PMR and Flu Vaccine

This is what my PCP advised:
It is usually recommended to wait until you are no longer on prednisone as it does slow the immune response that a vaccine should trigger. Since you are tapering, I would recommend waiting until you are no longer on the prednisone for new vaccines. I was asking specifically about flu and Covid booster.

I was diagnosed with pmr last July, my shoulders, hips and knees were very stiff and sore. I was started on prednisone - 10 mg for 5 days 7.5 mg for 5 days and then 5 mg until September where I am now reducing the dosage. 4 mg for 2 weeks, just starting 3 mg for 2 weeks. I find that the knee pain and weakness as well as my back tightness is starting up again. I fear I will be back on 5 mg. I'm not crazy over the numb lips, breaking fingernails and thinning hair but the loss of mobility with uncontrolled pmr is worse. I have started taking vitamin e to help with the hair and fingernail issue and it seems to be helping. I'm also taking calcium to deal with the bone loss issue. Do any of you have the knee issue? Hips, back and shoulders seem to be more common.

I plan to get my flu shot as I can’t even remember the last time I had the flu. Have not had a covid booster since 2022 and do not plan on getting another. Ive read enough stories about pmr and covid boosters.

my PCP said no vaccines while on prednisone.

I’ll see what my rheumatologist says.

This is what my rheumatologist said:
Your prednisone is at a dose of < 20 mg and is not considered a contra indication to vaccinations

Your rheumatologist is correct. I just spoke to my PCP. She said I SHOUlD get the vaccines. Her assistant gave me the wrong information. I scheduled both for this week. This is the state of healthcare in this country, very frustrating!

I have always been vaccinated with a flu shot until last year. I was diagnosed with GCA and PMR in November 2023. I have mild PMR that occurs occasionally and on bad days I may take an Aleve. No more prednisone. Overall I have had some healing since 2023. I am reluctant to get the flu vaccine. As I have read studies that indicate it is sometimes the adjuvants in the vaccine that will cause our auto immune system to flare. My rheumatologist, who I no longer see is OK with the flu vaccine. I have also been seen by allergist/pulmonary physicians for 40 years. I am 72 years old. The allergist suggested that I get a “regular” flu shot and perhaps split the dose with two injections spread apart, he did not recommend that I get the “quad senior” flu shot. I am sitting on a fence post, still trying to make a decision as to what to do. I would like to prevent any possibility of a PMR flare.

I can't comment on the first question because I am not over PMR yet. To the second question, no I do not get a flu shot. I got the shots yearly when I worked in health care because it seemed like the right thing to do to protect patients. About half the time I would have a reaction to the shot and feel ill for a couple of days. I always got the shot on a Friday so I would not have to work when I wasn't feeling well. In spite of the shots I twice got the flu, was sick for at least a week with temps up to 102. Then in 2020, the Covid year, I got my flu shot and had a worse than normal reaction, spiked a fever for 5 days straight. My Covid test was negative. In early 2021 I got the Covid vaccine and PMR shortly after. I told my rheumatologist that I am not getting any vaccines for the time being and he did not give me any flak about it when I explained my reasons. I think in general vaccines are good but they aren't always appropriate for everyone. I haven't had any colds or flu since 2021. I don't fly on planes. I do shop, eat in restaurants and attend meetings as much as I want.

I have recently been diagnosed with PMR and they have started me on 20mg of Prednisone daily. I know it's early yet "day 13" but i have had no relief for the pain yet. I to am concerned about mobility issues as my knees are very sore and stiff in the mornings and throughout the day. I usually take a couple of Tylenol which provides some relief. (Tylenol has been approved by my liver specialist and Prednisone by my Rheumatologist) I have the pain in my upper back, lower neck, arms , on the pain scale out of 10 I would give most days a 5 to 6, but the worse is in the "Right" shoulder, left shoulder is mild pain. This pain wakes me up at night, it's a sharp pain, out of 10 i give it an 8 and it can last a few hours . I now take a couple of Tylenol later at night before going to sleep (1:00am) This gets me through the night until about 7-8 am the next morning, I'm unable to make any plans as I have no idea how I will feel after being awake for an hour or so. Life is very frustrating right now and I'm not understanding why. I have spoken with my my Rheumatologist concerning and they have told me to be patient and stay the course, sometimes Prednisone takes awhile to kick in I'm being told . That was a week ago and i don't see her again until October 17th along with my monthly blood work that i will provide. Is there anyone out there having the same problem with the Prednisone not working, extreme pain in the right shoulder. I have also began reading and investigating a condition called Referred Pain as i have also been recently diagnosed with liver cancer. At this time it seems to be one of the lower level cancers but i will be seeing a specialist in the coming weeks and hopefully be cured. I'm also reading about another condition called Steroid resistant. Bad thing with all this is that there are two many rabbit holes, don't over read and let the doctors do there jobs.