Flu jab and flare ups

[lifeboatann58]

Hya. I had my flu jab on Tuesday, and now I have a "Lovely Flare". Do you think that's what's brought it on? Or was I going to get it anyway? I got the jag in my right arm, and it's my right ankle, knee, thigh and hip? that are playing up. (Agony). Anyone else had this after there jab?

[cathie]

I hope you can rest and get through this quickly. I've never yet had a flare after the jab, but it is possible. Just think how much worse the actual flu would be.

[lifeboatann58 in reply to cathie]

Hya Cathie. Yes I was thinking that. Things could be a lot lot worse. I'm just worrying how long it will last this time, as I was hoping to get back to work soon.

Been off for 3 months already.

[cathie in reply to lifeboatann58]

I'm glad you didn't resent me saying that! I hope you're getting decent support from Drs , it's horrible to be off work and uncertain.

[lifeboatann58 in reply to cathie]

I'm Lucky with my Dr now. She is great. Wasn't with the other one at my practice, but he has left now. I had been going for over a year about different symptoms and wasn't getting anywhere. Then I managed to get a newly qualified young Dr. Straight away she said what she thought it was. Got the blood tests done. That was it diagnosed RA.

Was starting to feel that I could get back to work soon. The only thing that worried me was my wrists being weak. (I work in a pub) but now this has happened. Put me right back.

[cathie in reply to lifeboatann58]

Are you seeing a rheumatologist? There could be occupational therapy things that could help, like wrist supports for drawing those pints.

[lifeboatann58 in reply to cathie]

Going to see the rheumy nurse on the 13th. Will ask her then. Xx

[Barrister]

I had the flu jab 2 weeks ago and felt really awful the day after but can't really say that it caused a flare, and felt fine the day after that. Clemmie

[lifeboatann58 in reply to Barrister]

Hya Barrister. Maybe I'm just unlucky. Just that my flare started the day after my jab. I've always been unlucky.

[Barrister in reply to lifeboatann58]

At least you shouldn't have to contend with a dose of the flu along with your flare lol! Hope your flare settles soon. Clemmie

[lifeboatann58 in reply to Barrister]

Hopefully it goes quickly as I have my 60th Birthday near the end of this month.We have planned a family night out for a show and show up in Scotland. Just the thought of travelling on trains is scary at the moment. X

[Barrister in reply to lifeboatann58]

Hopefully you will be on your way to feeling much better by then. Have a great trip. Clemmie x

[lifeboatann58 in reply to Barrister]

Thanks Clemmie. Hope so. X

[nomoreheels]

I've not had that happen after a flu jab Ann. I had mine on 15th Sept & just had the normal ache around the injection site. As has been said maybe you were heading towards a flare anyway?

Look after yourself & if it gets any worse don't be brave & muddle through, contact your Rheumy nurse. x

[lifeboatann58 in reply to nomoreheels]

I think I have just been unlucky, and as you say was probably heading for one anyway. Got all my pills topped up at the chemist the other day, so should get by until the 13th. When are you at the rheumy nurse next? X

[nomoreheels in reply to lifeboatann58]

My next appointment is in November with a Rheumy (probably yours if mine's still on extended leave) so unless I have problems I won't be seeing my nurse until about February/March time. Do you know who you would need to contact at C hospital? If not let me know & I'll pm you. x

[Tinwoman2]

Whenever I get an injection, my arm gets super sore for about 3 days. So sore that I can barely use it, but it eventually goes away and I'm back to my 'normal'.

[lifeboatann58 in reply to Tinwoman2]

Hya Tinwoman2. I don't usually have problems with injections. But then again I've never had any injections since I have been diagnosed with RA. Buts its not just my arm just now it's all my right side. But everyone reacts differently to the flu jag. But it might not be that and I am just having a flare. Just my luck. X

[Ali_H]

Well I was going to write 'flu jab and flareup... No! But in reflection my knees have been a bit tender and slightly swollen over the past 10 days or so - I had my flu jab on the 19th September (had the flu jab for past 4 years and not had any noticible 'reactions' before or maybe just not joined the dots up before?)

Ali

[lifeboatann58 in reply to Ali_H]

It's my first flu jag since my diagnosis. So wasn't sure. Lol. Thought I'd get a general opinion. Seems like I was going to have a flare anyway. X

[lifeboatann58 in reply to Ali_H]

Hya Ali_H, just thinking about what you said about your knees, my knees are the sorest part, so maybe it was the flu jag. Hmm

[magglen]

I have heard that the flu jab can cause an RD flare but don't know how well that has been investigated properly. It would be interesting to know from other people's experience

[lifeboatann58 in reply to magglen]

Hya Maggie. That's interesting. Will definitely speak to my Rheumy next week and see what she says. Was thinking it was just a coincidence that it started the day after my jag (Might still be) Thanks for that. Xx

[lifeboatann58 in reply to lifeboatann58]

Sorry Magglen. My predictive text again. Xx

[oldtimer]

I've never had a flare after a flu jab and have had plenty of both, just not related to each other. So, I would think probably a co-incidence, but never say never!

[lifeboatann58 in reply to oldtimer]

Just been on the Internet to see what it says, seems it's a split decision on It. might be just a coincidence, but will speak to my rheumy and will see how I am next year. Xx

[ks1966]

Hi. My symptoms started after taking a flu jab 3 years ago. I also read on this forum about someone who had a similar problem. This is my personal opinion but I think that injecting so many viruses into your body may overburden the immune system and cause it be on hyperactive, thus a flare up. Again this is my theory. Good luck

[lifeboatann58 in reply to ks1966]

Hya ks1966. Thanks for that. Glad to know that I'm not being paranoid. (Though can't help it sometimes) and with reading up on the Internet about people having flares right after the jag makes me more convinced. Thanks again. X

[Rachel43]

I had my flu & pneumonia injections on Friday. So far I'm ok x

[Tile]

The only thing the flu vaccine prevents (especially when given to people on immune suppressant meds, ) is it prevents your doctor from being hounded from the NHS , CDC,or insurance companies or healthcare group for not giving you a flu vaccine. You cannot have a strong enough immune response to make enough antibodies for any of the supposedly current flu mutations. Last year flu vaccine was worthless anddid not match the current flu. Read up what foreign materials are being injected into you. A bad reaction doesn't have to show itself immediately it can take months or years for adverse immune responses to present itself and nobody will be able to match it to one of the the flu jabs they gave you. There are thousands of people or their doctors reporting adverse reactions every year including death. Many doctors do not report adverse events. If you have antibodies to any autoimmune disease but don't present with disease it may be beneficial to have retesting of autoimmunity and disease markers within a year. I haven't had any flu vacs in the past 10 years and no flu sickness either and live in a big city and take mass transit. The last flu vac in 2009 I felt sick aand achy afterwards. Also a family member who willingly got a flu vac came down with lupus and sjorgrens days after a flu vac. If you want to check immune response ask your doctor to do a flu immunity titer to see if you have made enough AB.

[KittyJ in reply to Tile]

You say “nobody will be able to match it to one of the flu jabs they gave you” regarding adverse immune responses so how did your relative find out the vaccine caused their lupus/sjorgens?

[BiggsA]

This is interesting. I have RA and treat it with Humira. I have had what I thought were random flare ups but reviewing the dates of my previous flu jabs the dates seem to align. I had a jab on the 24th September and since I've been having real problems with sleep not managing to sleep until the early hours due to knee pain. I mentioned the possibility to my doctor last year when it happened but they said it was unlikely linked. Definitely something I will have to discuss at my next appointment.