Close to cancelling my vaccination. Please reassure me.

[justanothername2]

Name change for this. I know I’m being overly anxious but I need a hand hold.

My friend is insistent on always sending me doomy messages about the Covid vaccine.

They’re always screen shots of something she’s seen on Facebook. Someone has died, someone has been taken to hospital, someone has had liver failure.
The latest one today is that a 34 year old woman has dropped dead after her vaccine.

Mine is booked for tomorrow and I’m really, really worried.

I already suffer from severe anxiety. I know rationally I shouldn’t pay attention to some random Facebook posts.
I know millions of people have had theirs and have been absolutely fine.

Right now, I’m not rational. I’m panicking and I can’t think clearly.

I’m so close to cancelling my appointment 😭😭

I’ve lived in fear for months now and I’m so looking forward to being vaccinated, but this is just another fear to add to the list 😖

Take big deep breaths and try to distract yourself. Vaccines have been around for a long time, they have literally saved millions of lives. They are taken very seriously and tested very thoroughly. Do not listen to anti-vaxxers. Mild side effects are normal. Your body thinks it has been invaded by a virus and it will divert lots of energy into producing antibodies. This can leave you feeling a bit rough as your body's natural defences do their job.

Nothing bad will happen to you.
You will be fine.
You will be safer with Covid antibodies.
You have done a good thing.
Thank you.

Please be reassured that the adverse/serious reactions are absolutely minuscule compared to the millions who have had the vaccines (we only hear about bad reactions!). Furthermore there’s no evidence that any serious reaction/fatality was caused by the vaccine but more likely would have occurred in those people with or without vaccination.

I literally convinced myself I was about to drop dead for a good week after my Pfizer jab. Every single bodily sensation had me reeling! I have a sore cheekbone and it’s a bit red, this morning I panicked thinking it was a blood clot on its way to my brain like all the AZ stories in the press at the moment..... then I remembered my 1 year old had smacked his head into it in exactly that place a couple of days ago.

You are going to be fine. Anything sister would have happened by now.

I had my first vaccine last week as I felt I should. I didn't want to have it. I am a non-CV carer but I succumbed to the fear of catching Long Covid and being unable to care for my disabled DC.

I felt really rough for 36 hours afterwards (chills/headache/akin to flu) but fine now other than a sore arm. I was not worried about the short term side effects and wasn't surprised that my DM and MIL had none and I did!

The long term side effects I do worry about though. I've not heard a convincing argument to dispel concern about the long term side effects which of course could affect my caring abilities if they come to light. Only time and lack of long term side effects will reassure me of long term safety. I am very concerned about any rush into non CV children being vaccinated.

@jeffalee

I had my first vaccine last week as I felt I should. I didn't want to have it. I am a non-CV carer but I succumbed to the fear of catching Long Covid and being unable to care for my disabled DC.

I felt really rough for 36 hours afterwards (chills/headache/akin to flu) but fine now other than a sore arm. I was not worried about the short term side effects and wasn't surprised that my DM and MIL had none and I did!

The long term side effects I do worry about though. I've not heard a convincing argument to dispel concern about the long term side effects which of course could affect my caring abilities if they come to light. Only time and lack of long term side effects will reassure me of long term safety. I am very concerned about any rush into non CV children being vaccinated.

No vaccine has ever been tested over the long term before being used, ever.

In fact most of the standard ones we have now are not old enough to know the effects on a person over their lifetime.

We don’t worry about the side effects from jabs we had as babies and toddlers etc.

Please don’t worry

The European medicines regulator has said that they can find no evidence of increased rate of blood clots. Whilst we’re not aware of it on a daily basis lots of people have blood clots (including young people). Some of them die. There are definite risk factors like flying, contraceptives, surgery, being immobile but how many people seriously worry about those? So many people are having the vaccine that the monitoring will pick up all sorts of things, because people develop illnesses and conditions every day.
I’m not sure what your friends agenda is but the way she’s approaching this doesn’t sound like she’s actually worried about you as a person

Well done lass I’m so proud of you.

You’ve done a brilliant thing for yourself, your family and your community.

You will be absolutely fine xx

Well done!

I was one of the people who got the achey, shivery side effects, so just want to tell you not to worry if you're at the more severe end of that. It's disconcerting to be huddled under a quilt and still feeling bone cold, but it's very common, goes away after a few hours, and means that your body is actually doing what it's supposed to be doing. Don't overthink it, just get some paracetamol down you, drink plenty, and wrap yourself up in front of the TV or snuggled in bed, and be glad that your body has recognised the vaccine and is kicking off in a way that will make those antibodies that will protect you..

Thanks everyone. Just trying to keep myself busy, and calm!!

The worst part is the uncertainty.
In can’t seem to tolerate uncertainty very well.

If they said you will definitely get these side effects a certain amount of hours after your vaccine, I think it would somehow make me feel better and less on edge.

It’s just the anticipation of how it might make me feel.

I’ve spent a lot of time worrying about Covid too and how ill I could be with that.

I know I haven’t, but I’m convincing myself I’ve been injected with Covid and I’m going to be seriously ill.

Why is anxiety so crazy....

Just - I had my first vaccination last Saturday and had no side effects. Some of my friends have been like me and no side effects and others have had short term unpleasant side effects but they only lasted 48 hours.
The good news is that you have had the vaccination and are protecting yourself and the everyone else. This is something to be pleased and proud of.
I hope you have a good weekend and see having the vaccination as a big step forward to returning to a normal life again.

If it helps, my husband had quite bad side effects with the AZ one and had to take a couple of days off work as though he had an actual bug. A week later he’s completely fine.

@justanothername2

Thanks everyone. Just trying to keep myself busy, and calm!!

The worst part is the uncertainty.
In can’t seem to tolerate uncertainty very well.

If they said you will definitely get these side effects a certain amount of hours after your vaccine, I think it would somehow make me feel better and less on edge.

It’s just the anticipation of how it might make me feel.

I’ve spent a lot of time worrying about Covid too and how ill I could be with that.

I know I haven’t, but I’m convincing myself I’ve been injected with Covid and I’m going to be seriously ill.

Why is anxiety so crazy....

This is what I'm finding so hard. It's like I'm sitting here waiting to be ill!

Partner's just got back home though so I'm relieved not to be on my own any more.

OP, I had the AZ vaccine a couple of weeks ago. I was a bit achy that night and the next day. Just take a couple of ibuprofen and sleep it off. No point worrying. Its just anxiety. Not premonitions.

I had my first jab at the end of January. After reading a thread on here, I fully expected to have a sore arm, to feel 'off' for a couple of days but nothing. I had zero after effects and hopefully you won't either. However. if you do, they will last a couple of days at the most.

Had you not had it done you would be spending the following weeks and months worrying if you were going to catch covid and end up in hospital. No contest really.

@doireallyneedaname

I literally convinced myself I was about to drop dead for a good week after my Pfizer jab. Every single bodily sensation had me reeling! I have a sore cheekbone and it’s a bit red, this morning I panicked thinking it was a blood clot on its way to my brain like all the AZ stories in the press at the moment..... then I remembered my 1 year old had smacked his head into it in exactly that place a couple of days ago.

You are going to be fine. Anything sister would have happened by now.

Two days after my (AZ) jab, my arm was really sore. In the afternoon it suddenly felt worse - I had heard a few stories about the area swelling up and anxiously put my hand up to feel it.

My bra strap had fallen down over the sore bit and was restricting the movement of my arm.

OP, look up “intolerance of uncertainty” - this sounds like what you’re dealing with, as was I.

My therapist brought it up with me and it was surprising how textbook I was!

Just had mine!!

Just to be clear on facts the fact you have the jab does not mean you cannot pass covid on and the fact you have had it does not mean you will not catch it although the chances you will are much much less than if you have the jab

@Crankley - I expected some side effects after reading about the number who have experienced them but I had nothing (nor have the friends who have also had their first vaccine).
I was giving vaccinations this morning and a few people were so pleased they said they wanted to hug me - we did a distance hug!

Hope you are ok op