I went back and got the warning information that came with my fall influenza
vaccine (I suffered a massive relapse after getting the flu shot in the fall,
my first shot) as I recalled there being some mention of this (I didn't know
I had GBS at the time). The hospital that administered the shot provided the
following warning:
WHO SHOULD NOT GET THE INFLUENZA VACCINE? .... You should not have a flu
shot if you are allergic to chicken eggs. The vaccine should also not be
given to anyone with: ... 2. A past history of Guillain Barre Syndrome ...
Page three of the warning further provides that "[t]he influenza vaccine shoul
d not be administered to individuals with a history of hypersensitivity
(allergy) to chicken eggs, sulfur or sulfites or a history of Guillain Barre
Syndrome.
(emphasis in original).
There is no similar warning for persons with transverse myelitis.
I provide this information NOT to give medical advice but simply to inform
some of you who may feel there is no connection between the influenza vaccine
and GBS that some health care professionals are warning of this connection.
NOTE: I, and several others on the TM list, are interested in finding
information on the dangers posed by the flu shot to persons with TM. If
anyone knows of some warning literature connecting the two please contact me.
In my case, I had been dx with TM prior to getting the flu shot, suffered a
relapse five years later (this fall) and have now been dx'd with chronic GBS.