Can vaccinations cause a flare?: I had a flu jab... - NRAS

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Can vaccinations cause a flare?

Caza profile image
Caza
22 Replies

I had a flu jab yesterday & I stupidly asked about the pneumonia jab. No she said there’s a shortage & you have to be on the priority list, I was. Well in the night all my joints were on fire 🔥. I can’t take pain killers, I’ve been awake since 4.30am in agony. Swollen painful 😖 joints all of them ☹️ I’m pleased I’ve had it done & know it’s necessary but is this normal, if so how long will it last. I had the flu jab last yr & all was well.

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Caza
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22 Replies
crashdoll profile image
crashdoll

Hi Caza, sorry to hear you’re in so much pain. Most years, I get a flare up of around a week post flu jab, or any jab actually. It’s not much fun but not as bad as yours, so I have much sympathy. Do you take any steroids or anything? It might take the edge off this fiery flare.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply tocrashdoll

No I don’t take steroids. I’m really not great with meds as in bad reactions to them. It’ll pass hopefully

charisma profile image
charisma

Hi Caza

Did you get both vaccines? I hope you improve over the weekend. I never have that kind of reaction from a flu jab but am on biologic now so don’t know how it will be this year; flu vac appt Monday afternoon. 🙂

Caza profile image
Caza in reply tocharisma

Yes both together in the same arm. I was fine last yr with the flu jab so hopefully you’ll be fine.

charisma profile image
charisma in reply toCaza

Thanks! From other threads recently, it does appear that the pneumovax can trigger quite nasty reactions.

I had it after RA began but before diagnosis or any drugs for RA. It usually does induce quite a lot of pain in the arm injected, along with varying degrees of fever and even serious illness in extreme cases.

I suffered for 3-4 days in 2015. But it was worth having for protection from pneumonia and meningitis. 🙂

Caza profile image
Caza in reply tocharisma

Thanks for replying. I’m feeling a lot better today. My arm is still pretty painful 😖 but the rest of my joints have decided not to join in thankfully 😅

Eiram50 profile image
Eiram50

Sorry to hear you’re in such pain. I genuinely hope you begin to feel better soon.

I have had both and fortunately, never been up nor down with them.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply toEiram50

Hi, that’s good. I was with the flu jab last year. So reckon it’s the pneumonia jab or maybe not connected at all. Much better today thankfully 😅

cathie profile image
cathie

Sorry to hear this. I had it yesterday and slept very soundly for a change.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply tocathie

Brilliant. I’m much better today. Although my arm is still pretty painful 😖

Bookworm55 profile image
Bookworm55

I am still not sure if my first flu jab in 2015 triggered my RA. I was offered it because blood tests and a scan (for a fungal toenail would you believe?!) had shown that I had mild fatty liver. I was 59 years old and after much thought decided to have the jab as we were due to go on a celebration cruise for my 60th Birthday in the January.

I had the jab in mid November and by mid December several joints were painful- by early January I could barely move and had to cancel the cruise . Was diagnosed with sero positive RA in February 2016.

I have mentioned the possible link to various medical professionals and reactions vary from saying the gap between jab and onset was too long, to telling me that if I had caught flu that too could have triggered it. I do also have a niece and first cousin with RA.

Since then I have had the flu jab every year with no ill effects. My RA is now under control with methotrexate and sulfasalszine . No flares in the last 3 years.

wishbone profile image
wishbone in reply toBookworm55

Who's to say with any certainty that it did not cause your RA. I'm convinced that last winter's new type of over 65 flu vaccine caused my previously very mild tinnitus to go crazy just two days after the jab. Of course I can never be certain it was the culprit, but neither could my GP who dismissed it out of hand as a possible cause when I asked him if there could be a link.

Does anyone know how long the pneumonia jab lasts? I had one over 10 years ago and was told I would never need another one, but have since heard different.

Jamarruk profile image
Jamarruk in reply towishbone

I was told to get the P jab every 5 years

Caza profile image
Caza in reply toJamarruk

I was told it’s a one off. Having had pneumonia 3 times I’ll take the jab any day. Not sure I would of said that yesterday 🥺 much better today

wishbone profile image
wishbone in reply toCaza

Some say yay and some say nay. :-O I hope to see my GP next week so will see what he thinks.

Jeepers Caza, how come they haven't given you a pneumonia jab before now?

Caza profile image
Caza in reply towishbone

I don’t know 🤷‍♀️. The nurse yesterday was surprised that I hadn’t been called in as I was on the priority list. It was just me mentioning it in passing really. That’ll teach me!!

in reply toCaza

I was told by both my GP's nurse and the rheumatologist that the pneumonia jab is only needed once in a lifetime.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to

Yes, that’s what the nurse said.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to

Yes, that’s what the nurse said.

Caza profile image
Caza

Interesting 🧐. That’s a shame about having to cancel the cruise.

I’m convinced it was trauma that brought on my RD on.

I’ve only had the flu jab once before and I was absolutely fine.

Much better today 👍

Chance_chance profile image
Chance_chance

I was like that for 3 weeks after pneumonia jab hope it doesn't last for to long. Best wishes

Caza profile image
Caza in reply toChance_chance

Much better today thanks 😊

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