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AIBU?

Flu vaccine - is it coincidental/psychological

57 replies

AliceInUnderpants · 21/10/2015 13:59

(sorry posting for traffic)

I had my yearly health check this morning and got my flu vaccination at the same time.
Now, two hours later, I have a rotten headache. I am sinus-y, achy, cold and tired.

Last year I felt rotten for a couple of weeks afterwards too, but can't remember how quickly symptoms came on.

Is it possible that I am reacting to the vaccine already, or is it just psychology or coincidental timing?

OP posts:

Report

howtorebuild · 22/10/2015 14:06

I attended a legal potential group action against a drug company. We declined to go forward as there were lots of issues with it being agreed behind closed doors and the expert witnesses evidence not being published publically.

I now realise there are many things withheld from the public if this is common practice.

AliceInUnderpants · 22/10/2015 14:01

Thanks scaevola that is interesting.

I'm still feeling much the same today. I got up around 8.30 then fell asleep by 10 until nearly 1. I felt much better when I woke but then started feeling rough again :(

I think I might ask the DC's dad to keep them tonight and drop them off at school in the morning. Some of my friends are feeling rough just now too, so I agree I must have been brewing something anyway.

OP posts:

paulapompom · 22/10/2015 08:18

Ah, thank you for explaining, that does make sense. I asked the nurse in our surgery but didn't understand the answer .

scaevola · 22/10/2015 08:13

How the body fights off viral infections

For the influenza vaccine (and other dead ones) chemicals are used to make the virus inactive and noninfectious. However it leaves enough of the outer protein coating of the virus intact, and that triggers the body to mount a more robust and reliable immune response, producing white cells which 'know' how to attack any matching flu virus. But it is entirely incapable of reproducing (ie making you really ill) and those protein coatings are not enough to make you infectious.

The known side effects include mild body aches, fatigue, muscle pain and a low fever, but it's not due to actual flu. It's the body's immune response kicking in.

Flambola · 22/10/2015 08:10

I've never felt any side effects from the flu jab other than a very mildly sore arm.

futureme · 22/10/2015 08:01

We tend to get the flu jab at the time of year there's lots of bugs flying around. I suspect its coincidence.

SomedayMyPrinceWillCome · 22/10/2015 08:00

The flu jab contains no live viruses, it is impossible to get the flu or a cold from the jab.

The feeling unwell and a bit "flu-y" shows you are having an immune response to the jab and that it is likely to have worked. There are many strains of flu so just because you've had the jab, you may still get flu

paulapompom · 22/10/2015 07:46

Alice hope you are feeling a bit better or at least no worse

Does anyone know if the flu jab contains no active virusy stuff (medical term ) why do people get any symptoms/side effects at all?

BumpTheElephant · 22/10/2015 07:35

The very first time I had a flu jab (the swine flu jab when it first came out), I felt like I had a mild flu in the 24hrs following. The symptoms then disappeared as suddenly as they came on. I've never had any side effects to a flu jab since.

kali110 · 21/10/2015 22:54

Op could you take cocodamol instead of paracetamol? Worked great for me whilst i were suffering!

Junosmum · 21/10/2015 20:48

I've never had any side effects from the flu jab. Guess it depends on the person (I've had one the last 5 or so years).

Getyercoat · 21/10/2015 20:40

It's not coincidental in every case.
Said the doctor who gave it to me and saw me 48 hours later.

ghostyslovesheep · 21/10/2015 20:33

I had it Monday - I've had a nasty headache and I feel shattered - proper bone tired

but it's way better than getting the flu!

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/10/2015 20:22

I was going to have mine last week, I ran out of time and didnt. Felt awful for the next three days.

If I'd had the jab I would have blamed that.

NumbBlaseCold · 21/10/2015 20:03

I was ill after the jab.

I came down with flu the day after in the morning and my husband in the evening.

I had the jab, he did not.

We'd both been infected a few days before by my cousin's new partner who hadn't wanted to disappoint and let down by being a family now show.

He was certainly remembered for giving three grenerations the flu.

Had I not been at the party with my husband, I would have wondered if it was the flu jab.

I did wonder at first and then wondered where we got flu from, which took several weeks to realise.

I think because I had a response, fever, to the vaccine, it brought the flu I was unknowingly incubating out quicker but did not give me flu.

I think some people are ill with viruses, colds and flu what have you, and don't know yet so have the vaccine and get sick.

saucony · 21/10/2015 18:27

I'm offered the flu vaccine due to multiple chronic health problems, the treatment which results in being immuno-compromised. I always feel rough afterwards but I know the flu is more dangerous. I've had other vaccinations and reacted the same way; temperature, fatigue and feeling achy. My GP feels it's because my baseline is so low anyway. I think the vaccinations trigger off my autoimmune illness, the symptoms include; temperature, fatigue and feeling achy. So, when people tell me it's psychological, I want them to shove it up their arses.

Mistigri · 21/10/2015 18:11

All four of us have a flu jab every year with no side effects. The only jab anyone here has had issues with is the HPV one.

That doesn't mean that side effects are impossible - there is a risk attached to every medical intervention - but because it's not a live virus, flu-like symptoms are most probably coincidental.

Badders123 · 21/10/2015 17:45

Asthma = no aspirin

donajimena · 21/10/2015 17:38

I felt crap after my last two flu jabs

annandale · 21/10/2015 17:37

Why not aspirin? Such a great drug.

I had a temp and muscle aches for a day 2days after this year's flu jab. It's quite common to have some kind of reaction Imo.
I've now got the cold from hell a week later but can't take any time off. I hate this time of year.

AliceInUnderpants · 21/10/2015 17:31

Alex I get a yearly review as I have asthma.
I know they are also offered for conditions such as Lupus, Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Epilepy, kidney or heart disease etc. Our surgery also offer them for carers.

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 21/10/2015 17:29

This coincidence happens to me every time I have a flu jab.

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AlexCloverandSam · 21/10/2015 17:27

I keep reading that people are having a 'yearly health check'.

What is this please and what age limits are there?

scaevola · 21/10/2015 17:22

Of course it's possible that you might not develop flu, even if you come into contact with the virus. Or get a sub-clinical infection. This is true of pretty much any disease. Even in pandemics, some people do not become ill. But I did mean the jab is better than having the flu, not of not having it.

It is possible that you only get it mildly (which is the norm for a type C).

But the types A and B are both very nasty and circulate widely.

kali110 · 21/10/2015 16:56

chazall the stmptoms are all possible side effects from the vaccine.
I also had them along with a temp a few hours later.

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