PMR and covid booster

[Boyd0222]

I recently got my pfeizer covid booster. I had symptoms after the shot similar to PMR symptoms. No temperature but I felt very bad all over. About an hour after I took my prednisone all the symptoms stopped.

Here. Is my question: since prednisone is an immune suppressant, does that mean my booster started to cause antibodies to produce appropriately but the prednisone stopped it from working.?

[SnazzyD]

Hello, well Pred does reduce the inflammatory response and those on moderate doses of steroids are warned that their response to the vaccine may not be as robust. However, on an individual level who knows with anyone? Some have no side effects but still have a good antibody level so it’s not an accurate way of telling and bedsides, if all one’s side effects go with Paracetamol, does that mean there is no response too? No. Some still muster an adequate response on Pred and some ‘normal’ people don’t. Also, don’t forget, it doesn’t all happen in the first week; the body is working away after that. Perhaps get a test for antibodies later down the line if you’re concerned.

[Charlie1boy in reply to SnazzyD]

Interesting. Because I was on a very low dose of pred at the time of my vaccinations - about 1 mg - I thought my immune system might be ok.However, I took an antibody test at home via ONS, and it showed no antibodies! Not much I could about it, so left it at that.

Subsequently, whilst undergoing tests for Multiple Myeloma, the Consultant wrote that I have severe immunosuppression! So, perhaps it was the pred after all. I guess six years worth of pred did the damage.

Paddy

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Charlie1boy]

But WHICH antibodies was it looking for? Some look for the antibodies to Covid and they aren't quite the same as those to the vaccine. But there are other causes of severe immunosuppression - which they will have identified while looking for MM.

[Charlie1boy in reply to Charlie1boy]

Touché. Thank you for your reply; I’m learning all the time!Paddy

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I don't think it works that way - as far as I know it takes 7-10 days for antibodies to form, it is by no means an instant effect and why you are told you don't have full protection until at least 2 weeks post jab. OTOH, the jab can trigger a flare of the PMR but that also takes a few days to develop usually. Some aspects of the adverse effects can appear more quickly though.

[pugrescue]

After GCA, and pred for 20 months, first Covid shot, no reaction, second shot after being off pred for 8 months, had severe GCA symptoms on the way home from the clinic just hrs after the shot. I had decreasing symptoms that lasted 5 days. Called rheumy and she said not to take pred if possible. So I didn't, but have the severe headaches, sore jaw, tender scalp ...it was scary. She explained it by saying that my immune system was still in a hyper activity state, and would probably react to any vaccine in a similar fashion. I asked if that meant I still had residual GCA in my body, the answer was not necessarily....... time will tell I suppose.

[cycli]

sounds like a GCA flare and that surely is more worrying than anything. Others may know better but it's not the rgeumy's eyesight at stake