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Pregnancy

Whooping cough paranoia

56 replies

MammaMia1234 · 27/10/2016 11:08

I have been struggling with anxiety so far in this pregnancy and just when I though I was starting to relax something sparked it off again. I had my whooping cough vaccine this morning and when I arrived at the surgery there was a muddle over my appointment time - they had wanted to change me to a later appointment but had forgotten to call me and muttered something about shingles vaccinations. Anyway, I had the jab and when I got out to the car had a horrible feeling of what if I have been given the wrong vaccine. The nurse confirmed I was in for the whooping cough but I keep thinking what if she took the wrong box out of the fridge, as she had been doing shingles ones before my appointment. What if she just did it on autopilot. I went back to ask if i could see the box and info leaflet but the receptionist said the GP was not prepared to do that. I asked if I could speak to him, she then came out with generic info on the vaccine printed from the internet. I told her I wasn't worried about getting the vaccination but just in case I had been given the wrong one. She said she had checked with the nurse and I had definitely been given the right one. I still feel a niggle. I just feel like a mess.

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MammaMia1234 · 27/10/2016 17:56

Please can someone tell me what colour the box of the vaccine was? Mine was plain white - just still worried I might have been given the wrong thing and not sure how to handle it.

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noblegiraffe · 27/10/2016 18:06

She checked with the nurse and you had been given the right one, the nurse didn't suddenly go 'shit, I gave her the shingles one', which she would have done if she got it wrong.

It's very unlikely that you would have been booked in for a whooping cough vaccine, had it confirmed that you were there for whooping cough (despite it being shingles morning) then being given shingles and when asked to check having it confirmed that it was whooping cough. There's nothing more you can do about it except accept that people know their jobs, and you double checked!

MammaMia1234 · 27/10/2016 19:01

Thanks. The box it was in was plain white but the gsk Boostrix IPV vaccine is supposed to be a white and blue box which is only adding to my doubts.

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NerrSnerr · 27/10/2016 19:11

Did the nurse stick the little sticker from they syringe on any notes? I have seen them do that before but can't remember if they did it in my last pregnancy.

Catlady100 · 27/10/2016 19:17

Hi Mammamia, I can't comment on the vaccine but have you spoken to the dr about your anxiety? I have health anxiety and it's got worse since I found out I'm pregnant. Current fear is toxoplasmosis! However, I told the Dr and got referred for counselling straight away. Had my first session this week and it was great. Worth considering? Cat x

MammaMia1234 · 27/10/2016 19:17

No I didn't have notes with me and she didn't give me the sticker or anything else. I just dont understand why they wouldn't show me the box when I went back.

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TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 27/10/2016 19:19

When they give you a vaccine they usually record the batch number and brand in your notes. If you have your notes you can check, otherwise this data should be recorded in the system and they can check next time you visit.
I suffer from v bad anxiety so I'm saying this kindly and with total sympathy but please talk to someone about your anxiety,
They checked - if that check hadn't had the right resultcthey would tell you.
Anxiety is awful and mine only got worse after birth - please talk to your mw about it.

TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 27/10/2016 19:22

just dont understand why they wouldn't show me the box when I went back.

It'll be in the bin, along with various nasties and potential infective materials - she shouldn't be going into the bin to get it. Besides, if she's done twenty shingles ones and a load of WC ones there will be many boxes in the bin.
Take care of yourself

MammaMia1234 · 27/10/2016 20:19

Hi Cat Lady yes the doctor knows about the anxiety. He wasn't unsupportive but couldn't believe it when I asked to be referred for counselling. His attitude is quite mind over matter and he's quite blunt about things. I don't know why he refused to show me the packaging. I understand it may have been binned but there were other vaccines he could have just shown me another box. The receptionists said 'we wouldn't give you the wrong thing, the nurse is very professional and she said the nurse had shown her the box and it had other doses in it. They did try to reassure me but the doubts are mainly from the fact that I didn't ask to see the box at the time. Then I looked online and discovered the box should be white and dark blue but mine was definitely all white. It's just allowed the seed of doubt to creep in. I wouldn't wish this anxiety on my worst enemy. I just keep thinking what if my baby is not covered. And what can I do to reassure myself? Can I ask to see a box or for them to clarify the colour of the packaging? Can I ask for my records?

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DianaMitford · 27/10/2016 20:27

It should be recorded somewhere on your medical records, surely?? Which you can ask to see/be told about over the phone? DP is a GP, I'll check with him when he gets back.

I've suffered badly with anxiety in the past - you have my sympathy

Catlady100 · 27/10/2016 20:35

It's a shame that he isn't more supportive, is there another doctor at the practice? It helped me to write down how I was feeling and the things I worried about and I took those notes with me - helped me explain the serious nature of it all. Feel for you x

LilQueenie · 27/10/2016 20:35

Most doctors refuse to show packaging and leaflets as they contain info they don't normally share. Also the box will depend on which manufacturer is making the vaccine. There are several companies who make them. You can ask to see your notes but I think it has to be in writing.

scarevola · 27/10/2016 20:35

Are you in UK, and was this on NHS?

Because the NHS simply doesn't do shingles vaccinations unless you are in your 70s.

I just don't think there's any way that you would have been given the wrong one. Because even on a really bad day, a woman who is young enough to to be pregnant isn't going to look 70.

And yes, nurses doing vaccination clinics often have successive patients coming in for different jabs. As she checked out loud which you were there for, it seems vanishingly unlikely she'll have given you the wrong one.

However, if you really want to run this to ground, somewhere in your notes there will be a record of the batch number of the jab you were given. I suppose that could be checked.

You could also try talking to your Mw, not your GP about a referral for counselling for anxiety in PG.

MrsH87 · 27/10/2016 20:42

My nurse tapped the details from the vaccine into my notes on the computer - so the correct vaccine should be reflected in your notes. Can you self refer for counselling? Perhaps worth asking your midwife rather than GP about this? Particularly as it's so common in pregnancy.

MammaMia1234 · 27/10/2016 20:53

Thanks Diana I really appreciate that. It will be on my records. I think if I could see it recorded down and be shown the packaging it would put my mind at ease. Could you ask your husband if there is any reason why they wouldn't show me the packaging? Or if it is unreasonable to request this? Thanks again

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MammaMia1234 · 27/10/2016 21:03

Yes I did think that about the shingles and advanced age! I guess this is where the anxiety takes over and I think could she just have picked up the shingles box on autopilot. Unlikely I know. I thought the dtap IPV vaccine for preg women was only manufactured by GSK and therefore the packaging would be the same across the board. It even shows online exactly what it should look like. I am going to go back to the GP tomorrow to ask to see this on the system and to see the box. I'm sure they will be highly fed up with me. I'm not normally like this. I don't know if this is how I should handle it but can't think of anything else. I am going for CBT have had a couple of sessions but it doesn't seem to be massively helpful yet. Its mainly just been about deep breathing and challenging the thoughts etc. But that is not easy when you are doubting something and highly anxious.

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noblegiraffe · 27/10/2016 21:39

The packaging will be in the bin, they don't keep it for inspection.

You most likely saw the white end of a blue and white box and your panicked brain is remembering it incorrectly. Far more likely than them incorrectly telling you which vaccine you were having, incorrectly confirming which vaccine you had, and giving you a vaccine for the elderly instead. I've had things where I've clearly remembered X, but actually it was Y, our memories are rubbish. False memories are quite easy to create.

raviolidreaming · 27/10/2016 22:19

A Google search suggests that the shingles vaccine - Zostavax - also comes in a blue and white box.

TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 27/10/2016 22:21

Please don't go and ask to see the box. They've chucked it. Next time you go ask them to double check with the batch number - this gets recorded somewhere usually in the computerised notes.
As I said before, I suffer from severe anxiety so I'm not saying this in a 'pull yourself together ' way. But they won't have the packaging.
Also, if you're finding cbt isn't working for you, after you've given it a good shot, tell them. It did nothing for me. It's not the panacea for all ills the NHS touts it as (but it is cheap, hence it being pushed so widely.)
Take care of yourself. Anxiety is a bitch, it really is xx (couple of very unmumsnetty kisses there, sorry...)

Kittenrush · 27/10/2016 23:08

There are tens of different boxes for each vaccine dependent on who makes/packages them. Just as an additional point :)

raviolidreaming · 27/10/2016 23:18

Kitten, according to their website the NHS only offer one brand of the Shingles vaccine and one of the combined Whooping Cough vaccine.

MammaMia1234 · 28/10/2016 07:15

When I say I'd like to see the box I just mean the box in general that contains the vaccine. Not the actual one that was used. Thanks for all your comments.

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Kittenrush · 28/10/2016 08:24

Oh ravioli I stand corrected. Apologies. I'm a nurse in A&E and our boxes are changing all the time! Anything we give IM is double checked also. If that puts your mind at rest?

MammaMia1234 · 28/10/2016 08:43

When you say double checked Kittenrush - in what way? Thanks

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TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 28/10/2016 08:53

Packaging can vary depending on who items are being supplied to and in what volumes (I work in drug development and clinical trials.) it's entirely possible you saw a white box - but they do check at the point they take the dose from stock and the point before they give it to you.
Ask if they wrote down the batch no on your next routine appointment

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