MS and varicella background: how to tackle it?

[msfred]

Hello community,

I had varicella twice when I was a kid but never got the vaccine (it was in the 70's); I was also diagnosed with Relapsing MS last year and since it's important to check all co-infections, I was wondering which steps I should take to further diagnose and make sure this virus is not affecting me and will not affect me?

For now I have a requisition on hand to check "Varicella (VZAb) (immunity)". My question is based on many of the studies that can be googled, such as these two:

The participation of varicella zoster virus in relapses of multiple sclerosis:
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24635924

Varicella zoster virus and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis:
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22096629

Thank you in advance

[ConfirmedRachel]

I had chicken pox age 17, I've also had cold sores (herpes simplex) since I was about 2 which I believe are related too (I'm sure JJ will correct me if that's not right).
Due to an unconnected event with an ulcer on my eye and the fear I'd get the virus moving to my eye, I've been taking Aciclovir ever since. No cold sores bar the odd 'threatening' to come feelings.

Might be worth having a chat to your GP or Neuro perhaps. Maybe some preventative other than the live virus is possible? Mine is ok with me taking Aciclovir with Tecfidera.

Nx

[HVAC]

LDL works on the seritonin in the brain so it makes you feel good. That is why it works for so many ailments. It does not change the course of any disease. You can give it a try.

Alex

[Lulu54]

Well this is great timing... i was just stopping in to look for some very old information i had shared about a phase change cooling pad and spotted your post title.  I just finished a blog on this topic - Shingles Belong on my roof and not my Body!

you can read it at
http://insidemystory.com/

If I understand your question, you are not asking about the connection between chicken pox and getting MS but what will your MS do in reaction to the Herpes Zoster (shingles) vaccine?  Its a dilemma because we should not do the live vaccines but since I currently have the shingles I think I would have been better off with the shot!

good luck!  and talk to your doc.

[msfred]

I am actually trying to learn what I can (safely) take as a step to check if it is active (i had no vaccine) and 'disable' that virus forever, knowing that it _might_ have been a factor risk for my MS and well, now seeing your blog post, that it can eventually gives us a lot of troubles! thanks for sharing.

I will surely talk to my doc about it, maybe the vaccine is enough, we'll see...

I also read about low dose immunotherapy (LDI) which is apparently good for a bunch of conditions, including Varicella, Lyme and MS...

[HVAC]

This is a conversation with your Doctor. They know more about the testing needed. I actually got PMMS by the age of two years old. No one even knows what MS is so they do not know what causes it. Most researchers think you have a hereditary component and then there is an environmental trigger. It could be different triggers.

For many years the Epstein Barr Virus was thought to be the trigger. The problem is almost everyone has been exposed to EPV and there are so few cases of MS compared to those with MS.

I do not remember this discussion ever coming up on the forum. Very interesting.

Alex

[msfred]

Yes indeed I find it interesting too!
Just like you mentioned, maybe it's one of the possible causes...just like EPV.

See also this Iranian case-control study from 2016:

http://jjmicrobiol.com/?page=article&article_id=34158