If you have Lyme, is the flu shot safe?

Dear Dr. Roach: Should people with Lyme disease avoid the flu shot? — L.A.

In general, people with a moderate to severe illness should not get the flu vaccine while ill. It is safe to give the flu shot to a person with mild illness, such as cold without a fever. In the case of Lyme disease, I would recommend withholding the flu shot from someone with active symptoms (which can sometimes get worse in the first few days of treatment with antibiotics). After finishing antibiotics, it would be safe to take the flu vaccine.

Some people have symptoms (such as fatigue, numbness, pain and impaired cognitive function) after treatment for Lyme disease, a condition called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. It is not clear why some people treated for Lyme develop PTLDS. However, there is no reason I could find nor evidence to support withholding the influenza vaccine for people with posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome.

Dear Dr. Roach: My husband’s apnea causes him to stop breathing 50 times an hour. He refuses to use tiny tubes to put over his nostrils. I doubt they work well, because he naps two hours a day with his mouth open and loud snoring. Not only is it annoying, but he’s not getting a good sleep at night. Help! — S.J.

There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive is far more common, and relates to too much soft tissue around the airway, often in association with being overweight. If your husband had a sleep study to make the diagnosis and quantify the number of apnea events (times stopping breathing) of 50 an hour, then he should know which type he has.

It really sounds like he needs to revisit the sleep specialist. I would highly recommend you go as well.