Living by the sea

[Jaycee57]

I have had PMR for 5 years. I was 63 and 2 months before symptoms I moved near to the sea (which is at the end of my road) and had my first flu vaccination. Just throwing it out there, as I always wonder if either of these are significant. Having said this, I will still be having a Covid vaccination.

[SnazzyD]

Could have been. For some it appears that one physical or emotionally stressful even can trigger the immune system to become deranged. For others it looks like there has been a history of unrelenting stress or series of physical traumas and one last event is the last straw. Moving house is stressful however joyful and vaccinations are made to stimulate the immune system so that might, in some be that last assault. We’re all different so it can’t be said which things are significant for any one individual but there do seem to be similarities popping up on this forum.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Possibly a reaction to flu jab, some reckon theirs started that way, and the stress of moving probably the final straw! But nearer the sea can only be good in my book!...and definite yes to covid vaccine.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

One of my friends moved to the sea - and got off pred!

Quite a few people say their PMR appeared shortly after a flu jab. But there are plenty of us who had never had a flu jab. If it hadn't been the jab - maybe it would have been the flu they got instead.

It is generally accepted that stress has a lot to do with upsetting or irritating the immune system and moving house, wherever it is to, is one of the really stressful events in life. The flu jab will have poked the immune system too. It is also generally accepted that there is no one common cause that triggered PMR in people but it is more that the effects of loads of small triggers over years mount up until a straw breaks the camel's back and the immune system rebels. Who knows ...

[Jaycee57 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your contributions. I know that stress has impacted on my health since I was young. That could be the answer.

[Rugger]

I developed PMR 5 years ago and had never had a flu jab. I had been under quite a bit of stress for several years, though.