← Return to Is it safe to get the Corona Virus (COVID-19) vaccine with PMR?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@kcmartin71

My mom got the second Shingrix and flu shots the same day at Walgreens, a big mistake, but had never had an adverse vaccine reaction. She was definitely diagnosed with PMR and had the temporal biopsy (?) to test for GCA. She never had PMR or any immune issues before that, but her SED and C Reactive Protein levels were out of control by the time she made it to the doctor for blood work. Within 3 or 4 days of the vaccine, she was immobile (tears trying to get out of bed to shuffle to the bathroom) and in excruciating pain, joints all over her body (not just shoulders and hips) and could not even lift a glass of water to drink it. She developed difficulty breathing and swallowing and had low pulse oxygen. I don't think the ordinary vaccine side effects are anything like that and it seems that her response was rare, but not unheard of. Still the rheumatologist did not believe it was related to the vaccines, but we are not at all convinced. She had been going to the gym and taking daily walks. This was a radical change. I don't know that I would avoid the Shingrix because of this, but I just never want her to go through anything like that again (a flare-up of PMR), hence the question.

Jump to this post


Replies to "My mom got the second Shingrix and flu shots the same day at Walgreens, a big..."

Boy or boy, that sounds like my scenario. When I finally was diagnosed (3-4 months after symptom onset), I was a mess. I kept thinking it was orthopaetic. I deduced that it was the vaccine (shingrix), but like your moms doc, mine said that was not the case. Having discovered this site the the number of individuals with a similar story, umm yes it is. They just don’t know or don’t want to say. I’m a bit furious with the GP for just off the cuff telling me in needed the shingrix. It’s dramatically impacted my life. Still on 9.5 mg/ day and still in pain and had to manage a bout with GCA, which scared the heck out of me given the dire outcomes that are associated. My mistake was getting both vaccines at the same time I think. I’ll never really know. I didn’t want to but the pharmacist insisted. My gut said no, I should have listened. Here’s to a good recovery for all, and hoping the COVID vaccines do no harm to us and others. I’m definitely getting it when CA finally gets enough to get to the 65 range. It will be awhile I think. Not enough here in the state.