Flu Shot or Not?

[JohnnyQ50]

I live in Perth, WA and we are experiencing a bad flu epidemic. I usually have a flu shot but haven’t had one since my PMR diagnosis last November after reading on this forum that some people thought the flu shot may have been a PMR trigger.

Appreciate any thoughts and comments.

[Hidden]

Hi Johnnyq50, I have been having a yearly flu jab since 2001. I sometimes get an injection site lump and tenderness but nothing else. Some report developing PMR but you already have it. The one year I was a month late getting my jab I got swine flu and that was horrid. Only you can decide but I don't mind having it.

[JohnnyQ50 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your quick response Poopadoop, the other thing I hate is the Doctors waiting room, I always come out feeling I have caught something.😟

[Hidden in reply to JohnnyQ50]

Tell me about it. iI try not to sit close and not touch my face until I have scrubbed my hands. The pharmacy is worse...the pens are in a cup. The assistants usually sign things for me but it'll be back to my own pen as I have to sign for one drug now.😷

[YuliK]

a live-virus vaccine; people who have suppressed immune systems shouldn't get that live type...

Better ask at your clinic what type of injection they are giving. Just to be sure.

YuliK

[Hidden in reply to YuliK]

In the UK they don't use live virus flu jabs fortunately. That would be a difficult sell!!

[JohnnyQ50 in reply to YuliK]

Thanks Yulik

I will check with my GP if I decide to get the flu shot, it’s good to get other forum users advice to assist with making an informative decision.

[Tiffany2]

Hi Johnny I also live in Perth. I was diagnosed 11 days ago with PMR. I had the flu and pneumonia jab whilst I was feeling dreadful a few weeks before final diagnosis so interesting connection.

[JohnnyQ50 in reply to Tiffany2]

Hi Tiffany

Welcome to the club nobody wants to join. You will find some useful information from fellow sufferers on this forum, however you may also come across some people who have more severe symptoms than others so don’t get despondent. Common complaints are chronic fatigue and weight gain. Personally I have had only minor issues, night cramps, aching wrist and insomnia when I was on higher doses of Pred but these have subsided. I still play golf, work full time and continue with my usual exercise regime etc.

Hope you have an easy ride🤞

[Tiffany2 in reply to JohnnyQ50]

Thank you! I had Carpel Tunnel diagnosed just before and had a cortison jab for it in my left wrist but still left achy since.

[Marijo1951]

My advice is to get that jab, providing it is (as here in the UK) the non-live virus type. We already feel so low and under the weather with these wretched conditions, why risk catching something else that is utterly debilitating and extremely difficult to get over?

[SheffieldJane]

Having just had a shocking cold, I felt very grateful that I had, had my annual flu jab. I could just imagine how awful it would have been to feel a few degrees worse. I was advised to have it because of compromised immunity. The aetiology for PMR is complex and multi- faceted in my view - not one culprit, but an accumulation of several, then wham!

[JohnnyQ50 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi Jane

I think you are correct in that there are probably several contributing factors that lead up to a PMR attack, I was just not sure how a compromised immune system would handle the flu vaccine. PMR is a strange and complex ailment and it’s hard to know what to do for the best. I will seek advice from my GP but I also like to get opinions from knowledgeable people on this forum so thanks for your response.