Because of what I've seen re reactions to 5th covid vaccine.. which I am going to have today or tomorrow.. can I up the dose of prednisone preemptively.. for a week? like one would do if one were sick or getting surgery... after the shot..or will it make it less effective?
up dose? : Because of what I've seen re reactions... - PMRGCAuk
up dose?
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yogabonnie
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Sorry, why would you do that? Wouldn't that work against the idea of getting vaccinated and provoking an immune response?
Hello, I’d worry that with every increase in Pred it is going to counter the inflammatory effects of the vaccine, the very reaction they are trying to elicit. The inflammatory state is the idea to make your immune system buck up and take notice of the viral information being put into you. Upping the Pred is potentially making the vaccine less effective so I’d see if you really need it (for an actual flare) and go for Paracetamol first for those muscle aches.
I honestly don’t think it would make any difference Bonnie. I took two Tramadol and it didn’t hit me until the next day. Vaccine number 5 and the first reaction I have ever had and it was Pfizer the good guy.
sorry! I will let you know how it goes. !!
Fingers crossed that it goes well. X
PMRproAmbassador
It may make it less effective - if you react to the vaccine (and you may not) then paracetamol and bed is a better option.
There’s never been anything to suggest upping Pred when you’ve had your Vaccine is a good idea. Those of us on DMARDS are encouraged to stop them for a week either side in the hope they will work better.
If you don’t feel well, bed & paracetamol. How were you with your previous ones?
Good Luck 🍀
MrsN
PS - l had Moderna this time - my 5th - l’ve had 2AZ & 2Pfizer previously, no reaction at all!…..
As others have said don't undermine the vaccine response by taking more pred and don't take pain relief before the jab 'just in case'.
THANKS everyone. I did have an ibuprofen at 6am (tap class aches) but shot scheduled for 4pm so I think that is okay and Prednisone NOT being ADDED to. Promise!!
I'm jealous....tap dancing...
very very slow and easy tap dancing! but hoping to help my bad bones!
Think I'l! go and have a little tap on my patio in my slippers...might help my Osteoporosis!....😂Dreading the result of second Dexa scan!
this is the truth! when I had my dexa scan the day I started prednisone it was -2..7 and a year later after taking tap weekly *like heel bangs, the doc wanted to see if my prednisone made it worse which he said he thought it would and it was .001 BETTER! haha! then covid came and I stopped taking tap for 2 years and had a Dexa Scan and it as -3.4. !!!!!! so I am BACK TO TAP! and promising myself I will wear my weight belt...see Heron's posts on Osteoporosis!
Thank you for that will do....keep on tapping!
Tap class!! Wow Bonnie, that’s wonderful!
trying to save the bones!this is a very easy class. I'll make a video if I can ever do the Shirley Temple step!
I ‘d love it! What a joy filled thing to do. My dad tap danced.
I love your dad!!! I would also love a photo of him tapping???
I don’t think we’ve got one. He was a bit of a frustrated performer. He presided over a perfect little theatre as part of his YMCA General Secretary post in Scotland. He whistled well and sang too. Thanks for triggering happy memories. 💙I’d love to see you tapping. Are you doing well currently?
As you will see from my endless moans, I am in a bad patch.
I had quite a strong a reaction to my fourth, Moderna, after three Pfizers which were basically non-events. I slept a lot for about 24 hours! Since then I have, touch wood, felt better than I have for a very long time.
So happy you are feeling so good!!!!!!
I am having Pfizer for this one. this is the 5th!! crazy. but all have been Pfizer.
I was able to choose this time, so waited a couple of extra weeks for Moderna availability. Thought it was becoming the law of diminishing returns from Pfizer, and there was some suggestion from our CMO that it might be a good idea to choose a different vaccine for the next one we were due for if all our others had been the same. Unfortunately he has not since expanded on that as he has, apparently, been silenced because he wanted to maintain the mask mandate, and the politicians in charge did not. (Consequently we have moved from being the New Zealand of North America to one of the worst hotspots!)
Actually I thought I would do that until I saw all the pain and suffering from moderna on this site! ha! I have family coming to visit from Sweden in 3 days. want to be well!!
Strange, isn't it? My reaction was really absolutely debilitating exhaustion. I'd planned ahead when I had my Shingrix shots, as I was expecting it. With Moderna I didn't. And I remember it was almost impossible for me to get things ready for the cat for overnight - scooping litter, water, food - and after doing that I staggered into bed myself and didn't move again for some time! This effect dragged on through the next day, then lifted as quickly as it had arrived. An activity which would have been impossible at some point was easily accomplished half an hour later, for example. Both Shingrix and Moderna seem to have helped me taper a bit more easily. Pfizer had no effect as far as I can tell and my only reaction was mild pain at the injection site. My d-i-l had A-Z for her first and said she had side effects ongoing for a long time (didn't elaborate) but Moderna was no problem for her. All of which goes to show that we are all different, and may be demonstrating through our various reactions to the vaccines something about our respective immune systems and why we are all different in our PMR experiences too.
After 4 Pfizer vaccinations my 5th spring booster was Moderna. Apart from a sore arm I had no side effects
Have only had 4, how long did you wait till they sent for you for the 5th please?....
It was just about 5 months
Thanks for that, GP had sent for me to have a shingles jab, so did nt want too much going on together......especially not knowing which covid jab it will be!
are you in USA or UK? Or? because in US you can get it 4 months after the last shot.
Uk, in Norfolk....
Please let me know shingle reaction..... I need one of those.. but waiting... but shouldn't...although I had the old kind years ago.
Hi yogabonnie...you need the non-live shingles vac in 2 separate doses. I was fine..no problem at all. Booking in for Spring Booster covid jab soon.
thanks so much. will do.
Will do when I can get through to surgery to check it will be shingrix.....I had old one years ago, thought they lasted a lifetime, I must be thinking of something else.... If I have a 5th jab soon, then shingles, then fl u in autumn, 7 jabs in roughly a year!......how do our bodies cope with that!
I've had seven in a little over a year. I feel better than I have for years. 
That's good to hear thank you....
Rang my surgery (waited 55mins for answer)they said they would have to check with nurse to get Shi ngrix, but I would still check on the day!...
They have to order it especially-but do double check on the day -and you need 2 -at least 8 weeks apart but no longer than 6 months See this -
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
Ok thanks, we live in jabworld!...
We seem to at the moment -but over the years “jabs ” have saved an awful lot of lives…
They certainly have....I remember being at school with a girl who's leg was in irons because of polio.....they are sadly taking about it again now ..
Yes, me too…and yes I saw that on the news the other day….scary.
Bonnie, the shingles shots didn’t affect me much except for a sore arm after the first one. Seems to be an individual thing. You do have to wait a month after your covid shot to get the first shingles poke. Jack
My situation exactly. Had Moderna yesterday after four previous Pfizers, and so far, so good 🤞
Though I daren’t quite hope for HeronNS’ response - she says above that she actually now feels better than before!! ☘️X
Hi again,
Just to say I didn't increase my pred and although (as you already know) I reacted quite badly to my moderna vaccination, today (24hrs later) I feel so much better and virtually back to normal. Good luck.
After receiving my 2 Pfizer vaccines, one in May 2021 when symptoms began, and the other Aug 2021, went into full PMR...I would not get a vaccine ever again. We had no choice. Hindsight 20/20.
I'd take my chances - if it hadn't been the vaccine that was the final straw, it could well have been the next thing to stress a primed immune system, like Covid itself, the stress of lockdown, another illness, another vaccine. And the likelihood f dying from the vaccine is pretty small, particularly compared to Covid if unvaccinated.
Interesting to read people's thoughts that pred might dampen the immune response to the vaccine. So if you react to the vaccine that's a good thing and shows your immune response is active? I had no reaction to my first 3 jabs (just got back from having my 4th), but hubby had covid pretty badly for 2 weeks, and I didn't catch it, so something must be working!
I assume one does better vaccine-wise by drinking a lot of water before and after. Best wishes!
I did drink a lot of water !! had it. no reaction. I can feel a heaviness in my arm if I lift it in the air. no pain. had it at 4pm slept as usual. feel fine!.
I have had all five of my vaccines - mixed variety- and have not had any adverse reactions to any of them ! perhaps \I have been lucky but a good few of my friends have been the same., I would just rely on Paracetamol IF you need anything - we take enough tablets without taking additional one unnecessarily 😀 hope all goes well for you
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