COVID vaccine

[Ollie10]

I have lived with PMR for seventeen years, this last six months I have been able to reduce my meds to 3 mg, I’m so delighted. On the 5th February I received my first vaccine which was fine at the time. Five days later I started with a cold, couldn’t understand why as I have been shielding and kept vigorously to the rules. The cold developed into most of the symptoms of COVID, I did not have a temperature or loss of smell or taste but experienced all the other symptoms . The most difficult and frightening part was the breathing just couldn’t get any oxygen. My COVID test came back negative. I am now terrified of having my second vaccine in two weeks. I would be really interested to know if there is anybody had the same experience.

[SheffieldJane]

You need to report this adverse reaction. We do not know everything about these vaccines. I have had the oxygen starvation sensation, it is very frightening. I bought the finger clip oxygen measure and it is consistently giving a normal reading. This is reassuring but I still occasionally have the sensation. I would consult your doctor. You have had PMR for a long time, it may have put you in a different category. It is a long time to be on steroids too. I found that thinking about this breathless feeling could bring it on. This made me wonder whether it was a kind of panic attack. I was dismissed by a GP when the finger clip oxygen reading was normal.

[Ollie10 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for your reply, I also bought a clip oxygen measure which gives a normal reading.

[Ollie10 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I have spoken to my GP , apparently they say there is no COVID in the vaccine, he advised me not to have the second vaccination if I haven’t recovered before the due date . Fortunately I am now recovering, reluctantly I will take the second vaccine , keeping my fingers crossed I don’t have the same reaction.

Our daughter’s work colleague actually had COVID thankfully recovered and returned to work, she had the vaccination at work she had the same reaction as myself felt she had COVID again ( they are both nursing at a general hospital ) seems very strange.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Ollie10]

Not strange at all - it is how a vaccine works. Once you have developed some immunity, a booster is likely to cause a greater immune response.

It has already been said repeatedly that the response to the vaccine is likely to be greater with the second jag and also in anyone who has already had Covid, even if they were assymptomatic. Also anyone who knows they have had Covid is supposed to wait at least a month before getting the first jag and there is some discussion about such patients (known Covid plus one jag) not being given the second one.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Ollie10]

I think that’s what I’d do too. Perhaps making preparations for a comfortable recovery in bed at home. Whatever it is, it can’t be worse than hospital, ICU and ventilators not to mention long COVID and the ill effects of intensive care treatment. Good luck. I hope you don’t suffer this time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

Long Covid is not due to serious illness and ICU management - it is common in people who had relatively mild illness and didn't land in hospital at all.

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Oh yes! I’d forgotten that.

[Ollie10 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

My grandson, nurse in training, had his first vaccine and then developed Covid in the following week. Having a negative test isn't conclusive it wasn't Covid - even the PCR tests miss some cases. Whatever it was - the vaccine did not give you Covid.

But you do need to report it,

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Your family are such givers. I would be so proud!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

Apparently he is now considered ideal staffing for the Covid ward having had a first vaccine and Covid as well! So dad and stepmum are NOT visiting him while passing the door - she is shielding ...

[Rottsuzi in reply to PMRpro]

Hi I got my vaccine on Friday morning and I have been ill fever throwing up my husband called 111 and the doctor called he said it is affecting younger people more and especially someone with a underlying condition gave me codeine for the pain and it will get better in a few days so hopefully it’s just a few days 🤞

[Ollie10 in reply to Rottsuzi]

Hope you are feeling better soon

[Hidden]

My hubby had the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday, the paperwork stated you MAY experience mild flu like symptoms. This is typical of any vaccine and how it protects us. Hubby has had no ill effects other than a slightly achey arm where the needle went in. Hes looking forward to the 2nd 1 on May 13th and heading towards "The good ol' days" again. I hope you are feeling better now. May be worth a call to your though GP to put your mind at rest .

[OldGolfer]

I had the second P

[OldGolfer in reply to OldGolfer]

Sorry I hit the wrong button on my iPad. Anyway my wife and I had the second shot one week ago. She had no issues but I got very sick with flu-like symptoms the next day. Happily it was okay the next day. Currently on 20mg pred

[Karenjaninaz in reply to OldGolfer]

My rheumatologist said the vaccine will not make antibodies if on prednisone 20mgm or more...

[Rosina1871 in reply to Karenjaninaz]

My GP said there should be some immunity even on high dose steroids . Just not as much as stated by the manufacturer

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Karenjaninaz]

He doesn't know - no-one knows.

[maria40]

I had a visit from the local duty doctor today as I had had a bad reaction to medication (Nurofurantoin) he replaced this with Ciprofloxacin so I'll see how that goes. But the really interesting thing was that he suggested I get a Covid test as my temperature was 37.8. I've had one dose of the vaccine and apart from hospital and doctor visits I had been shielding . It seems that five colleagues at his community hospital had had symptoms after vaccination and one had had Covid quite badly.

Like you, I'm a long timer on steroids (20 years) so maybe that does play a role or maybe coincidence. There are still so many unknowns.So, test is in the post but I still have faith in the vaccine and will certainly get my second shot when offered. The NHS showed itself in its best possible light to me today I was so surprised that they were still doing visits and that the doctor spent nearly an hour with me. Wonderful!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to maria40]

Oh dear - now I have another warning. Giving a patient with a long steroid history a quinolone antibiotic is risky - each can cause achilles tendonitis and together the risk is greater. Cipro is one of the risk group - so if you get ANY pain in the back of your heel/leg do please speak to a doctor again! It happened to me, I was on Medrol which is far worse than pred but it was rather a pest for several months as I needed a boot and crutches! My husband was given cipro alone, never been on pred and his achilles was sore after a couple of doses. He was given a different antibiotic and stopped the cipro immediately and it was OK in a few days,

[mrsQuics in reply to PMRpro]

What is considered 'long time' on steroids? And aren't most on at least a low dose of pred for pretty much forever?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to mrsQuics]

"aren't most on at least a low dose of pred for pretty much forever?"

Not at all - about half of patients are off pred altogether within 6 years. A study found about 40% are likely to still be on low dose pred at 10 years but there is no way to know whether that is due to PMR or poor adrenal function - often patients can't really tell which is causing the problem if they try to go lower.

Long term steroids is applied to being on pred for more than a few months,

[mrsQuics in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks for the info on lots of levels there!

[maria40 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the warning. I had read about the Achilles tendon problem on the leaflet so will watch carefully. My problem is, as duty dr. pointed out, my antibiotic options are limited because of my multiple allergies. Just hope I can get through the 7 day course as I feel much better than I did at this time yesterday, apart from background anxiety about having to have the Covid test.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to maria40]

That's good.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to maria40]

When I appeared at the surgery with the achilles symptoms the GP said "I've heard of it but never seen it before ..." I pointed out that she had now!!! It's real. What annoyed me most was that the pharmacist had said nothing about it and I only ever go to the same one.

[readingbooks in reply to PMRpro]

I was given Cipro just before and at a time when we could not have known that I would develop PMR and would need Prednisone. I soon developed bilateral Achilles tendonitis which lasted a year . Physio didn't help except for bandaging my ankles for support and hobbling around very very carefully. Rheumy didn't say much and I didn't know about the connection at the time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to readingbooks]

I was quite taken aback to discover that it doesn't have to be concomitant - a history is enough!! You did badly - at least mine was only one ankle, I got a boot and crutches and only needed them for about 9 months.

[_charcoal_]

One risk of vaccination, especially the Pfizer with its 15 minute wait afterwards, is catching something from other people involved in this wonderful mass-operation. Yes, they're wearing masks, but there'll be some visible nostrils; the 2m distancing is not seriously observed; and even strictly followed- rules couldn't 100% guarantee that no viruses are transmitted. So I think it's just as possible that you "picked something up" rather than you had a prolonged reaction to the vaccine.

My case: I had the Pfizer shot about the same time as you, felt rotten for two days, better for day, then started a minor cold. A week later, developed sinusitis, which is now responding to antibiotics. (This has been happening to me once or twice a year, usually after a cold, and is due for an ENT investigation when/if normal service is resumed.) Can't see how this could have been a reaction to the vaccine.

I understand why you're worried about going back. But I will still have the second shot as soon as it's offered, because Covid can be so dangerous, and we're still learning how to treat it.

[Ollie10 in reply to _charcoal_]

Thank you for your reply. Speaking to my GP in the morning . I have been unwell for two week now recovering by the day . I will go for my second vaccine on the 12 th.

[_charcoal_ in reply to Ollie10]

Glad to hear you're getting better now.

[CricketMonkey in reply to _charcoal_]

I had the Pfizer vaccine yesterday, and have to say in this case the 15 minute wait was very well-organised: I saw no nostrils, all the chairs were well over 2m apart and they were comprehensively wiped down between people. All in all, an air of quiet efficiency: well done Severnvale PCN!PS. No side effects thus far other than a slightly sore arm, but that’s fairly normal for me with the flu vaccine each year anyway.

[_charcoal_ in reply to CricketMonkey]

Interesting contrast. I went to a former Cottage Hospital with added marquees, loads of volunteers, and the atmosphere was chummy, almost festive, not "a quiet air" at all. A friend who went earlier said he had actually enjoyed that aspect of it! It feels a bit churlish to criticise volunteers, but I saw no wiping down, underestimation of 2m, some exposed noses, etc. At one point a doctor came up to me, introduced himself, and clapped both hands on my shoulders to reassure me! Which I both liked and didn't like...

So, not well-implemented where I went, but pleased to know your venue was so good.

[CricketMonkey in reply to _charcoal_]

Yikes!

[Noosat]

I had the first Pfizer on Feb. 11 and am waiting for the second. I know we have to be given the list of possible side effects, but I think reading it tends to make us look for reactions which could be attributed to something else. I am on low dose of prednisone, 2mg and get aches and pains with reduction, also I am allergic to ashe juniper pollen which is very heavy in February. When I had the shot, It was the first day of an unusually heavy storm, most of the state lost power and water. I had to stay with my daughter because her house had a wood burning stove and they shoveled snow for the toilet flushing and dog bowls. I suppose I could blame the shot for the chills, fatigue, loss of ap0etite, however, I was too busy trying to help us get through a "horror" week.

[HeronNS in reply to Noosat]

Well that is quite a context in which to have a vaccination! Hope the next one occurs in much more placid circumstances.

[Noosat in reply to HeronNS]

Yes it was ! My daughter drove, about 1-2 hours to the "hub." We ate our pic-nic lunch in the car on the way home, instead of one of the delightful parks we had to pass. The storm has held up delivery of vaccine, so am waiting to get email for next appointment. Hopefully it will be a pleasant day so that we can lunch along one of the rivers among the trees and do some bird watching

[Nagswoman]

Report your vacine after effects on Yellow Card. My partner had headaches and was freezing for 3 days. I had diarrhoea 36 hours after and 9 days later developed a large lump with a 6cm red mark, which developed into rings like Lyme's.

[LIVEORDIEHEREIAM in reply to Nagswoman]

My sister had a similar red circle at the site of the jab a week or more after the first one. I hate to say she was in bed for two days after the second but then revived and has been OK since. Pfizer.