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Original poster

Had first Pfizer vaccine, now highly anxious

77 replies

PalaminoPower · 17/01/2021 17:07

Someone give my head a wobble please. I’ve been very privileged and received the Pfizer vaccine first thing this morning. Now I am so unbelievably stressed and anxious about side effects/illness/future health. I know there’s little point to this as they can’t take it back out but my goodness it’s making me so anxious.

OP posts:
ScrapThatThen · 17/01/2021 17:13

I had it Thurs and I'm fine, so are millions of others 😊. We are privileged OP and this is a safe vaccine. Bad reactions are rare and usually immediate. But health anxiety will cause you to feel every twinge under the sun! Me and my 80 yo mil were comparing notes and we both got a sore arm and a few random twinges and a bit of a headache 24 hours after, so expect that. Allow yourself to be a bit emotional about the amazing vaccine effort and your luck. Then get on with life.

Baileysforchristmas · 17/01/2021 17:14

Why are you so anxious? Everyone I know who’s had it have been fine, a bit of a temperature, sore arm, a bit achy but apart from that fine, my 80 year old parents had it today. Far safer than catching Covid.

Ellapaella · 17/01/2021 17:16

Try to stay positive and focus on the fact that you will now start to build up some immunity to the virus.
I had my Pfizer vaccine a few weeks ago, had a sore arm and felt a bit achy and tired for a day or two then absolutely fine. In fact my husband then tested positive for Covid last week (he hasn't had a vaccine yet) and I've had absolutely no symptoms at all so feeling very confident in the vaccine at this stage.

Roselilly36 · 17/01/2021 17:17

Do you usually have a seasonal flu vaccine OP? If so try to think of it like that.

Just remember GP’s and other HCP’s have had the vaccine.

Try not to over think it.

Original poster
PalaminoPower · 17/01/2021 17:22

Thanks everyone. It’s so easy to call into the internet black hole of misery and certain death. I do suffer from anxiety but generally have a good hold on it. I need to stop reading. Overthinking is a very bad trait of mine. And I do feel very privileged indeed. I suppose it’s been so long that it just doesn’t feel real that having the vaccine is here and in my arm. It feels like something bad should happen!

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 17/01/2021 17:25

I'm due mine sometime next week.

EwDavid · 17/01/2021 17:27

I've had mine and lots of my friends have (NHS). I had literally no side effects whereas some of my friends felt pretty rough for a day or two after. All are absolutely fine now and have no regrets about having it. Relax!

bookshop1 · 17/01/2021 17:28

I felt similar as soon as I had the vaccine.

I know its safe but had kind of a 'crap what have I done?!' feeling. I think it's linked to the general pandemic stress rather than specifically about the vaccine. It's just all happened so fast!

I had no side effects, a vaguely achy arm for the afternoon after.

Focus on the positives, and distract your mind!

Kapalika · 17/01/2021 17:29

YouTube and the like are bastards in this case!
We are lucky to have received the vaccine. But I was a bit wobbly pre vaccine.
Had it 10 days ago (approx) - sore arm 48 hrs and very mild flu-ey for about 6 hours (I milked it for 24 hours so I could lie in bed😜)

formerbabe · 17/01/2021 17:29

There's loads of shit online. You're really lucky you've had it.

Scarby9 · 17/01/2021 17:30

My next door neighbour had it yesterday evening and has a sore arm today. Another person I know had a 'warm' arm for a day.

Everyone else I know, all of whom have had the Pfizer vaccine, have had literally no side-effects. None.

AKissAndASmile · 17/01/2021 17:31

Understandable, OP, but we're all in the same boat. If it does turn out there are long term side effects we only did the best we could with the information we had at the time. I tell myself that in any situation where I have regrets Smile

CaptainBrickbeard · 17/01/2021 17:32

I’m a healthy person, four weeks on from catching the virus, still so exhausted that I’ve spent most of the day in bed after hoovering the stairs this morning. It’s covid that takes the toll and inflicts misery and suffering, not the vaccine. Be glad to have immunity - I would give anything not to have to suffer this illness. The vaccine is the only source of hope at the moment. Don’t be dragged down by misinformation and scaremongering attempts at sabotage.

DoubleTweenQueen · 17/01/2021 17:33

OMG stay off the internet, unless you want to look up actual clinical data. You did a good thing. Focus on getting the most out of your life - so much ridiculous rubbish out there! FlowersBrewCake

murbblurb · 17/01/2021 17:33

consider this a friendly and gentle wobble Smile

yes, you may get some side effects. Or you may not. But with every day that passes after the vaccine, your risk of getting ill with what can be a truly horrible disease reduces.

Inthemuckheap · 17/01/2021 17:34

Give your head a wobble and be thankful. Step away from t'internet and pick up a good book.

DoubleTweenQueen · 17/01/2021 17:37

A sore or stiff or 'warm' arm are all signs of localised inflammation and show that your body is mounting an immune response to the vaccine - this is a very positive thing. Shows it's working. (If you don't experience obvious physical signs, it doesn't mean you are not mounting an effective response)

Original poster
PalaminoPower · 17/01/2021 18:06

Thank you so much everyone. You are all absolutely right and have genuinely really helped me. I feel so weird having had the vaccine. It’s been a pipe dream for so long it just doesn’t feel real!

OP posts:
AKissAndASmile · 17/01/2021 18:09

@PalaminoPower

Thank you so much everyone. You are all absolutely right and have genuinely really helped me. I feel so weird having had the vaccine. It’s been a pipe dream for so long it just doesn’t feel real!
I feel so grateful to have received the vaccine before catching the virus. Seems like a miracle because it's rife where I am
Bluewavescrashing · 17/01/2021 18:13

OP you've done the right thing. My brother is a hospital doctor and had his Pfizer vaccine recently with no ill effects. I think it's human nature to question safety but all the checks have been done, just accelerated in timescale.

Can't wait to have mine! I'm a primary teacher teaching up to 21 key worker children every day so really not much less than my usual 27. I'll feel so much better to have that protection especially having suffered from ME in the past which has very similar symptoms to long covid.

Bluetrews25 · 17/01/2021 18:15

NHS worker
Had mine just over a week ago.
Achy arm for the day after, that was it.
Lots of my colleagues have had it (good job - we are regularly exposed) - and most had similar. Some felt a bit hung over or tired, but nothing awful.
You'll be fine. And you'll be protected.

ILookAtTheFloor · 17/01/2021 18:21

My 94 year old nan is one of the very lucky few to have had both Pfizer vaccine doses. She's 2 weeks on from her second dose and had absolutely NO side effects from either, not even a sore arm!

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/01/2021 18:50

I felt poorly for a few hours so I had a hotel Chocolat nutmilk from the velvetiser.

Any excuse.

Original poster
PalaminoPower · 17/01/2021 18:55

@Fluffycloudland77

I felt poorly for a few hours so I had a hotel Chocolat nutmilk from the velvetiser.

Any excuse.

Off to google velvetiser. Feel like it might be dangerous.
OP posts:
ChasingRainbows19 · 17/01/2021 18:57

I had mine Friday. I’m fine, was a bit tired yesterday had a sore arm and a little headache and occasional aches. I was fine 24 post jab. Arm is barely even sore today.

Some of my colleagues have had stronger side effects but all fine after 24 hours.