More colds, flu and infections with MS.

[Nickie72]

I've been wanting to ask this question for a while now, but keep forgetting. Now that I've remembered, I've also added a poll, and would really appreciate your vote! I've read that MS causes more colds, flu, and infections, because of the immune system, but I'm curious to know how many people it's actually effecting on the forum.

If you can vote as well as post your experiences, that'd be awesome! If not, that's okay, too! :) Since bladder dysfunction occurs in a high percentage of MS'ers, I don't think UTI's should be counted, because sadly, it's to be expected.

Thanks, and much love to all!
Nickie

[Nickie72]

My apologies to all, and I thank you for commenting.


Dead thread.
Thread dead.
Thread now dead.
Say that 5 times really fast. ;)

[Nickie72]

No, you did wonderful, and now I wish to God this thread was deleted. LOL!

If there is a way to have it deleted, please let me know. Because of my confusion, this thread could easily confuse the newbies who've recently been diagnosed with MS, and I'd hate for that to happen.

You see, I was actually mistaken, thinking that MS'ers have a bad immune system much like a person who suffers from HIV. I just couldn't figure out why MS'ers lived longer.  Goodness, I feel sooooo stupid!!! EEK!

[Lulu54]

Confusion is an easy thing to get with this MiSerable disease.  I'm so glad you figured it out about the HIV and Hep C - you know it was just plain luck that you did not contract either if you were having unprotected s ex with these men.  This has nothing to do with the possibility you have MS.

For the record, I DO get the flu vaccine each year - on the recommendation of my cardiologist.  Each fall we hash that discussion around here and generally recommend that everyone get the current vaccine.  If we MS patients get the flu it can be really difficult and a long recovery.

So please don't get me wrong - we can and do get sick, but in a different way.

Now, have I thoroughly confused you?  LOL
Lulu

[Nickie72]

Below is a video about a young woman's MS story. Roughly, within a minute in a half of the video, she said, "I barely have an immune system. If you have a cough, a cold, the flu, anything, I will probably get it. She makes light of having MS to help her deal with the emotional pain, and I've always liked the video.

http://www.youtube.com/user/pinkjessuk85#p/a/u/0/BfNU_FPDa98

Another link where I think I possibly got confused: http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/immunesystem.html

http://tamingmultiplesclerosis.com/msfluarticle.html

There's quite a few more, and I now realize how silly I was to have written the last post. I went a bit overboard, because again, I think I got confused. LOL! Oh, well, nothing new over here! I was really thinking that MS could have stopped me from getting HIV and Hep C.

Er, the embarrassment!

[Nickie72]

Oh my goodness, Lulu! I cannot believe this! With every question I ask, I just keep getting more and more confirmation that I have MS, and it angers me that I'm unable to find a Neuro who believes the 4 out of 5 radiologists who've read the MRI's and wrote that I have MS!

So, I went around bragging all my life, thinking I had Fibro, but said there HAD to be something with the illness that stopped me from getting sick, because I rarely to NEVER get sick! I didn't know what it was, or what was going on! My symptoms started when I was 14 years old, and the last time I had the flu, I was under 20 years old, and barely remember it!

My family has always been shocked because when they had the flu, I always remained fine. My son even had swine in 2009 and I never got sick. If I EVER got sick, it was bronchitis twice a year due to my 2 pack a day habit, but that was it! And when I got bronchitis, it set off my symptoms BIGTIME!!

And how about this miracle? I was with someone for almost 5 years who had HIV and he never knew it. Once we found out, I was tested every 3 mos for a year in a half, and was negative each and every time. More? I was married to a man for 8 years and he had Hep C and the same thing happened. Like HOLY COW!!! I cannot express how I'm feeling right now! Just WOW!!!

I'm gonna find some links on the web that are giving misinformation, or maybe they're just confusing me. I just had to get this off my chest here with another BIG WOW!!!

[Sailorsong]

I'm not Dx and haven't had a cold or flu in over 20 years.

Sinus infections are another story. I get them due to my allergies and some times if the sinus infection gets bad enough it migrates to my ear.

Dennis

[Wobbly]

I'm Dx.. but haven't had the flu lately, cold and eye infection I have had.

when I smoked I used to have more chest colds.. duh... hahaha

take care
wobbly

[Lulu54]

Nickie,

I'm thinking perhaps you have something backwards here in your question. you write -

" I've read that MS causes more colds, flu, and infections, because of the immune system"

I would be curious to know where that was found because if anything, people with MS tend to get these things LESS because our immune system is overactive, vs suppressed.

Its just when we do get sick, we can get really sick because the infection/germ/whatever can have the side effect of kicking off an exacerbation/flair/relaps.

BTW - I am relatively healthy, considering how sick I am! I don't get colds, flu, viruses, etc.  (I hate to even say that out loud) - and I work in a school which is a hotbed for germs.  

be healthy,
Lulu

[Mand125]

Hi Nickie

I didn't vote on the poll because I'm not sure if you are asking if the MS is affecting us by causing more infections or affecting us generally.

Anyway, re colds, I haven't had a cold for about 10 years! I sometimes joke that if my immune system had a cold to fight it might leave "me" alone.

Mand

[Nickie72]

I wish we'd have an edit button. Why didn't I see that typo? LOL!!