Where to start with the testing my immune system?

[SmokinJoeFraz93]

I’ve had ME/CFS for nearly 6 years, and I’ve never had my immune system checked. The fascinating thing is, I haven’t been unwell once (in terms of flu, colds, bugs, viruses etc) in the WHOLE of 6 years, whereas before I became unwell with ME/CFS, I was always unwell with stomach sickness etc etc.

I feel my lack or ‘yearly illnesses‘ could play a major role in my illness, and perhaps could give me some answers. Could someone kindly recommend a starting point for testing my immunity?

Cheers.

 

[andyguitar]

I feel my lack or ‘yearly illnesses‘ could play a major role in my illness, and perhaps could give me some answers. Could someone kindly recommend a starting point for testing my immunity?

One answer could be that your immune system is over active. So when you come into contact with a pathogen that would have made you ill in the past your immune system, now being over active, is able to kill it off before you get any symptoms. Getting your immune system checked by the NHS might be difficult @SmokinJoeFraz93 but I think its worth telling your GP that scince getting ME/CFS you have not had the usual infections and you wondered if they could run some tests to see if your immune system was normal. They probably won,t but it's worth a try.

 

[SmokinJoeFraz93]

One answer could be that your immune system is over active. So when you come into contact with a pathogen that would have made you ill in the past your immune system, now being over active, is able to kill it off before you get any symptoms. Getting your immune system checked by the NHS might be difficult @SmokinJoeFraz93 but I think its worth telling your GP that scince getting ME/CFS you have not had the usual infections and you wondered if they could run some tests to see if your immune system was normal. They probably won,t but it's worth a try.

Hey, thanks for replying to me. I have observed within myself what I believe to be Th1/Th2 shifting (or vice versa) when I introduced cannabis to my treatment plan. (I’ve heard that cannabis can introduce this shift). As for the NHS, I’ll leave them where they are. I’d rather attempt to go private if I can afford it. Thanks for your input.

 

[ljimbo423]

I’ve had ME/CFS for nearly 6 years, and I’ve never had my immune system checked. The fascinating thing is, I haven’t been unwell once (in terms of flu, colds, bugs, viruses etc) in the WHOLE of 6 years, whereas before I became unwell with ME/CFS, I was always unwell with stomach sickness etc etc.

I feel my lack or ‘yearly illnesses‘ could play a major role in my illness, and perhaps could give me some answers. Could someone kindly recommend a starting point for testing my immunity?

Cheers.

I don't know about what to test for in your immune system but I haven't had a cold or a flu in probably 15-20 years. I'm quite sure this is because my immune system is over-active from my ME/CFS.

What part of my immune system specifically is over-active I don't know. I think it would have to be part of my TH1 arm. This is the one that fights off cold and flu viruses. The first line of defense so to speak.