Should You Get the Flu Shot ?

[PlateletGal]

The last time I got a flu shot, I ended up having mild flu symptoms.

I do know that Dr. Charles Lapp - director of the Hunter-Hopkins Center for ME/CFS/FM in Charlotte, NC - says that as a general rule he does not recommend flu shots for his patients. He claims that there are ME/CFS/FM patients who relapse after getting flu shots and many of them do not even develop antibodies to the vaccination.

The article also says you have to weigh the risks. Do you travel a lot ? Do you work in the medical field or in a school ? If you do, obviously your chances of catching the flu would be higher.

So it is quite risky and I think once again, I will choose not to get the flu shot. The last time my PCP asked me to get a flu shot, he spent at least a few minutes trying to convince me that I needed one. After I kept saying no, I finally turned around and asked him if he was going to get the flu shot ? He paused... then smiled and shook his head... NO !

[laurah1227]

My daughter as EBV and suffers greatly - do you have any tips on how you were able to shake it?  Thank you!!!

[WonderWorld198]

I have had mono when I was younger and now I have hypothyroidism.  When I was younger, I was also anemic due to large blood losses.  However, I was in the Military for 20ty years and we took all kinds of shots.  You have to remember that MANY people die from the Flu and other diseases every year!! There used to be and still are large epidemics where MANY people die.  Some people are AFRAID of shots and find many excuses not to take them! It only takes one time to die!  The chnces of dying from an innoculation are a lot more remoter than getting any specific disease.  You need to remember that the next time that you Chicken out of getting an innoculation!

[PlateletGal]

What the lyme patients are being told by their physicians in regards to the flu shot:


http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Lyme-Disease/Flu-Vaccine-and-Lyme-patients/show/1069779

[PlateletGal]

Infection, vaccination, and autoantibodies in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, cause or coincidence ?



http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?LIBID=14870

[PlateletGal]

P.S. ~ I thought I would note that some people who have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have relapsed after vaccinations and/or have claimed that vaccinations triggered their illness. One study on this:

Vaccination as teenagers against meningococcal disease and the risk of the chronic fatigue syndrome.



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18984023

[PlateletGal]

I've posted some of my thoughts (and links) about these flu shots on Dr. Choi's blog. As someone who has not tolerated vaccinations well in the past (my story is below and Prof. Nicolson's response along with it).... I know all too well that some vaccinations can and often do make people ill. I think it is interesting how there aren't any reports of Amish people (who do not get vaccinated) diagnosed with autism. We need to look at this and also look at the fact that people in New Zealand (who don't get vaccinated like we do here in the U.S.) have lower rates of allergies and asthma !

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/124636


http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Autoimmune-Disorders/Swine-Flu-Concerns/show/1024327

[wisdomnow]

I DON'T GET FLU SHOTS AND EVERYONE AROUND ME DOES AND END UP WITH TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO USE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HEALTH -IN MY OPINION- IS COMMON SENSE. WE SHOULD KEEP OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG. NOT JUST BY EATING BUT BY EATING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS.WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE CONSUME POSSESSES THE NUTRIENTS ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD HEALTH. IMMUNITY MOLECULES  ARE THE LATEST IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, THEY ADD INCREASED IMMUNITY PROTECTION WITHOUT THE NASTY SIDE EFFECTS OR DANGERS LIKE IN VACCINATIONS, READ ALL ABOUT THEM YOU CAN FIND THEM AT THEIR IMMUNITYSUPPORT COM WEBSITE.  PH LEVELS NEED TO BE MORE TOWARDS THE ALKALINE LEVEL BECAUSE DISEASES TEND TO THRIVE IN AN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT. I GET MY PH STRIPS TO TEST MY ALKALINITY AT THE MY HEALTH FOOD STORE. SO THE MORE OXYGENATED THE PH THE LESS THE CHANCES FOR GETTING SICK OR HAVING RELAPSES OF EXISTING CONDITIONS. CONSUMING MORE ENZYMES WHICH IN MY OPINION POSSESS EXTRAORDINARY CAPABILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING ALL KINDS OF DISEASES AT BAY. THEY DO THIS BY BREAKING DOWN SUGARS, PROTEINS AND FATS WHICH ARE THE THREE MAJOR EVILS THAT CAUSE ALL KINDS OF DISEASE FROM CANCER AND DIABETES TO HEART DISEASE. NOT TO MENTION VIRUSES AS WELL BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN A THICK MEMBRANE OF PROTEIN WHICH MAKES THEM MORE HARDER TO GET RID OF SINCE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE LACKING THE RIGHT ENZYMES TO BREAK DOWN THIS PROTEIN MEMBRANE AND ELLIMINATE THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH VIRAL INFECTIONS DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WE NEED TO USE MORE COMMON SENSE AND WISDOM NOWADAYS IN ORDER FOR US TO PROTECT  OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET, OUR HEATLH.  MY MODO IS:  POISE   - PLENTY OXYGEN, IMMUNITYSUPPORT, ENZYMES      

[FurballsMom]

If you look on Dr. Mercola's website, he never recommends the flu shots to anyone.  One reason is because of the heavy metals that are in them, like mercury.  If you're chemically sensitive, which I most definitely am, that's not a good mixture.  

[Mimi560]

So glad I found this web site. Had major clavicle surgery 4/22/09. Physical Therapy prescribed immediately. Months later I experienced major malaise, body aches, extreme pain still in shoulder area. Made an appt. with primary care Dr. I requested a complete comprehensive blood panel including a check for EBV, which I have had in the past. Everything came back within normal range except for the EBV & VCA, IGM. They proved positive-8.00 & 1.20. He prescribed, for the aches & pain, 800 mg. of Ibuprofen along with my Vicadin. I got the best nights sleep I've had in months. I now take this combination once a day, & it works all day.
Could the surgery have activated my EBV? Why would the ibuprofen help my symptoms?Also, I am a little leary of getting the flu shot since I have proved positive.
Thank You

[PlateletGal]

I really do hope you guys will join us in the fibro / CFS forum. I am the Community Leader on the board (I do not work for MedHelp... I just keep an eye on things and routinely post there).

Here's the link: http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/44

I managed okay for years with chronic EBV (CFS). However... I'm telling you that the experts are saying that if you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it is VERY important that you get treated right away. Your symptoms can get worse (mine did) and you should know many things about this condition. For instance, CFS patients have heart issues. So please... I hope that you will join us in the forum. There are various treatments for  CFS and I posted them in the fibro / CFS community.

[PlateletGal]

Welcome aboard !  You know I have taken some heat for my positive on flu shots, but I know that these people probably aren't aware of how CFS react to vaccinations, surgery, stress, certain medications and other things. I also know what the top CFS experts are saying about flu vaccinations in CFS patients. If I were even healthy though... I would probably not get the flu shot and this is why: from what I'm reading, multiple vaccinations can cause or contribute to immune dysfunction and/or other autoimmune problems. In addition, I'm hearing that some of these vaccinations have L-form bacteria in them. Of course the pharmaceutical companies don't test for this and won't test for this. However... mycoplasmas have been identified in some vaccinations. That is frightening.

We recently had a guest physician here in MedHelp, who knows about CFS, fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases. I asked him my question about the flu shot and here is the question and his response:


PlateletGal asks “What are your thoughts on the flu shot in people who have immune
dysfunction ? I know I’ve had one flu shot and I was quite ill from it. I also get
very ill when I have allergy injections and will never get allergy shots again. I’ve
met a lot of other CFS patients who have had some of the same experiences.

PROF. NICOLSON'S RESONSE:  "When patients have adverse reactions to vaccines, I usually suggest that they discuss this with their physicians with the notion that such vaccines should be avoided when adverse reactions occur.  The reactions are an indication that your body is reacting to the vaccines in ways that are not beneficial to your health.  Avoiding these warning signs and continuing on with the same vaccine (or similar vaccines) can result in major problems."

link to discussion:  http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/639589

[anca77]

Hi, Can you share some of your 'secrets' in staying well with EBV?
Now I am OK myself, I just had the flu and a treatment with strong antibiotics that seems to help a lot but soon I will start having again my usual symptoms like sore throat, joint pains. If I can do something to avoid going back to feeling bad, it will be great.

[ebvsurvivor]

I searched this out because until recently i was doing pretty well.  Had EBV many years ago; figured out what worked for me and as long as I am careful with certain foods and take rest between my workouts (all in moderation as they say)  I get along pretty well.  Until I let my doctor talk me into the flu shot this year.  Suddenly I was "ill" every second day and after any workout  -  "ill" is sore joints, weak muscles, chronic fatigue etc etc.  Took me 4 weeks to connect it back to the flu shot.  no-one believed me.  Till some unexpected source said  "  well with EBV your immune system is hyper sensitive.   So feeding your body a virus in the form of a flu shot is asking it to overreact....."  Duh.
sad thing is I feel i regressed 20 years of hard work.  Not sure how I will tackle it this time.  Still thinking about it.
Just wanted to add this info in case it makes sense to others

[PlateletGal]

I also have the gastro issues. Have you tried a gluten free diet ? I found out that although I didn't have Celiac disease, that I did have an intolerance to gluten. And then when I started communicating with other people who have CFS online, I found out that nearly all of us had an intolerance to gluten ! After I stopped eating food with wheat in it... I had less bloating and gastro issues.

Also.. here is a link for dietary suggestions for chronically ill patients :

http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/3201/t/CFIDS_FM


I hope you will consider joining us in MedHelp's fibro / CFS community... especially when Dr. Nicholson is there answering our questions !

[lojo222]

I don't have any chemical problems...that I know of. I have allot of gastro problems. I swell up so big sometimes I look pregnant and everything gives me heartburn or gas. Someone told me to eat yogurt for the cultures, so I just started that. I am extremely sensitive to smells now and everything makes me sneeze and my ears itch all the time. Isn't it funny how your body changes under the stress of this illness? I never used to have to worry about any of this. I am losing alot of hair too. It breaks off and is so thin.

[PlateletGal]

I am as well. I mean.. the last flu shot I had made me sick and even allergy shots make me sick. You know how scientists study frogs because they are vulnerable to environmental factors because of their permeable skin and also that they have multi-step life cycles that can be disrupted at key developmental times ? Well I think CFS patients are like the frogs.... we know when something isn't good for us. ; ^ )  I don't know about you, but some chemicals bother me now and so I use Seventh Generation products that are toxic free.

[lojo222]

My doctor tried to talk me into getting one last year. He said "You do not want the flu with Epstien barr!". I was too afraid to get it. I was afraid it would make me worse too and I'm still afriad to get it. I had all of my kids have it already. My husband won't take it..even to keep from bringing it home to me. He says he never gets sick..famous last words. But, I am with you on this. I am just too afriad of what it would do to me.