RA and pneumoccle vacination.

[siskin]

Has anyone on this site with RA, but not on biologics, been advised by GP to have pneumococcle vacination, if so did they have "the jab" and and had they received advice before they decided. Were there any side effects?. My RA is fairly quiet at the moment and I don't want to risk upsetting the status quo.

[sylvi]

I had to have a pneumonia jab the year i was diagnosed with ra. I didn't know i had had pneumonia until it was flu jab time.The one i had was a lifetime one i believe. Having said that i have been plagued with chest infections since xmas. I am on my 4th course of antibiotics. I haven't had mtx for 4 weeks. Have to ring rheuy this week and see if i can start it again.

I'm not sure if it will make any difference to be honest.

Sylvi.

[Beth58]

Hi, I was offered pneumococcal vaccine by my GP shortly after starting on DMARD's, the hospital consultant or nurses never mentioned it. I also have a flu jab as a matter of course as soon as supply comes in.

I wasn't offered any advice just told I should have it and never suffered any real side effects other than a sore arm for a couple of days afterwards.

Beth xx

[LavendarLady]

Hi SIskin, I had the lifetime pneumonia jab even though I was on anti tnf and MTX. I also have the flu jab every year. When I tried to resist having it some years ago, the nurse threatened to lock me in the surgery until I gave in!

They are fiercesome these nurses! LavendarLady x

[Hidden]

I have had the pneumonia vaccination and flu. they are both a good idea x.. no side effects in my case( might get a sore arm but that is it)

[helixhelix]

I've had it too....no probs not even sore arm, and I'm not on biologics. And certainly much better than risking getting the disease - I've had pneomonia twice & don't want it again. It was evil! Also protects against other nasties.

[SALI]

I had the pneomonia jab as recommend by the consultant and administered by my GP. My RA was very active and not under control. I was not advised of any side effects and was told I should be fine. I did have a very bad reaction and felt my RA had gone back to square one. I got a hospital appointment with my treatment nurse and was told by her that the jab can make RA worse. I did manage to get throught it, but it would have been better if I had been advised about having a reaction as I did panic. However, both treatment nurse and GP advised that it is important to have jab as immune system is so compromised. Please don't put off having your jab, but be aware that you MAY react - even if they tell you you won't!

You may not react like me, and it seems most other takers have been fine, but please protect yourself and take the jab.

[essexgirl]

i had both too with no reaction .... the only thing i would advise is i had one in each arm and both my arms were dead for a few days lol ... i should of had both in same arm and have one good arm

i say get what you can to protect yourself

xx

[allanah]

Yes I had Pnuemonia jab as I have had it twice!! It was recommended by the docs and ye its a bit sore, but better than pneumonia.

~Axx

[salem974]

I had both shots. Flu and pneumonia. My doctor said that both shots should be done together so one in each arm. I am on Plaquenil and leflunomide with Methotrexate once a week. At the time of the shots I was also on Prednisone. This will sometimes react with the shots and weaken them. I had no side effects and usually I have bad colds, sometimes Bronchitis but thes year nothing so far.

[Hidden]

If I may be technical a minute, I want to clarify a point few people realize.

First, the Pneumococal vaccine is not a live vaccine.

The vaccine is specific for a particular strain of Strep, namely Streptococcal Pneumoniae, which causes a very difficult-to-treat pneumonia.

Most pneumonias are caused by other types and strains of bacteria, but not the Strep pneumoniae type. If you have had the pneumonia vaccine, and get pneumonia, it would be caused by some other type of bacteria. Thanks Loret xxx

[siskin in reply to Hidden]

Loret I have just read your profile and see you are a highly qualified med.lab. tech. I had a friend who was a Fellow of the Institute of Med. Lab. tecs. and worked amongst others Boroughs Wellcome and at St Thomases Hosp. I have sadly lost contact with her so cannot ask the following question. I have scar tissue on my lungs from whooping cough and pneumonia. For about the last yr. I have had some grotty sputum tested but it always comes back "Nothing found" Loret what can be causing a chronic cough/ infection Micro b tests don't find??

[Hidden in reply to siskin]

Well. Maybe a couple things. If you are on MTX, one side effect is a cough, some people have had to be taken off MTX if the lungs have become affected. But I don't know the mechanism that causes it, or what exactly MTX does to the lungs.

Another explanation about the report "Nothing Found". Not sure that is the correct terminology, as every sputum has normal bacteria that are allowed to be there. Even then, sometimes a normal type of bacteria, commonly the Alpa Strep, can become an irritant, especially if all other bacteria are wiped out after courses of antibiotics. Or, it could be a yeast, or fungus, which often take over after antibiotics.

You could ask your dr. to order the sputum culture and sensitivity to be reported with "the predominant organism". and also include a Fungus Culture.

Then there are environmental particles, something in the air, that has created an irritant to the lungs. Have you had a chest xray? Sure hope you get an answer soon. All the best, Loretxx

[siskin in reply to Hidden]

LORET you are a STAR. Whenever I have asked about sputum results I have reapeatedly been told "nothing found"

I have not been on MTX and havn't had any anti bs for years. BUT you're mentioning the fungus and yeast could well be poss. I moved to my present property 4 yrs. ago and it was in a bad state. Over that time the whole place has bit by bit been renovated. It is only since I have been here that I have had the cough which absolutly racks me.leaving me exhausted.

I have had a couple of x'rays in that time and told "no change" I feel so intimidated by the drs. I have never had the guts to say no change from what.

I have worked all my life dealing with all sorts of people with no probs. even with previous Drs. but the practice I am with at the moment seem to have some sort of problem from what a phlebotamist said she's ofen feels as if she is on the naughty step.

I have to see the rheumy consultant in April so will have a word with her, she seems more ameniable

I will let you know how I get on. Thank you so much...

.

[Hidden in reply to siskin]

Your welcome, I just hope you can get an answer and relief! Don't give up, I realize doctors see so many patientsd, they may not have or take time to sort through some things. All the best. Loretxx

[helixhelix in reply to siskin]

Hi there,

If you're not on MTX then the risk of lung problems is less (and also not the same issue with live vaccines either unless you take another immunosuppressant). But you mentioning your house reminds me of an ancient biology lesson about the lungs being designed to produce more sputum in dusty/polluted conditions so that that dust gets trapped and expelled before it gets too deep into the lungs. So maybe there is a simple answer to your plight?

[siskin]

Thank you all for help. I think it was Lorets pointing out that the vac. was not a live vacine. When 1st diagnosed with RA,. 18 years ago, I remember now it was the instruction to avoid live vaccines which was the sticking point for me. Ta. (:-)).

[helixhelix in reply to siskin]

Yes, no travelling to places that need things like Yellow Fever jabs if you're on drugs like MTX.

[siskin in reply to helixhelix]

That is information , I think, is not given enough importance.. I have just asked a friend of mine if she was given this warning and answer was no. She has only just been diagmnosed.

[helixhelix in reply to siskin]

Well perhaps docs assume that hiking across Central Africa is not the first thing on your to-do list if you've just been diagnosed, so there is a slight excuse.

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

Good point, Polly.

[helixhelix in reply to Hidden]

Wish that exotic foreign travel was on my list even if not at number 1 - but sadly I think there are more fundamental things in the way than a jab.....

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

...and we never seem to get rid of all of them, something keeps popping up and getting in the way!