes 6 1/2 hours and I have to take beyndryl and tylenol for the headache and allergic to other peoples antibodies. It flattens me out for a while, but without it I am in a wheelchair or bedridden and the disease is progressing and will kill me. If this fails to continue working the next step os plasmapheresis (blood washing), similar to dialisis. But so far we are holding our own.Then this past year we added Rhuematoid Arthritis to the mix. I cannot take any of the new med with CIDP because they with give me MS. I don't know why.. I got Methotrexate poisoning and wound up in the hospital. Sulfasazaline as well gave me fluid in my stommach and yet another hospital stay. So status quo: RA, CIDP, Fibro,Lupus, Antiphoslipid (not that important after childbearing years), Oesteoporosis, Spinal Cord Implant with lesions, (due to auto accident). Now they are saying Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Basiclly every part of my body is attackingitself. I, however feel blessed to be alive remarkably. I have four children. Four dogs and three cats and a wonder and thankfully patienthusband.Every day is just another step on the ladder of life and there is always somebody less fortunate than I.God Bless!Feel free to contact me

[Guest guest]

Rheumatoligists recommend the flu shot for people who are on

immunosuppressant meds for R.A. because the body is not as capable of

fighting off the virus. The common flu can even be fatal for people

on DMARDS. I personally have never had a problem with the flu shot.

Co-workers with whom I shared an office got sick with the flu two

years in a row, but it passed me by.

Sierra

>

> Hi All

> My name is , I am 45 years old and new to these boards. While

> scrolling around I noticed quite a bit of talk about the flu shot.

>

> People with auto immune illness SHOULD NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT! Do

some

> research. Especially if you have multiple auto immune issues.

>

> I was given the flu vaccine in 2003. I had anti-phopholipid sydrome

> and anti-lupus autobodie, was taking plaqueneil to stave off full

> blown lupus for years. I had Fibromyalgia, Epstein Bar, Oesteo

with

> 35% bone loss in early monopause on hormone replacement. I had a

> spinal cord injury which left me with a metal implant from c2-c7

> after 2 fusion and esophogeal damage asa well as cord damage.

>

> The primary risk of the flu vaccine is a virus called Guillan

> Barre. It can be fatal. Or you can survive. Or you can get a

cronic

> progresive form called CIDP. That's me! Cronic Immune Demylanating

> Polyneuropathy. An easy way of understanding it is like MS of the

> limbs up. The mylan leaves starting at the feet and works its way

up.

>

> So if you DO ge the vaccine and get sick from it.. the vaccine

should

> NOT MAKE YOU SICK! GO to the hospital! Anything more than a slight

> fever needs to get attended to.

>

> For me it was yet another attack on my already compromised immune

> system. There is no cure; there is no telethon and the treatments

ar

> few and dreary and lifetime. But not for Guillan Barre. So take it

> seriously. I receive IVIG every other week. Iv immunoglobulin the

> treatment takes 6 1/2 hours and I have to take beyndryl and tylenol

> for the headache and allergic to other peoples antibodies. It

> flattens me out for a while, but without it I am in a wheelchair or

> bedridden and the disease is progressing and will kill me. If this

> fails to continue working the next step os plasmapheresis (blood

> washing), similar to dialisis. But so far we are holding our own.

>

> Then this past year we added Rhuematoid Arthritis to the mix. I

> cannot take any of the new med with CIDP because they with give me

> MS. I don't know why.. I got Methotrexate poisoning and wound up in

> the hospital. Sulfasazaline as well gave me fluid in my stommach

and

> yet another hospital stay.

>

> So status quo: RA, CIDP, Fibro,Lupus, Antiphoslipid (not that

> important after childbearing years), Oesteoporosis, Spinal Cord

> Implant with lesions, (due to auto accident). Now they are saying

> Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Basiclly every part of my body is

attacking

> itself.

>

> I, however feel blessed to be alive remarkably. I have four

> children. Four dogs and three cats and a wonder and thankfully

patient

> husband.

>

> Every day is just another step on the ladder of life and there is

> always somebody less fortunate than I.

>

> God Bless!

> Feel free to contact me

>

>

[Guest guest]

It's always a good idea, though last year with the shortage, I passed, and luckily, didn't get the flu....I hope they are hard at work with a vaccine for this bird flu though....that might become a problem down the road. Best to all. snowdrift52003 <snowdrift52003@...> wrote: Rheumatoligists recommend the flu shot for people who are on immunosuppressant meds for R.A. because the body is not as capable of fighting off the virus. The common flu can even be fatal for people on DMARDS. I personally have never had a problem with the flu shot.Co-workers with whom I shared an office got sick with the flu two years in a row, but it passed me by.Sierra>> Hi All> My

name is , I am 45 years old and new to these boards. While > scrolling around I noticed quite a bit of talk about the flu shot.> > People with auto immune illness SHOULD NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT! Do some > research. Especially if you have multiple auto immune issues.> > I was given the flu vaccine in 2003. I had anti-phopholipid sydrome > and anti-lupus autobodie, was taking plaqueneil to stave off full > blown lupus for years. I had Fibromyalgia, Epstein Bar, Oesteo with > 35% bone loss in early monopause on hormone replacement. I had a > spinal cord injury which left me with a metal implant from c2-c7 > after 2 fusion and esophogeal damage asa well as cord damage. > > The primary risk of the flu vaccine is a virus called Guillan > Barre. It can be fatal. Or you can survive. Or you can get a cronic > progresive form called CIDP. That's me! Cronic

Immune Demylanating > Polyneuropathy. An easy way of understanding it is like MS of the > limbs up. The mylan leaves starting at the feet and works its way up.> > So if you DO ge the vaccine and get sick from it.. the vaccine should > NOT MAKE YOU SICK! GO to the hospital! Anything more than a slight > fever needs to get attended to.> > For me it was yet another attack on my already compromised immune > system. There is no cure; there is no telethon and the treatments ar > few and dreary and lifetime. But not for Guillan Barre. So take it > seriously. I receive IVIG every other week. Iv immunoglobulin the > treatment takes 6 1/2 hours and I have to take beyndryl and tylenol > for the headache and allergic to other peoples antibodies. It > flattens me out for a while, but without it I am in a wheelchair or > bedridden and the disease is

progressing and will kill me. If this > fails to continue working the next step os plasmapheresis (blood > washing), similar to dialisis. But so far we are holding our own.> > Then this past year we added Rhuematoid Arthritis to the mix. I > cannot take any of the new med with CIDP because they with give me > MS. I don't know why.. I got Methotrexate poisoning and wound up in > the hospital. Sulfasazaline as well gave me fluid in my stommach and > yet another hospital stay. > > So status quo: RA, CIDP, Fibro,Lupus, Antiphoslipid (not that > important after childbearing years), Oesteoporosis, Spinal Cord > Implant with lesions, (due to auto accident). Now they are saying > Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Basiclly every part of my body is attacking> itself. > > I, however feel blessed to be alive remarkably. I have four > children. Four

dogs and three cats and a wonder and thankfully patient> husband.> > Every day is just another step on the ladder of life and there is > always somebody less fortunate than I.> > God Bless!> Feel free to contact me> >

Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

[Guest guest]

Sierra, Each person has to decide; along with their DR. what is best for themselves. I just wanted everyone with an auto-immune illness to know that while their compromised immune systems left them more susceptible to the flu, it also put them at greater risk for Gillian Barre. This does not mean you shouldn't get the vaccine, but that you shoe know the signs of GB Syndrome and act promptly if you have them. I was not trying to scare anyone, just trying to inform. Hopefully helping someone avoid the chronic condition that I am in because of the lack of treatment for the GBS. God Bless snowdrift52003 <snowdrift52003@...> wrote: Rheumatoligists recommend the flu shot for people who are on immunosuppressant meds for R.A. because the body is

not as capable of fighting off the virus. The common flu can even be fatal for people on DMARDS. I personally have never had a problem with the flu shot.Co-workers with whom I shared an office got sick with the flu two years in a row, but it passed me by.Sierra>> Hi All> My name is , I am 45 years old and new to these boards. While > scrolling around I noticed quite a bit of talk about the flu shot.> > People with auto immune illness SHOULD NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT! Do some > research. Especially if you have multiple auto immune issues.> > I was given the flu vaccine in 2003. I had anti-phopholipid sydrome > and anti-lupus autobodie, was taking plaqueneil to stave off full > blown lupus for years. I had Fibromyalgia, Epstein Bar, Oesteo with > 35% bone loss in

early monopause on hormone replacement. I had a > spinal cord injury which left me with a metal implant from c2-c7 > after 2 fusion and esophogeal damage asa well as cord damage. > > The primary risk of the flu vaccine is a virus called Guillan > Barre. It can be fatal. Or you can survive. Or you can get a cronic > progresive form called CIDP. That's me! Cronic Immune Demylanating > Polyneuropathy. An easy way of understanding it is like MS of the > limbs up. The mylan leaves starting at the feet and works its way up.> > So if you DO ge the vaccine and get sick from it.. the vaccine should > NOT MAKE YOU SICK! GO to the hospital! Anything more than a slight > fever needs to get attended to.> > For me it was yet another attack on my already compromised immune > system. There is no cure; there is no telethon and the treatments ar > few

and dreary and lifetime. But not for Guillan Barre. So take it > seriously. I receive IVIG every other week. Iv immunoglobulin the > treatment takes 6 1/2 hours and I have to take beyndryl and tylenol > for the headache and allergic to other peoples antibodies. It > flattens me out for a while, but without it I am in a wheelchair or > bedridden and the disease is progressing and will kill me. If this > fails to continue working the next step os plasmapheresis (blood > washing), similar to dialisis. But so far we are holding our own.> > Then this past year we added Rhuematoid Arthritis to the mix. I > cannot take any of the new med with CIDP because they with give me > MS. I don't know why.. I got Methotrexate poisoning and wound up in > the hospital. Sulfasazaline as well gave me fluid in my stommach and > yet another hospital stay. > > So

status quo: RA, CIDP, Fibro,Lupus, Antiphoslipid (not that > important after childbearing years), Oesteoporosis, Spinal Cord > Implant with lesions, (due to auto accident). Now they are saying > Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Basiclly every part of my body is attacking> itself. > > I, however feel blessed to be alive remarkably. I have four > children. Four dogs and three cats and a wonder and thankfully patient> husband.> > Every day is just another step on the ladder of life and there is > always somebody less fortunate than I.> > God Bless!> Feel free to contact me> >

Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

[Guest guest]

That was my impression too...I took it as

we should not get the flu shot cuz we have RA. .if I hadn't had the

flu shot when the email was posted, I would have been afraid to get

one. Things freak me out too easily.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maggie

http://www.4HockeyFans.com

http://www.4FloridaHockey.com

MSN: Maggies1429

AOL: Maggies85

bart.tracy@... wrote:

Quoting: "People with auto immune illness SHOULD NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT!"

Now, still quoting: "This does not mean you shouldn't get the vaccine, but that you shoe know the signs of GB Syndrome and act promptly if you have them. I was not trying to scare anyone, just trying to inform"

I understand your point, I do, but I've learned alot of people in here (myself included at times) take advice from others in this forum very seriously. Alot of us are looking for quick answers to questions, or more information, what works, what doesn't, what we should try and what we should steer clear of. Blanket statements like "People with auto immune illness SHOULD NOT TAKE THE FLU SHOT!" usually really don't do anyone any good and can put people into a frenzy, needlessly.

;-)