Post Moderna covid vaccination

[KASHMIRI1]

I had my covid vaccination just over a week ago, it was Moderna, my first time for this brand. I had been feeling really great. However I now feel dreadful, yesterday I had to lie down at 12-30 and immediately fell asleep, I had a quick lunch, laid back down again and about 3pm fell asleep again until 6pm. Bit of tv then bed for 8-30 and asleep until 5am. It's now 5-48 and I don't feel like I have been asleep. I have a headache and various aches and pains. I also feel very grumpy and out of sorts, its very annoying as things were going very well the G.C.A. I am on 5mg steroids and 12.5 methotrexate. I am due to reduce steroids at the end of the week to 4.5 mg. Has any one else had this issue and if so how long before it starts to fade? The sleep issue is worse than any time during my G.C.A.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sorry to hear this - have you tried paracetamol to see if they help with vaccine after effects if that’s what they are? You should have been given an information leaflet - and most of what you describe are fairly common - also see para 4.8 of this -

england.nhs.uk/south/wp-con...

..and I wouldn’t be reducing Pred until you feel better.

[KASHMIRI1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you so much for the advise and information. I have the information leaflet. Its a bit difficult at the moment as some of the things I am feeling have previously been steroid and GCA related. I am taking codeine and paracetamol for spinal stenosis. that does help other things apart from the stenosis pain. Just back from a very relaxing acupuncture treatment. So I will definately be in sleep mode very shortly. Thank you

[SnazzyD]

Hello. My first 3 ideas for possible cause were

1. Vaccination reaction because it isn’t all over in a couple of days; the immune system is still hard at it with its response by this time.

2. You may have a virus. Rhinoviruses and Covid are still about in the UK whereas flu has dropped right down. Fatigue, headache and body aches fit here.

3. These symptoms are also found with low adrenal function and you may have got to a point where the adrenal glands needs to get working now you are at 5mg. You may have been ok but the extra stress on the body of the vaccine may have highlighted that you can’t easily put out the extra cortisol needed to cope. The headache isn’t quite usual for this though and aches and pains, I found, were a vague cloud of non specific aches.

You could have a combination of 2 or 3 of these. Does Paracetamol help the pains?

[KASHMIRI1 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you Snazzy its great to have your input. My husband did mention to me this morning that maybe I had picked up one of the virus's that's currently circulating. I didn't give it a thought that the vaccination may have effected had effected my adrenal function. I was doing ok at 5mg but the things you point out are very relevant and I will hold my Sunday reduction until things are more stable. I am taking codeine and paracetamol for spinal stenosis so that helps with the general aches and pains. Thank you so much for your time. I feel less stressed out about what's going on now.