I went to my local surgery this morning as I heard they were having a Flu Jab Clinic... I went thinking I'd ask questions and "maybe" consider getting one... If I did get it, it would be my FIRST EVER flu jab!!!!
After speaking to the Doctor who said, "Yes, your conditions do not exclude you." (Isn't that a double negative or something?) Then he said, "Well wait, what's your name?" Then he said, "PMR, and what else do you have?" And he concluded with, "Yes you're okay, "
I was not feeling very confident! 😳
With no time to think, or even ask what jab he had in his hand, he said, "Can you pull your sleeve up, please?" ...and just like that, I did and he JABBED me!
You didn't even get the chance to say no thank you. That's you sorted then mamic1.
I think that there a method in their madness, my doctor did the same to me last year, he mentioned the flu jab, I just said I don't know, then, quick a you like in went the needle leaving doc with a big smile on his face!
Hi mamici, nothing to fear I expect. But for me when I had the flu jab 4 years ago, about two weeks later I developed PMR, coincidence or what. Since then I have not had a flu jab because I associate it with going down with PMR. Doctors say it is just a coincidence but in reality they have no proof.
Now that I am down to 2.5mg of pred/day, I really do not know what to do i.e. have it or not
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😱 OMG WHAT HAVE I DONE!
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You will be ok, if it did promote my PMR, it was a fluke.
Not sure about fluke Pastit - I've been wondering whether to have it myself this year so I've done a bit of silver surfing and found several articles - this one might interest you - it's not the only one which makes the connection either!
Thank you MamaBeagle, a very very interesting article. It doesn't say that the vaccination caused the PMR but to my mind if my body was under stress from various things going on in my life, another substance which attacks my immune system could be the last straw on my metabolism. I know the report said there is treatment as we all know, but my 4 years of treatment has not been much fun 😔
But then neither do you Pastit! I’d rather be safe than sorry where flu is concerned. It is a nasty and dangerous infection, and sometimes people die from it!
I hope you are fine today. We are a priority group for the flu jab - in fact we should get the more precise one that is reserved ( due to a shortage) for the over 75s. With our compromised immune system, we are more likely to get diseases like flu. I’m hoping that I can still get one as the programme at my surgery coincided with my chest infection.
I am tempted to say “ as the actress said to the Bishop” but that would be vulgar. We need to talk about a good date for our get together. Feeling a bit more like a person today. I will PM.you.
Our surgery did flu clinic this morning, one queue for over 65s and one for under 65s , very swift , everyone had pulse checked and bp check if you wanted it !
Wow! Very cool! Our's was chaos! No numbers, no line, no name taking... just everybody crowded in the waiting; old, young, in the middle. At 8:30 some woman yelled "ok make a line," and the place went mad!!!!
We all had letters last week and just had to sign and hand to nurse/dr who was doing injection so they could sign and record batch number etc , really efficient and no waiting !
I had the pneumonia jab when I had PMR - I beat the PMR and then a few years later got pneumonia and ended up in hospital when on holiday in St Lucia! I brightly (well, as brightly as I could when feeling awful) said I couldn't have it, as I'd had the jab....the consultant said I could still get it, as the jab doesn't cover all types of the condition - just like the flu jab doesn't necessarily cover all types of flu...... sigh. So be warned and if you ever have a tight chest and have difficulty breathing go to see the GP!
You’ve done the right thing - it’s not unusual to get flu-like symptoms after the jab, that’s quite normal but doesn’t apply to everyone - I’ve been okay after mine and as has been said it’s better than getting the flu! I’m having Pneumonia & Shingles jab next week. The pneumonia is a once in a lifetime jab. It was meant to be as they say - he didn’t give you you an option- he perhaps could see you were indecisive yet knew you needed it! xxx
The consensus on here is NOT to have Shingles live vaccine jab whilst recovering from PMR. Ask to wait till PMR in remission. It’s your body not the doctors!
There was an article in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) this week saying that the non live vaccine is miles better than the old live vaccine. I am not sure how easily available it is though.
I'm also lined up to get my first ever flu jab on Tuesday. From what I've read on here before it's nothing to worry about. It will be interesting to see how my lead arms react though 😋 They already feel like they weigh a ton. Good job Mamici1, sorted!
In recent years, I’ve been somewhat lackadaisical about getting the flu shot (US terminology). However, this year my rheumatologist suggested I get it— and I did. And, the shot is not a live virus, so no chance of getting the flu from it. Some people feel a little icky the day after, and most experience a sore arm at the injection sight. The science says, if you do contract the flu this season, you will have milder symptoms than if you hadn’t had the flu shot— you get a certain level of coverage if the shot is not exactly the strain of flu circulating.
Ps, several years ago I had the flu (confirmed via nasal swab). It was the sickest I’ve ever been in my entire life— it felt as if I were at death’s door. 😑
I got mine yesterday at the rheumys office. So far my arm isn’t even sore. Last year I didn’t get the shot and was paranoid the whole time about going out of the house and getting the flu..I carried disinfectant wipes everywhere! So this year decided to get the shot. 😀
I've had the flu jab every year and except for a sore arm nothing else hurt, I am pleased to say it worked for me! I have had shingles not very nice at all so anything they can give you I take. But for their first time in years my doctors have no flu vaccine so I'm going to have to try lloyds chemist I've been told they have stock in! Very strange that the surgeries don't have that's a puzzle, and no mention on the news or papers unless I've missed it? Good luck for everyone that we all don't get flu ,
Like you I have PMR and GCA and my Rheumy and GP told me to get the shot. She said that getting the Flu in my condition would not be good. I have gotten the shot for two years now and have not had a problem. I hope this helps.
I suppose it’s like us taking the cat along to the vets for its yearly jabs!! I have had the flu jab for a few years because after my husband had major neuro surgery in 2010 his immunity was lowered due to the drugs he takes and we discovered him having flu jab only protected him to a certain level but if I got it as well he seemed immune to more germs!! Not sure how that worked but I ended up being booked for the jab every year along with him. Hopefully you will reap the benefits of this and be less susceptible to any grotty flu germs this winter as having pmr seems horrendous enough without flu.x
While you are being treated with prednisone, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Prednisone may lower your body's resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.
Thank TheZiggy, but everyone and their Mother were telling me to get the flu jab, including my GP! Too late now...I have had it! Hmmmm, I feel a bit like THE HULK...
I've had the flu jab every year for more than 10 years. When I worked for Transport for London they provided it free to all employees who wanted it. This was because of self-interest rather than philanthropy - they didn't want Tube and bus services being suspended and stations closed because of flu bugs going wild among the staff and, of course, they couldn't just offer it to the operational staff, so those of us in the offices could have it too. Since I retired, I've made sure I have it every year. I've never had a bout of flu in all that time and I've never had a bad reaction to the jab.
Nah don't worry I have a jab every year including after being diagnosed this year. It's a dead virus they inject you with which for me, seems a bit of an oxymoron, why bother?? And before anyone gets on their podium to explain, I do know how it works....it just seems a weird concept
Oh my!!!! You are!!! I'm getting serious nerves about having it!!! In France we just got the prescription - I jabbed the OH and he jabbed me - job done - the cattle market system here seems barbaric!
"See a doctor" !!! Does not sound like our Saturday flu clinic.
Line up, like at school, with sleeve rolled up, over 65s to right, under 65 to right......then shuffle to nurses room quick ? Name, date of birth? Then jab and on to the next.......about 30 seconds each.
Oh dear! I was thinking of doing just the same thing tomorrow, asking questions about multiple allergies etc. not to mention PMR/GCA. I had a flu jab several years ago and had bad cold and persistent cough for weeks afterwards. Haven't had a jab since and didn't have cold or flu until last Christmas when wham! it hit me badly and had to delegate cooking Christmas lunch to my daughter. Now I'm afraid I'll be met with a monster GP brandishing equally monstrous needle. Hope you're feeling ok. Now I've read the article MamaBeagle referred to am even more uncertain. Oh dear again!
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