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Original poster

Had the AstraZeneca vaccine yesterday- feel absolutely shocking today

124 replies

TayceIsAyce · 25/02/2021 12:38

I’m over the moon to be having the vaccine so this isn’t an anti-vax thread and I’d much rather feel like this then have Covid but DP is at work and there’s only so much sympathy I can get via text from my mum 🤣

Anyway had the vaccine yesterday. Felt fine all day just a mild headache. Went to sleep as normal but woke up a hour later absolutely shivering with cold but at the same time I was burning up. Got up and took my temp, 38.3 😢. My hands were shaking so much it was a genuine struggle to do anything, I couldn’t grip anything. Took some paracetamol and settled down on the sofa. My whole body was aching, felt like I’d been hit by a bus. I had to open all my windows because I was just so, so warm and let the freezing breeze come
Over me. This was about 1am. The shivering stopped and I eventually fell asleep on the settee about 5 then my alarm went off at 7.

I’ve been keeping on top of the paracetamol but nothing seems to be touching it now, every bone in my body is aching, I’m getting sharp shooting pains in my back around the kidney area, my knees feel like someone is poking them with a knife and on top of that I feel sick and can’t focus.

I’m a student nurse so needed the vaccine and I’m glad I had it but my god, I didn’t expect to feel this bad. Hoping I’ll start feeling normal soon. Anyone else having/had the same side effects?

OP posts:
MrsGulDukat · 25/02/2021 19:05

My first Pfizer jab and I felt like utter shit for a week after. 2nd jab I had a bit of a sore but that was it.

Corolla · 25/02/2021 19:07

Hope you recover soon op and everyone else with side effects.

I had AZ at midday today, I feel very achy and stiff at the minute but that's all so far. One person today waited for the 15 minutes and then when she was making the appointment for the 2nd jab she fainted and hit the deck :(. Fortunately, lots of medics around.

Tickledtrout · 25/02/2021 19:09

AZ here. Sore arm for the first day. Possibly a bit hot in the night or that was possibly a menopausal night sweat. Feeling fine now

Dowser · 25/02/2021 19:12

@CuriouslyStardust

Yep same here, on day 4 and still feeling rubbish. I was sick on the night I had it, then had a high fever over 40 degrees with delirium. My poor dh didn't get any sleep and was so worried. Today I'm still aching, cold, foggy head, tired and my arm still kills. It's making me dread going for the second dose! It does seem to be quite common to have so many side effects, I can only hope they manage to refine the vaccine over time.
Good grief That’s terrifying
maxbabi · 25/02/2021 19:17

Oh that gives me some hope the seconds not as bad!!!

Dopeyduck · 25/02/2021 19:18

Felt the same on day 1 ( from about 4/5 hours after until following evening). Took paracetamol regularly for first 24hrs. Went to bed feeling shattered at 1830 the next night and woke up feeling better. Day 2 was just my arm was a bit sore and a bit tired / mild headache. Felt fine by day 3.

Interesting what people say about it being worse if you’ve had covid. Convinced I had it pre lockdown #1 in early 2020. DP and I + DS (then three months) had a horrible horrible cold that rumbled on 3+ weeks. DS was so nasal and breathing funny I called GP - couldn’t understand why a BF baby had been hit so hard by a cold. Obv there was no testing and in the grand scheme of things done of us were particularly unwell and did eventually shake it off.

Dowser · 25/02/2021 19:18

@maxbabi

I had Pfizer a week ago and today is the first day the brain fog has lifted, I still needed a nap though. Symptoms kicked in within an hour I was in bed and barely moved for 5 days. Chills, aches fever cough etc stomach cramps like hell. I called 111 (as advised by Dr when I got jabbed). I believe I had covid last March and the nurse said thats probably why I'm so ill. I'm a bit apprehensive for the second one.
A bit apprehensive Honestly if you’ve been so poorly after the first jab, I’d run a mile from the second one.

As for pp whose dad has suffered for 19 days that is just horrendous.

AtlasPine · 25/02/2021 19:19

I was fine - not trying to disbelieve you (and sorry you’re having a tough time) but trying to say it isn’t always like that. Please don’t anyone be put off having the jab.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 25/02/2021 19:20

i had the pzifer jab and was ill for 2 weeks. i have fibromyalgia and apparently others have had this.

Stuffthisstuff · 25/02/2021 19:25

Had mine yesterday, AZ - no side effects at all, not even a sore arm. Didn't feel the needle going in either. I think I've had covid and I have underlying conditions. Hope no one is put off as less likely people without side effects will post or start threads.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 25/02/2021 19:26

Agree - don't let this put anyone off of having the vaccine, but I was pretty much the same - called lots of friends saying I felt fine post vaccine - then it kicked in at about 3am.
Markedly improved with paracetamol, and I took nytol to get off to sleep.
Everyone I've spoken to that had similar has said it was over in 24 hours of starting, and maybe nothing as severe but just feeling under the weather the day after.

Cissyandflora · 25/02/2021 19:27

It’s so odd that people have such different reactions to the same vaccine. Very strange. And reflects the weird differences people experience with the actual virus. So peculiar and very hard to make sense of. It adds to the surreal nature of this time.

I hope you’re better soon OP. I was very fortunate and had no side effects at all after the Pfizer but I’m hoping I will also have the second without a problem.

TheTempest · 25/02/2021 19:30

I had the AZ Monday and felt fine Monday, bloody awful Tuesday, mostly ok Wednesday but still tired and a bit achy. Woke up this morning feeling better than normal! Walked 10k, housework the lot. I think they said if you’re not better in 48 hours then you should get a test. Feel better soon op Flowers

TheTempest · 25/02/2021 19:30

Oh and DH had his yesterday- Pfizer. No issues at all, not even a sore arm!

PlinkPlink · 25/02/2021 19:35

Had mine on Tuesday.

Blistering headache on Wednesday morning.
Felt like someone had slipped me a sleeping pill all day and generally groggy.

Right as rain by 9pm

Sore arm is still there a bit.

It does feel awful... but I cant imagine what Covid feels like 😳😳

KilljoysDutch · 25/02/2021 19:59

For the people who have had the side effects more than 48 hours - have you booked a covid test? When I had mine yesterday I was told if I had a fever etc after 48 hours to presume I had covid and book a test.

AcornAutumn · 25/02/2021 20:19

Cissy "It adds to the surreal nature of this time. "

But the same variation occurs with flu and pneumonia vaccines.

Killjoys I was told if it went on more than four days to ring my GP.

nomorespaghetti · 25/02/2021 20:24

Hope you feel better soon OP! I had the AZ vaccine yesterday. About 12 hours later I had a temperature but felt freezing cold, and a splitting headache. I managed to sleep it off, thankfully, feel fine again today.

Cissyandflora · 25/02/2021 20:28

@AcornAutumn

Cissy "It adds to the surreal nature of this time. "

But the same variation occurs with flu and pneumonia vaccines.

Killjoys I was told if it went on more than four days to ring my GP.

I didn’t realise that at all. I thought the only side effects that people could get was anaphylactic shock type reactions. (Thankfully very rare). I clearly don’t know enough about vaccines then. I thought this was totally surreal when reading all the threads with people being unwell after the Covid vaccine.
notacooldad · 25/02/2021 20:29

Have you previously had Covud?

Singlenotsingle · 25/02/2021 20:30

Sympathy to you. I had the AZ on 16 Feb. I didn't feel anything and no side effects. Get well soon.

AcornAutumn · 25/02/2021 20:33

Cissy it might be good to gen up if you have any others.

I know my pulse rate and BP soar when I get a virus so of course that's why I have it post vax, my body is reacting.

Did you read the side effects leaflets?

As a veteran of asthma, pneumonia etc - please always read the side effects of any meds before you put them in your body. There might be certain antibiotics you want to avoid, to raise one example.

AcornAutumn · 25/02/2021 20:34

@notacooldad

Have you previously had Covud?
Not sure who you are asking but I haven't.
BeakyWinder · 25/02/2021 20:37

It varies so much.

My dad (oldest, most vulnerable) - zero side effects
Dsis1 - headache but ok
Dsis2 - weekend in bed with aches, fever, headache
Mum - same as Dsis2
Aunt & Uncle - no effects
Colleague - no effects

saraclara · 25/02/2021 20:44

I had an awful 24 hours after the AZ vaccine. Apparently it's the first dose of AZ that can make you feel crappy, and the second dose of Pfizer that's worse. Though if you've had covid already, the first Pfizer dose can be grim.

So I'm hoping my second AZ won't be as bad.