Myasthenia Gravis Support Group

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...

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bweeds 10/01/2011

Just had my flu shot yesterday. The nurse who gave it to me said the flu season has started early this year and they have already seen some cases. It is the same formulation as last year, but from my reaction about 12 hours later, I sure couldn't tell. I feel "normal" this morning except for a mild headache. We have also had a major weather front move through in the night which may have contributed to the aches and pains at 2 am.

I am old enough to have experienced the epidemic flu a couple of times. It's not an illness anybody with MG ( or anybody else for that matter) wants to have. My last experience with a cold convinced me that respiratory infections are becoming very bad news with my MG.

Just a head's up to those planning on getting the vaccine this year! It takes two weeks for the full effect of the vaccine. It's a killed vaccine as is the pneumococcal one. b.

Ceegee22 10/01/2011

Good idea to post this. You helped me decide. The flu shot comes with 3 or 4 things in it one of which is H1N1 right?

bweeds 10/01/2011

Influenza A H1N1, H2N3, and influenza B Brisbane 60. these are the most prevalent flus expected this year. There is also an attenuated vaccine that is sprayed in the nostrils which we should NOT get, only killed vaccines for us! b.

becwithkids 10/01/2011

Thanks B!

SamiWells 10/01/2011

Had my flu shot on Thursday. I ride the bus with lots of College students. I need the protection.

krbunn 10/01/2011

I would caution checking with one's neurologist before getting a flu vaccine if you are auto-immune suppressed.

SamiWells 10/01/2011

I checked with my neurologist and I think everyone should check with their doctor. My doctor thought I should have it because of my history of asthma.

deleted_user 10/02/2011

also was told it might not work with ivig

bweeds 10/02/2011

It is a good idea to talk to your neurologist before getting vaccines. We cannot take attenuated vaccine and doctors do not always know which are killed and attenuated, at least the doctors who are not giving the routine immunizations. IVIG and plasmaphesesis seem to be another story. Evidently IVIG prevents vaccines from " taking" on the one hand and provides some protection if the donors are vaccinated on the other. The one article on plasmapheresis that I could find suggests that MG patients have a greater response to pneumococcal vaccine. Since I don't know all the ins and outs of this complicated field, my post was just a heads up that the flu season is starting and if you are going to get vaccinated, now is a good time! b.

deleted_user 10/02/2011

I'm always so grateful to everyone who does get vaccinated, as we live in medical isolation to protect a baby with lung damage. You wouldn't believe how many people take their badly coughing children into stores, and they don't so much as ask them to step away from newborns the kids start patting... eeek!
I think most people just don't realize there are many children out there whose life depends on not getting sick, even mildly.

Every time you get a flu vaccine, you're lowering the risk of passing along something to the helpless- sorry, my soapbox- I have to live on top of it so I may as well state it.

organic1der 10/03/2011

I've only ever had a flu once in my life and it was TERRIBLE (2003). Less than a month later I started getting my very first MG symptoms... not sure if it was a coincidence or not.

annkemp 10/03/2011

Thanks for the reminder. A doc told me once that the most germs are in a grocery store. Good thing to remember as cold and flu season approach.
Ann

deleted_user 10/03/2011

For those worried about having a flu shot because they are immunosuppressed: don't (worry)! Get the shot. I had mine two weeks ago. No side effects, no issues. I have one every year.

Curt

catnap2 10/03/2011

I just had the flu vaccine discussion with my neuro. I had the pneumonia vac last December and had a huge immune response with inflammation and pain and it was a dead virus vaccine. My neuro and PCP both agreed my immune system over responds to immunizations. He recommended not taking it because of the response and staying away from sick people, I know, funny. I will have my entire family vaccinated as usual. He also mentioned that IVIG and PLEX would interfere with the vaccine.

bweeds 10/03/2011

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2345160/
Cathy,
This was the one scientific article I found dealing with plasmapheresis and immunization. It supports caution about giving pneumoccal vaccine to people with MG undergoing PLEX. Other treatments did not have that effect and people on immuran as well as PLEX also had normal response.
b.

newmugg 10/03/2011

Thanks for the information Beth. I will take this to the docs in the apheresis unit at this weeks plasmapheresis treatment.

Ann, our grocery store (the only one in town besides WalMart) started carrying antibacterial wipes to wipe down your cart. You should see me practically wiping down my whole cart, my purse, my hands. But I do think it has helped stop the spread of illness in our town.
~sherry

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