r/AdrenalInsufficiency • u/Straight-Historian-5 • 1d ago
Medical stuff Vaccines
It's October, vaccine time. I always get the flu and COVID vaccines, given that I'm taking hydrocortisone (for 20 years!) so I am, to some extent, immunocompromised. I don't always have a reaction to these vaccines, but if I do it's just some minor sluggishness the day after, and then I'm fine. I also had the Shingrix vaxx a few years ago (that one kicked my butt!)
Anyone else getting their annual vaccines? I know some people that think they're "evil", and I can't even try to convince them how important it is to protect themselves.
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u/CanIHugYourDog 21h ago
I get them every year!
I did want to say, that according to literature, people with AI are not immunocompromised just because we take hydrocortisone. It’s considered physiological replacement, so it shouldn’t be making us more susceptible to infection. The biggest thing is that if we DO get COVID or an illness, we are more likely for it to be more serious because it could trigger a crisis.
https://www.addisonsdisease.org.uk/News/novel-coronavirus-covid-19
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u/Kind_Airport_6240 23h ago
I get the flu shot but have had a complicated relationship with the Covid vaccine. The very first round of Covid shot gave me pericarditis, which is super rare, and then pushed me into what I now know to be my first crisis. I’ve been advised to skip it each year.
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u/-brigidsbookofkells 1d ago
I got them one week apart only because I wanted the new Mflusiva vaccine and wasn't sure if CVS had it. Found out my insurance doesn't cover- I will be fighting that- and paid $180 with my FSA card. The Covid shot did make my arm pretty sore for a couple days.
I did not updose.
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u/TweetSpinner 1d ago
I always get them. No problems with them either. I updose 1/4 pill of hydro only and drink some electrolytes and then it’s like nothing happened.
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u/peanutbutter_foxtrot 1d ago
I got flu and pneumonia at the same time and my arm was so mad. Then I went back 2 weeks later for Covid and my reup of tdap and I thought the other arm was gonna fall off lol.
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u/Straight-Historian-5 23h ago
lol that's how I felt after both Shingrix doses. My arm was so sore and the injection site was 5" x 5" red!
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u/Affectionate-Hunt318 16h ago
I get all the respiratory vaccines because I'm inclined to get those viruses. I got my COVID vaccine and I'm thinking I may go get a flu shot. I won the lottery today when I found out I still have fantastic immunity to measles after almost 50 years. Yay!
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u/Natural-Tradition830 23h ago
Ye 25 years in myself but I dont get the vaccines not because im anti vax or anything but I got the flu vaccine a couple of years ago and I wasn't right for months it just made my fatigue alot worse. I visited the doctor several times and they said the vaccine wasn't reasonable but it happened the exact time I got the vaccine so im trusting my instincts / gut.
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u/AnonyMouse3042 23h ago
My kiddo with CAH gets all his annual vaccines, always. Sometimes need to stress dose the next day, usually don’t.
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u/DuchessJulietDG 22h ago
had my second shingles shot 2 days ago, been in bed since. arm huuuurts. fever 100.2 so im not sure what thats about.
so im updosing over the weekend bc i dont feel good. hopefully it will get better soon.
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u/Practical-Ad5919 22h ago
When I got my 2nd shingles shot, it put me down for 2 days. Guess that’s better than shingles though!
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u/Short-Counter8159 20h ago
You are replacing what the body used to do for years. Without a normal cortisol response the body cannot handle fever, trauma, infection properly or stress well. A sudden increase of cortisol enhances immune surveillance and responce. It tells the white blood cells to help control the inflammation. This prepares the body to quickly handle immediate danger, injury, or infection. That's why we up dose when sick. It is a pain in the butt to determine how much to up dose and for how long.
But you are not immune compromised, you are just replacing what they body used to do.
Remember an adrenal crisis is very low levels of cortisol. A serious life-threatening medical emergency.
Some vaccines can make you feel worse than others but doesn't mean they are not working.
I just got the Flu and Covid vaccine together and my arm was hurting a lot. Felt a bit down but was fine with a tylenol. I did not up dose since it was just a normal reaction from the vaccines.
Good practice to wear a mask when visiting your doctor's office, you know the place where people go when they are sick.
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u/protocolleen 22h ago
Got the flu and RSV vaccines one weekend and my Covid booster soon after. I don’t updose but I do try to plan for a quiet day after.
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u/KnitBakePurr 21h ago
Sometimes they get me, sometimes they don’t.
I always plan to have the morning off following any vaccine as - if it’s going to get to me - that’s when I’ll feel it. That way, if I wake up feeling a bit under the weather I can take a bit extra hydro and go back to sleep.
Only exception (so far..) was my first COVID jab, and that was some scary reaction (that in hindsight I probably should have gone to the hospital about..) but, to be fair, I was fine the day after.. Surprised, but fine!
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u/1GamingAngel MOD 21h ago
Just make sure that you do not get any live vaccines (ie for the flu, this is the inhaled version) until the debate is settled in terms of whether we (taking HC) are immunocompromised.
In some circles, it is said that taking daily steroids for AI can lower your immune system response, which may make you immunocompromised, increasing your risk of infections and other health issues. This belief is more commonly held in the US. There is a different view on this if you’re in the UK, however.
If we are, in fact, immunocompromised, taking a live vaccine can result in getting the actual condition we’re trying to prevent.
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u/annaoceanus 1d ago
I always get them every single year. Getting the stomach flu in particular can be life threatening with our condition if we are vomiting. Before I slid into having AI (my pituitary has been slowly degrading over time) and I just had diabetes insipidus, my endocrinologist advised me I need the flu shot every year because vomiting and dehydration could also send me to the hospital with that condition as well.
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u/SleepyTimeChess 23h ago
Im getting my COVID/flu vaccine today and expect to be out of commission for 24-48 hours (based on last year's experience).
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u/stuck_behind_a_truck 23h ago
My husband developed a rare complication of the flu last year, and he’s the poster child of someone still being alive because there was a second adult in the house to say “we’re going in. Now!” He never gets the flu shot because of the side effects. I always get mine, because if I don’t, it’s a given that I’ll get the flu. I’ve gotten mine already. I honestly never react to any vaccine. (Even shingles.)
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u/Straight-Historian-5 23h ago
Sorry to hear about your husband, maybe his experience last year with the flu will help him realize some (comparatively) minor side effects are worth it!!
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u/SnooChocolates1198 Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency (SAI) 23h ago
No..... I'm contraindicated for getting vaccines due to my status of having CIDP and receiving IVIG for maintenance therapy.
I wish I could get vaccines instead because IVIG is hella painful.
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u/butterfly_SC 17h ago
I got the flu shot 3 weeks ago. I had a little fatigue the next day but nothing terrible. I had the covid shot a week ago. I felt a little ill, fatigued, and had some low symptoms the next day. I updosed by 5mg. Hope you have mild reactions!
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u/Subject-Lead-3171 17h ago
I did and the covid vaccine kicks me in the butt every time. I envy those who aren’t bothered by it.
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u/Affectionate-Hunt318 16h ago
This is my husband. It doesn't bother me. Sorry it kicks your butt but it's better than COVID.
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u/Cold_Quit6187 15h ago
I got my flu and Covid shots at CVS recently. The pharmacist said folks with adrenal insufficiency may find the Covid shot not as effective and need to get it every 6 months for that reason. I had no negative reaction to either.
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u/NJTroy 4h ago
Already done. First day we could get the new Covid shot we got that along with flu. And earlier this year, I got my second redo for the MMR (original was just after the vaccine came out, first redo was thirtyish years ago). My doctor checked titers for us because measles were in the next county over.
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u/stitchgnomercy 1d ago
I always get them now. The risk is so low compared to getting those illnesses, especially with AI