Flu Shots and Autoimmune

[Deb]

http://thyroid.about.com/od/relatedcond ... s.htm?nl=1

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Kent Holtorf, MD, founder of the Holtorf Medical Center network of health and hormone clinics, generally does not recommend the flu shot:
While the overwhelming majority of people are fine with the shot, I have seen it -- and hear about hundreds more a year -- precipitate chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in asymptomatic people, or severely exacerbate symptoms. The body has two sides to the immune system -- TH1 (cellular) and TH2 (antibody). Normally they are balanced, but many conditions are associated with low TH1 and increased TH2, contributing to symptoms such as fatigue, CFS, fibromyalgia, asthma, allergies, ADD, and autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s, etc. The flu vaccine intensely stimulates the TH2, and can worsen symptoms -- subtly or dramatically -- or precipitate these conditions. For those who do get the vaccine, we recommend the Flumist nasal spray, which stimulates TH1 in the nose, so is much safer and as effective, especially for those who have any of the above conditions

I hadn't heard about the differences with the nasal spray.Highlighted text is mine. Deb

[tlras]

Oh wow...thanks for sharing. I chose not to get the flu shot this year (have had one every year for 12 years) due to my MC. Was afraid of a reaction. After reading this, I'm glad I didn't. I just plan on hibernating a few more months as this flu season is so nasty.

Terri