Fatigue..again...Moderna jab?

[Temoral]

Hello everyone. Reduced to 2.75, working slowly towards 2.5. Back from lovely break in Ireland tracing my roots. Had Moderna jab, aching arm and headache, then, coincidentally, full flu, nose like a tap, cough etc. Altho some neighbours had flu and not the jab. Cold symptoms finally going after 2 weeks, but fatigue is keeping me flat out most afternoons, can't think or concentrate, missing book club, choir etc. Big question...Plough on with plenty of rest, or increase dose?GP says discuss with Rheumy, and predictably R says discuss with GP. There is a Rheumy help line now, but 48 hours minimum reply time.

Thank you in advance.

[SheffieldJane]

Have you been doing the sick day rules during this virus? On a low dose you need the extra cortisol that a double dose gives you. More details are in FAQs.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If you can, I’d stay put at current dose… and give adrenals a chance to catch up - after all they have been put under extra strain trying to cope with your cold symptoms…. Unless you feel a flare coming on of course… and then treat it as such.

I know you feel wiped out when adrenals are struggling, and it’s tempting to increase dose to feel better, but if you increase dose you have to come back down again…and maybe with the same result….

Plenty of rest though…

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I would stick at the current if I could manage - but a few days of Sick Day Rules might help.

[Temoral]

Thank you everyone. Update...would you believe, the Rheumy helpline just rang back...absolutely wonderful lady Rheumatologist was very reassuring and went through symptoms and background to rule out, if possible, any flare indicators. Looked up recent blood tests which were all good. Recognised difficulty for patients, in working out flare as opposed to adrenal spluttering . Will send me more blood test forms to monitor viral / inflamation in 5 days time. And to not worry about bothering her, she wants to be bothered.An excellent service, of which I was unaware , perhaps it's new. And she matched your advice....wow...I am so grateful. Wish they were all like this. 🙏

[SnazzyD]

I agree with the others but will add the obvious, don’t forget you are dealing with a nasty virus which may hang about. According to the UK surveillance Covid is going back up, especially in the 65+ group, and flu and parainfluenza are still knocking about. This may also make you feel flat as a pancake for a while so difficult to tell if it is all down to low cortisol or not.

[Temoral in reply to SnazzyD]

Indeed there are many nasty viruses around...and also cases of pneumonia apparently. Thank you for your reply. I will go steadily. X

[Temoral in reply to SnazzyD]

Hi SnazzyD...Rheumy just rang back and upped my dose to 5mg until she can arrange another sync test to check everything again. This underlines what you were saying infact. So, thank you .