Hi, I have a friend here who had taken 2 jabs AZ in Jul 2020, now diagnosed with RA. She started to feel the pain in her fingures in Nov 2020, doctor only gave her painkiller. Now that she feels pain all over hence was referred to a rheumatologist in Sunway Medical Center and has been diagnosed with RA. She suspects that the RA was triggered by the vaccine.
Anyone has friend experienced the same?
RA happens…. And can happen suddenly. If I had had food poisoning before mine started I could blame it on that. I think if you have a predisposition towards RA then it can be triggered by hundreds of things.
I think you are right to say that. Those with RA predisposition may be triggered more easily by just anything. What is the risk factor then? We just have to make the decision on our own. My booster will be coming but I think I will not proceed with it until I talk to my rheumy on the risk of relapse. I was very sick for a few days after the second dose but many local experienced weeks and months flare. Now a few friends of mine have been diagnosed with RA after the vaccination. This is a very difficult decision to make for me.
I had no problems or side effects to my vaccines. I can't understand why you think the booster is any different to the first two but yes call the vaccination helpline , I suspect your rheumatologist like mine would say get the jab.
My 1st dose was ok, I only experience a slight pain and headache. However, I was quite sick with the second dose where the pain ran from one hand to the back of my body then down to the other hand. I could not sleep the whole night. I could not get up the 2nd day as I was in so much pain, dizzy and chill too. I did not know where to put my hands to make them more comfortable.
Personally, I experienced very difference in the 2 doses. I think we are different hence we had responded differently.
I fell before my RA.
I also had teeth problems.
I was in a stressful job.
I could go on...
Any, or none of them, or all in combination could have caused RA.
But as far as I am aware, vaccination is not linked to developing RA.
I think like Helix said, those with RA predisposition can be trickled by just many things. Many local friends of mine were diagnosed RA few weeks and months after the vaccine jab. So it is possible though cannot be confirmed 100%.
Yes, of course RA can occur after many events in life, but I think we need to be very careful of suggesting causal links.
If you and many of your friends believe RA and the vaccine to be linked, reporting via the yellow card scheme is maybe wise? That way scientific evidence might be generated to support the view that many people are developing RA as a result of the vaccine.
Our reporting system here is only limited via the system provided by our government. May I know what is the yellow link and do you mind to send me the link please?
With the link, I can just share it locally so that those who are affected can report their experience directly.
The yellow card permits anyone to report potential adverse effects to medicines.
I felt that I had a flare after my 3rd vaccination (Pfizer) and reported it through yellow card.
It is a UK site.
Thank you so much for sharing the link. I will share it in our local RA group for them to report their experience too. I will try to report it via the yellow link of my own experience too after my morning exercises later.
I haven't heard of a link . she should report it to the side effects if she feels it was one. However it has not been seen as a side effect. Ra can start at any time snd May be a coincidence. She should see her doctor anyway for a check .
The problem with our local system is, only a list of side effects that we can report by clicking the list given. No place for us to write anything. In my case, I was not able to get out of bed the second day after the 2nd jab, I could not report anything except to only click those side effects listed in the system. Very bad reporting system we have here.
You can ask your gp to report it for you. I felt ill and terrible after mine buy I wouldn't say that was a side effect fatigue is well known with jabs. But yes chat to vaccine helpline or Gp , I'd rather personally have a few days feeling tough than real a severe unvaccinated or boosted bout of covid , but talk to the experts
Over here when I told the rheumy nurse, she just told me to report via the system provided. The system has no space for me to b write anything, so I couldn’t report anything beside clicking those side effects listed in the system only. No chance to inform my rheumy until I see her in Mar before I decide if to go ahead with the booster.
I hope so much that we have a better reporting system here in Malaysia.
There is much anecdotal evidence that Rheumatoid Disease can be triggered by infections of various sorts. All infections work in the same way to vaccines, of course, in making the body respond by producing antibodies. It does seem likely that in some susceptible people vaccines might act in a similar way in promoting the formation of not just the antibodies against the vaccine (which is supposed to happen) but also trigger the auto-immunity process that casues us so much trouble. But most things are better than dying from Covid and it doesn't seem much of a risk.
I have forgotten the genetic part of RA inside us. Agree that the vaccine may trigger RA though without any scientific proof yet. Therefore I have sent the local the Yellow Card link for them to report their own side effects and experiences with the vaccine. Hopefully more data can be collected for the scientific research purpose.
Hi Amy_Lee,I believe my RA was triggered by the C19 Pfizer vaccine. I had first dose in Jan 2021 and a few weeks later my right hand became swollen and painful after second vaccine in March my feet started to join the party. By the end of June I was almost immobile and was eventually referred to rheumatologist who diagnosed RA. He questioned what might have been the trigger and did not refute my suggestion that it was the covid vaccination. We couldn’t come up with any other possible triggers. There is some published research in medical journals to support this.
I was scared of having the booster in case it caused a flare and waited until I felt strong enough to take it. Actually I had no detrimental after effects from the booster other than one day of feeling fluey.
Recently I started taking fluoxetine because I was getting panic attacks and that seems to have triggered further problems with my gut and caused a flare so I’ve stopped taking that now!
It’s all a balancing act!
Take care
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