Adverse Vaccine Effect? Please help...

[TimD]

Hi,

On 21 June 2004, prior to my Honeymoon, I was given boosters for the Hep A vaccine and Oral Polio. Both of these vaccines I have had before in 1996. Six days later I had a very stiff neck, the following day facial burning on the left of my face, fatigue and an altered sensation in my legs. The following two weeks these symptoms progressed, I was not sleeping, at night all my muscles just shook. Three weeks after they began they just stopped. A few days later I had a horrible cold which lasted about a week. Following the cold the symptoms slowly came back. The fatigue became much worse and I began to get mild muscle cramps in my legs. Over September, October and November these symptoms seemed to start improving but over the last two weeks the muscle cramps have come back along with the insomnia and muscle twitching.

I had an MRI in September which came back negative for MS. The neurologist has now passed me over to a Reumatologist but has not been forthcoming with any possible diagnosis.

Can you give me any idea of what the most likely cause of these symptoms are, if there is anything I can do to try and improve matters and if any people with these conditions improve or the usual progression.

The lack of information and the slowness of diagnosis is extremely frustrating and any infomation you have would be welcome.

Thank you for your help in advance,

Tim.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

Without examining you and reviewing your history I cannot provide a clinical diagnosis. The normal MRI helps to exclude structural abnormalities or inflammatory changes within the brain to explain your symptoms. The relationship between the vaccination and the acute illness you suffered is unclear. In a smal percentage of patients receiving the oral polio vaccine a mennigitis like picture (termed aseptic meningitis) can develop, and there is an even smaller risk of developing a polio like illness. I am assuming that the neurologist refered you to the rheumatologist to evaluate for a more systemic disorder, such as a connective tissue disorder. Without having more information I cannot speculate as to the cause or course of your symptoms. Hopefully the rhuematologist will have more answers, otherwise it is reasonable to obtain a second opinion from an academic medical center. Good luck.

[Lady Jay]

Tim...

I am no physician, but what you are describing sounds like CIDP.  "Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy."  Perhaps you could mention the term to your new doctor and see what transpires?   Also, have you revealed the fact that you have taken any vaccinations?

CIDP and GBS (Guillain Barre Syndrome)are illness's one can acquire from vaccines.

GBS is acute.   It strikes, causes paralysis, numbness, etc., reaches a certain point, then recedes.

CIDP strikes, then recedes... strikes, then recedes... strikes, then recedes.   Chronic.   Never goes away.

Take care,
LJ

[TimD]

Thanks for your post, I understand all of these conditions are very rare; I hope and pray that my condition is just a passing one until a formal diagnosis is made. The health service in this country is excellent but a little slow (it can take up to six months to see a consultant)- so I'm paying to see the consultant this Friday.

I forgot to mention that six months after my first Hep A injection in '96 I developed some facial and finger numbness. I had an MRI and EPG (all normal). Over about six months the symptoms just went away.

Fingers crossed.

[TimD]

Additional Information: Blood work, reaction tests (knee hitting, eye poking, needle and foot scraping) all normal.

[norelco]

Could I have GBS or CIDP, based on the following symptoms?

I am a Hiv patient on anti-virals.  In Feb 2004 I was given a flu shot and pneumonia shot, both in the left arm.  In Apr I was given a Hep A shot. After these shots, I had pain in the arm. A very deep pain. I described it to my doctor, like the old days when shots were given with a gun and really hurt. He looked at the arm but there were no obvious signs of anything wrong.

Shortly thereafter, I had pain in my left leg and went to the emergent care( thinking that the pain was somehow related to the anti-viral drugs).  The doctor was not to worried about the leg, however, he looked at my arm which by now was red and spreading, which also had been hurting, and said that I had cellulitis. He placed me on Keflex and the redness went away. The arm pain never fully went away. I went back to the emergent care facility around September thinking that I had cellulitis once again.  Since the arm was not red, the attending physician would not prescribe an antibiotic.

On December 1, 2004 I was given another flu shot and second pneumonia shot this year (against my better judgement)by my Infectious Disease Doctors. Immediately after these two shots, the arm was very sore, red and I developed a very large knot. I decided not to be an alarmist and to monitor the arm until the next day. Thankfully, the knot had gone away but the arm was still red and spreading. Since I had a doctor's appointment the next day, I waited till then and my primary care physician placed me on Keflex again which helped with the redness as usual.

Nevertheless, since 1 Dec. my arm pain has not diminished, in fact it has now branched out to include under the rib area and sometimes above the breast. I called my primary care physician but she cannot see me until next month. I failed to mention that the next day after the two shots in December, my hand (mostly last two fingers) are somewhat stiff.

Should I see a Neurologist?

[norelco]

Re: cidp/gbs

I failed to mention that early this year, I was diagnosed with PML and HIV Encephalopathy(dementia)abnormal grey matter on cat scan.  This may or may not have a bearing on my initial question.  Problem has since subsided with antiviral medication.