Has Anyone Else Had Problems With Hept. B Vaccine?

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Mar 3, 2005

I found out last week that I didn't convert after my Hep B series either. Don't know what I'll do - do it again, or forget about it. I've heard many don't convert, but it doesn't necessarily mean there is no immunity.

I didn't have a positive titer, either. One more dose solved the problem. I didn't need a full series. :)

Soleilpie · Mar 3, 2005

What will happen now with you? What explanation did you get for your reaction so far?

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As long as the vaccine isnt life threatening I can still complete the series--I may just end up with 10 boils next time!!

It most likely is a reaction with my Borrelia burgdorferi bacterial infection (Lyme disease). I did read some French studies that say the vaccine can cause lymph drainage. I see a hematologist on a regular basis if something severe were to happen (problems breathing and such).

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On your case, there is a misconception in medicine that everyone makes antibodies. That just isnt true. I dont make antibodies to Lyme at all. Never have.

Kyriaka

I'm just curious, but how were they able to determine that you had Lyme disease without detecting any antibodies? I have a HUGE interest in Lyme disease because I think my mother may have it.

Kyriaka · Mar 3, 2005

Kyriaka

I'm just curious, but how were they able to determine that you had Lyme disease without detecting any antibodies? I have a HUGE interest in Lyme disease because I think my mother may have it.

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It is possible to isolate Borrelia burgdorferi sometimes in the urine. There is a patent on the test. It is ONLY available thru Igenex Laboratories. Here is the link http://www.igenex.com

One thing you need to know about Lyme is that it is very controversial. The controversy pits Yale against Columbia and the Europeans against the AMA.

It is so bad that Dr.'s who treat Lyme in the US often do so "under the table".

Dateline NBC did a story a few years ago for us in which they had a memo sent by an HMO telling Dr.'s if they even diagnose Lyme, they will removed as an insurance provider. This has been the case for years. My Dr. does not accept insurance of any type. This is common.

There are 2 guildelines on the treatment & diagnosing. Steere guidelines vs. Burrascano (used by the Europeans and some Dr.'s here in the US). The medical community is divided this way:

Steere Camp

Yale, AMA, Infectious Disease, Rhuemy, HMO's

The Steere camp believes that you take 2 weeks of doxy and you are cured. Period. If you are still sick, you have a mental condition where you just think you are sick.

Burrascano Camp

Columbia, European Medical Community, Microbiologists, Hematologists, life insurance companies, Lyme support groups, and Lyme patients.

The Burrascano camp believes that because there are over 300 strains, Lyme is serious and rarely cured with simple doxy since most Lyme patients have multiple tick borne illnesses and that treatment should continue until the person is symptom free. You can get a copy of Burrascano guidelines here: http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/

**Even with the titer, there is a misconception. Many people are told they are negative and are not really. This stems from the CDC requiring 5 bands on the Western blot to be in statistics. Unfort., Dr.'s, insurance companies, and labs confuse this with diagnosis. You are NOT required to have 5 bands to be diagnosed. There is a differance.

***If you want a Lyme Literate Dr. (what we refer to as an LLMD) to take a look at your mom, go to http://www.lymenet.org and post under Flash Discussions. Someone will contact you with a name. These names are not put on the board since many of these Dr.'s prefer their names to be kept confidential if they treat Lyme.

Soleilpie · Mar 3, 2005

kyriaka

thanks for all the info! i've read about all the controversies too and it's so sickening to realize that so many peoples' lives are upside down because of the cdc's recommendation of 5 out of 10 bands on the western blot. what a shame. my mother ended up with bands kd41 and kd39. band kd39 is highly indicative of lyme disease but the lab that did the work up uses the cdc criteria. unfortunately, most doctors aren't familiar with lyme disease and thus don't know enough to make a clinical diagnosis based on what the patient presents outside the lab results. they just strictly go by what the lab reports. my mother was referred to a dr. jemsek by the lyme disease network of south carolina. he's a member of the international lyme and associated diseases society (ilads.org), which is a huge relief to know. my mother's neurologist is willing to do anything for her at this point. i should give you a little history. my mother was diagnoses with multiple sclerosis back in 1992 when we lived in new jersey. she never told the doctors about several mid sized circular "sores" she found on her buttocks. she's japanese and was too modest and embarrassed to tell anyone. i only found out about it a year or so ago. nothing is working for her as far as any m.s. treatments. also, her mri's are "normal". she's now bed bound and has been in the icu several times because of pneumonia. her diaphragm muscle seems to be weakening and this is the biggest priority for us now. she has a trache in and my dad suctions her several times a day. i know this would be the extreme side of lyme disease, if she has it. there was a study done where a woman with lyme disease lost the use of her diaphragm muscle and had to be trached. with iv antibiotic treatment, she was able to return to near normal. my mother isn't quite ready to make the hour long trip to the dr. jemsek just yet because of the enormous pain she's in...but hopefully soon.

sorry this is so long!

Kyriaka · Mar 3, 2005

My mother was referred to a Dr. Jemsek by the Lyme Disease Network of South Carolina.

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I have always heard just great things about him. He also does travel medicine (people dont realize what they can get on these cruise ships).

I am so sorry to hear about your mother. Lyme can be very severe which is why many patients are told they have ALS.

The US community has gone so far in being against antibiotics that they now deny them to people with bacterial infections! Because one day..you may sick.

My position has always been.-- Yes, because of all the antibiotics, I may be unable to fight off an infection 10 years from now. But I have to make it 10 years first! I would rather live only 10 years than 90 in agony!

Oh, and if your mom got Lyme overseas, those strains are not detected on the Western Blot anyway.

*email me at [email protected] I have some names of some patients in SC that your mom may be able to car pool with to Jemsek.

LadyK82 · Mar 5, 2005

When I got each of my Hep shots my arm started to swell up to the size of a tennis ball around the injection site. It was very painful and radiated down my entire arm... and I got the pleasure of going through it three times for the series :stone. Luckily I didn't get boils, but it was difficult to lift patients and drive.

happy&healthy · Mar 16, 2005

After my first vaccine (in the series) I broke out in 4 large boils. Because several days passed, my Dr. was not sure if it was the vaccine or not.
Today I had the 2nd shot. Within 2 hours I had 7 boils (4 on the face and 3 on my neck).
As long as the vaccine isnt life threatening I can still complete the series--I may just end up with 10 boils next time!!
Has this happened to anyone else? I probably will report it to the Vaccine reporting system.

Hello Kyriaka -

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10052

you can Decline vaccinations, especially you having suffered 2 "severe adverse Notices" already.

also, have you studied Psych, as in that specialty people assert that,

Initially, trying anything once & being fortunate in escaping with some discomforts, broadens your experience base. And your mind having learned its lesson, that specific ride served beneficially.

now,

Repeating harmful experiment (expecting a helpful outcome) borders this on being a bit foolish?

then,

Some people might say that Allowing others to intentionally harm you a 3rd. time in the same way (with fore-awareness re fatality) qualifies under the definition of 'insanity'. What do you think ?

Kyriaka · Mar 16, 2005

Hello Kyriaka -
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10052
you can Decline vaccinations, especially you having suffered 2 "severe adverse Notices" already.
also, have you studied Psych, as in that specialty people assert that,
Initially, trying anything once & being fortunate in escaping with some discomforts, broadens your experience base. And your mind having learned its lesson, that specific ride served beneficially.
now,
Repeating harmful experiment (expecting a helpful outcome) borders this on being a bit foolish?
then,
Some people might say that Allowing others to intentionally harm you a 3rd. time in the same way (with fore-awareness re fatality) qualifies under the definition of 'insanity'. What do you think ?

____________

I think if I can understand that nonsense, I am insane.

Kyriaka · Mar 16, 2005

Hello Kyriaka -
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10052
you can Decline vaccinations, especially you having suffered 2 "severe adverse Notices" already.
also, have you studied Psych, as in that specialty people assert that,
Initially, trying anything once & being fortunate in escaping with some discomforts, broadens your experience base. And your mind having learned its lesson, that specific ride served beneficially.
now,
Repeating harmful experiment (expecting a helpful outcome) borders this on being a bit foolish?
then,
Some people might say that Allowing others to intentionally harm you a 3rd. time in the same way (with fore-awareness re fatality) qualifies under the definition of 'insanity'. What do you think ?

_____________

I also think that those "some people" talk like to hear themselves speak with large words that they do not understand.

Kyriaka · Mar 16, 2005

Hello Kyriaka -
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10052
you can Decline vaccinations, especially you having suffered 2 "severe adverse Notices" already.
also, have you studied Psych, as in that specialty people assert that,
Initially, trying anything once & being fortunate in escaping with some discomforts, broadens your experience base. And your mind having learned its lesson, that specific ride served beneficially.
now,
Repeating harmful experiment (expecting a helpful outcome) borders this on being a bit foolish?
then,
Some people might say that Allowing others to intentionally harm you a 3rd. time in the same way (with fore-awareness re fatality) qualifies under the definition of 'insanity'. What do you think ?

_____________

And I doubt very much that Vaers considers boils as severe. Especially since I had to go to foreign sources to even see it mentioned as a side effect.

happy&healthy · Mar 16, 2005

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I also think that those "some people" talk like to hear themselves speak with large words that they do not understand.

Thank you for wanting to be helpful. And specifically which "large" words, in the referencing post, are not being understood ? Inquiring minds are eager to continue learning...One might want to do that before adding a 7th. language, agreed. :)

z's playa · Mar 16, 2005

Whats going on :chuckle