Hi all getting first jab on Saturday anyone got any advice, iam just wary with being on the steroids what I should expect or can we just get on with it as my daughter keeps saying.
Covid Vaccine : Hi all getting first jab on... - PMRGCAuk
Covid Vaccine
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Harrywogan
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Just get on with it - what a sensible woman!!
A very good friend of mine who is 65+, caught shingles - he nearly died! 6 months in hospital, 1 month in induced coma and 3 months in ICU. The rest on a ward. He has been out for a month and getting better, thank God, but he still suffers. He naturally told me to get the jab for that -(I am only 6 months into PMR and he didn't know about me/that). I read Shingrix is suitable for immune-suppressed people. What do you think?
I honestly don't know, Is it available in Malta? You can't get it in the UK except privately yet
I don't think so - I would have to be sophisticated in getting hold of it - ie: go to UK. My feeling is that I have had enough of health problems in the past (and this PMR is one of the most misunderstood and lonely, as I am sure you know all too well ) and being i-suppressed, plus knowing a lot of people who have got shingles promptly in their sixties, I would like to rule that one out! Thanks again. Warm and sunny (great!), not too windy (unusual), but humid here (minor issue!).T
I wouldn't recommend a trip to the UK at present!! I imagine a good pharmacist in Malta could get a private dose ...Not too windy? Must be something wrong!!!
Probably! The last 3 days have been lovely though. No likelihood of soon getting a jab here now thanks to EU ordering, sadly. So I am stuck even if travel becomes easier. Also, I went for a 10% monthly reduction, 17.5 mgs to 15.75 mgs 3 days ago and feel very bad - pain, stiffness, headaches, also return of 2 x daily (like clockwork) anxiety attacks. I have been reading about sensitivity and varying levels of absorption, and I think I have just breached a threshold. I am going back to 17.5 mgs today and hope that pulls it back. Perhaps I should go for an extra 5mgs for a week. I am 10 months into this illness, and 5 months or Steroid, so maybe to0 early to be doing a taper. Especially, as Dr took me down to get a baseline reading on bloods. Rheumy wants me to have a CT scan to rule out any other cause - I am in two minds about the high radiation dose. Thanks for your advice which is much appreciated, by the way - and I donated! T
Tapering should start after 4-6 weeks at the starting dose of 15-20mg provided the symptoms have responded as expected and the markers are falling. You are looking for YOUR dose - the lowest dose that gives the same result as the starting dose. A lot os recommendations say after a month and then monthly but sometimes you have to go more carefully and that is why we bang on about the slowed tapers.
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
But if you are struggling at this level it could be signalling this isn't just PMR or not even PMR. If it is an inflammatory arthritis then the pred tends not to work as well and only at higher doses.
It isn't just the EU ordering too little, it is also manufacturing problems - it's a biological process and they did lose some batches and you can't transfer to another production line like with cars. They also cut back production last month to rejig the set-up to be able to produce faster and more long term.
thanks - I will submit to tests, CT and more bloods, to try to determine then - thanks again. T
In UK they seem to be racing through. One in five people have now been vaccinated. They are now doing the 60s round us.
That is good to hear. My area (Shropshire) is a bit behind but seems to be catching up. Which are are you?
I was offered places in East Berkshire, South Bucks and also in Middlesex
I know I'll get mine eventually and although its reassuring to see the vaccine being rolled out so quickly, it's also quite unnerving to hear and see so many people have had it and I've still not heard anything. I know I'm only 63 and considered only 'clinically vulnerable' and not 'extremely clinically vulnerable' so I appreciate I'm much lower down the list, but I just want to feel a little more protected than I am right now....and stop feeling so scared!
In the UK they have set up new mass vaccination centres all over the country and are adding to them all the time so it won’t be long before you get your letter. This gives an option to be vaccinated at a nearby centre as well as your practice. Hang in there! 😀
Just remember the more people that get the vaccine the safer it becomes for those who haven’t yet. So still a benefit even though it’s hard to wait!
I agree and being only clinically vulnerable doesn’t seem to help when working on a checkout in a large supermarket
Kendrew you are the same as my sister she's 70 and hasn't had hers yet,she know it will be soon but not had letter and she always telling her husband to stay away from people doesn't want to take any chances before she gets vacine and feels a little more protected. HOPE YOU HERE SOON. Take Care
Thankyou. I'll just continue to be really careful and keep my fingers crossed till I get the 'call'. Hope your sister doesn't have to wait too much longer either.
Go for it - I was nervous too but it’s such a relief to have had it - it’s v stressful with Covid around nobody knows who will get sick or escape- we’re luck to even have a vaccine
I had the pfeizer vaccine - very reassuring staff, had sore arm pretty instantaneous but lasted less than a day, best wishes
Just get it done , I had mine last week . No problem
Yes iam getting it done want to go on holiday asap lol x
Aye, well - don't even think about that until you've had the second jag!!!
May not then.....my son who is 49 has said no way is he going abroad this summer even if we’re allowed! There will still be “idiots” flouting the rules.....and flying - no thanks.
Staycasions rule! But then he does already live in Dorset, so that’s okay😂🤣
If I go anywhere it will be in my car! For the first time in my life the tunnel seems like a reasonable idea!!!
Get the shot. The doses of pred we take may knock off a few points of vaccine efficacy, but if the vaccines are producing 94-95% efficacy in other "normal" people, we should be good at 90%. Without it, we are 100% naked.
Remember that it takes a few weeks for efficacy to reach it's peak, and no one yet knows whether the vaccine will prevent us from spreading the virus to others. We may not get sick, but we could carry the disease to the unvaccinated. So keep wearing your mask, washing your hands and keeping your distance until we hear the all clear.
I got my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine today. I have no side effects from shot 1, not even a sore arm. My husband was a little dragged out for a couple of days, but that's his normal response to any vaccine. He was his usual lovely self in less than 48 hours.
So, no excuses. Bare your arm for yourself, your family, your community and all humanity. Let's kill this bugger!
Current reports are favourable about vaccination preventing transition. Fingers crossed. Early days but my goodness these people are working hard!
So far, only one vaccine has been seen to lower transmission rates from vaccinated to unvaccinated individuals, but that's only because they were looking at that aspect. I would be interested in knowing whether this was in observed in laboratory conditions, or out in the wild where we are.
I'm relieved to hear of someone else who didn't get a sore arm. I always get one after the flu jab, but no soreness or red mark whatsoever, I certainly felt the injection go in, but was beginning to wonder if it had "taken". Couldn't just be grateful of course. Two days after the jab I felt really tired, little appetite and a bit achy for a day, but really nothing and back to normal the next day. It seems that the jab, like the illness itself, has a wide range of different effects on different people.
Usually (but not always and not for everyone) the sore arm is due to the needle in the muscle, not the contents of the shot.
Hiya x Glad it’s your turn 😊
My mum had hers last Friday ... she’s quite a complicated case . Has GCA, osteoporosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis & now just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 😢... I’m so sad for her... but anyway she was given the Pfizer one and the first 3 days she was quite poorly - manageable but poorly . Quite bad tummy upset and headache/ blisters on her fingers . She’s been in 60mg of steroids for 18months . So she’s a good guideline for you to base your query on . 3 days later she’s not feeling so poorly and the blisters have eased up . So not to scare you but a lot of people are experiencing ( at worse ) a slight tummy upset and headaches but after 3 days it’s all over . It’s a small price to pay for a potential life saving jab . Wish you luck sweetie and everyone else on this forum xx
An elevated body temperature, slight headache, nausea, fatigue and body aches are not unusual. It's your immune system revving up to fight the invader. I don't know about the blisters, but the rest is in the range of a normal reaction.
I had mine on Tuesday I am currently on 3 mg of PREDI suggest you keep the following day clear in your diary. I had a slightly sore arm for 2 days I felt a little unwell on following day but the biggest issue was fatigue I was exhausted I probably did a bit too much on the following day Wednesday so I had a total rest yesterday and have woken up feeling back to normal today. Good luck
A piece of cake! Highly organised, takes a second, lovely volunteers, felt on a real high afterwards. No side effects, but take paracetamol just in case. Advice from my neighbour who's a nurse. Just enjoy the relief of getting it. Oxford Jabberwocky in this area.
😅. I must confess I just loved being amongst three dimensional people, listening to a buzz of chatter and laughter, warming to the friendliness and care shown by the volunteers. It felt like the good old days of free movement. Will never take that for granted again 😀
Harry had mine 5.00pm yesterday, Astra Zeneca. I take Pred, Levothyroxine and am allergic to penicillin. This morning I feel a bit cold and ever so slightly light headed. No sore arm. Please just go for it, the relief is so fantastic, can’t wait for the 2nd dose 25th April. It takes seconds💉🤩 put your big boys pants on🩲
I had the Pfeizer jab two weeks ago. I spoke to a doctor first who signed my form, then went through to the nurse. The injection site was slightly sore to the touch for a day but that was it for me. A couple of my colleagues arms felt heavy and sore for a day but were then fine. Good luck xx
I had the Oxford vaccine and felt a little achy and very sleepy the next day, soon back to normal. A friend, not immune suppressed, had a slight fever then was fine. My brother had no reaction at all. We all react differently. I also felt very relieved and on my way to being protected while hopefully helping the NHS by keeping out of hospital. 😀. Light at the end of the tunnel springs to mind xx
I had mine on Wednesday, not a problem, highly organised, efficient & l was so busy chatting to the Doctor the vaccination was in, they gave me my Record Card & l was on my way!
I’m CEV so Group4 😷
Hi had mine on Tuesday I’m on 7 mg pred . Only side effect was tired for next day. Only advice is relax your arm when they give it. I can’t even see where it was given so definitely works. Good Luck we all need to have it done to get rid of this
Im over the moon that I received my jab two days ago (St Neots, Cambs) as I'm a mere 57 years old!! Im considered CEV as I'm on a low dose of steroids for PMR and also have asthma. Such a relief and well worth the high fever I developed 12 hours after the (Oxford) vaccination, which went on for 10 hours. I already take part in the ZOE study, but is there any other way that we can all pass on our experiences so scientists can get a better understanding of how the vaccines affect people with different conditions and taking different meds? And also how successful they ultimately are for people with compromised immune systems?
Had mine yesterday morning,very well organised didn’t feel a thing.Later in the day my arm felt painful and heavy.
This morning arm feeling heavy and painful and and have a headache,I had the Pfizer vaccine hopefully it will only last a day or so,I had Covid in October and I wasn’t sure if I would get it done but they said it would be okay as long as I hadn’t had Covid in the last 28 days,on our way to a more normal lifestyle 🤗
Terrier61, wondering how you are feeling today since you had Covid in October. I have heard you may have more symptoms than those who have not had Covid. Hoping you are feeling better today!
I felt a bit aches this morning but my arm is still sore, I took some paracetamol and that helped,a friend of mine who also had Covid in December had her vaccination and she felt like she had flu but only for a day , I had also heard people that had had Covid got more symptoms after vaccine but it’s only been 24 hours and I just have a sore arm,stay safe 🤗
Had mine , Pfizer, on Wednesday, so well organised lots of volunteers marking the way. Have needle phobia was able to lay down and not faint. Sore arm just next day but that was all. Best to have it done whatever the side effects mentioned above.
No worries - get it done - had mine - all good - bit of fuzzy head but gone now - take paracetamol. You’ll be fine.
It was great to read these different experiences ! Have to admit to being slightly nervous ! Its just the steroid side that worries me ! Have had plenty of jabs in the past, before the dark days of PMR, im due to have mine on Sunday !!
I agree about being nervous but my first Pzifer shot went well with just a sore arm. I am a bit scared of the second shot, which I read some people are more affected by. But, it can’t be worse than COVID, and if it helps the world get back on track i wouldn’t give it a second thought.
I had my 2nd yesterday. No side effects.
Hello there, I had my vaccine last Sunday afternoon, the Oxford version. It was administered by my lovely GP . I am sixty - six years old and on the extremely clinically vulnerable list, having been told to shield since March 2020. was offered a cancellation appointment. I am currently taking 10mg of pred steroids each day. My GP said this was what I ought to be on in recieving the vaccine. At the time I was given the vaccine I felt fine, later in the evening I began to feel flu like symptoms, aches all over, hot and cold everywhere, so I went to bed and took the recommended amounts of paracetamol every four hours from Sunday night through to Monday tea time. The aches all suddenly disappeared and I have felt really good since then. I'm so glad to have had the vaccine, whatever you're offered will give you protection and it will increase protection in the wider community and if the wider community is safe, then it will be a safer community for all of us to be part of once more; it's a thought that makes me feel so excited after a year shut away from all my family and friends. Hope all goes well for you when you have your vaccine, be gentle on yourself and take pain relief if you need it. Here's to a brighter future for everyone👍
Thanks for your report. Sounds like your immune system did very well despite the pred!
I am almost 75, have had PMR for about 3 years, currently on 5mg . Had mine on Tuesday. Mentioned steroids and he said MIGHT not get as much immunity as non steroid taking people if on a HIGH dose! No side effects other than a mild headache for a couple of hours. Do go for it.
I had mine yesterday - the AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine. I'm on 5mg pred and Tocilizumab. I've had no side effects at all so far, apart from a slightly sore arm where the needle went in. I may not have mounted such a strong immune response, being on pred and TCZ, but at least I've got something inside me!
Get on with it, as your daughter says!
I had mine Jan 22. As well as being on steroids I am on heart medication and have asthma.I am fine!
It doesn't hurt at all!
You sit for 15 mins afterwards.
Go get it.
P.s. My daughter is stage 4 Inflammatory breast cancer and has hers on Sat too. :)She'd have far more to worry about than steroids.
HiMum had her vaccine a few weeks ago, we both have PMR 😬 she was fine, She’s on steroids preds and methotrexate,
Bring it on.
Just to remind everyone that you still have to be very careful after having the vaccine. My daughter works in a dental practice and had her 1st jab 3 and half weeks ago along with the rest of the practice. 2 of them have tested positive this week.
Just go and have it! Ignore our fault seeking infantile media, as far as vaccines are concerned Britain is the only country in the world you would want to be in right now. Glaxo Smith Kline are throwing their research weight into developing a "universal" inoculation that will tackle all the variants and some as yet unseen for which Britain will be first in the que. I have no time table but GSK world leader in the field so keep the faith.
I had the jab yesterday,I feel ok,took Paracetamol before I went ,and two more before bedtime, slept all night.If you sleep on your right side have the jab on your left arm and vice Versa.
Each individual is different, stay positive you will be ok.
Just do it , having mine on Sunday can’t wait x
I had mine yesterday as front line worker. No side effects yet and still on steroids.
Just had my Pfizer jab. 71 years old and only had sore injection site for 24 hours. Feel much better about things now.
I just had mine,don't worry you will be fine good luck.xx
Hi Harry, I am 73, getting my jab next Friday, I am on 7.5mg Pred. My hubby 78, had his 31st Jan, didn't feel the jab, (Pfizer), no side effects at all, he's not on steroids but lots of other pills. My sister and Brother in Law have been done, nothing bad to report. Go for it, the sooner we are all vaccinated the better.
I had no side effects, not even a sore arm. Husband (not on steroids) did get a sore arm within 24 hours but it only lasted 2 days. Brother had no side effects but sister-in-law, a very fit and healthy tennis-playing 70-year-old, had to take to her bed with severe stomach upset and debilitating headache some 4 days after having her Pfizer jab.
We will all react slightly differently, I suspect, but almost no-one had been reported with a medically serious response. Reading The Times today, it is indicated that people who have contracted Covid during the past year (even if they did not know that had), are more likely to get noticeable side-effects due to a stronger immune response, but still nothing medically serious (apart from VEREY, VERY rare, and immediate, occurrence of anaphylactic shock (which is why we all have to wait 15 minutes after the jab before going home).
Had mine last Saturday - Pfizer. Never looked forward to an injection before (eyes averted at all times🤣) but this was quick, well-organized and I didn’t feel a thing - phew! Had a sore arm (felt more like it had been thwacked rather than jabbed, slight headache the following day) for a couple of days - other than that, all ok! Interestingly, had discussed with my wife whether Jab 2 could be AZ or Moderna - now they’re saying it might even be beneficial? I’d give it a go.....Anyway - I think you should have the first one that’s offered to you - without further delay! Best Wishes
From what source are you getting "it might not even be beneficial"?
Had to check my comment GG - you had me worried?! I said that - according to last night’s tv news reports - ‘it might even BE beneficial’......
I had mine already no problems really only a sore arm!!
Muso-muso just been done so will now forget about it. Take care
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