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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if there is a way to not feel like I've actually had COVID after being vaccinated

46 replies

Walkingtheplank · 27/10/2022 23:19

I've got my COVID booster tomorrow. I've booked it for a Friday so that I can sleep over the weekend. The first two injections wiped me out for a week - genuinely not far off how it felt when I actually had COVID, albeit without months of lethargy afterwards.

So, is there anything I can do to not be wiped out for the next week or so? Any tips would be great.

OP posts:
honeybeetheoneandonly · 27/10/2022 23:24

Take some paracetamol an hour before you go and 4 hours after. Keep topping up for a day or see how it goes. You might find it helps.

mistermagpie · 27/10/2022 23:25

They told me to drink loads of water, like loads and loads, after the second one when I told them I had a bad reaction to the first. I did it and didn't have a bad reaction. Now there could have been many reasons why, obviously, but it's easy to do so worth a shot!

mistermagpie · 27/10/2022 23:26

I've no idea why, by the way, that water should help. Maybe it was a placebo!

Original poster
Walkingtheplank · 27/10/2022 23:27

Thank you, I wasnt expecting any replies!

OP posts:
YankeeDad · 27/10/2022 23:58

I would also recommend to drink more water than usual for 1-2 days before the vaccine, through 1-2 days afterwards. I am not sure why it helps, but I know multiple people for him it did help. And it cannot hurt.

CrochetIsCool · 28/10/2022 00:03

Had my booster two days ago and apart from a sore arm, have had no side effects this time - so fingers crossed for you that it won't be too bad for you. I do drink lots of water but hadn't heard that might help before this thread. Nurse doing vaccinations advised paracetamol if needed.

Original poster
Walkingtheplank · 28/10/2022 07:11

Seems to be a consistent response. I'm off to the gym first so hopefully I wont dehydrate myself beforehand!

OP posts:
SpookyPanda · 28/10/2022 07:26

Walkingtheplank · 28/10/2022 07:11

Seems to be a consistent response. I'm off to the gym first so hopefully I wont dehydrate myself beforehand!

I would give the gym a miss tbh. Treat it like advance warning that you're going to have covid and act accordingly. Healthy food, maybe a vitamin c + zinc suppliment. Rest. Water.

Numbat2022 · 28/10/2022 07:30

I agree, skip the gym today. You're going to stress your body, then add more stress with the vaccine.

Let your body rest and eat/drink healthily.

Stoimperando · 28/10/2022 07:30

I am a prolific water drinking and drink litres of the stuff every day. I drink far more water than anyone I know and had zero symptoms after my vaccines. I also had zero symptoms when I had covid so maybe I've just been fortunate.

SpookyPanda · 28/10/2022 07:32

If its combined flu & covid consider asking to have them seperately

Thefoxsays · 28/10/2022 07:34

I am always unwell after. Fever, body aches, headache the lot. I took paracetamol before & after, drank water, rested and nothing helped. It really puts me off getting any more actually. Every time I think oh it won't be as bad this time then it is. I would love to know why I get such an extreme response to the vaccine!

CoteDAzur · 28/10/2022 07:42

"Wiped out for a week" sounds psychosomatic. There is no virus in the Covid vaccine and it can't give you the disease, or any disease. It's just a short term triggering of your immune system the effects of which last maybe that night, like with children's vaccination.

Since you've asked for tips, mine would be to change your expectations and have your brain tell your body that there will be no week-long effects from the Covid vaccine.

Sago1 · 28/10/2022 07:49

Do you really need the vaccine?

BonesOfWhatYouBelieve · 28/10/2022 07:51

The first two jabs completely wiped me out and made me feel like crap (much worse than when I got covid a few months later). The third one, which was the same type, didn't make me feel as bad though so it might not necessarily cause the same reaction.

Original poster
Walkingtheplank · 28/10/2022 08:05

CoteDAzur · 28/10/2022 07:42

"Wiped out for a week" sounds psychosomatic. There is no virus in the Covid vaccine and it can't give you the disease, or any disease. It's just a short term triggering of your immune system the effects of which last maybe that night, like with children's vaccination.

Since you've asked for tips, mine would be to change your expectations and have your brain tell your body that there will be no week-long effects from the Covid vaccine.

I'm the least hypochondriac type you'll meet actually.
But thanks for the input. Smile

OP posts:
MontyBooooojangles · 28/10/2022 08:09

CoteDAzur · 28/10/2022 07:42

"Wiped out for a week" sounds psychosomatic. There is no virus in the Covid vaccine and it can't give you the disease, or any disease. It's just a short term triggering of your immune system the effects of which last maybe that night, like with children's vaccination.

Since you've asked for tips, mine would be to change your expectations and have your brain tell your body that there will be no week-long effects from the Covid vaccine.

This isn’t true, side effects can last a few days for some.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56375307

Meowsaidthecat · 28/10/2022 08:12

do you really need it? I wouldn't bother if it wipes you out for a week and you've already had it before. Seems a bit pointless.

SpookyPanda · 28/10/2022 08:12

CoteDAzur · 28/10/2022 07:42

"Wiped out for a week" sounds psychosomatic. There is no virus in the Covid vaccine and it can't give you the disease, or any disease. It's just a short term triggering of your immune system the effects of which last maybe that night, like with children's vaccination.

Since you've asked for tips, mine would be to change your expectations and have your brain tell your body that there will be no week-long effects from the Covid vaccine.

I have severe muscle aches with mine for 4 days. Stop doubting people's lived experiences.

SpookyPanda · 28/10/2022 08:13

Not to mention the effect on my period.

Badfootkk · 28/10/2022 08:15

Why bother having it ? That is a genuine question. If you have had covid and the effects were about the same?

Ethelfromnumber73 · 28/10/2022 08:15

I had mine about a month ago and had barely any side effects this time.

hamstersarse · 28/10/2022 08:15

I don’t understand why people are putting themselves through this

SpookyPanda · 28/10/2022 08:16

hamstersarse · 28/10/2022 08:15

I don’t understand why people are putting themselves through this

Because if the side effects of a known vaccine are bad imagine what the effects of covid would be

hamstersarse · 28/10/2022 08:21

@SpookyPanda

Yet that doesn’t actually play out in rl. As per the op 🤷‍♀️