I have lowered white blood cells as a result of taking Tecfidera. And today I have started feeling that I’ve caught my OHs cold (he’s so good at sharing).
Does anyone know what the likely result is on a virus where the host has low lymphocytes, therefore a reduced immune reaction? Equally, what would happen with a bacterial infection when the neutrophils are low?
Am I likely to suffer more from the virus because of my poor lymphocyte count? Or less because the effects of a virus are the result of the immune system fighting the virus?
I know so little about human biology. I wasn’t allowed to take O level biology because I didn’t understand science. And while I’ve had to learn a certain amount because of MS, clearly not enough.
Thanks to anyone who can either correct any of my assumptions about lymphocytes, neutrophils or the immune system generally, or to anyone who knows the answer.
By the way, I asked one of the MS nurses at the hospital whether I should have the flu jab with low lymphocytes, she said there’s no point because she didn’t ‘think that you would develop a good enough response to make it work’. I’ve just accepted that this is true without understanding why. Does anyone understand?
I asked if Tec would increase my risk of infections, colds, flus etc. I have a slobbery smelly dog and i play hockey, the players of which are equally as smelly and slobbery.
I was told not to worry. it is a different type of blood cell. and besides, Tecfidera is an immuno-modulator, not an immuno-suppressor
although i usually had several bouts of colds / man flus each year throughout my life, since starting Tecfidera, i have had not a one. now this might be (is likely to be) due to other healthy modifications made to my habits and lifestyles but hey… it is what it is.
however, for about 10 weeks i have had a dry persistent cough. (but then so have many others around here) but unfortunately for me, and for reasons unknown, this annoying tickle seemingly developed into sinnusitis and then tonsilitis.
a weak of anti-bios and all is fixed, although the cough still lingers, albeit to a much lesser degree.
does any of this have anything to do with tecfidera? perhaps not, and i apologise for the aside. i look forward to hearing how your dose of the lurgy progresses. i am confident you will be fine!
good luck and remember… honey, lemon and ginger root in red bush tea!
Hi Sue, I too had to stop Tec because of persistent low lymphocyte counts of 0.3, I think around about the same time you stopped. I was really disappointed to have stopped as I was coping quite well with the side effects. Before starting Tec I used to get colds all the time especially if my hubby or daughter had one. During my time on Tec I didn’t have any colds. Six months on after stopping Tec my lymphocyte count remained quite low at 0.6. Seven months on after stopping Tec I experienced a cold/flu which lasted about three weeks…unfortunately I hadn’t had any recent blood tests but I had wondered if my count had finally risen hence feeling the effects of my body fighting the cold. Thankfully I recovered without any serious infections and without triggering a relapse. Hang in there, it may get rough for a while as your body has to fight the virus (something it hasn’t had to do for sometime) Maybe contact your Ms nurse or Gp if you are struggling. I think we have to be careful as infections can get out of hand quite quickly if not caught early. Hope you feel better soon x
My last lymphocytes count was 0.6 in mid August, and that’s not the highest it’s been since October last year, a couple of months ago it went up to 0.7, then went down again. So I don’t think my cold is as a result of recovering lymphocytes. I’d decided to wait 3 months this time before getting it tested again in the hope that waiting a bit longer might show some improvement. But I’m thinking that I might get a blood test in mid October, or whenever this virus is gone in order that if there has been a positive change to the lymphocytes, I can have the flu jab.
Apparently, when you have a virus, your lymphocytes are depleted anyway, so right now mine are probably struggling like mad against this cold I’ve got. I’m hoping it just behaves like a normal cold and is gone within a few days.
The power of positive thought!! Or something like that, I’m not really too good at positive thought, I’ve been telling my OH that I might have pneumonia by tomorrow. It’s all a ploy to get extra special nice treatment. It kind of works, but he thinks I moan all the time anyway, so basically he ignores histrionics.
And I’m sorry Paolo, but the idea of honey, lemon and ginger in red bush tea sounds disgusting. I’m sticking to the traditional remedies, like lemsip, Heinz tomato soup and fruit sweeties. It’s always worked in the past.