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Pfizer Vaccine Side effect (itching)

46 replies

Mldnx · 08/01/2022 01:48

Hi , I cant seem to find any link to what i am experiencing . But I had the pfizer vaccine 1st dose and ended up having flu like symptoms for two weeks . Got better up until the 2nd dose and I had itching on soles and palms of hands the next day . This has spread to my whole body( no rash) with a burning sensation . This has been going on for 6 weeks now . I want to know if anyone else is experiencing this as well . Waiting for an appointment with neurology by Gp .

OP posts:
Mldnx · 08/01/2022 23:58

Found this report online but do not know how genuine it is but these symptoms mentioned have been reported . My Gp doctor thinks its unrelated but after hearing responses , i do seem more confident it is definitely the vaccine because i have always been well and seem to do fine apart from the itching . With the vaccine , it is still new so every side effect should be reported so research and data can become more effective .

OP posts:
Mldnx · 09/01/2022 00:01

This is what i believe is the reactions

Pfizer Vaccine Side effect (itching)
Pfizer Vaccine Side effect (itching)
Pfizer Vaccine Side effect (itching)
OP posts:
pickacard · 09/01/2022 05:29

I think tingling was also the top side-effect reported in Canada, and itching was quite high up there, too. It’s definitely a thing!

I still have the itching (generally, it’s not as intense after four months, but is still a factor). I’ve also seen the crawling sensation mentioned by quite a few people and my DH still experiences it after four months. He keeps thinking there is something crawling up his leg, but goes to brush it away and there is nothing there.

My itching has been the worst on the face and neck, sometimes even along the baseline of my eyelashes. Today, the soles of my feet are stinging but also itching (to a bearable level, and apparently this itching could be a sign of nerve endings healing - I have had a lot of tingling, coldness and numbness in the feet and lower legs over the past four months. Never had it before).

I have a v long list of symptoms, but totally relate to the ones you are describing and, as mine happened immediately & very obviously, no one is disputing that this was caused by the vaccine (in this, I am lucky as many have been fobbed off). My dr is treating it as an immune system over-reaction to the vaccine, and some of my itching is happening in reaction to things that never affected me before (eg, a plaster after a blood test caused a wide area of swelling, intense itching & redness - I cut it off in the end). It’s summer here and, for the first time in my life, I have hay fever (despite taking two antihistamine a day for four months). My nose, eyes and neck itch like mad and my nose starts streaming at the same time every evening that DH’s lifelong hay fever kicks off (I have learnt to shut the doors and windows to avoid the worst of the pollen, and that helps). It’s possible you could also now be reacting to something in your environment that didn’t bother you before, but unfortunately there are so many possibilities and, as yet, no definitive conclusions.

I find it easier at night if I just cover myself with a light cotton sarong - it calms things down, esp in legs & feet, compared to having the weight of the duvet there. Whatever the symptoms, many of us are also finding that an anti-inflammatory diet helps to reduce the intensity. You can also find low histamine diets online. Coffee and alcohol seem to cause flare-ups, as does the menstrual cycle (more inflammation in the body during period). Heat also makes everything worse for me.

For neck itching, I wrap a cold damp flannel around the throat and leave it there. I also still have swollen lymph in the neck & it helps with that. For foot and leg tingling, a tepid foot bath with Epsom salts has provided relief (for itching, it might need to be cold). As well as the antihistamines, I am taking vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, high-dose vitamin C, turmeric (for the anti-inflammatory properties but it can’t be taken with certain medications or if you have certain conditions), acidophilus & flax seed oil (provides anti-inflammatory omegas - a lot of people are taking fish oil for that but I don’t like it!). All of the above has been okayed by my dr.

This immune over-reaction also depleted potassium and iron and I have had to take supplements to restore both.

There are theories being explored about this activating prior viruses, esp Epstein Barr etc, others looking at micro-clotting in the blood and some looking at antibody response to the spike protein (all being done by reputable scientists, not randoms online!). Unfortunately, at the moment we have to do a lot of our own research, so it’s great that you’re checking into things before your appointment - it will help when you get there, esp knowing that you are in no way alone in this.

I hope you find relief, week six was still pretty intense for me. BTW, these threads came up when I searched for ‘itching’ on the support forum I’m following:

vestibular.org/forum/?wpfs=Itching

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

whymewhyme · 09/01/2022 06:03

Me!!! Thought i was going mad! Its only in the heel of my foot but its such a deep itch! Its so annoying!! Never made the link with pfizer till this thead.

Mldnx · 09/01/2022 16:45

[quote pickacard]I think tingling was also the top side-effect reported in Canada, and itching was quite high up there, too. It’s definitely a thing!

I still have the itching (generally, it’s not as intense after four months, but is still a factor). I’ve also seen the crawling sensation mentioned by quite a few people and my DH still experiences it after four months. He keeps thinking there is something crawling up his leg, but goes to brush it away and there is nothing there.

My itching has been the worst on the face and neck, sometimes even along the baseline of my eyelashes. Today, the soles of my feet are stinging but also itching (to a bearable level, and apparently this itching could be a sign of nerve endings healing - I have had a lot of tingling, coldness and numbness in the feet and lower legs over the past four months. Never had it before).

I have a v long list of symptoms, but totally relate to the ones you are describing and, as mine happened immediately & very obviously, no one is disputing that this was caused by the vaccine (in this, I am lucky as many have been fobbed off). My dr is treating it as an immune system over-reaction to the vaccine, and some of my itching is happening in reaction to things that never affected me before (eg, a plaster after a blood test caused a wide area of swelling, intense itching & redness - I cut it off in the end). It’s summer here and, for the first time in my life, I have hay fever (despite taking two antihistamine a day for four months). My nose, eyes and neck itch like mad and my nose starts streaming at the same time every evening that DH’s lifelong hay fever kicks off (I have learnt to shut the doors and windows to avoid the worst of the pollen, and that helps). It’s possible you could also now be reacting to something in your environment that didn’t bother you before, but unfortunately there are so many possibilities and, as yet, no definitive conclusions.

I find it easier at night if I just cover myself with a light cotton sarong - it calms things down, esp in legs & feet, compared to having the weight of the duvet there. Whatever the symptoms, many of us are also finding that an anti-inflammatory diet helps to reduce the intensity. You can also find low histamine diets online. Coffee and alcohol seem to cause flare-ups, as does the menstrual cycle (more inflammation in the body during period). Heat also makes everything worse for me.

For neck itching, I wrap a cold damp flannel around the throat and leave it there. I also still have swollen lymph in the neck & it helps with that. For foot and leg tingling, a tepid foot bath with Epsom salts has provided relief (for itching, it might need to be cold). As well as the antihistamines, I am taking vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, high-dose vitamin C, turmeric (for the anti-inflammatory properties but it can’t be taken with certain medications or if you have certain conditions), acidophilus & flax seed oil (provides anti-inflammatory omegas - a lot of people are taking fish oil for that but I don’t like it!). All of the above has been okayed by my dr.

This immune over-reaction also depleted potassium and iron and I have had to take supplements to restore both.

There are theories being explored about this activating prior viruses, esp Epstein Barr etc, others looking at micro-clotting in the blood and some looking at antibody response to the spike protein (all being done by reputable scientists, not randoms online!). Unfortunately, at the moment we have to do a lot of our own research, so it’s great that you’re checking into things before your appointment - it will help when you get there, esp knowing that you are in no way alone in this.

I hope you find relief, week six was still pretty intense for me. BTW, these threads came up when I searched for ‘itching’ on the support forum I’m following:

vestibular.org/forum/?wpfs=Itching[/quote]
@pickacard thanks for replying. This is exactly the itching i am experiencing . Stinging itch that seems so mild during the day and then at night just gets worse . Mine is all my scalp , neck , chest , hands , back and feet . Im just itching all over . I hope you find some relief and it completely goes . Apparently others said it lasts 6 months and subsides slowly. My Gp doesn't take me seriously so its good you are getting some answers to what it might be . Neurology waiting list is really long so it might be months when they see . The more i scratch the sensation comes up in other places . Very weird .

OP posts:
Mldnx · 09/01/2022 16:46

@whymewhyme

Me!!! Thought i was going mad! Its only in the heel of my foot but its such a deep itch! Its so annoying!! Never made the link with pfizer till this thead.
@whymewhyme How is the itch ? Has it gotten worse and spread or stayed the same . Mine started exactly like you describe the next day after my second pfizer dose . Hopefully yours is just generalised itch instead of all over .
OP posts:
Innocenta · 09/01/2022 16:47

I've had very intense itching since Pfizer, and my mother had it after AZ. We are both extremely prone to it anyway but it does seem to have been triggered (even worse than usual) by the jabs. I'm on very high doses of antihistamine.

Innocenta · 09/01/2022 16:49

(Also, I know it's not Pfizer, but my mother saw a good private dermatologist about hers, and he confirmed it was the AZ vaccine. The reason I haven't specifically pursued investigations for mine is because I am already on so many meds, etc.)

Mldnx · 09/01/2022 18:22

@Innocenta where is the itching for you and how long has it been going on? And was it after the 2nd dose ? Does the meds help you? Please let me know as i want to try different things to see what helps ? Hopefully you and your mums itching subsides with time as it can irritating .

OP posts:
Innocenta · 09/01/2022 18:43

Hi, it's worst on my legs but also on many other areas at times. I've had shingles before and I know this is not shingles for me. I'm on 3x fexofenadine daily (120mg pills) and a high dose of ketotifen (exact dosage varies). I also take promethazine sometimes as well but that's more of a back up.

The meds do help me. The fact that they help is, for me, the strongest evidence that it's an allergic / immune issue. I'm so sorry you're going through this. Thanks

Oh, I also use topical products a lot - steroid cream and 'natural' anti itching spray (Salcura), and a cooling cream.

Innocenta · 09/01/2022 18:44

I had some itching from my second AZ but it's really after my Pfizer booster (which I had in the autumn - I'm CEV) that it's got worse.

Innocenta · 09/01/2022 18:45

(Sorry for multiple replies)

My mum's symptoms have resolved with time, which is encouraging!

Mldnx · 09/01/2022 20:21

@Innocenta no worries ! And yeah hopefully with time , your symptoms subside too . I will try the steroid cream and itching spray on top of the antihistamines to see how that helps . Just so weird there is no rash and cant seem to find if its a neuropathic itch.

OP posts:
skyblueone · 10/01/2022 19:58

I actually can't believe I'm reading this, so glad I found this post. I have been experiencing exactly the crawling sensation you're talking about and I can't tell you how reassuring it is to have found others, although I'm sorry you have it too.
For me the sensation didn't start following a vaccine, it started a week before I tested positive for covid at the start of October. It has honestly been like a form of torture, feels exactly like head lice and bugs crawling on my skin. I didn't make a connection between covid and the crawling sensation at first and convinced myself that there was something seriously wrong with me. I had the poor dog to the vets twice because I thought she must have fleas (she didn't 😂). Anyway..went to my gp who did bloods which were all fine, she suggested taking antihistamines twice daily which I did and it took the edge off but it was still happening. When I told her when it started she said it could be covid related but I kind of dismissed that as I hadn't heard of it...but now here you all are and I think gp was right. As time is moving on it is definitely getting better, some days I don't feel it at all.

Mldnx · 11/01/2022 00:20

@skyblueone i was glad i heard many peoples experience too because initially i thought i was being paranoid but from what you are telling me its the side effects of covid . I heard many people say they did develop skin problems . Hopefully it goes away for you!

OP posts:
Wantingtomove123 · 11/01/2022 01:08

My dd(13) had her first Pfizer vaccine in mid October and while she doesn’t have itching, she has pins and needles, tingling, weakness in legs (and to a lesser extent in arms) along with headaches, back aches, exhaustion. Hasn’t been to school since. At the beginning she couldn’t even get out of bed without my help but now can walk for a little while. Waiting for her hospital appointment. Really hope they can help.

CocoHeart · 11/01/2022 02:40

I've had this since way before the vaccines but it was after suspected covid exposure.
My bloods are fine but it's been driving me mad for 18 month's now.

Mldnx · 11/01/2022 23:52

@Wantingtomove123

My dd(13) had her first Pfizer vaccine in mid October and while she doesn’t have itching, she has pins and needles, tingling, weakness in legs (and to a lesser extent in arms) along with headaches, back aches, exhaustion. Hasn’t been to school since. At the beginning she couldn’t even get out of bed without my help but now can walk for a little while. Waiting for her hospital appointment. Really hope they can help.
@Wantingtomove123 The side effects you mentioned is something i hear alot with the pfizer vaccine . I hope they find a way to treat these side effects and hopefully she gets better !
OP posts:
Mldnx · 11/01/2022 23:53

@CocoHeart

I've had this since way before the vaccines but it was after suspected covid exposure. My bloods are fine but it's been driving me mad for 18 month's now.
@CocoHeart Heard this one as well . Its seems like a long covid thing . Try vitamin b-12 supplements as this can help with itching too .
OP posts:
CocoHeart · 13/01/2022 14:17

Thank you @Mldnx

Wantingtomove123 · 16/01/2022 23:42

@Mldnx thanks. Yes hope so. Today it was particularly bad. Was finding it difficult to even walk to the bathroom….

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