should i have any vaccinations?

hi mindy & welcome,

although rare you can get gbs from vaccine. like lyrica each of us has to decide for ourselves. my opinion is to stay away from both if possible. btw, if you got gbs from a vaccine, then you never get another vaccine. take care. be well.

gene gbs 8-99
in numbers there is strength

I’ve had Miller Fisher. When I posed the vaccination question to my Neurologist and Family physician the answer I got was, “probably not.” That is not definitive but it is enough for me. I would rather protect myself against Flu than chance Miller Fisher again. I do know that those who administer the Flu shot program in my area of Florida warn against it if you’ve had GBS.

No Vaccines, period.

Perry

Hello,
After you’ve gotten advice from us, and from your doctors, it has to be your decision. As for me, though I can’t prove it, I know the flu shot caused my CIDP. I will never get anything like the flu shot again.
Liz

Mindy,

Until 2 years ago, I had never realized or heard that vaccinations could cause GBS, so for 18 years after my bout with GBS, I would get everything that was required. Now that I seem to be suffering from post GBS decades later, I will probably re-think having shots, but like you, I am undecided. As for maleria tabs, I would take them every year for many years (after GBS), as my parents have a holiday place in the middle of a maleria region in South Africa. Having said that, Im not sure if maleria tabs would pose a risk though, isnt the risk of having vaccinations that they inject ‘live’ viruses (or whatever it is) into you? I [B]think[/B] thats what it is, but I’m sure someone will let me know if im wrong. 😉

My Primary Care Physician indicated that I should not take flu shots.

Frank was told never to take any vaccine ever again, since the Flu Vaccine caused his GBS.

But this is a personal decision that only you can make. Just find out all the info you can on vaccines and make an informed decision if vaccines are right for you.

Take care

Doc told me no more shots for Mason. I pulled his records since he was born. He was admitted every time after his shots, very sick.

MIndy,

according to the CDC, anyone diagnosed with GBS should not get flu shots. That is their oppinion, as for me, I was told to never get one by my doctor after my recovery. But I keep checking the CDC website for updates on that sort of thing.

I have gotten a flu shot for the last several years. The only time I didn’t I had a terrible case of the flu….was sick for days and very miserable. Don’t want to do that again. I had GBS in 1978 and 1982 but not from vaccines.

I will choose to never have another vaccination! As a side note, we have an Autistic grandson ~ perfectly healthy at birth. His pediatrician advised to never give Brandon another shot as he is positive that is where the autism came from. The doc said he would never give vaccinations to his own children. That should tell us all “something”.

According to what I read several times on the German forum, the leaflet included with flu shots in Germany actually includes a warning about possibly causing GBS.

[I]posted August 28: u.a. Umfragen ergeben haben, dass ca. 2 / 3 aller Erkrankungen auf diese zurück zu führen ist. Auf den Beipackzetteln der Impfseren soll dies bereits vermerkt sein. [/I]

translation: surveys have shown that 2/3 of all cases (GBS) have been attributed to these. This is supposed to be indicated on the information leaflet included with the immunization series.

Someone else posted a link to an actual information leaflet published by the drug company making it. On it GBS is actually listed as a rare (less than 1 in 10,000) side effect.

[COLOR=”Blue”]http://www.solvay-arzneimittel.de/Patient/Produkte/Downloads/GI_FI_Influvac_05_06_1031863%20DE.pdf#search=%22influvac%202005%2F2006%22[/COLOR]

[b]If I have had GBS in the past, should I receive influenza vaccine?[/b]

The incidence of GBS in the general population is very low, persons with a history of GBS have a greater chance of developing GBS than persons without such a history. Thus, the likelihood of developing GBS is expected to be greater among persons with a history of GBS than among persons with no history of this syndrome. Whether influenza infection or influenza vaccination might be causally associated with this risk for GBS recurrence is not known. For persons known to have developed GBS within 6 weeks of a previous influenza vaccination, avoiding future influenza vaccinations may be prudent. Other persons with a history of GBS are likely to be at increased risk of complications from influenza disease. The established benefits of influenza vaccination probably justify their receipt of annual influenza vaccinations.

— [url]http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/gbs/default.htm[/url]

Mindy,
The medical community is reluctant to commit on the subject of vaccinations and they seem to be divided on the subject as well. I can only say that I never will have another flu shot.
ALso, as I am the Denver area liaison, I get a lot of calls. One gentleman in my area, diagnosed with GBS in childhood in three separate incidences, had been excused from undergoing immunizations of any sort for years. SUddenly his neurologist said it would be OK. Patient was reluctant to put himself into possible danger of a recurrence. WHen I suggested that he seek a second opinion, he did better than that–he was tested for immunity of the various diseases. Turned out he was immune to all but one.
Another way to be safe and avoid becoming vulnerable.

Hi Mindy,

I had very severe GBS with a Miller-Fisher overlap in 2000. I did not contract my GBS after any vaccination. Despite this my neurologist who is considered an expert in the field of GBS/CIDP has advised me, “no vaccines, period”.
I do have a link for vaccine manufacter “package inserts” covering all of the vaccinations out there, I have not been able to find any vaccines that do not list GBS as a possible “adverse affect”. (You can email me for the link if you like).

That being said, an informed decision is the best kind to make in conjunction with your physician. Risks vs. Benefits and all that.

But for me, no, never any “shots” ever again if I can humanly help it, I’ve seen what hell looks like and it is spelled G-B-S, and I’m determined not to visit that place again.

best wishes to you,

CG

Stephanie, This is the thread that I think will help answer your questions.

I like Ann’s idea – get tested to see if you are immune already, before having any sort of immunization.

I was told no more flu shots. I got the swine flu shot in 76 and fainted. It p.o’s me to no end that I can’t have them anymore – (I’m around people alot); but I’m not willing to put myself through any of this any longer than I have to. I believe the theory that we have to take care of our faultered immune system ( I believe it was a quirk to my immune system, not that I am “sick”). I plan to be vigilant but not compulsive (I have a six year old to contend with). Heads up, stretch often, be strong. I can only try!:D

You are not going to believe how stupid I have been. When we have talked of vaccines and whether or not to get them, I only thought about flu vaccines, never really gave it a thought in regards to tetunus or any other. Just always had them and now I am seriously going to rethink those too. My mind, what a terrible thing to waste.

I am on the other side of this argument:

“My mind, what a terrible thing to use.” … or maybe that was my description of my employees lately … oh well … either/or

Thanks Mindy for the info for your doc! Makes sense to me and I do understand the statistical issues and data corruptions, but I will still pass on all future vaccines!

Chances to get GBS a second time may be minimal, but what about getting GBS following CIDP? I definitely will not get a flu shot.

I am convinced that one of the numerous vaccinations I received while in the Peace Corps in Thailand in 2001 triggered the CIDP. In addition to tetanus, hep A and B, japanese encephalitis, I had a bunch of others. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been sufficient research to establish a clear connection. Because of that the Department of Labor a few weeks ago rejected my claim and will not pay for treatments. I just have to bite the bullet and pay the deductable of my insurance plan.

Norb, So sorry to hear about the Dept of Labor’s rejection. It is interesting as to how WE know through intuition what has happened to us and yet it is very frustrating that some will not believe us.
Again so sorry.