1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Any side effects from present flu shot with PMR?

Posted by lindaadel @lindaadel, Oct 17, 2023

I am wondering if I should get the present flu shot as I think all these shots especially the Covid shot which I had five may have brought on the PMR I really don’t know. The bottom line am I better off not getting the flu shot we getting the flu shot I really don’t know whatever you whatever your thoughts are I’d love to hear them!!!

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wilmingtonemperor | @wilmingtonemperor | Oct 24, 2023
In reply to @joan7 "John, let me know how you do with the Kevzara injections, and if it helps. I..." + (show)
@joan7

John, let me know how you do with the Kevzara injections, and if it helps. I thought it came in pill form. My doctors keep leaving these minor details out of our conversations. So far, I heard several people being very happy with how Kevzara is controlling their PMR.

I have not experienced any issues with the flu shot, however, I was told not to get any vaccines until I'm under 20 mg on the Prednisone because they won't take. Just started on 15 mgs this past Thursday, and Sed Rate is going up (at 32 with 20 mgss). I do plan to get flu shot for the winter. I will definitely not get any Covid Boosters; became really sick from the Covid vaccines.

Good luck with everything!

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Hi Joan; got my first injection of Kevzara this morning. A piece of cake. An hour later no reaction at all so all good. I will self-administer the next injection in 2 weeks from today. The injection was painless about four or five inches from the navel but on that line. When you press the pen against the skin the pen activates, no plunger to press. Plan is to go to 10 of prednisone next week as the Kevzara begins to take effect hopefully and continue to reduce prednisone until I am off it entirely, fingers crossed.

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joan7 | @joan7 | Oct 24, 2023

Go gland everything went well for you. Thank you so much for the feedback. Hope you can get off the Prednisone in the near future. By the way, thank you for serving our country and making a safer place for our children.

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katejaha | @katejaha | Oct 24, 2023
In reply to @emaureen "I had the flu shot on Friday the 13th, which felt like tempting fate. No problem..." + (show)
@emaureen

I had the flu shot on Friday the 13th, which felt like tempting fate. No problem whatever. I do plan to get the next covid shot.

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Flu shot only no Covid for me period. No RSV either. Not pushing my luck. Doing great on 10 mg pred and due to reduce to 5 mg on Nov 9.

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2 replies
emaureen | @emaureen | Oct 24, 2023
In reply to @katejaha "Flu shot only no Covid for me period. No RSV either. Not pushing my luck. Doing..." + (show)
@katejaha

Flu shot only no Covid for me period. No RSV either. Not pushing my luck. Doing great on 10 mg pred and due to reduce to 5 mg on Nov 9.

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This thread is about the flu shot. However, a reduction from 10mg prednisone to 5mg is a heck of a leap - at 10mg the rheumatoligist told me to reduce by 1mg every 2-4 weeks. My schedule is tapering by .5mg every 10-11 days (changeover Sunday or Wednesday), which has been going well.

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saltyg | @saltyg | Oct 24, 2023
In reply to @katejaha "Have you ever had reaction to flu vac before?" + (show)
@katejaha

Have you ever had reaction to flu vac before?

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Just a sore arm. Never understood about how people said they were "sick" after getting flu shot. I understood once I experienced with COVID shots.

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southtexas | @southtexas | Oct 25, 2023
In reply to @katejaha "Flu shot only no Covid for me period. No RSV either. Not pushing my luck. Doing..." + (show)
@katejaha

Flu shot only no Covid for me period. No RSV either. Not pushing my luck. Doing great on 10 mg pred and due to reduce to 5 mg on Nov 9.

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10 to 5 is a huge reduction, most of the time it’s 1mg each reduction spread out. Just saying.

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1 reply
richardab | @richardab | Oct 25, 2023

Got a COVID booster last Friday. Absolutely no reaction while all the others gave me fevers and flu-like aches and pains. It was the Pfizer vaccine; all the others were Moderna so I wonder if this could have been a factor.

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katejaha | @katejaha | Oct 25, 2023
In reply to @southtexas "10 to 5 is a huge reduction, most of the time it’s 1mg each reduction spread..." + (show)
@southtexas

10 to 5 is a huge reduction, most of the time it’s 1mg each reduction spread out. Just saying.

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I have only reduced 5 mg at a time. Began at 20mg at the onset of my PMR diagnosis. After 30 days reduced to 15mg with no trouble, then 30 days reduced to 10mg with no issues. Hopefully I’m just very lucky.

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1 reply
emaureen | @emaureen | Oct 26, 2023
In reply to @katejaha "I have only reduced 5 mg at a time. Began at 20mg at the onset of..." + (show)
@katejaha

I have only reduced 5 mg at a time. Began at 20mg at the onset of my PMR diagnosis. After 30 days reduced to 15mg with no trouble, then 30 days reduced to 10mg with no issues. Hopefully I’m just very lucky.

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It's the percentage decrease which is important, not the amount. Most of us wouldn't say "only reduced by 5mg" even when the dose was larger. When I was at 25mg, the rheumatologist had me dropping 2.5mg per week, with a drastic readjustment at 10mg (1mg every 2-4 weeks). Really, is your doctor okay with your dropping from 10mg to 5mg?

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1 reply
katejaha | @katejaha | Oct 26, 2023
In reply to @emaureen "It's the percentage decrease which is important, not the amount. Most of us wouldn't say "only..." + (show)
@emaureen

It's the percentage decrease which is important, not the amount. Most of us wouldn't say "only reduced by 5mg" even when the dose was larger. When I was at 25mg, the rheumatologist had me dropping 2.5mg per week, with a drastic readjustment at 10mg (1mg every 2-4 weeks). Really, is your doctor okay with your dropping from 10mg to 5mg?

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He is the one who stopped me from 20 to 15 and 15 to 10mg so when I see him on Nov 11 I assume his reduction will be to 5 mg

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