Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone has had a reaction to this year's flu shot.

Had flu shot - shot hurt like it has NEVER hurt (upper arm muscle).

My physical and verbal reaction shocked me and the Nurse Practitioner who gave it to me.

A couple of hours later, I was resting (routine afternoon rest/sometimes quick nap) and realized I was really feeling awful - extra weak - breathing affected slightly, and was having much throat clearing. (This symptom was one of initial MG symptoms, after the initial eye droop and has been fairly well controlled for years).

Then, I realized that my left arm had become extremely weak and I could not pick it up - I was sitting in recliner. And I had pain in arm = shooting pain down the arm.

Called pharmacy where I got the shot. NP called me back, said flu shot should not do that, that my speech was slurred and to call 911. Possible stroke symptoms she casually mentioned to me.

Well I knew I was very ill. Have gone to ER and subsequently hospitalized for MG crisis 2 times over the years --- but this was different.

Called 911 - my vitals were fine, just a little bit of high BP and higher heart rate. However, my droopy left eye (almost closed), and dropping mouth and body weakness (extra weak left arm) - DID seem to highly impress the EMT's.

Folks: We MG'ers can look like stroke victims with our infamous eye droop.


Fast forward with a quick ride to ER.

Triaged - and eventually given IV solumedrol. My regular neuro (of course) was not on call - but he certainly heard from me the next day.

LOL - he can hide - but he can't get away.

Obviously, I was not happy and he was not very happy either about this situation.

Anyway, I was finally discharged 7 hours later.

Eye droop had lifted, gagging (choking on saliva) stopped, general weakness better, breathing better, all good except for left arm where the FLU SHOT was given.

Left arm weakness is now better - after a few days home. But it still is not the same as my right arm.

Neuro has amped the NOT SO BELOVED prednisone up to 30 mg a day (had been slowly reducing and was down to 10 mg a day).

Neuro was/is quite puzzled about this. Says perhaps NP hit a really bad area in that muscle with the shot and the extreme muscle pain (trust me, it was a 12 on a scale of 10), and could have triggered this episode.

MG can be exacerbated by many things. Who knows? He doesn't. I doubt that anyone will ever REALLY know why I reacted so strongly.

He said to ask my Internal Med doc to send report to CDC, as they track adverse reactions to flu shots, etc.

I have had a set-back but am getting better.

This post is not made to scare people with MG - about flu shots. If your doc says to get one - get one.

Now, if my doc wants me to get one next year, I have to admit, that I am going to have to think twice ..... or maybe three times about playing that not so little gambling game.

Note that I have had flu shots many, many times since DX'd. No reaction, hardly any pain except for the initial stick.

But I am just wondering if anyone else has had a reaction to the flu shot?

The "literature" out there (online) about MG and flu shots generally advocates flu shots for those with MG. Including the MGFA.

I have been having a rough time lately with MG - hotter and more humid than usual here in CA and greater than usual personal stress, and reduction of daily prednisone dosage. Perhaps something in this new strain of flu shot was enough to push me over?


And now for the good news:

At least I did not go into myasthenia crisis.

Just a huge exacerbation.

Thanks for listening.

p.s. Wow, sorry for long post. It's the PREDNISONE.