I’ve had my second vaccine and I feel horrendous

[Gazelley]

Absolutely bloody awful. Exactly like the flu. I had no problem after my first and I’m very pro vaccine so this is not a “don’t get the vaccine” post. Just be aware you might need a day off afterwards.

Had the vaccine at 8ish last night

• woke up around 3 with a headache
• woke up again at 6 with severe muscle aches all over
• fever then chills, fever then chills on and off all day
• vertigo and the room spinning when I turn over in bed
• appetite is fine, I’ve still been hungry
• very sore arm (same as the first time)

I’m hoping it’s going to be gone by tomorrow morning but I’m feeeling bloody sorry for myself

I had the AstraZeneca one. Felt sick (like I had a hangover) for about eight hours - I did fancy pizza and chips though and managed a plateful that didn't make me feel worse. I had a slight headache for 24 hours. Four days later am so glad and grateful I've had my first vaccine.

i had side effects but hearing how common it is its kind of reassuring in a way, especially as side effects only last a day or two. Also means I can better plan second jab so i,m not due in work which is helpful.

@JengaJanga

Well lucky you.

Im CEV, been fully shielding since March and would 100 million % rather be in ur position right now!!!!

Haven't had my first yet!

I’m CEV and shielding since March too. Unfortunately as the shielding letters make clear, we have to keep shielding, even if we’ve had two doses of the vaccine, so you’re not missing anything in terms of what you are allowed to do.

I felt fine for two days then a bit fluey for 3 days after my Pfizer injection. I’ve had worse from flu injections.

@Cissyandflora

With the infection numbers as they could it be that you all caught Covid? It might sound coincidental but the infection rates are huge so it makes more sense. You’re all describing Covid symptoms.

Well, I certainly didn’t have Covid symptoms and can’t see many symptoms on here beyond a temp (no one mentions cold like symptoms, persistent cough, difficulty breathing, loss of smell etc) and I’m also tested up to three times a week at work as are my colleagues and none of us have tested positive. A lot of the posters on here will also be medical and care staff so will also have to be tested weekly and I’m sure would have said if it turned out to be Covid rather than very normal and expected vaccine side effects.

Im CEV, been fully shielding since March and would 100 million % rather be in ur position right now!!!! Haven't had my first yet!

I have a relative, 90 and CEV, still no date for first jab. Mean time her area is doing routine 70+ people.

Hancock's "contact us" number in the CEV letter can't help (when you eventually get through). GP surgery can't explain either. No idea when they will be vaccinated but its very frustrating and I'm aware of others in similar situations.

@WhoWants2Know

I had mine yesterday morning and was fine up until about 12 hours later. Then pain, nausea, running hot and cold. My kidneys and bladder are sore and I needed the toilet every half hour or so through the night.

I woke up and went to call in sick and found that the other two team members who had the jab yesterday are also in bed with buckets. But if it's only a couple of days, then it's well worth it.

😱 That sounds horrendous And I take it you’ll still need a second one?

@sneakysnoopysniper

I know several people who are hanging on for the Oxford vaccine.

A acquaintance of mine drove home from the vaccination center and barely made it for the pain. She was screaming and crying and her husband was so alarmed he rang 999. The ambulance came and the paramedics said her muscle had gone into spasm. Managed to treat her at home with some gel and very strong painkillers. She could easily have had an accident while driving. Another man I know said his arm felt like it had been ripped off and sewn back on. He had to get his son to help him wash and undress.

Im in my 70s but Im waiting for the Oxford one too.

Good lord, that sounds horrendous.

My 82 year old FIL had his first Pfizer vaccine last week and it seems to have triggered a flare-up of his shingles, he's in so much pain

I'm only just starting to feel normal now (had the first AstraZeneca one on Saturday) I'm hoping that I'll feel better after the second one.

I knew I’d read somewhere that older people aren’t as efficient at using the vaccine as younger people

www.bbc.com/future/article/20201013-why-older-people-are-harder-to-vaccinate

My parents, 86 and 80 have had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine with no side effects at all.

Like all vaccines, you may experience side effects for 24/48 hours and some of the reactions described on here sound pretty similar to my response to my flu jab!

But all things considered I'd rather suffer for a few days as opposed to catching actual Covid and ending up in hospital myself or passing it into to others who may.

I had my first dose of Pfizer on Saturday morning. Sore arm and that was it but today I'm feeling a bit more tired than usual. But that could be because of home schooling 2 kids and actually tired! But I've done a bit of housework and lunch and feel like I need to lie down!

People react differently to jabs so you never know how it's going to be & certainly no reason not to get vaccinated....
Some years I feel a bit ropey after the flu jab, September 2020 I felt fine, not even a sore arm!
I had the pneumonia jab in 2017 & was flattened by it.
In bed for 5 days, feverish & sweating - was sleeping on towels - discovered original Lucozade didn't taste as I remembered.
My 72-yr old mother had her's the same day, same GP surgery & was absolutely fine & believe me, if she's felt under the weather, we would have known about it!

I think it would really help with public acceptance to just be honest about it. People should plan for a sick day, pick something to binge watch, get your preferred sick food ready, and just go with it

This. I would prefer to know I might be floored by the vaccine and now I know I will prepare.
Surely it's better for those who've had this to tell us the worst it could be rather than everyone thinking absolutely nothing will happen.
If given the choice I will try get my vaccine on a Friday so i dont have time off. Bearing in mind the company i work for are assholes about sick days. We dont all get a potential two days with pay to recover.

FWIW I get the flu jab every year, some years a reaction for days, other years a few hours with a sore arm. I would not have expected any more than the worst flu jab reaction if I hadn't read this.

To the poster who asked, yes I’ve had the flu jab this year, I have it every year (never any issues).

My DM said I was absolutely floored by a rabies vaccination when I was a child and everyone else was fine. Maybe I’ve got a super immune system because I rarely get ill either

Another quick update. Headache has persisted but very much in the background. Muscle aches and temp completely gone, little bit of dizziness when I leant over to put my shoes on. Reckon I’ll be 100% tomorrow

I have actually booked 3 days off for after my second dose of Pfizer as I felt so rough after the first jab.

Can I ask would you have been able to look after 2 teens ? Husband and I have our 2nd doses booked for the same day. Wondering if one of us should rearrange ?

Thanks

@ProudAuntie76 I hear you. But not all Covid symptoms are cold like. You can have no cough. And I don’t think what is being described here are normal reactions to a vaccine. I would bet some people have Covid. It would make more sense. I think people are conditioned onto thinking a vaccine gives them a live dose of an illness. Therefore people expect to have the illness afterwards. I’ve heard health professionals say the same thing- that all vaccines give you a dose of whatever it is. It’s not true though. No idea whether this vaccine is any different but just stats alone would suggest some people going for the vaccine will have caught Covid. The symptoms described are exactly Covid.

[quote Cissyandflora]@ProudAuntie76 I hear you. But not all Covid symptoms are cold like. You can have no cough. And I don’t think what is being described here are normal reactions to a vaccine. I would bet some people have Covid. It would make more sense. I think people are conditioned onto thinking a vaccine gives them a live dose of an illness. Therefore people expect to have the illness afterwards. I’ve heard health professionals say the same thing- that all vaccines give you a dose of whatever it is. It’s not true though. No idea whether this vaccine is any different but just stats alone would suggest some people going for the vaccine will have caught Covid. The symptoms described are exactly Covid.[/quote]
Apart from the kidney symptoms, every symptom listed on the posts on here is covered by the side effects list given to us in the information leaflets when we receive or consent to the vaccine. They are PERFECTLY natural side effects of not just the Covid vaccine but others too (pneumonia, yellow fever, even some flu jabs). There’s literally nothing out of the ordinary.

I massively doubt the claim that most of these symptoms are due to covid. A minuscule amount of cases, tiny tiny amount but not common at all. And a huge amount of us in the first priority groups would be tested at least once a week and it would be evident were it the case. The statistics would speak for themselves. I work in this field, I know the current breakdown statistic wise.

@babyyodaxmas, would suggest yes! I had 4 kids here and 1 teen looked after all of them all day.

@CheviotEwe

My 82 year old FIL had his first Pfizer vaccine last week and it seems to have triggered a flare-up of his shingles, he's in so much pain

Could it be that his body is busy making antibodies against Covid so herpes zoster saw the opportunity to reactivate IYSWIM?

@CheviotEwe

Perhaps also he should report through the Yellow Card Scheme

yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

@CheviotEwe hope you don't mind me asking but have any doctors given you any info as to why this has happened ??

I only ask as my 74 year old dad had the shingles vaccine back in 2019 and then 3 months later he got shingles and is still suffering effects from it now.

He is so far refusing to have the covid vaccine for various reasons but the main one being to do with shingles.

Today 12:34 CheviotEwe

My 82 year old FIL had his first Pfizer vaccine last week and it seems to have triggered a flare-up of his shingles, he's in so much pain sad“

Shingles is horrid, hope he recovers quickly.
Your wording “his shingles” suggests this is an ongoing problem for him. In which case his latest flare up is most likely coincidental?