Concerned I am having an adverse reaction to my vaccine.

[BeyondAZParanoia]

I've only namechanged as I've posted about it on fb and don't want these linked. Ask mn how long I've been here if you think I'm making it up.

I have a metric fuck tonne of comorbidities, I'm CEV, and had my vaccine this week (AZ, clues in the name 😂)

Since, I have had neurological symptoms in my arm. Pins and needles, neuralgia, numbness in my fingers and hand. No other side effects. I have yellow-carded and spoken to my GP (advised to keep an eye on it and call the emergency number if anything increases and makes me concerned), but I just want a support thread while I wait for this to go away :( my concern is that I don't want to scare people into not having it, so I've been wary of mentioning it. But then on the other hand, I'm paranoid that I'm just being a hypochondriac and there is nothing abnormal anyway. Anyone who has had long term health problems and had them minimised like I have will hopefully understand this.

So, I know that if I'm having a dodgy response (AZ say neurological symptoms have existed in trials, but are believed to be unlinked to the vaccine itself), it's probably as I'm the only person in the UK with my exact combination of health problems and medications, and at my age/sex etc. That doesn't mean it's a problem for anyone else, but doesn't exactly placate me either. Iyswim.

Could I have a handhold? 😢

Stuff like this really puts me off having it!

Logically, I'm sure that the virus itself would be worse, but the couple of health conditions that I have that mean I should have the vaccination, also make me want to not have it!

Tha combined with a hatred of needles!

I understand diddl, that was part of why I was wary of sharing. Fwiw the needle was a doddle though, hardly felt it :)

@noblegiraffe

Do you think maybe the needle hit a nerve?

I also wonder if it was poorly administered? Did you have a lot of bruising/swelling? And the symptoms you describe are nerve/neurological symptoms. It might not be the vaccine so much as the administration.

Well I'll be sure to discuss it with my GP when the time arises.

I've also an allergy which puts me off, although don't need an epipen.

I mainly think that I'm just looking for excuses as I hate vaccinations

It's possible it hit a nerve, but if it did I didn't feel it. Top of my arm looks (and did look) perfectly normal, the only possible swelling was a "tight" feeling in my skin iykwim, nothing visible. No bruise.

I often have funny neurological issues after vaccinations. Once I had a flu jab and the area still ached/felt heavy months later. However, your symptoms sound quite severe.

You did the right thing to report it and I hope the GP follows the reaction up properly. I believe the regulatory authority may follow it up further also as they will have their own documentation to complete.

@BeyondAZParanoia

As PPs have said, most probably it's a localised reaction or a temporary/minor flare up of your autoimmune condition which should resolve in a few days . Try and stay calm and not worry unnecessarily.

However, make sure it's followed up properly by your GP and consultants (if appropriate) if it doesn't. It's good that you have already reported it through the Yellow Card process

@BeyondAZParanoia you are doing the right thing raising awareness so that people are aware of the different (possible) side effects.
I’m anxious about the vaccination - I keep thinking I’ll have an adverse reaction. Although I’m really thankful that we have the vaccines what is not helping is the emotional blackmail which is happening about everyone having the vaccine as ‘its the right thing to do’. I don’t like to be pressured into putting something in my bossy that incase has long term effects I have to suffer with -

Incidentally, I’ve had multiple rabies jabs, and my reaction to them has been incredibly variable - the initial two (of three), I felt so appalling afterwards that I almost didn’t have the third to complete the course. Could barely move my arm for a couple of days and had horrible flu-like symptoms, identical both times. I brace myself for the third one and was absolutely fine. My subsequent annual boosters... all fine. 🤷🏻‍♀️

*braced

Thanks itllpass, I appreciate you saying that. I’m so wary - I don’t want to make people nervous to have it themselves, but I want to be able to talk about it. I’ve tried to discuss it within shielding groups on fb and had my posts deleted. It’s not even a major problem that I could be scaremongering is it? I just want to be able to talk my bloody feelings through while I wait for it to pass

But the F.D.A. has so far not allowed the company to start up again in the United States.

That information is out of date. The trial is in progress and is expected to report very soon. clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04516746

OP, for what it’s worth, DH and I (HCPs >50) both had a bad reaction to the Pfizer vaccine (flu like symptoms for 36h but with no respiratory symptoms), then after a week we both felt a bit viral again and I had some strange pains in my vaccine arm. These have now resolved and we’re fine 2 weeks after the vaccine. Hope your symptoms are short lived too.

I've had the AZ vaccine. I'm NHS

I'm not CEV, I'm in rude health.

For about 24 hours afterwards I had tingling all down my arm, numbness/aching in my fingers. I got really achy legs, like really bad period pain or early labour. I rarely take analgesia (perhaps once/ twice every year) but had the max dose of paracetamol that day,

Then I was absolutely fine again.

I got shooting pains so don't worry about those. Can you distract yourself while it passes (this will also help if its anxiety).

Thanks herdwick, that's helpful to know. Glad you're better now.
Funny that you mention period pain, I've been having the "knitting needle cervix pain" today, I'd just assumed that was hormonal and unrelated. There is no bodily function my body can't fuck up 😂

I've been distracting myself all evening watching Netflix. Then I fainted, and my sats have dropped to 88% multiple times. Back up to normal for now, but they keep dropping again. Also noticed numbness in my other hand this evening, but that's passed now.

Still just keeping an eye on things, but concerned enough now that I've had to let DW in on it. Didn't want her to panic earlier 😕

Fainting isn't abnormal for me btw

Anyway, now I'm hopefully gonna get some sleep, so don't panic when I don't reply 😂

Hi op I am cev too and not had mine yet. But people I work , I am currently shielding but a couple did have very the same symptoms and then were fine. Hand hold here from me , not going lie i am nervous but I would rather the jab then end up hospitalised with covid .

with

please would someone tell me what "yellow carded" means?
I only know the sporting one...

@AgeOfExploration

My mum had hers last week and felt like she’d been hit by a truck for a good few days - neuralgia, back pain and muscle aches, flu-like symptoms without an actual fever. She’s fine now but felt dreadful at the time. She has the flu vaccine every year and has never had a reaction to it. She called her GP and apparently lots of women are having nasty side effects. My stepdad has had both doses and was absolutely fine.

Still better than getting covid, though!

Yes, all four women I know in their 70s who've had this experienced the same! They are fine now though.

I wonder if it nicked a nerve too OP - I had similar symptoms after I had my flu jab. Nothing lasting - just a few days.

I had Pfizer vaccine and both my thumbs went numb about two days after. I didn’t put it down to the vaccine. Just thought it was odd but now I’m wondering!

Yellow card is something you fill in to report side effects of meds. Used to be actual yellow cards (might still be).

I had pins and needles in my little finger mins straight after the jab (Pfizer), but in my opposite arm. They did go away by the 15 min mark but I had convinced myself it was me just noticing bodily things that I normally wouldn’t ie was being overly aware.

My brother is a GP and is saying their surgery is getting lots of calls from patients reporting various side effects following the Astrozeneca jab. They all seem to ease eventually so it's nothing to worry about generally.

Interestingly they had very few complaints following Pfizer.