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Can someone with PMR get a flu vaccine?

Posted , 14 users are following.

marla.090252
marla.090252

I was diagnosed PMR in Nov. 2016, and was put on 20mg, Prednisone which relieved my symptoms within a day.  Since then I reduced to 15mg, then 10mg, (and a short stint of 7.5mg which left me in pain - Rheumy's suggestion to get off the Pred more quickly... duh, nope), so I informed my GP and went back up to 10mg in Feb, '17, where I have been since. I'm still achy all the time, with bouts of random pain, roaming from shoulder to shoulder, upper arm muscles, occasionally hands, but rarely.

Just prior to the diagnosis, in early Oct, I had my annual physical, flu shot, EKG, blood work...  By the third week of the month, I was feeling achy.  Flu shots always bring on a response with me, sometimes I even have a low-grade fever.  But now that I'm 65, my Dr. suggests I get the current vaccine (killed virus strains).  Some years I took the shot, some years not.

So I didn't really think much of being achy.  Except the ache didn't go away.  My shoulders and arms, upper chest, ribs, were all getting more and more painful, to the point I was trying to stretch out my arms in the doorway, spreading them out in the doorway and leaning into the stretch... I had to stop that!  So incredibly painful...

Next stop was my GP.  We discussed what could be causing the painful muscles, and by this time, tendons and joints, too.  She gave me some low dose hydrocodone (acetaminophen with codeine) and had me come back in a few days.  The HC helped a little but pain was getting worse.  By time I saw her again, I had read every article I could find on shoulder pain, coming up with PMR.  So I suggested this... she was so enthused that I would take it upon myself to advocate for myself, and do some research!!!  She said she'd check it out.  She had me stay for another round of blood tests.  When she came back she fully agreed on my research, saying she thought I was correct!  (Yay!)  Adding to the blood tests was the SED rate.  Here's were it gets weird.

My SED rate was 2.0.  In the normal range for this test (< or = 30 mm/h).  So I was sent to a Rheumy in Feb '17.  This Dr. said I fall into a more rare category, called Atypical PMR.  SED rates are, for me, not indicative of the usual PMR test results... but I exhibit all the symptoms.

I just would like an opinion, as to whether I should get the flu shot this year or not.  With an auto-immune disease, I wasn't sure.  My Dr. decided to hold off.  I'll also be inquiring of my Rheumy in Dec.  I guess this begs a question, too, where my symptoms flared about a week to 10 days after last year's flu shot... could the vaccine be responsible for my PMR?

Does anyone have experience with this?  Thank you in advance!

Marla

1 like, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • TheRaven
    TheRaven marla.090252

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with PMR the same time as you, November 2016.  I actually had it since July but it took a while before the doctors tumbled to the idea of PMR.  I had a flu shot in October when I was already in pretty bad shape from the PMR but prior to the diagnosis and starting on Prednisone.  I had no issues other than a slight fever for one day which is normal for me.  Now it's time for this year's shot and I questioned a doctor (via email) about flu and pneumonia vaccinations for a person with PMR who is on prednisone.  He swears up and down that there should be no issues.  Based on how well it went last year I intend to continue getting vaccinations like normal.  Could the vaccine be responsible for PMR?  I don't see how it could, but there are people here much better versed on such things.  

  • Michdonn
    Michdonn marla.090252

    Posted

    marla, there is some question as to whether the shingles vaccine might cause PMR. Have not heard that the flu shots are a problem. If I was you I would try and find a prednisone dosage that I was comfortable with and reduce slowly using the DSNS taper method. I do not have the website right now, hopefully someone will post it for you. Good luck go slow it is not a race! Think positive and try to smile. Smiling:-)
  • peggy_56092
    peggy_56092 marla.090252

    Posted

    I have had a flu shot every year for at least the last ten years.  I was diagnosed with PMR 2016, been on pred almost two years, and not had a problem with the flu shots.  I have never had the enhanced flu shot for people over 65.  I did have the shingles shot several years ago which, I recently discovered, causes PMR.  Now I am confused as to what caused my PMR.  Shingles shot or Levofloxacin, an antibiotic taken two years ago (after the shingles shot) for supposed pneumonia.
    • Michdonn
      Michdonn peggy_56092

      Posted

      peggy, had you read that Levofloxacin can cause PMR also? Thanks 🙂

    • peggy_56092
      peggy_56092 Michdonn

      Posted

      After two days, two pills, I was not able to walk up the stairs.  Walking and shoulder ailment became very painful.   My GP remarked that Levofloxacin seemed to trigger RA.  A steroid shot solved the shoulder problem.   Six months later, a new GP gave me prednisone which immediately took away all my pains/symptoms of PMR, weight loss, stiff painful muscles, etc..  There was a black box warning and law suits on this drug but I trusted the dr rather than the druggist when taking it.  You can google the drug for more information. 
    • Michdonn
      Michdonn peggy_56092

      Posted

      Peggy, I did look online, what a horrible drug. As I have said before, since having PMR I have lost confidence in doctors. I have a Rhemy that wants me off Pred. There is no way I am taking the secondary drugs she is suggesting.
  • ViktoriaH
    ViktoriaH marla.090252

    Posted

    Hi Marla,  I've had flu shots with PMR without too much hassle, this year I was experiencing a flare and worried that it would exacerbate it but apart from an achy arm for a day I've had no problems.  Better the shot than the flu, I think.

  • linda17563
    linda17563 marla.090252

    Posted

    I have always had the flu shot....had it many years ago (the flu) was horrendous, in bed for weeks......also while on  steroids have had Pneumonia last December....so have now had that jab as well.......have had shingles also, but from what I`ve read on here it is a live vaccine, so will avoid that.........good luck....
  • EileenH
    EileenH marla.090252

    Posted

    Yes of course you can have a flu shot - it is a "killed" vaccine which means the virus is inactive so you cannot get the infection from it - and in fact it is recommended if you are on any immunosuppressant drug or have an autoimmune disorder as your immune system may not be up to scratch on what it should do.

    The cause of PMR - or any autoimmune disorder - isn't clear but it is likely that many events put stress on the immune system over a long period and finally one thing tips it over the edge and it goes haywire, starting to attack your body tissues as if they were foreign because it can't recognise them as "self". Now it IS possible that your flu shot was that final straw that broke the camel's back for you - but if it hadn't been that, it would have been something else. But that has already happened - won't happen again. And it is pretty likely your PMR had been hatching long before the flu shot.

    I, too, have "atypical PMR" by your doctor's standards, never had a raised ESR (sed rate) or CRP in my life. On the other hand - I consider 50% of patients to be likely to be atypical in some way - so I'd disagree with the concept of "rare". But that's just me...

    I don't know when your flu season is but I'd have thought waiting until December was a bit late.

    • Michdonn
      Michdonn EileenH

      Posted

      EileenH, thank you for your wisdom Lady. 🙂

  • dea13
    dea13 marla.090252

    Posted

    I have had PMR for about 20 months....  I have had the flu shot and pneumonia  shot. I have been ok with both. I was told if the shot is not live then it's ok....  

  • megangrammy
    megangrammy marla.090252

    Posted

    I too was diagnosed pmr at the same time as you last year. I get the flu shot every year and got it this year with no problem.  I am more with the belief it has to do with low vitD. I started on 20 mg prednisone pain went away but I wanted off that drug because of it's bad side effects. I had a hard time getting below 7mg but my dr had me follow dropping the dose to 6mg one day 7mg 6 days next week 6mg 2 days 7mg 5 days and on while also taking high doses of vitD3  20,000 iu+ Raw vitK2 100mcg

    I am now on 1mg prednisone and hope to be off by the end of Nov. I am having my physical next week and am wondering what my vitD will be. For me it just seemed to change things once I started on the high VitD3? 

    • EileenH
      EileenH megangrammy

      Posted

      Low vit D itself can cause PMR-type symptoms and it is one of the things that should be ruled out right at the start. One is left to wonder how many people are on pred for ages when a course of high dose vit D might act as a steroid sparer...
    • peggy_56092
      peggy_56092 EileenH

      Posted

      What is considered a high dose?  I am currently taking 1400 IU D3 daily (1000 in a multi-vitamin) with an additional 400 IU.
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga peggy_56092

      Posted

      Peggu, you are taking close to the standard recommendation for anyone, not just people on pred.  Can you have your vitamin D level checked?  I was taking 1000 IU for years, doctor told me to double that when I started pred and there was also some in my bones supplement.  I also took cod liver oil, more for the retinol than the D.  In the end my D level got too high, because I also have sarcoidosis.  Normally your body will only activate Vitamin D as it is needed, but this process malfunctions in sarcoidosis, which is fairly rare.  But for that reason I think people should have their D levels checked because sarcoidosis can be completely non-symptomatic.  Too high levels are rare, many people, however, have low levels.  Good to know either way. 
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga

      Posted

      sorry, Peggy,  I wish for edit button
    • peggy_56092
      peggy_56092 Anhaga

      Posted

      Thank you for your response.  I am learning so much from this forum.  Thank you everybody!!
    • EileenH
      EileenH peggy_56092

      Posted

      High dose is 60,000IU per week, either as a single dose or as 3 x 20,000 IU but that is only used for 8-10 weeks followed by a break and the vit D level being checked. What you are taking is a good level for maintenance for anyone - once you know your vit D level is OK. 
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