Did the flu shot cause Jennings to get Dystonia? (AP)
All of us want to make the right choices regarding our family’s heath. And one choice we are faced with is whether or not to have our family immunized against the flu.
Ever since the video of Desiree Jennings hit the net, many have wondered if the video (and claim) is true or not. The cheerleader alleges she came down with the Dystonia because she got a flu shot.
There have never been any other cases reported with such a claim nor has this one been specifically linked to her flu vaccination.
It is hard to know what caused Jennings to come down with Dystonia (which her Doctor agrees she has) because we know so little about the disorder. And since her claim could cause people worldwide to avoid getting immunized, it could have a very negative global effect.
Before anyone blindly believes that the flu shot did cause Jennings to get the disorder or that Dystonia cannot be caused by the flu shot it would behoove everyone to get some facts on what Dystonia is and what the causes are.
What is Dystonia
Below are two explanations of what Dystonia is from two websites. The first one is from the Dystonia Foundation which is a informative site filled with facts on the disorder and the second one contains a more detailed definition.
Dystonia Foundation.org
“Dystonic movements are typically patterned and repetitive, causing twisting movements and abnormal postures. Dystonia occurs when opposing muscles are contracting simultaneously.
The activation of these muscles may "overflow" to other muscle groups unintentionally”.
Medicine Net
“The dystonias are movement disorders in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures.
The movements, which are involuntary and sometimes painful, may affect a single muscle; a group of muscles such as those in the arms, legs, or neck; or the entire body.
Those with dystonia usually have normal intelligence and no associated psychiatric disorders.”
What causes Dystonia?
Obviously, this is the big question: what exactly causes Dystonia? It appears not all of the causes are known but that drug reactions is listed in both the Mayo Clinic and WebMD’s listings of causes. To be fair, many disorders list drug reactions under causes and no specific drugs are listed.
The main cause of Dystonia appears to be genetic where the carrying parent may never show signs of the disorder.
Mayo Clinic
“Doctors don't know what causes most cases of dystonia, but it has been linked to communication problems between nerve cells located in the basal ganglia — an area of the brain involved in initiating muscle contractions.
While many cases of dystonia have no obvious cause, the disorder sometimes results from an underlying neurological problem, such as:
· Traumatic brain injury
· Stroke
· Brain tumor
· Oxygen deprivation
· Infections, such as tuberculosis or encephalitis
· Reactions to certain drugs
· Heavy metal or carbon monoxide poisoning “
WebMd
“Most cases of dystonia do not have a specific cause. Dystonia seems to be related to a problem in the basal ganglia. That's the area of the brain that is responsible for initiating muscle contractions. The problem involves the way the nerve cells communicate.
Acquired dystonia is caused by damage to the basal ganglia. The damage could be the result of:
· brain trauma
· stroke
· tumor
· oxygen deprivation
· infection
· drug reactions
· poisoning caused by lead or carbon monoxide
Idiopathic or primary dystonia is often inherited from a parent. Some carriers of the disorder may never develop a dystonia themselves. And the symptoms may vary widely among members of the same family.”
At this point it is too early to know if Jennings did or did not get Dystonia because she got a flu shot. What other things expired in between the time she got the flu shot and the disorder was diagnosed? Did the two seizures she experienced have anything to do with the disorder? Could Jennings have a parent (or even a Grandparent) that is, or was, a carrier - have they been checked?
The video is hard to watch and the thought that it is indeed caused by the flu shot is scary but it is just as scary to think people will avoid getting a flu shot because of it. At least until all the facts are in.
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Comments
I don't know what to do but our school is not letting kids return that don't get the seasonal flu shot. The is girl claims it was the regular flu shot and yet she had one last year? I don't think there is a connection.
Thanks for the info!
Third culture kids examiner
Seattle stay-at-home mom examiner
Very helpful information.
Great reporting. I believe she has the disorder and it surfaced after she got her flu shot, not because of the flu shot.
Good article, but first things first: Does she really have true dystonia (or psychogenic, or malingering)? This article says "... which her Doctor agrees she has." Dystonia is difficult to diagnose; not all doctors are movement experts; not all are credible. Dr. Grill, movement expert, reported he didn't see true dystonia in this woman's videos; he kindly suggested psychogenic. I noticed she managed to pull her hair out of her face after supposedly spasming wildly, and she miraculously didn't fall while walking with extreme upper and lower body spasms. Dystonia victims with full body spasming and seizures all day would be exhausted, and she claims she couldn't eat without passing out, so how was she able to run for an hour in a race? It's true that some Dystonia victims walk backwards or run easier than walking forward, but does slurred speech from a paralyzed neck and tongue(as she claims) become normal too while running? "Isn't it great?!" she said, smiling widely. Uh-huh, great!
I want to add that since Desiree Jennings had her flu shot at the end of August, 950 people lost their lives to the flu, and many more were hospitalized with serious illness. With only 5 cases of dystonia reported to VAERS after a billion flu shots over 18 years, and no causal link ever indicated, this case is NOT a one in a million side-effect of the shot as the media has reported, it is a one in 200 million chance of dystonia even occurring soon after a flu shot, let alone causing it. Her anti-vaccine campaign, even if she is suffering from true dystonia, is completely irrational and irresponsible. Dare I say it's a potential killer. This case insults those truly concerned about vaccine safety. And should she be shown to be malingering, she has betrayed true dystonia victims who are sadly subjected to the presumption of malingering or psychogenic illness. I want to see a full-out investigation of this woman's claims.
Very informative and helpful.
She became sick 10 days after the flu shot, a vaccin wich is said to contain mercury, a nasty substance know for causing very negative side effects on the brain. You people must unlearn what your gouvernment has programmed you to think, and start to think for yourself.
Maybe she allready had the disorder wich surfaced after te shot, i can agree with that, but hey, if I have that disorder, i don't want the flu shot! That whole flu shot thing is a big marketing move, billions of dollars are changing hands on this one, how nice.
David, NL.
@ David. Maybe she ate a can of tuna beforehand. Get your facts straight. On average, just one little can (of the type of tuna with the lowest levels of mercury) contains 20.4 mcg of mercury, about the same as the 25 mcg of mercury that might be contained in an adult dose of the flu shot. People get maybe 1 or 2 flu shots per year, but they eat tuna and other mercury-containing fish all the time. And, the methyl mercury found in fish is much more dangerous than the ethyl mercury used in flu vaccines. Besides, the experts are saying this woman doesn't even have dystonia.
I read the VAERS description for her case. The neurologist reported that her disorder had a strong psychogenic component, even before she went running to the media. The neurologist's final diagnosis was "weakness." People are so nice to call this case psychogenic. The other possibility is that she is faking to get attention for the anti-vax movement. How would anyone with psychogenic dystonia know that some dystonia victims can walk backward and run better than walking forward unless they had researched this disorder beforehand? I think it either has to be real, which experts say it isn't, or it's an anti-vaccine hoax.
I read the VAERS description for her case. The neurologist reported that her disorder had a strong psychogenic component, even before she went running to the media. The neurologist's final diagnosis was "weakness." People are so nice to call this case psychogenic. The other possibility is that she is faking to get attention for the anti-vax movement. How would anyone with psychogenic dystonia know that some dystonia victims can walk backward and run better than walking forward unless they had researched this disorder beforehand? I think it either has to be real, which experts say it isn't, or it's an anti-vaccine hoax.
Yes, there are facts yet to be determined in the flu shot/jennings case...most definitely people should be allowed to make informed decisions. The facts and truth should be thoroughly researched and uncovered.
I have a concern that I get an illness reaction from the shot. The reaction begins in Dec. and can last for 3 months, or longer if untreated. This has been tested. Last year I did not get the shot and did not become ill. The year before and this year I did get the flu shot and had the same illness. And illness that would not go away. Starts out as a head cold/flu, goes into a bronchial/flu symptom. Both times doctors could only rule out pnuemonia, Both required antibiotic and an inhaler.
I believe there is something to the fact the shot can be related to causes of adverse symptoms and individuals should be told. I myself will not be getting another flu shot. I do not like being as sick as I was and the unknowns that are involved. I didn't think I would be well a
hey idiot! yeah you that wrote this article. even on your page it says can get dystonia from HEAVY METAL POISONING!!!!! And what is in flu shots??? you got it MERCURY. Hello!!!!!!!
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