No problem with flu vaccine, but I am afraid to get the shingles vaccine although the doc says it is OK. I think my RA started with the birth of my fourth child.

I have not had a flu shot since 1983. My Rheum said I needed one, so, I did that. Hadn't had any vaccine's in years, before this.

Husband had cancer and was dying, and my dad died around the same time. Difinitly stress caused my RA or extreme depression, from grief. Mine came overnight, had no symptoms before, except jaw pain the week before. I am adopted, so have no family history to check.

Lin

I was really sick with the flu the year H1N1 was around, and then also had the vaccine. 7 mths later was diagnosed with RA (symptoms appeared ~4 mts after I was sick). I've always had the flu shot (10 yrs +) with no side effects, so not sure if there is a link here, or just bad luck. I also have a high stress job and 3 young children.

Not I. The only things that I can even think of that caused this was a summer working as the health care team leader at a kids camp this past summer. Working all day every day with very little downtime. It was either that, or working in the high ropes course. I did two different weekends of it, and the first weekend my hands hurt like they normally would after a day of belaying. But the second weekend, it was so much worse and has never gone away.

So who knows. But no needles were involved until after the pain started.

I started having symptoms of RA after the death of my newborn twins. I really do think that was the start of it.

The ache in my shoulder feels like the ache that follows days after a vaccine. I would not be suprised if all of these newer diseases could be traced to one vaccine or another.

The ache in my shoulder feels like the ache that follows days after a vaccine. I would not be suprised if all of these newer diseases could be traced to one vaccine or another.

Cervical cancer vaccination is the underlying cause but what triggered my RA onset was my miscarriage, the stress from loss of loved one.

I believe mine was stress without a doubt....my Mother passed away in april and by June I had made my first Rheumy appointment. I have alot of family members with autoimmune diseases also. but it happened in the beginning of my menopause issues too! someone mentioned in early comment that it lays dorment untill triggered, I believe that too! I never really got flu shots untill I got R.a. my Rheumys have pushed me to get one ever since ??

I always wondered if mine wasn't triggered by the flu shot. I never had one until I was 50 then just a month or so later, I was diagnosed with RA. I also had been under extreme financial stress. So one or the other.

Not for me. I never took a flu shot....ever. Good question though!

i did get RA shortly after a flu shot.

Angel; an MD says 2 me "the flu shot does not give u the flu" I argued it does 2 hes wrong &^ he didnt like that. I got the shot in 2009 and 2 days later felt horrible only 2 have wife take me 2 ER. Tests = Swine flu and this led to pneumonia I was so darn sick for 5-6 weeks. During this time my dry eyes and throat dryness/horseness got extremely worse. then 4 No reason my shoulders and knees (artritic) acted up very badly. My md did tests then results were RA and sjogrens. I am male 49, diag'd at 46. I've been hospitalized 4 times for RA since then.
I feel I already had RA as I had all the same symp's but when I got flu shot my immune system attacked me and I feel caused the severity of Flu Attack 2 days later. Most important, my Rheumy has told me to never get flu shot again, so far so good! Hugs...

I was healthy until extreme stress in college/grad school. Sjogrens first then RA. I am CONVINCED autoimmune diseases are all triggered by stress. I have no family history of anything autoimmune.