@kristinmt, I also wondered if their was a connection between my ms and flu shot. I got a flu shot 2 weeks before surgery and became sick after surgery which they say was my first ms attack.

That swine flu vaccine in the 70's caused many to come down with Gullian Barre' , and CDC even admitted it caused many more cases than expected. I lost the use of my arm for a period just after I got that Swine flu vaccine. Then I took the Hepatitis series in the 90's--had my second attack in the 90's. Montel Williams got an overdose of a military vaccine and had an attack of symptoms before diagnosed. I have a home care patient who was dx along with her husband--both of MS--when they came back from Germany. They both got lots of vaccines right before they went. Both were in the military so both got lots of vaccines. She said she had many more than other children as a military brat growing up. Besides stimulating the immune system, lots of vaccines are preserved with something that contains mercury. Now isn't it odd that a husband and wife would both be dx the same time frame of MS???? She said they always thought something external caused it and didn't think about the vaccines until I asked her if they both had taken any vaccines before they left for Germany.

I am not saying my vaccinations caused the MS, but I do think they were part of what triggered it in my immune system. I am a dog lover and have had several beloved companions come down with cancer. A lot of people including some vets believe cancer has increased in dogs and cats due to annual vaccinations which are not all neccessary. You can run a titer on their blood instead to see if they still have antibodies--it's just cheaper to go on and vaccinate every year. Before I was dx with MS, I had stopped getting dogs vaccinated every year--usually did them every 3 year to decrease the hit on their immune systems.

As a health care worker, I have taken more vaccinations than the general public. Montel Williams was in the military as were my patient and her husband--they took a whole lot more vaccinations than the general public. I really believe hitting our immune systems so often with vaccines can trigger the autoimmune response of MS in a person who is predisposed to having the problem. Who knows, maybe if I had not had a mouth filled with mercury which is a known neurotoxin and had not been given so many vaccines as a health care worker---maybe the demylenization would not have been set off--or maybe if it had started, my CNS would have been able to repair itself.

For the first year---I am really struggling with the decision whether to even take a regular flu shot. k

All I've heard was not to take the spray mist...
I'm getting it, because I do not want to give the flu
to my 93 year ole mom. Those with young children
have an even bigger concern. If you decide to get
it for their sake, DO NOT GET THE NASAL SPRAY!
It is live virus or something like that as opposed to
the shot which is not.. Good luck

Yeah, with a 93 year old mom, that might be a good reason to take it, but NOT the nasal spray.

However, I still worry about auto-immune reactions even with the dead virus.

I had the regular annual flu shot a few weeks ago, and plan on getting the swine flu shot. I am fortunate because I do not often suffer badly with side effects, so I am rolling the dice. BTW, I am retired, rarely get out, yet I do attend classes at night... and taking horseback riding. Even with so little exposure to others, I will take the shot.

khills,

Very interesting post on the prevalence of vaccines and over stimulation of the immune system. I, too, was in the Navy. Odd as well is Montel Williams and I were in the same career field in the Navy. We were both cryptologists. Yep, had loads of vaccines, but I have also drank water that causes cancer, and exposed to undue amounts of radiation. I am surprised I am not glowing right now... or at least turned into some "superhero" with special powers.... nope, I got MS.