Hi,
I had my vaccine this afternoon and within a few minutes of the vaccine - in the 15 minute waiting period - I had a panic attack which lasted well over an hour. Heart was racing, felt clammy and faint, heavy legs, funny vision, etc.
It just came on really suddenly whilst I was sitting there scrolling through Twitter. Once I was in the grip of it I just couldn’t calm myself down as I felt really terrible and was panicking that something was wrong - a typical vicious cycle.
I was mortified as it was in front of people and had to be taken on a trolley into a quiet room before I was allowed to go home. The nurse took my obs periodically and looked me over before confirmed a panic attack rather than anything related to the vaccine.
Eventually I felt okay enough to leave and drive home (I felt that being out of the hospital environment would help) but still had waves of panic. The only thing that took it down when I got home was diazepam.
I’ve had panic attacks in the past at times of extreme stress, have had many operations and injections but never reacted like this before. I don’t think I was knowingly anxious about having this vaccine today but there was obviously something subconsciously brewing.
Has anyone experienced similar when having vaccines? Any tips on how to avoid a repeat in future?
PS - I don’t want anyone to read this and be put off of the COVID vaccine - mine was definitely panic related and nothing do to with the vaccine itself.