1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

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

Posted by ncgal @ncgal, Nov 19, 2020

Just wondering if anyone has found out if it is okay to get the corona virus vaccine once it comes out. I'm 78, so past the 65+ age for early vaccinations, plus having the autoimmune diagnosis. I don't see my rheumatologist for another two months but guess I'll call him to find out if t comes to that. Just thought I'd see if anyone else has found out. I had no problem with the flu shot.

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

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 14, 2021
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@pfafpa I had the first dose of Pfizer for Covid today and my reaction within 45..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@pfafpa I had the first dose of Pfizer for Covid today and my reaction within 45 minutes was, my arm hurt, I had a bit of aching in my neck/jaw junction on the same side of the injection, headache, feeling queasy and tired, and then base of my tongue started to hurt on one side (opposite side from the injection). That was a concern because of the possibility of anaphylactic reaction where the tongue and throat swell closed cutting off breathing in a severe allergic reaction. Out of caution, they sent me to the ER and they did an IV with some antihistamines (including Benadryl) and steroids. The pain in my tongue stopped within 20 minutes. If that would have become a severe reaction, this was an early stage, and it is much better to treat early because it can turn into a serious problem in an instant.. The ER doc said usually that type of reaction happens immediately. She also said I would not need epinephrine. The treatment made me tired, but I felt much better by 9 PM which was about 5 hours after the vaccination. I am still tired an headachy.

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@jenniferhunter- Hi. We haven't spoken for a while. I am so glad that your team was smart enough to send you to the ER and you got the appropriate meds. I hope that you're feeling much better today.

Have your doctors advised about your second shot? It must be concerning to you?

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1 reply
munchie | @munchie | Feb 14, 2021

no but i am a believer in less rx the better.

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Feb 14, 2021
In reply to @merpreb "@jenniferhunter- Hi. We haven't spoken for a while. I am so glad that your team was..." + (show)
@merpreb

@jenniferhunter- Hi. We haven't spoken for a while. I am so glad that your team was smart enough to send you to the ER and you got the appropriate meds. I hope that you're feeling much better today.

Have your doctors advised about your second shot? It must be concerning to you?

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@merpreb I did contact my doctor's office and they will schedule an appointment to discuss this. On the 2nd day after the shot when the initial steroid and anti histamine treatments wore off, I did have puffiness and some tingling in my face. After taking an antihistamine, that got better right away. Today, 5 days after, I don't have symptoms and my arm isn't sore anymore. I will see what the doctor thinks about the 2nd dose. Thanks for asking.

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karinaph | @karinaph | Feb 14, 2021
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@merpreb I did contact my doctor's office and they will schedule an appointment to discuss this...." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@merpreb I did contact my doctor's office and they will schedule an appointment to discuss this. On the 2nd day after the shot when the initial steroid and anti histamine treatments wore off, I did have puffiness and some tingling in my face. After taking an antihistamine, that got better right away. Today, 5 days after, I don't have symptoms and my arm isn't sore anymore. I will see what the doctor thinks about the 2nd dose. Thanks for asking.

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Jennifer, glad you got the aftercare! Sounds like an ordeal. I hope you get the answers from your MD. It would be interesting to see if after the one dose you create enough antibodies fir defense against the virus. Best of luck on this.

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jpalexander | @jpalexander | Feb 15, 2021

I had two shots weeks ago and nothing unusual happened.

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ssobx | @ssobx | Feb 15, 2021
In reply to @chris1949 "Good information. I was diagnosed with PMR in April of 2019. Started out on 60mg of..." + (show)
@chris1949

Good information. I was diagnosed with PMR in April of 2019. Started out on 60mg of prednisone, quickly down to 40mg, then 20,10,5 and now for 3 months at 2.5 mg. I seem to be symptom free. Just started hydroxychloroquine, 400 mg a day. Feeling great.
Got the senior flu vaccine in October...no problems. Got the first shingrix vaccine in November and am waiting for the second. My big question that even my rheumatologist team has not yet answered: as PMR is an autoimmune disease, and the vaccines are designed to ramp up your immune system, will the COVID vaccine cause severe side effects and a return of the PMR symptoms? I am scheduled for the first Pszyer (sp?) shot tomorrow morning, and a little nervous.

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I have PMR. Was on prednisone for almost a year. Slowly weaned off in December. No pain. Had my first vaccine shot about 3 weeks ago. Had a flare up about 2 weeks after the shot. Went on prednisone medral dose pack and finished last Friday. Getting 2nd shot his Friday and I’m hoping I don’t get another flare up. Won’t stop me from getting it though.

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John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 15, 2021
In reply to @ssobx "I have PMR. Was on prednisone for almost a year. Slowly weaned off in December. No..." + (show)
@ssobx

I have PMR. Was on prednisone for almost a year. Slowly weaned off in December. No pain. Had my first vaccine shot about 3 weeks ago. Had a flare up about 2 weeks after the shot. Went on prednisone medral dose pack and finished last Friday. Getting 2nd shot his Friday and I’m hoping I don’t get another flare up. Won’t stop me from getting it though.

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Hi @ssobx, Welcome to Connect. My PMR has been in remission since mid 2016. I got my first Pfizer COVID vaccine Feb 5th and only had a sore arm around where I received the shot. I'm also hoping things go well for the 2nd shot on Feb 26th. I'm hoping your PMR won't flare up also but like you if my PMR would have flared up I would still get the 2nd shot.

Did you register with the CDC to provide feedback (it's easy!) after you get the shot? - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html#anchor_1607560764339

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2 replies
ssobx | @ssobx | Feb 15, 2021
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @ssobx, Welcome to Connect. My PMR has been in remission since mid 2016. I got..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @ssobx, Welcome to Connect. My PMR has been in remission since mid 2016. I got my first Pfizer COVID vaccine Feb 5th and only had a sore arm around where I received the shot. I'm also hoping things go well for the 2nd shot on Feb 26th. I'm hoping your PMR won't flare up also but like you if my PMR would have flared up I would still get the 2nd shot.

Did you register with the CDC to provide feedback (it's easy!) after you get the shot? - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html#anchor_1607560764339

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Hi. No I haven’t registered, but I will. Thanks for the link.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 16, 2021
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @ssobx, Welcome to Connect. My PMR has been in remission since mid 2016. I got..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @ssobx, Welcome to Connect. My PMR has been in remission since mid 2016. I got my first Pfizer COVID vaccine Feb 5th and only had a sore arm around where I received the shot. I'm also hoping things go well for the 2nd shot on Feb 26th. I'm hoping your PMR won't flare up also but like you if my PMR would have flared up I would still get the 2nd shot.

Did you register with the CDC to provide feedback (it's easy!) after you get the shot? - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html#anchor_1607560764339

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@johnbishop- I'm almost positive that I have PMR since my shingles shot in November. I speak with my PCP this Friday and I'm going to ask for blood work for sure. I also had discoid lupus years ago but I don't think that this is a flair up.

I'm a bit familiar with the symptoms. Mine flair up very often, like every week or so. Is there anything that you can recommend for me?

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 16, 2021
In reply to @merpreb "@johnbishop- I'm almost positive that I have PMR since my shingles shot in November. I speak..." + (show)
@merpreb

@johnbishop- I'm almost positive that I have PMR since my shingles shot in November. I speak with my PCP this Friday and I'm going to ask for blood work for sure. I also had discoid lupus years ago but I don't think that this is a flair up.

I'm a bit familiar with the symptoms. Mine flair up very often, like every week or so. Is there anything that you can recommend for me?

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@merpreb - My experience with PMR when it's active is that the pain is always there unless I'm taking prednisone to control it. Then as I'm tapering, if I go too fast, the pain returns with different levels of intensity. The two big things that I believe help keep my PMR at bay are diet and exercise - not the cardio type but the just keep moving stuff, walking, stretching, etc.. PMR diagnosis usually involves Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) blood tests to check the levels of inflammation in your body but they are just pointing to the possibility of PMR not a diagnosis if the levels are high. A physical exam by a rheumatologist is usually needed to confirm.

I've mostly focused on reducing or eliminating processed meats, sugar, fast food, and fried foods. Here is a good article on Medical News Today that offers some suggestions -- What to eat if you have polymyalgia rheumatica: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321683

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