Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine - any link with PMR?

[Broseley]

I have just realised that my recent flare, which led to the cancellation of my holiday, started the day after I had the pneumonia vaccine. I'm wondering if there could be a link?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Anything that pokes at the immune system can be the trigger for the onset of PMR in the first place and, obviously then, can cause a flare. It may be stress, overexertion, illness - or the vaccine that is to protect you from illness. So yes, that vaccine might have woken up the deranged immune system and caused the flare.

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, it never occurred to me until now! Because I've been offered the Shingrix vaccine and wanted to check it out on here (which I did). I had no other effects from the pneumonia vaccine, not even a sore arm, so I promptly forgot about it!

[piglette in reply to Broseley]

I had nasty results to the Corona virus vaccine. It happens to some of us.

[Broseley in reply to piglette]

I think the covid vax is what caused me to develop full blown PMR though I had been having some hip issues prior to that.

[piglette in reply to Broseley]

They did admit that it could happen with the Covid vaccine. I already had PMR, but I had really bad reactions to the vaccine. A friend’s husband actually died from the vaccine although that was very rare.

[Broseley in reply to piglette]

Thanks. I'm so sorry about your friend.

[Lindsayf in reply to Broseley]

This is what we believe started my Dad’s PMR

[Broseley in reply to Lindsayf]

There are a lot of us out there!

[Hulotsholiday in reply to Broseley]

Modena covid booster ladt year did the same to me; set me right back to square one and I’m currently at 7mg having previously been down to 2 and doing ok. It’s frustrating!

[Broseley in reply to Hulotsholiday]

It certainly is!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Shingles could/would cause some problems. No idea about the vaccine. The old live Zostavax had a reputation for triggering PMR, Shingrix is said not to ...

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks I had a search in past posts for it.

[Gimme]

That's bad news, as I really need the pneumonia vaccine. I keep getting chest infections every time I get a viral infection. I reacted to the last flu vax, and the first covid vax that I had, but other than that, I have been OK. My PMR has definitely flared after viral infections in the last couple of years, so I am inclined to take the vaccines when offered.

[Highlandtiger in reply to Gimme]

I had the pneumonia vaccine last year and had no reaction at all. I think that having actual pneumonia was one of the things that helped to trigger my PMR in the first place so I was pretty keen not to have it again. Conversely I had the shingles vaccine this year (Shingrix) and felt really poorly afterward which I wasn’t expecting. 🤷🏻‍♀️ We're all different!

[Broseley in reply to Highlandtiger]

Too true. I didn't suffer any reaction to the pneumonia vaccine, not even a sore arm, but it could still have triggered my flare.

[Highlandtiger in reply to Broseley]

Yes indeed. I think that sometimes if there's something else going on in your body when you get a vaccine, however minor and perhaps not obvious at the time, maybe a flare is more likely but who knows. 🤷‍♀️ My reaction to different Covid vaccines has been unpredictable and varied.

[Broseley in reply to Gimme]

It's better than getting pneumonia. And I think a small increase in your pred as a precaution shouldn't do any harm for a few days. I didn't react to any other vaccines, but then I was on a higher dose of pred than the half mg I'm on now.

[Gimme in reply to Broseley]

I'm inclined to agree with you. I have had pneumonia twice in the last 4 years.

[Zak61]

Do any wise Owls here have advice about taking extra pred before or after a vaccine? I've declined a covid booster and shingles vaccines (mainly because I've had both infections relatively recently and I'm convinced it was a covid booster that sparked my PMR)...but I'm contemplating 'flu vaccine.

[Broseley in reply to Zak61]

I wish I'd taken extra pred after my pneumonia vaccine. However I have never had any effects from covid vaccines I had after getting PMR though that could be because I was on a higher dose anyway. Now I'm down to half mg, and if you are on a low dose like that, I think topping up with an extra 5mg for a few days would be a good idea. But see what the experts say.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zak61]

DON'T increase your pred unless you have to - it will reduce the body's response to the vaccine and so you will develop less protection. If you are on any other immunosuppressive meds (methotrexate or Actemra for example) it is recommended to miss them for 2 weeks after the vaccine for the same reason. It is probably OK in the first few days - it takes 7-10 days for the immune response to develop, it isn't instantaneous.

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks Pro, good advice as always.

[oscarina]

i developed classic PMR symptoms fourteen days after the first covid vaccine, awakened at 4AM and was the Tin Man in a rain storm without an oil can, had to be helped to turn over, the day before was typical day, had cut the lawn and trimmed roses and took my westie for her usual constitutional mile walk. No problems until the middle of the night with locked shoulders and hips. Twenty four hours and twenty mgs of pred later I could move again. Dont know for certain if related to the vaccine, but at least stayed free of covid for three years but then got it and it was worse than pneumonia four years prior, and the pneumonia was memorably bad as was the 20hours in the ER. Would like to have pred on hand for the next vaccines, but doc says shouldn't take pred any longer than three years no matter what.

[Broseley in reply to oscarina]

I'm sure PMRpro will have something to say about that!Mine came on very slowly, so I didn't notice it getting worse and worse until one day I couldn't turn over in bed, like you.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to oscarina]

Glad he's not my doctor - I'd have been in a wheelchair for the last 12 years!!!

[oscarina]

yes PMRpro has accurate info in so many areas, must be a medical school prof or maybe was.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to oscarina]

No, not that. But have worked in the biomedical field all my life and 15 years of PMR and an academic interest and participation in work as a patient research partner means I have learned a lot. You don't have to have a medical degree to get it ...

[PMRCanada]

I am interested in this thread as my GP is recommending a one-time pneumonia vaccine. I’m wary as I’ve just settled at 5mg pred (which took a long time to get here), and the thought of holding my MTX for two weeks and possibly flaring from such vaccine, is causing me concern.

[Broseley in reply to PMRCanada]

I'm no expert but my flare was quickly dealt with by taking 5mg extra pred for 4 days. After 2 days the pains were gone. From what I've read on this post pneumonia is a lot worse!