Second vaccine, live alone, preparations

[ThatSchoolOfficeLady]

Had my second jab this afternoon, live alone. Have set up by the bed bottles of water, fruit, phones and charger. Just in case. Aibu, or at least over the top? Was fine after first jab.

@JudgeRindersMinder

Watch Trainspotting, in particular the part where Renton plans his heroin withdrawal. Do that.

I felt lousy after first AZ - like the worst hangover I have ever had, plus I just couldn't stay awake. I spent most of the day in bed - not like me at all. DH said second was fine though.

When I had 2nd I'd heard from colleagues that they'd had horrible side effects (like bad hangover, they said) so was prepared to spend the day in bed. I asked the nurse and she said just stay hydrated, take paracetamol and try not to think about it.
I was fine. Stayed in bed anyway ;)

I live on my own and it would never occur to me to prepare for being so ill that I couldn't get out of bed to get a drink.

I had a slight reaction to my first covid jab in the form of waking in the night shivering and unable to get warm but no reaction at all to the second, apart from a slightly sore arm for a few hours.

I have a dog, so regardless of how ill I'm feeling with anything I have to get up three times a day to feed her and whenever she needs to go out for a wee or poo.

@JudgeRindersMinder

Watch Trainspotting, in particular the part where Renton plans his heroin withdrawal. Do that.

Worth starting the thread for this. Still feel fine but now laughing hysterically.

When I had my second jab, the doctor told me to carry paracetamol if I was out and about, as side effects could come on quickly. It wouldn't have occurred to me to do this, so please add painkillers to your list and I think you're doing well to be prepared. In the event I was fine with no reaction. Hope you're the same.

People who don't live alone don't realise (or don't bother to think) what it can be like.

I live alone and still think the OP was being OTT.

I had both my jabs by mid April, for my first I felt awful the day after and so for the second I just booked the day off work and made sure I picked up some bread, milk and chocolate on the way home from my second so that I didn't have to go out if I didn't need to ... woke up the next day and felt absolutely fine.

I had mine 3 hours ago (2nd vaccination). I was totally fine after my first but I booked it for today as I'm off tomorrow- just in case!

I live alone and the first jab was awful. Like the worst hangover of my life!

I drank three pints of water at 3am so definitely have a few bottles of water by the bed, and painkillers.

I had a temperature, crushing headache and a very sore arm for three days. Was awful. I had already booked leave to paint the living room, but spent the whole time in bed! Watched some rubbish on Netflix and felt sorry for myself.

Have food in too, I didn’t feel like leaving the house.

Sounds good to me. I felt absolutely wretched for a solid 24 hours after my second one. It came on 10-12 hours after my vaccine appointment and felt like flu without the cold symptoms. Plan to do nothing but rest. You might be fine, but better to be prepared!

@Phillipa12

I only felt slightly ill after my first injection so when I had my second I was expecting to feel worse. I'm a single parent of 3 under 12 so I prepped. I cleaned the house, did the washing, sorted out the school bags, made dinner for 2 nights in a row so that it just needed to be reheated. I basically planned the whole weekend so that I could be ill on the sofa and my dc would be fine. In the end we had a lazy weekend as I had no reaction whatsoever, happy days!

Wow. You are amazing Phillipa12. I spent many years as a single parent and felt far more vulnerable about becoming unwell in that situation than I do now with only myself to care for. Those years were definitely the ones that made me so obsessed with planning for every eventuality though.

People are being quite dismissive, but it never hurts to prepare.

I love those who boast about how they just got on with it and we’re fine😂. Like everyone will react in exactly the same way.

I felt horrendous for most of the day after my first one (AZ). Haven’t had the second one yet, but really hope it’s not as bad. I did carry on working, but I really could have done with just staying in bed. Thankfully felt fine the second day.

It may be slightly ott op, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

I do think that some people (I don’t necessarily mean the OP) are determined to feel ill after the vaccine. It never entered my head that I would be unwell and I just planned everything- work, sport etc and did it as normal. I was absolutely fine and had no ill effects either time.
All the people I know who are saying “I might not be at work/ coming to meeting/playing sport, etc tomorrow as I’m having my jab” lo and behold they don’t end up coming in to work or whatever.

I think for some people it is a state of mind thing and for some people it’s a good excuse to be off for a couple of days.

I am 74 - I walked to the medical centre and had the second pfizer job and walked 1 and a half miles back. Sore arm, no painkillers needed - oh and I live alone with mild angina and a dog to look after (who does not count when I say I live alone. )
I assumed I would be OK - and I was.

I do think you are overreacting - hope and expect that you will feel fine and wonder why you were so anxious.

My second (AZ under duress) floored me for two and a half weeks. The first was fine. My Doctor said the second is usually worse, so YANBU at all OP.

I wouldn't worry too much. None of my care home residents who are all obviously in poor health had any side effects.

I get the living alone thing as I was a single parent from day one and was very ill following the birth with no help from anyone. Whilst it was very difficult, we survived. In fact, my child thrived!

I do think that some people (I don’t necessarily mean the OP) are determined to feel ill after the vaccine. I agree! Like I said, the residents were fine but many staff called in sick even up to 4 weeks after! I don't doubt some had genuine side effects but they don't come out of the blue a month later!

In fact, if it's AZ you're getting I'd refuse it and say Pfeizer or nothing. I'm still not 100% and ignore the 'I live on a deserted island and ran a marathon the day after my jab' bullshit. Yes, that MIGHT be YOUR experience, but it doesn't take much intelligence to see that SOME PEOPLE REACT REALLY BADLY.

Both my parents are in their 80’s and they had no side effects whatsoever. From what I’ve heard, the younger you are the worse you feel. I think it makes sense to plan ahead a bit. For example, I made sure I ran my planned weekly mileage before my vaccination. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to run the morning after!

Makes perfect sense to prepare! I felt ill for 2 days after the AZ. Not sure what will happen after the 2nd but I'll definitely have a nice easy tea ready!!

A friend took part in one of the vaccine trials (double blind). When they were ‘unblinded’ following vaccine approval, they went back for another follow up blood test. The doctor said that they had the same proportion of participants report side effects in the vaccine and placebo group. The placebo group had received saline. Sounds sensible to be prepared but don’t over analyse, the mind is a powerful thing.

I think for some people it is a state of mind thing and for some people it’s a good excuse to be off for a couple of days.

It's fairly normal for vaccines to have an effect. They are intended to stimulate the immune system so any effects just show your immune system kicking in. Of course this being MN there will be a flood of people completely unable to comprehend that their experience is not the only valid experience. But for many people there will be effects as their immune systems kick in, and it's not merely psychosomatic or an excuse for a day off.

I went into work as normal after my 1st and felt absolutely dreadful. Was I expecting to feel that bad? No, or I wouldn't have gone to work. For my 2nd I suspect things will be less bad as my immune system knows what it's dealing with, but I'm definitely not scheduling in any work for 24 hours after, just in case.

YANBU at all! I didn't put stuff by my bed but I definitely got shopping in, made space in my diary and got fresh bed sheets/blankets prepped as I live alone and don't have anyone who could come if I'm I'll. People here are mean making out like you are over reacting. If you live alone you have to think a bit like this or the alternative is to go out once you are feeling ill for medicine/food. I've learnt from experience what a crap experience that is and makes you feel extra lonely when at your most vulnerable. Best to be prepped, good for you! Hope you have no side effects.

Sounds a bit melodramatic. I’m having my first dose next week so hoping it doesn’t mean I’m down in bed for a full day afterwards, everyone I know who has had it just had a sore arm...