Was there an uptick in autoimmune conditions after COVID vaccines?

@leigh17 We cannot always blame the specific vaccine for the damage. A pharmacist injected the Flu vaccine directly into my shoulder capsule several years (pre-2020) ago, which led to MANY months of agony. When he was preparing the site, I told him it was too high, and he dismissed my concern.

My orthopedist who finally diagnosed it said he sees this at least a few times per year.
Now I only get injections from a trained "shot nurse."

A very hard lesson, but do you think it has been learned.

@leigh17 it is a hard lesson not enough research was done before sending out these vaccines.

@blinken == I've made the same surmise, that the vaccine (maybe any vaccine) can, as you say, "wake the sleeping dog." When I look back on my life, I remember how my gums became inflamed in my mid-20s and how dentists would denigrate me, assuming my hygiene was inadequate--even though I brushed, and flossed!, daily, and was having cleanings twice a year. Two hygienists over the years expressed dismay and one actually told me I had OLP (back in 1999). The dentist pooh-poohed the idea.

After my Covid shot, I developed lesions. I knew. Went to the dentist, told him I thought I had OLP, and he looked at me like I was a stupid woman enamored of Dr. Google. Then he examined me, pointed to just one lesion, and said yes, that might be OLP. So he sent me to an oral surgeon who took the confirming biopsy. Vindication!

So, yes, the autoimmune response spurred by the vax probably threw a condition on a low boil into a rolling boil. The same thing happened when I contracted Covid itself a year later, because disease itself causes an autoimmune response too. We've got an autoimmune disease and may have had autoimmune conditions in the past that weren't noticed. E.g., I've had autoimmune responses to spider bites in the past, with RH factor turning up in my blood work. I also never had problems with my gums until I got a couple of gold fillings back in the 1970s. They may have been the trigger.

It's hard to know for sure about these things. Recently I read an interesting article pointing out that people want to look for an ultimate cause of their conditions when, in fact, there may be multiple causes.

Good luck, everyone, and maybe try not to be tortured by what-ifs and whys. ❤️

@spondee
I too have recently been diagnosed with RA, after contracting COVID. It started 2 weeks after Covid in one knee then the next knee a week later, and then a huge flare were i was diagnosed after a stay in the hospital. That is when the research started for me.
One article I read an article that researches the increase in autoimmune diseases due to COVID, in the medical journal Nature Review Rheumatology July 2023 vol 19.
Although it helped me understand the cause it didn’t help me deal with my new reality, which is to change. I started on a health journey which I should have started years ago. I thought I use to eat healthy, now I do. I’m careful with my food, little if any alcohol, and exercise regularly. I also take my medications as directed.
It is my body and only I know my body best, doctors can help but I have to be my own advocate. Don’t wait for the doctors, do your own research, try to heal yourself. With autoimmune diseases look at your food choices and the impact on your gut microbionome.

RA has taught me that life is precious and a day without RA pain is a great day and take advantage of the good days.

@barbarald
I agree completely- I am in your same situation with Covid vaccines- then RA and Auto Immune.
Your summary regarding advice to become our own advocates is right in. Our healthcare is quickly becoming a “self serve situation” and having gone through several primary physicians, I have finally found a local clinic with exceptional APRN staff who review my research with me and suggest healthy solutions. One of my recent finds was an OTC product called HemaPlex, to help bring up my iron levels. Have been iron deficient anemic since about 1 month after last Covid vaccine and originally treated with iron infusions once a week for 6 weeks, twice. Both treatments brought the iron levels up only by 1.2 and I never felt the fatigue improve at all. However- I started the HemaPlex capsules- taking just one a day- and after 1 week- I have more energy. Can’t wait to see my new lab reports in early October.
I stopped seeing the rheumatologist I was referred to initially, stopped taking methotrexate with prednisone after 2 years, and 8 months later I have had No flare ups of RA. Have changed my diet- working on improving my exercise habits.
Best advice to all is BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. Do the research. Thanks so much for your positive input!

@spondee
I too have recently been diagnosed with RA, after contracting COVID. It started 2 weeks after Covid in one knee then the next knee a week later, and then a huge flare were i was diagnosed after a stay in the hospital. That is when the research started for me.
One article I read an article that researches the increase in autoimmune diseases due to COVID, in the medical journal Nature Review Rheumatology July 2023 vol 19.
Although it helped me understand the cause it didn’t help me deal with my new reality, which is to change. I started on a health journey which I should have started years ago. I thought I use to eat healthy, now I do. I’m careful with my food, little if any alcohol, and exercise regularly. I also take my medications as directed.
It is my body and only I know my body best, doctors can help but I have to be my own advocate. Don’t wait for the doctors, do your own research, try to heal yourself. With autoimmune diseases look at your food choices and the impact on your gut microbionome.

RA has taught me that life is precious and a day without RA pain is a great day and take advantage of the good days.

@tls5alex You are so right about healthcare workers. My daughter is a nurse and was working during COVID. So many of them got autoimmune diseases who were working at the same hospital after having to take those shots!! A number of them got MS and these were young nurses including a 22 year old. Her mother who was also a nurse got it too. That is not coincidental when they both had to take that horrible "vaccine" which isn't really a vaccine at all. They ran an experiment on the population and it failed miserably. There were so many who were hurt by these shots its criminal. I thank goodness I didn't take the shot as I have my own business. After about a year, I did get Covid but it was very mild and I recovered in less than a week. When my doctor asked me if I got my shot "yet" when they first came out, I told him no way, I'm not taking anything experimental. There is so much literature and many studies about how the side effects were covered up so that the approvals could fly through. Horrible!! And now so many people are suffering needlessly. It's no wonder people don't trust the medical profession. It certainly changed my perspective.

I guess that's the Party line?