1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Need to decide to get a Covid Shot while I have PMR.

Posted by johnhester @johnhester, Jul 8 10:28am

I am conflicted on when or if to get a Covid shot. I see from our group than some have had a very bad reaction withing 2 weeks of getting the Covid shot. If anyone here has had a Covid shot while having PMR, I would love to hear from you. Most comments I read are from people who had a bad reaction. I wish there were statistics for Covid shots and PMR. The CDS says to get the shot anyway because if you get Covid and have not had the vaccine you may have a very bad outcome.
I am 88 years old and in fairly good health otherwise. I am doing fine with my tapering. I am now at 8 mg prednisone, down from 15 mg in 4 months.
So there is my delemma. Any suggestion or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

jlo2252 | @jlo2252 | Jul 10 9:53am

Hi, I have taken the flu vaccine, Covid vaccine and the shingles vaccine, all while dealing with PMR. I did not take them at the same time, they were all done separately.
I should say here that PMR or not, I don’t get any reactions to vaccines, other than a super sore arm from the shingles vaccine (which, BTW, is a one time deal given in 2 injections)
I’m 74 years old and have multiple health issues, so taking the vaccines is a no brainer for me. Your choice, of course. If you are in fairly good health , maybe you don’t need it, but I would discuss your concerns with your doctor.
Best wishes on this health journey.

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2 replies
hopeinal | @hopeinal | Jul 10 10:37am
In reply to @hopeinal "I fail to see any advantage in taking a Covid vaccine, primarily becaue it isn't a..." + (show)
@hopeinal

I fail to see any advantage in taking a Covid vaccine, primarily becaue it isn't a vaccine. True vaccines prevent someone from contracting or spreading a diseaae. The Covid jab does neither. Nor, contrary to the spin, does it do anything to make symptoms milder if you do get Covid.

I woke up sick the morning following my second Pfizer jab and stayed sick for 8 weeks, During that time my PMR first reared its ugly head. The CDC is now calling many new cases of PMR and other autoimmune diseases "vaccine injuries." I've been advised by my rheumatologist not to take any vaccine, but I wouldn't have anyway. Btw, the CDC also says that the flu vaccine is believed to cause autoimmune diseases, too. There are already numerous class action suits about the Shingles vaccines.

Seems to me and many other folks that the only ones reaping any benefits from the so-called Covid vaccines are the big pharmas that are peddling them knowing the risks, possible side effects and shortcomings. Of course, anybody who believes they need to take one should do as they see fit. No judgement either way.

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Pardon typos. My Prednisone eyes aren't working well this week.

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johnhester | @johnhester | Jul 10 11:35am
In reply to @jlo2252 "Hi, I have taken the flu vaccine, Covid vaccine and the shingles vaccine, all while dealing..." + (show)
@jlo2252

Hi, I have taken the flu vaccine, Covid vaccine and the shingles vaccine, all while dealing with PMR. I did not take them at the same time, they were all done separately.
I should say here that PMR or not, I don’t get any reactions to vaccines, other than a super sore arm from the shingles vaccine (which, BTW, is a one time deal given in 2 injections)
I’m 74 years old and have multiple health issues, so taking the vaccines is a no brainer for me. Your choice, of course. If you are in fairly good health , maybe you don’t need it, but I would discuss your concerns with your doctor.
Best wishes on this health journey.

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Thanks for your report, it helps. I will decide soon whether or not to get Covid vax. I think I will, but not without realizing that there is some chance of severe reactions. John H

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johnhester | @johnhester | Jul 10 11:37am
In reply to @jlo2252 "Hi, I have taken the flu vaccine, Covid vaccine and the shingles vaccine, all while dealing..." + (show)
@jlo2252

Hi, I have taken the flu vaccine, Covid vaccine and the shingles vaccine, all while dealing with PMR. I did not take them at the same time, they were all done separately.
I should say here that PMR or not, I don’t get any reactions to vaccines, other than a super sore arm from the shingles vaccine (which, BTW, is a one time deal given in 2 injections)
I’m 74 years old and have multiple health issues, so taking the vaccines is a no brainer for me. Your choice, of course. If you are in fairly good health , maybe you don’t need it, but I would discuss your concerns with your doctor.
Best wishes on this health journey.

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Thanks for your report and experience with PMR & Covid.

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1 reply
jlo2252 | @jlo2252 | Jul 10 1:23pm
In reply to @johnhester "Thanks for your report and experience with PMR & Covid." + (show)
@johnhester

Thanks for your report and experience with PMR & Covid.

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Everyone’s experience here is going yo be different. A lot of very strong opinions, especially in regards to the Covid vaccine, which I totally understand! It was so quickly developed during the pandemic, an emergency vaccine and we were mostly the “lab rats” it was being tested on! I think we were all nervous about taking it, but for me , it would of been worse to get Covid because I have Asthma. They have since had more time to study its effects and we now have new, updated versions of this vaccine to cover the new strains of the Covid virus. From what I have read, any connection between the vaccine and the development of autoimmune diseases are extremely rare. Lots of info online.

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janiceem | @janiceem | Jul 10 1:54pm

I contracted a mild case of PMR soon after my second Pfizer vaccination. I only hurt when laying down! I was extremely healthy until then, having had probably just one cold in over 25 years. Also, never got the flu, despite never havining a flu shot. I did get a mild case of COVID (2-day fever), but it was over a year since I had had that vaccination and it did trigger a bout of PMR again, but I was able to taper off of the 2 mg. dose in a few months. I am against ever getting another mRNA vaccine again in my lifetime. I believe that the J&J vaccine was not an mRNA one, so you might be better off with that one versus Pfizer or Moderna. I have yet to do any research on the J&J and PMR, but I also haven't heard of anyone on this forum that thought their J&J triggered PMR, or am I mistaken?
I may get the Shingrix vaccine, but I probably still have some protection from the old vaccine that I had just prior to Shingrix coming out.

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2 replies
pmrsuzie | @pmrsuzie | Jul 10 3:03pm

I have seen some news stories that covid has been on the rise. Is it prevalent where you live? We are taking precautions like shopping when it's less crowded and avoiding crowds. I will not be getting another vaccine, did not feel well after the last two particularly the last one.

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evapat | @evapat | Jul 11 9:29am

I had Shingrix vax in early 2020 with no side effects seemingly, then Pfizer COVID Shots June 2021. Came down with PMR in November 2021. Related? I don't know, but after researching I found that ANY vaccine has the potential to provoke these bad autoimmune conditions. If I had known that, I would not have taken either jab. What a mistake.

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1 reply
jlo2252 | @jlo2252 | Jul 12 6:44am
In reply to @janiceem "I contracted a mild case of PMR soon after my second Pfizer vaccination. I only hurt..." + (show)
@janiceem

I contracted a mild case of PMR soon after my second Pfizer vaccination. I only hurt when laying down! I was extremely healthy until then, having had probably just one cold in over 25 years. Also, never got the flu, despite never havining a flu shot. I did get a mild case of COVID (2-day fever), but it was over a year since I had had that vaccination and it did trigger a bout of PMR again, but I was able to taper off of the 2 mg. dose in a few months. I am against ever getting another mRNA vaccine again in my lifetime. I believe that the J&J vaccine was not an mRNA one, so you might be better off with that one versus Pfizer or Moderna. I have yet to do any research on the J&J and PMR, but I also haven't heard of anyone on this forum that thought their J&J triggered PMR, or am I mistaken?
I may get the Shingrix vaccine, but I probably still have some protection from the old vaccine that I had just prior to Shingrix coming out.

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When I took the original Covid vaccine, I chose to do the j&j one, mainly because it was only one shot and the others you had to do two!! But I had also read some unfavorable reactions to the Pfizer and moderna ones. When it was time for a booster, I went with the Pfizer since they no longer had the j&j.
For the shingles, I took the new vaccine, Shingrix, not the older one.
No bad reactions to any of these..,

REPLY
seajaa | @seajaa | Jul 13 8:21am
In reply to @janiceem "I contracted a mild case of PMR soon after my second Pfizer vaccination. I only hurt..." + (show)
@janiceem

I contracted a mild case of PMR soon after my second Pfizer vaccination. I only hurt when laying down! I was extremely healthy until then, having had probably just one cold in over 25 years. Also, never got the flu, despite never havining a flu shot. I did get a mild case of COVID (2-day fever), but it was over a year since I had had that vaccination and it did trigger a bout of PMR again, but I was able to taper off of the 2 mg. dose in a few months. I am against ever getting another mRNA vaccine again in my lifetime. I believe that the J&J vaccine was not an mRNA one, so you might be better off with that one versus Pfizer or Moderna. I have yet to do any research on the J&J and PMR, but I also haven't heard of anyone on this forum that thought their J&J triggered PMR, or am I mistaken?
I may get the Shingrix vaccine, but I probably still have some protection from the old vaccine that I had just prior to Shingrix coming out.

Jump to this post

I refuse to get another vaccine of any kind since I believe my PMR was due to either 2nd shingrix, covid booster or flu. I had all within a fairly short period. Thereafter my body went into crazy mode. First PMR symptoms, then BP resulting in 3 day hospitalization and then an unprovoked PE in my lung. I’m on the mend I hope. Down to 4mg of prednisone but still on blood thinners for the blood clot.
There will never be another vaccine in my body.

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