MS, Coronavirus, and My Crazy Immune System

Are you taking a DMT? I have been told that our immune systems are rather “robust,” but therapies are responsible for compromising it. Those of us not taking treatment are not at increased risk.

I’ve understood with MS our immune system is overactive not underactive ie weaker??Unless you are on immune suppressing meds for MS, then yes, we’re susceptible to ‘catching anything going around’. Good old soap and water is preferable to hand sanitizers or wipes. Know why? Because a virus is coated in a type of fat cell and in exactly the same way that good old soap and water gets fatty grease off your dishes, it will help to disrupt and remove the virus off your hands. It’s cheaper too. And better for the environment than wipes that have to be produced and disposed of. Check it out and give it a go. Nanna was right all along! There may be a silver lining to this challenging situation. Maybe it’s an opportunity to press the reset button and get some permanent behavioural change where we all think about our choices of what we buy and use because we’re all in this world together. Afterall, you could argue that we’re in this covid 19 mess because some nincompoops decided it was a great idea to eat illegally captured endangered animals at an unhygienic wet market where illegally sold wild animals are kept and slaughtered in unsanitary conditions. But that’s just my personal opinion.

The immune system is just as strong even if you take DMT. Anyone can catch covid19. You have to follow the same guidelines to prevent infection to protect yourself and others. I agree 100% with Ruth and Linda!

Taking extra care to keep away from crowds and disinfect is great IF there are products available to do so. I'm on my last roll of toilet paper so that tells you where my locality stands.

As mentioned above, it seems the DMT is the issue with immunity, not the MS itself, though your mileage might vary. I know I was still in the ridiculously good immune system camp until I started Gilenya. Since then...not so much.

I've had the worst sinus infection of my entire life in the last 4 or 5 months since I started Gilenya, and then got sick enough to actually miss a couple of days of work a couple of months ago. That was from an unidentified, non-flu upper respiratory infection that I'm now thinking may possibly have even been COVID before it was identified. I know it was definitely not the flu, and kicked my ass in a way no illness had in...ever, really. I hadn't been completely bedridden by anything like that for two days in my entire adult life up until then. If that wasn't COVID-19 and was just some garden variety virus...yikes.

I was diagnosed with MS in 2005 (at age 55) and for the last 15 years I have never had a serious case of the flu (without a flu vaccine) or even a severe cold. And considering my grandchildren are virus incubaters, and I can never pass up hugs and kisses I have been exposed every year. Now with Covid-19 discussions regarding autoimmune diseases seeming to suggest a hyperactive immune response to the virus, I am more confused than ever. My symptoms are pain related and some weakness and I don't take any medication to reduce the immune response, finding I was worse off, in past years, trying every new medication on the market. So I would like to know if I became infected could my overactive immunity either help to combat this virus or, in the least, reduce the severity - as I've experienced with the flu? Or have I just lucked out these past years and there's no science to support my experience?

How soon or how will we know when we are able to return back to work when being quarantine for a couple months with MS and taking meds??

Kathy, I am with you a 100%. Except I haven't even had a flu vaccine. I did my research where disease modifying drugs were concerned and had tried the mildest form they offered. I was extremely ill from it, not even coherent while on it. They tried to convince me to continue with the medication because my "quality of life." depended on it. I told my neurologist that if this is quality of life, I don't want life. By the the way, supposedly suicide is one of the side effects. Whatever. I have an over active immune system. Knock on my head I don't get sick. I am a fanatic at preventing such because I know my consequences if I do. I finally had someone ask the very same question I want to know, you, and I thank you! I am very sensitive to chemicals. Why am I going to opt for a vaccine/chemical in my body such as the covid19 vaccine when I work in the medical field and have to request doctors orders for a covid 19 test for mostly vaccinated people? I do not know what to believe at this point and although I have M.S. I can say that I am not the only one to ponder these questions about my disease and the thought that maybe I am fortunate to have it and grateful to not be on disease modifying drugs..