Newly diagnosed with PMR- concerns about vaccine reactions?

@shelleyletts
I'm always skeptical of anyone saying they were told something at a medical facility because you never know whether they were told by a doctor, nurse, technician or other. Thanks for sharing so anyone concerned can discuss with their doctor. I only get vaccines when requested by my doctor. I'm not anti-vax either but I'm not going to be aware of interactions with my meds like any of my doctors will be.

@kjoed53 I think you somehow misunderstood what I said. I said I talked to a woman who had a bad reaction to a tetanus shot and was on a ventilator. Of course she was told this by a Dr, as her condition was life threatening. I also said it was second hand, of course, but that I had heard similar stories. By the way, I have learned a lot from nurses, PA’s, Nurse Practitioners, and technicians. A lot of these people have worked in their area for a long time and are very knowledgeable and helpful. I consider them health care professionals and am always glad to hear their input and expertise. They have much to offer.

My input seems to have bothered you somehow, not sure why. I understand the concept of an open forum, and what we do here everyday, but perhaps I should just read and keep my input to myself. Since I already knew everything you said I guess the point was the lecture. And thanks for the heads up about even Drs can be wrong. I had no idea. Thank you for setting me straight about this forum,

@shelleyletts
I'm sorry that I had the audacity to disagree with you on anything. The fact that this forum welcomes the sharing of opinions that may differ from someone else's must have come as a shock to you.

@kjoed53 I get it. You’re one of those people. I didn’t disagree with anything you said, in fact you said the same thing I did, you just threw in a lot of unnecessary words. Laughing, it would take a bit more to shock me, and actually it would also have to be true. Have a nice day and thanks for starting mine with a laugh!

@kjoed53 I think you somehow misunderstood what I said. I said I talked to a woman who had a bad reaction to a tetanus shot and was on a ventilator. Of course she was told this by a Dr, as her condition was life threatening. I also said it was second hand, of course, but that I had heard similar stories. By the way, I have learned a lot from nurses, PA’s, Nurse Practitioners, and technicians. A lot of these people have worked in their area for a long time and are very knowledgeable and helpful. I consider them health care professionals and am always glad to hear their input and expertise. They have much to offer.

Medicine has long recognized the possibility of a PMR flare following a flu vaccine. MY rheumatologist told me a couple of years ago that he saw it in around 10% of his patients , but I would guess that the real number is higher. His recommendation was to go up on the dose of prednisone for a few days. If you have a really good pharmacist, ask him/her which version is least likely to cause a flare. Although I am a senior, I always get the regular flu vaccine on his advice — the senior version contains an adjuvant which is specifically designed to reve up the immune system. Similarly with the Covid vaccine. Last year, he recommended Pfizer over Moderna because although equally effective, it was less likely to cause a flare. Following the recommendations of both my pharmacist and my rheumatologist, I have successfully avoided a flare. The strategy has worked for me now for several years. This is a topic that has been on my mind a lot recently, particularly since there is a new approach to manufacturing the Covid vaccine using mRNA. I was only recently diagnosed with SAI but after months of dealing with what I now realize was a reaction to prednisone withdrawal. I am waiting until later in the fall when I feel like the SAI is more under control.

@shelleyletts
You took offense to my comment, so laugh it off and move on