NO ANTIBODIES

[peanutann]

Two months after Moderna Covid vaccines and becoming ill with GCA two weeks after, I find out today from test I have ZERO antibodies to Covid. This affirms my suspicion that the vaccine caused my immune system to turn on itself instead of producing antibodies to fight Covid. So I’m out of luck I guess.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It's a rotten shame - but not having antibodies doesn't mean that the vaccine didn't work entirely - there is another component to immunity that is also important.

I wouldn't be spending money on a Lotto ticket though ...

[peanutann in reply to PMRpro]

Would you mind telling me what the other component is? I sure hate to be a total recluse the rest of my life...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to peanutann]

The long term immunity is mediated by t-cells and b-cells.

But once the vaccine is taken up by enough people and the virus "gets"those who don't get vaccinated, the incidence will eventually fall low enough for even us to be safe. They will also develop treatments that make it less of a concern, I haven't been a hermit since it started, don't go into gatherings but then, I didn't that much anyway, but I have gone shopping all along and in the summer we went to the bar in the village for a drink outside. Outside I feel safe enough but I wouldn't sit inside. And our restaurants offer takeaway menus now - a whole new experience in Italy!

I would quite like to see my daughters but we don't see them in the flesh often anyway - thank goodness for digital communications! And once the panic settles, they will develop better and more effective approaches for the immunosuppressed.

Had you already got PMR/were on pred when you had the vaccine?

[peanutann in reply to PMRpro]

I had PMR many years ago. I was fine when I took vaccines.

[peanutann in reply to PMRpro]

No I wasn’t on any meds except vitamins when I got the vaccines

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to peanutann]

How strange there are no antibodies then - if you'd been on steroids then it wouldn't have surprised me.

[peanutann in reply to PMRpro]

My gut feeling all along is that the vaccine instead of helping to build the antibodies, went haywire in me and caused my immune system to attack itself.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to peanutann]

Not unreasonable under the circumstances. Have you reported it?

[peanutann in reply to PMRpro]

I’m going to. Have to find the link. They said you are supposed to have thousands of antibodies after two months. I have zero

[Rymer]

I have only recently been diagnosed with PMA (April 2021) and on 15 mg Pred (see I’m getting used to the lingo already) and it is my suspicion also that the Vaccine somehow blasted my immune system. Pre vaccine hardly ever needed to take pain medication for anything and if I did a very low dose ie one Annadin would suffice and 2 would knock me out. Coincidence maybe that I have nearly reached the usual age for possible onset but I can’t help but wondering!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rymer]

No way to know - but it could easily have been the final straw that kicked the immune system into meltdown. There isn't a single cause, it's an accumulation of factors.

[Amkoffee]

It is also possible that the antibody test was wrong. I don't know what the error rate is but no test will give accurate results 100% of the time.

[Frenchduck]

I'm sorry to hear that your antibody test showed zero and you are clearly disappointed. Can I ask what kind of test you had taken? It might be that you need to try a different test. I can say more if it's relevant.

[peanutann in reply to Frenchduck]

It was quest diagnostics protein spike test for antibodies

[Frenchduck in reply to peanutann]

Right, I don't know that test. I had a serology test for SARS-CoV-2 IgG done at the lab so it was a blood test rather than a pin prick. This was 6 weeks after my 2nd Pfizer. The test was positive with a value given. I had exactly the same test 8 months ago and it was negative. I concluded that the vaccine had caused something to happen which I was pleased about but just how much protection I have is anybody's guess at the moment.

Hopefully you do have some protection, it's just that it hasn't shown up on that particular test.

[MLeigh]

I’m curious, we’re you personally afraid the vaccine would wreck havoc on your immune system, but went ahead with it anyways because Doctors or the NHS advised it?? Or did you only start thinking this after the vaccine? Did you have a bad reaction?

[peanutann]

Yes I had a bad reaction to second shot. I was afraid to get it but due to my age I was afraid not to. I lost friends younger than me to Covid, but I have never had any vaccination since I was five years old. I shouldn’t have done it.