Ulcerative Colitis flare from flu shot?

I am so sorry! Today is two weeks and one day since the flu shot and the bloody diarrhea continues and is more frequent. I am taking oral budesonide hoping to make it to the next Entyvio infusion without having to increase the frequency of that. Thirteen months of remission and suddenly here we are! The medical journals do not clinically support this (not clinically significant) but they state environmental factors can cause a flare. It is the only variable and I know it was the flu shot because the flare started in less than 24 hours and there have been no other changes. I too was hesitant to get the flu shot, but with Covid-19, you’re afraid to leave the house these days. I understand and empathize with the fear and frustration you’re both having and I am so sorry! I hope we all get through these flares and back on track quickly.... Thanks for sharing and good luck!

Well, I can guarantee that this will be my last flu shot.....ever.

If you don't tolerate flu shots there is an alternative- Tamiflu medication at first sign of suspected flu. Please check with your doctor if this would be a good plan.

Hi, just checking to see how you're doing. This is Day 19 of my "flu shot flare" and things just started to improve because of the recently prescribed prednisone. The steroid suppositories (7 days) did not stop the bleeding, nor did the oral budesonide, so GI doc brought in the big guns, but only for a short period of time, with tapering to begin within 7 days. Also wanted to let you know that he said the flare could absolutely have been brought on by the flu shot BUT only because there must have been some inflammation or immune activity going on at the time I got the shot. Evidently the immune system can only handle so many immune responses at a time. He also ordered a blood test that will check the trough level of the Entyvio I've been on for 15 months and see if there are antibodies. So, we'll see... IBD is a difficult and complex condition and challenging to treat and control. I hope you're feeling better and back in remission or on the way back to remission!!

Hello I am so glad to see I am not the only one who has had this happen I was diagnosed with UC back in 2007 I get the flue shot that year for the first time then was diagnosed with UC cause that year I suffered from rectal bleeding. Then I went into remission for 5 years then got the flue shot again in 2012 and again another flare up then went I then I went into remission for 7 years clear and free then another flare up after getting flue shot cause my job became very pushy about us receiving it. I am wondering if I really have UC or is this just a reaction to the flue vaccine I have tried to talk to my doctor but they say it’s just a coincidence

My understanding is that it wasn’t the flu shot itself, but rather the immune response that caused the flare. At this point, I am terrified to get the covid vaccine.... Questions: How were you diagnosed with UC? Colonoscopy? And what kept you in remission for years???? I have been in this wicked flare since October!! I have been in the hospital, have taken prednisone for months, am currently on Stelara and hydrocortisone enemas and absolutely miserable and still bleeding. This is a horrible, debilitating illness that has just taken so much from my life!!!! I honestly don’t know how much longer I can do this....

92 yr. male with Colitis flare.
-taking budesonide delayed release capsules
For the first time
Comment pls

Have IBS. For 2 yrs. in a row I experienced an awful flare exactly 2 wks after the flu shot. I was afraid to get it this yr., and made sure I got the regular dose rather than the high dose. I am certain the immune system reacting was the cause. Got a Covid shot 3 wks. after the flu shot, and experienced another awful flare....One more flare 1 month later. Previous to this I had been doing quite well with out any significant flare ups for several months. I am supposed to get the shingles vaccine in the near future but am terrified. I had given up on GI Drs. because I have not found one who knows anything and can do more good than harm. I guess I will try one more time because I know I should see a GI doc., but not convinced it will help. Saw a Doc at Johns Hopkins, but she moved on to DC. I envy those who can find a Doc they trust.

It's absolutely your immune system reacting, but what else can we do??? I am on the highest dose of Remicade for the ulcerative colitis and have to schedule any and all vaccines within so many weeks between my Remicade infusions. It is quite challenging to say the least, and this year I had to pick and choose which vaccines to get. I did have the shingles vaccine (2 doses) because if I fail Remicade, the newer meds that have been approved to treat IBD come with the danger/side effect of shingles. I feel blessed and very fortunate that for the past two years the Remicade is working and I was able to cancel the proctocolectomy 2 weeks before it was to happen... My doctor battled my insurance company to get the higher dose (despite my low weight) and he won! WE WON!!! I have been on the Remicade for 2 years and 3 months and the therapeutic drug monitoring shows that the trough levels are adequate and the antibody titers are good - no antibodies! So, I continue to be hypervigilant with masking and getting enough exercise and rest. It is a small price to pay to stay in remission and feel somewhat normal... IBD is a horrible disease and it has changed our lives dramatically. One good thing is that there have been several new drugs (orals) approved to treat it over the past few years. They have different mechanisms of action than the biologics (especially the TNF inhibitors, oldies but goodies) and there is more research now than ever. My ultimate wish/goal is that they come up with a cure. All of the treatments reduce the inflammation - they need to STOP the inflammation, but that's another ballgame. Lol. Good luck to you finding a good GI doc and effective treatment!

I had horrific response to Covid vax. Ended up at Mayo for eye issues. Never another vaccine for me. As the doctor put it, you have auto immune disease in your family and it flipped a switch. So no vaccines as I would never want to go through what I went through again. Have to evaluate benefit risk for me.