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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Headaches after Astra Zeneca.

31 replies

Rube51 · 21/05/2021 10:58

I'm 30. Have had a blinding headache since the day after I got my second Astra Zeneca dose on Monday. 4 days after is this evening.

I have a high pain threshold. I get bad headaches anyway but these are worse. I know they are a common side effect of the vaccine. But this is a real throb all around my head.

The lady at the vaccination centre told me to seek advice if I was worried about any headaches after the vaccine.

So that's what I did. Yesterday I rang 111. They didn't seem concerned as was only day 3. They did however book a telephone consultation with my usual gp practise for yesterday. They didn't ring, I rang my doctors who said it would be done today.

My phone rang once earlier from the doctors (not great signal here I've told them time and time again to try the landline as if I'm waiting for a call I'll likely be home). I tried ringing back but it was busy. The doctor left a voicemail to say if I still had the headaches to ring the surgery. So I I rang the surgery. The receptionist was s very dismissive as they usually are claiming the doctor has closed the case after a phone consultation - it rang once and he didn't try again. It was a voicemail. I told her I still had the headaches as wanted to speak to a doctor as now on day 4. She asked I had tried paracetamol. I told her I was taking it regularly as you should. Also ibuprofen, heat, ice and sleeping it off and it isn't budging.

Aibu to think they really need to take this more seriously?! from the vaccine centre staff telling those getting it to seek care if needed to be being completely dismissed by 111 and now my doctors.

To add the headache is worse lying down.

The likelihood is that it's just a side effect of the vaccine as headache is a common one but nothing is shifting it!! I have pain on my forehead, my temples, on top of my head, back of my head and down my face around my jaw. It feels like a terrible terrible tension headache tbh.

But aibu to think I need to be taken seriously?

To at least put my mind at ease?!

OP posts:
saturdaynightgin · 21/05/2021 11:10

I was told that if the headache is worse when you’re lying down, then to seek advice sooner rather than later. Is there a walk in centre nearby? Failing that, I’d ring 111 again OP. Hope you feel better soon

Original poster
Rube51 · 21/05/2021 11:15

@saturdaynightgin

I was told that if the headache is worse when you’re lying down, then to seek advice sooner rather than later. Is there a walk in centre nearby? Failing that, I’d ring 111 again OP. Hope you feel better soon
Thank you. Sleep helps temporarily it but lying down awake does not. This is typical of the usual tension headaches I get but the headaches are just worse. No walk in centres. Live pretty rurally. I've requested another phone call. I mean they tried once and give up in an area known to have signal problems! Crazy! I doctors surgeries are in crazy times but they are very similar even before covid. Worst thing is I cannot change surgery as there's only 1 practise for the area I live in 😒
OP posts:
thebakeoffwasntasgoodthisyear · 21/05/2021 11:16

If the headache is unresponsive to pain relief then you need to attend A&E for assessment. They’ll typically check your bloods for Platelet count and D-dimer. These shouldn’t be done in the GP practice in cases where thrombosis is suspected.

Gothichouse40 · 21/05/2021 11:17

If you are concerned, definitely phone them back or as another poster said 111. Ask for a GP phone appointment and tell them the headache is worse lying down. I hope you feel better soon.

Onceuponatime1818 · 21/05/2021 11:18

I would go to a&e, my friend had the same and went there and they took her bloods to check for a clot. Luckily, she was fine but I would defo get it checked.

randomkey123 · 21/05/2021 11:18

I had my 2nd jab on Wednesday and had the worst pain imaginable in my head last night. Ended up taking nurofen and co-codamol so I could sleep. I've got chest pains, sore throat, and a banging headache still. And my legs ache like I've run a marathon.

The guys who have had Covid at work said that the headache was the worst part by far of the virus.

Original poster
Rube51 · 21/05/2021 11:24

Thanks all. At the vaccination centre they said to either ring 111 or doctors to seek advice as local a&e's are so busy turning up thinking they have a blood clot. What do they expect though?

Yesterday when I rang 111 they were not concerned it was only day 3. It will be 4 full days this evening...

Had a throbbing headache all day Tuesday day after the vaccine.

Wednesday still there but not as bad. Bad again by evening.

Yesterday didn't wake up too bad but really bad by the afternoon hence ringing 111. Got a bit better by bed by not fully gone.

Slept all night. Thought I woke up feeling okay. Within an hour my head was thumping.

It's probably on my records that I have tmjd and bad headaches so that's why they've been so dismissive. This headache is very very similar to my usual just more painful and persistent than usual!

OP posts:
sprinkleyumnut · 21/05/2021 11:40

OP as there are no walk in centres nearby, and your doctors aren't taking you seriously enough, I would ring for an ambulance.

Onceuponatime1818 · 21/05/2021 11:45

At the vaccination centre they said to either ring 111 or doctors to seek advice as local a&e's are so busy turning up thinking they have a blood clot. What do they expect though?

I’m sure they would rather be safe than sorry. I would go.

themuttsnutts · 21/05/2021 11:48

Call 119?

HopeHappy · 21/05/2021 12:02

@themuttsnutts

Call 119?
I was going to say this too - I was told at my jab to call either 111 or 119 if I was concerned over any side effects. As 119 is the Covid line I'd use that one first. They may be able to get you a telephone consultation with an alternative GP or force your own GP to contact you again.

Sorry to hear you're still suffering OP - I hope you start feeling better soon.

CommanderBurnham · 21/05/2021 12:05

Go to walk in centre ASAP.

lidoshuffle · 21/05/2021 12:45

I had four classical migraines in five days on the day of the vaccination and immediately following, so I think some people are prone to headaches with it.

Turtles4543 · 21/05/2021 12:49

I rang my GP after three or four weeks of headache after my second jab. The nurse says it sometimes affects sinuses and to try a nose spray and carry on with the paracetamol. They have stopped now thank goodness.

LoveYourself29 · 21/05/2021 12:51

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Mum233 · 21/05/2021 12:57

Can you go to a walk in?

Thatisnotwhatisaid · 21/05/2021 13:00

I thought they weren’t giving under 40s the AZ anymore?

You need to be seen, perhaps A&E.

Kezzywezzy · 21/05/2021 13:05

The leaflet we were given at Vaccination centre describes your headache and says to get medical attention. The nurse who advised us, said to go to A and E in these circumstances. You won’t be time wasting. Hope you are ok.

Billandben444 · 21/05/2021 13:06

My daughter had a similar stonking headache (she is prone to headaches but not like this one!) and eventually her doctor prescribed an anti-migraine tablet and said that if it continued into the 6th day to go to A&E. It slowly improved and then went but she's now refusing to have the 2nd jab - she's 42. I hope you get it sorted x

TheOnceAndFutureQueen · 21/05/2021 13:12

I had an awful headache for about a week and a half after the astra vaccine, similar to what you describe except lying down didn't make it worse. Not very sensibly I didn't take advice - I kept putting it off because headaches are a normal side effect anyway and I was home alone with the kids over the holidays so really didn't fancy a trip to hospital. Luckily it did eventually go away. However, the advice is to get it checked out because of the blood clot risk so persevere with it.

Someone I know who works in A&E has said that they've been flooded with people suffering headaches after AZ so you won't be the only one!

Original poster
Rube51 · 21/05/2021 13:20

@Thatisnotwhatisaid

I thought they weren’t giving under 40s the AZ anymore?

You need to be seen, perhaps A&E.

It was my second dose. Second dose of Astra Zeneca under 40 is allowed if you were fine with the first dose 😊
OP posts:
Original poster
Rube51 · 21/05/2021 13:22

Thanks all. I've since spoken to my doctors who have said that they aren't overly concerned as It's only really the headache I have and it doesn't meet the criteria to be concerned... and I have no health issues that put me at risk of having a clot (What if I have and it's not detected?) he says he thinks it's a tension headache and I need to relax... I cannot relax thinking about it though!

OP posts:
ShallWeStartTheMeeting · 21/05/2021 13:23

Go straight to casualty. Someone I know died after having the same symptoms as you.
Sent home from hospital too- make sure you get all the tests

Original poster
Rube51 · 21/05/2021 13:24

@TheOnceAndFutureQueen

I had an awful headache for about a week and a half after the astra vaccine, similar to what you describe except lying down didn't make it worse. Not very sensibly I didn't take advice - I kept putting it off because headaches are a normal side effect anyway and I was home alone with the kids over the holidays so really didn't fancy a trip to hospital. Luckily it did eventually go away. However, the advice is to get it checked out because of the blood clot risk so persevere with it.

Someone I know who works in A&E has said that they've been flooded with people suffering headaches after AZ so you won't be the only one!

Mine is bizarre. Lying down doesn't always make it worse. sleeping is fine but often when I'm watching tv relaxing and lying down it hurts. The doctor says it's anxiety and tension and moving more will help ease it! No energy to do a lot but tbf I've just took the dog for a walk and I do feel better! The fresh air has helped a little.
OP posts:
ShallWeStartTheMeeting · 21/05/2021 13:25

By the way I had my second dose this week and they said if you had headaches that were unmanageable with pain relief you should get medical help. Tension headache is a ridiculous diagnosis.