Hashimotos/coeliac and Covid

[SirVixofVixHall]

Does anyone have any information on the effects of Covid on people with autoimmune disease ? I am not on immunosuppressive medication, so not asked to shield, but nevertheless I have been extremely careful all year, initially the Coeliac society said that coeliac disease might increase risk for some people.
I have read various things suggesting that Covid can trigger autoimmune disease , diabetes in children etc.
(I have a teenager with the same issues )I am also wondering about the vaccine and which one would be best . I have an allergy so I am assuming I would have to have the Oxford, my dd seemingly does not qualify for having a vaccine any earlier, and yet I am concerned that although her risk of death from Covid is extremely low due to her age, she may still be risking health complications and ideally would be vaccinated earlier than healthy teenagers in her age group. She is 16.

I have coeliac and Hashimotos, but other autoimmune too, and had the vaccine 3 weeks ago, so definitely put me in group 6 (early 50s)

DD is in the same position as you, cannot eat gluten long enough for the test, she managed 3 weeks and was so ill by the end of it, with weight loss, constant diarrhoea and terrible stomach pains, rashes, etc that she had to abandon it and the test came back negative. GP said just avoid gluten, but it means it isn’t down as a condition for her, and she’ll be ages waiting.

I had Covid last spring. It wasn’t nice, though I’m still here! I’m now under the long Covid team as I’ve had long Covid for nearly a year, and there’s a question mark as to whether it’s triggered MS which they are slowly getting round to investigating.

Don’t let that over panic you - I’m only one person. I would be a bit careful though.

Not sure I can have the flu jab as I have Hashimoto

I had the flu jab last year (privately, not through NHS), inactivated whole virus vaccine and was fine. No issues

@WombatChocolate

The thing with coeliac is 1/3 of people have reduced spleen function

Do coeliacs still have reduced spleen function if following a strict gluten free diet (i.e. the antibodies have gone down)?

It needs to be diagnosed coeliac disease to put you in group 6. A lot of people have intolerances, you would unfortunately need testing to be eligible.

Do coeliacs still have reduced spleen function if following a strict gluten free diet (i.e. the antibodies have gone down)?

This is what CoeliacUK say:

"The risk of hyposplenism to children with coeliac disease is very low and the risk for adults is likely to be low, particularly for individuals who have been diagnosed and following a strict gluten free diet for several years and are otherwise healthy."

Well great news for me as my GP has said the same, that it would be mad to have to do a gluten challenge and make myself really unwell, and that my clear symptoms and related issues are enough and I am getting vaccinated on Wednesday ! A bit scared of reacting to the vaccine as I am a very reactive person, but not as scared as I am of Covid, and grateful for the miracle of vaccinations now.
He said that in fact they are moving so quickly through the 60+ group that they will be on the fifties very soon and I could get the call for the Pfizer before my appointment at the surgery for the Oxford, so if that happens I have no idea which to choose, any thoughts v welcome.
So for anyone else in the same boat coeliacs are in group 6, but also things are moving amazingly fast with the vaccine so people in their fifties will be getting vaccinated very soon. All good news !

JustanotherBrick how horrible for your DD, my GP has said that they don’t actually demand the gluten challenge any more as it can make people so unwell, so they look at the whole set of symptoms and related conditions, so it is very worth her discussing this again with her GP.

I am sorry about your experience post covid, with ongoing health issues.

I have worked on a Covid ward throughout the pandemic. The biggest risk factor for severe illness is obesity, then type 2 DM, then preexisting lung disease (eg interstitial lung disease, but not asthma esp if on inhaled steroid which seem to protect)
Haven’t seen any who are immunosuppressed and normal weight v sick.

That is very reassuring Nomore . I am a normal weight size 12 , but definitely chubbier than I should be since lockdown. Back to being very careful with refined carbohydrates now to shift it as it has crept up this year with eating too many sweet things from stress and boredom.

I am Coeliac and I got the jab just over 2 weeks ago. Coeliacs are group six because of the risk of asplenia. I have been diagnosed over 10 years ago by blood test and biopsy. I did not have to continue eating gluten to get formally diagnosed as I was so ill at that point. Group 6 = Coeliacs with a diagnosis.

My daughter (21) has a coeliac diagnosis and had her jab last weekend , she had the Oxford and felt quite rough for a few days with a temp etc . I have a few autoimmune diseases and had the Pfizer jab at the start of Feb with no side effects at all .

Great news OP!

Thanks @TangerineGenie

I am hoping it doesn’t make me feel too dreadful. Two friends have had the Oxford, one felt feverish ill for three or four days, the other completely fine.

How are you feeling after your jab yesterday OP? I have coeliac and had mine yesterday morning. My reaction has been very unpleasant, was up most of the night with hot and cold shivers, vomiting and a splitting headache. I don't know any other coeliacs so interested to see how you've been feeling! I had the Oxford by the way.

B1rdinthebush I couldn’t sleep, felt woolly brained, a bit headachey, and sort of leaden last night, today I have aching and feel pretty rubbish, a bit nauseous and wiped out too. I have been either in bed or on the sofa all day. My reaction hasn’t been anywhere near as bad as yours though by the sound of it. My DH also got vaccinated as they had spares left over, and he feels a bit shivery but is better than me.
I am hoping tomorrow is a better day ! I hope you feel much better soon, 24 - 48 hours seems to be how long most of my friends who had symptoms suffered for.

@SirVixofVixHall Glad to hear your reaction hasn't been too horrid, though it certainly doesn't sound much fun! I read an article earlier that proposed that those with auto-immune diseases would likely have worse reactions because our immune systems are over active. I don't know how grounded in fact that is but it would certainly explain how I've been feeling today! I hope you start to feel better ASAP.

I am telling myself it means I am making antibodies, and as I haven't had a cold or anything at all for a year due to isolating, this is just like a Winter virus and nothing too ghastly. I haven’t taken any paracetamol yet, but might do later.

@JustAnotherBrick

I have coeliac and Hashimotos, but other autoimmune too, and had the vaccine 3 weeks ago, so definitely put me in group 6 (early 50s)

DD is in the same position as you, cannot eat gluten long enough for the test, she managed 3 weeks and was so ill by the end of it, with weight loss, constant diarrhoea and terrible stomach pains, rashes, etc that she had to abandon it and the test came back negative. GP said just avoid gluten, but it means it isn’t down as a condition for her, and she’ll be ages waiting.

I had Covid last spring. It wasn’t nice, though I’m still here! I’m now under the long Covid team as I’ve had long Covid for nearly a year, and there’s a question mark as to whether it’s triggered MS which they are slowly getting round to investigating.

Don’t let that over panic you - I’m only one person. I would be a bit careful though.

This is useful to know; thank you.

Glad you got the jab - I do hope that come the morning you are feeling a lot better.

Grr I tried to quite your reply about GP not needing gluten challenge! Late, brain not working at the best of times....

I have Hashi's and apparently I had Covid asymptomatically last year. I have tested positive for antibodies to the spike protein. I was so worried when all this started that getting Covid would kill me or make me terribly ill, and in fact nothing like that happened at all! My DP had it and shrugged it off in 3 days, I thought I just never caught it, but apparently I did. It's a huge weight off my mind.

@B1rdinthebush - your side effects sound very similar to mine. I have hashimotos and coeliac, vaccinated on Tuesday. I can't recall when I last felt so ill, shakes, temperature, vomiting, diaorrhea.

I am feeling a bit better this morning, but I have felt unwell for a week post vaccine. Not stay -in-bed level of ill, but not wanting to do much or walk the dog . I feel as though I am more reactive than normal to pollen too.