Covid and Flu Vax - impact on your CRP. A tip for new players

[Sunburst001]

Hi new players. This has probably been well covered in the forum although I couldn’t find it in a quick search.

As I was travelling internationally on Friday, my GP almost frog marched me to the pharmacy to get both a Flu and a Covid vaccination- my immune system has been compromised by Prednisone. Yes - I should have thought of that myself! I’ve never had a flu vax and only two Covid shoots - that last about 3 years ago.

About 36 hours later I fronted up to have my regular blood tests for monitoring by my rheumatologist.

Next day I receive an email from the Rheumatologist letting me know my CRP has risen to 14 (had been well below 6 for ages). She suggested a possible infection - nope, not as far I could tell.

Next suggestion was a GCA flare - increase Prednisone back to previous control level and strong recommendation to recommendation to restart MTX.

I was not expecting that. Heart sinking at thought of losing the hard fought ground I’d gained in getting to 30mg from 60mg 5.5 months ago. And stopping MTX about 9 days earlier and just beginning to almost human again.

Brain engaged after 10 minutes and I joined the dots between the two vax and the CRP rise. A quick consult with my favourite AI tool, Perplexity, and my hunch was confirmed. Yes - vax can raise your CRP. Obvious really. Where had my brain been? No need to answer that. 😂

Rheumatologist has confirmed my theory. Phew! So no increase in Prednisone and a recheck of CRP next week.

Moral of story - don’t get bloods done within a few days of vaccinations - you may scare yourself and your rheumatologist. 🫢

[piglette]

To get my blood markers down to 14 seems like a dream to me. Doctors used to worry if it went over 100, but seem to have decided it is just me!

[Sunburst001 in reply to piglette]

Goodness - I had no idea that was possible. Puts my numbers right down in the very junior league. 😉Are we using the same units? mg/L?

[piglette in reply to Sunburst001]

In fact my best (or worst!) was 412 just after I had a hip replacement. I felt fine but had to hang around in hospital until it reduced. On the other hand I have a very low blood pressure (again another hospital panicked!) and also my temperature which caused problems over Covid. My brother reckons I landed up on the wrong planet!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Usual advice is not to get both vaccines together -but that's by the by now... and this post has come up twice.. so have copied comment to other one .

[Sunburst001 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks. Yes / if I’d been more prudent and had planned it I would never have had them together. However I was up against the clock as a result of the planned departure in 3 days.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Sunburst001]

These things happen but next time -plan ahead 😊 if you can..

[Januzzi]

Hi I had same results from Flu and Covid shots together ….3 days after the Covid shot I was put on Prednisone for PMR it’s now 18mths and I’m down to 1-1/2mg but I always thought about having both shots so close together could have been problem..