Flu vaccine?
Just recently diagnosed with PMR. Symptoms starte... - PMRGCAuk
Just recently diagnosed with PMR. Symptoms started 1 week after this years “senior” flu vaccine. Just turned 65! Anyone else experience this
Written by
DDG3
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
18 Replies
•
PMRproAmbassador
There is no single cause of PMR - it is the accumulation of the effects of insults to the immune system over years and eventually one is the final straw and tips the immune system over the edge and it goes haywire. Those insults may be illness, infections, chemical, environmental. stress whether personal or in their job - a whole host of things. And it includes vaccines since they disturb the immune system too. Many people blame the flu vaccine for their PMR - but there are probably more of us who had never had a flu vaccine prior to PMR, I hadn't. There os no single thing that is common to all - but there is often a constellation of things such as stress for one reason or another, illness, bereavement and so on in the years running up to PMR appearing on the scene,
So yes - the 65+ flu jab may have been the final straw for you but if it hadn't been that it might have been the flu you got because you didn't have the jab. Or anything else that might have happened. Often too the symptoms are identifiable after a single event like the jab but when you sit down and think hard you can identify signs and symptoms in the previous few months. It is claimed PMR is a sudden overnight attack - but often even the people who go to bed fine and wake up not realise on reflection maybe it wasn't that sudden, they had been stiff before or had unusual aches and pains.
Welcome to the forum. If it's any consolation, if one has to have an autoimmune condition, PMR is the best of a bad lot!
I think my Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis that I've had for 40 years has been a breeze compared to PMR.
I am so sorry you have been diagnosed with PMR, on the plus side steroids are a wonder drug. I hope you have been prescribed with vitamin D and calcium to help your bone density against side effects of the steroids. Also you should have a Dexascan to check your bone density. Remember PMR is life changing and although the steroids do a brilliant job you need to rest, rest, rest. Life is not back to normal.
Morning DDG3, sorry to hear about your problems and welcome to the forum. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions and the forum will do its best to give you answers. Please could you put some more information in your profile, country you live in, medication, other illnesses etc as it will enable members to answer your questions more relevantly. There is a wealth of information and experiences in the FAQ's section and it is well worth having a trawl through. Like most of us here you have probably been diagnosed with a disease you have never heard of so please ask anything, no questions are stupid. You will always get answers, although you might not always like them!!! You will probably need to contemplate the thoughts of a change in life style and accept that for the time being you will need a lot more rest.
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
Hi,
PMRpro has explained about the possible link, or not, to the flu vaccine, but here is a post to give some advice on your PMR and please also have a look through the FAQs when you’ve got hit your head around things …..but there’s always someone who will help with specific queries.
Yes ! This happened to me three years ago now and I’m still struggling to control this Illness. Of course the doctors didn’t think it could have been the flu vaccine but I’m convinced it was.
I was diagnosed with PMR due to symptoms which started a week after my second coronavirus vaccine. However the diagnosis has now changed to spondyloarthropathy. The rheumy told me that spondyloarthopathy can be triggered by vaccination, whereas PMR can't.
Ah well - he might want to hear what some of his colleagues - and patients - say to that! CAN'T is a very strong word in the autoimmune world!
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
says
"Moreover, there are case reports of subjects who developed PMR following influenza vaccination [3, 5, 6]. Vaccine components, such as adjuvants, can activate the immune system and induce inflammatory manifestations (also defined as autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants)."
Of course, correlation does not prove causation - but it is a bit much to say it can't happen.
Yes, I developed PMR within days of my flu shot last year. When I had my Moderna I had a bad flare which took 8 weeks to get under control and am still at higher prednisone level. So very sorry you are going through this.
YES! In September 2019, I had the senior flu shot and the first (and last!) Shingrex vaccine. I was very sluggish the next day - and a few days later, had a very stiff neck, weak arms, painful wrists and hands - and such pain in my shoulders, I couldn’t sleep. After 14 months on prednisone, I felt great, but relapsed after my second COVID 19 (Moderna) vaccine. Back on prednisone again; opted for the “regular” flu vaccine this fall - and have dine alright with the Moderna booster.
Hi DDG3, I already had Pmr since early 2018 when I was on started on 20mg pednisolone. By October 2020 I had reduced to 8.5mg then hours after having the adjuvanted Flu vaccine in mid October I had a massive flare and had to increase steroids to 15mg, N. xx
I also blame the flu shot as the 'last straw' at age 55. Was very angry at first but in hindsight the covid vaccine probably would have been the next straw anyway. Sorry for your diagnosis but this is the best place to be to help deal with it.
Received my “Senior” dose flu shot Oct 2018 was diagnosed with PMR 2 months later. Will never get another vaccine…ever! No Covid vaccine for me.
