I’m terrified of vaccine side effects.

[Comefromaway]

I’m in my 40s so not due to be done yet but it’s keeping me awake at night.

I’m an emetophobe and terrified of being sick. Dh had the Pfizer vaccine and was a bit tired and shivery. Dd had AZ and was achy, headachy and feverish for a couple of days.

My dad was floored for two days and felt nauseous, my mum had hardly anything.

I’m convinced I had Covid a year ago and have heard side effects are worse if you’ve had it. My fear isn’t rational, it’s a phobia. Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of less side effects?

I'm almost exactly the same as you, severe emetophobia and believe I had covid before it was being tested for. I haven't got much advice but wanted to say you're not alone, reading about others' side effects is really frightening right now. But, I try to think these are side effects that come with nearly any medications (when I'm reading the leaflets) so maybe it only seems bad because millions are reporting side effects in a short amount of time. I'm trying to think of all the times I've been terrified of other medicines for the same reasons, and how it turned out okay after I took them. I've arranged that when it's time for me to have mine my mum will stay to look after my son if I have a bad turn. I know she will be the most understanding and supportive if I become very irrational and scared. Maybe finding someone like that to be on standby for you, getting some buccastem ready(if you can take it/if it works for you), going over coping strategies that worked in the past and getting things that'll keep you distracted while you wait out the night time if you can't sleep. Hopefully I can pick up some more tips here too.

I guess that despite my fears I got through two pregnancies (and became pregnant the second time despite having morning sickness with my first) so I can do this.

I had the AZ yesterday, no side effects at all

No one can give you a tip for avoiding being sick it does not exist, you will either feel nauseous and/or vomit or you will not
You can however deal with your phobia and reduce its intensity prior to getting the jab
Losing sleep over an injection is no way to live and you do not have to live like this , ask for help from a good therapist

I’ve not heard of buccastem. Is it prescription only?

I had no side effects at all. My brother, mum and dad didnt either, not even a head ache between us!

On the plus side, if you do feel nauseous from the vaccine there will at least be some point in fighting that feeling because it's just artificial. If it was food poisoning, it might really be a case of better out than in, so better not to fight the feeling, but if it's just the vaccine then actually being sick won't be inevitable at all. Definitely worth getting the ginger in.

Not prescription only, can get a small amount over the counter. To get a big box you need a prescription, I used to get it prescribed because of my phobia. It's usually used for migraine sickness though. You can do this! Especially if you got through morning sickness. Good luck, I hope you get no symptoms at all.

Thank you for your kindness.

I'm phobic and wasn't sick or nauseous at all
Jab about 11am. Headache around 11pm, went to bed. Restless night as hot/cold/shivering but I slept through most of it. Woke up feeling sort of groggy/hungover/tired and had a chilled out day. Fine after that

I had the AZ jab this afternoon. No side effects so far - not even a sore arm.

My Dbro and Dh had it earlier in the week and they both felt a bit heavy limed and cold. Nothing more than that.

I’m 28 and had the AZ vaccine last Wednesday at 5pm. No side effects hit me until 11am the next day and by 4pm I was pretty exhausted.

I just had the most achy body and really sleepy. Other than that it was fine. Once I woke up on the Friday I was back to my usual self.

The whole experience was totally easy. Also didn’t even feel the needle go in.

Hope this helps! It really wasn’t awful.

I had it earlier today and so far so good, but I do have very irrational health anxieties so feel very stressed at the moment and will probably stay that way for the next 48hrs. That said, I just had to bully myself into going through with it and try and drown out my stupid brain, trying to do its worst. I really think you should keep trying to find your own way to do what you need to do. Don't give up!

Emetophobe here as well! I was actually desperate for the vaccine since I thought the risk of being sick from actually catching covid is much higher. I had Pfizer, and it was absolutely fine! I did feel very tired and a bit queasy for an hour the day after the first shot, but it passed really quickly.

The second shot which is supposed to be the "stronger" one was totally unspectacular. I even arranged childcare for DD assuming I've be in bed but I ended with zero side effects, not even a sore arm.

If you survived 2 pregnancies then the tiny, tiny possibility of feeling sick after the shot should be a walk in the park! From all the people we know, 80% with Pfizer had virtually no side effects, 19% had cold/flu symptoms and only 1% were bedridden, and that was only for day or two.

All I had was a bit of a headache 24 hours after and just feeling tired. Totally fine next day.

Hi OP - I had AstraZeneca yesterday at 10am. I didn’t even feel the prick in my arm.

I took 1x paracetamol at 12pm and 1 at 5pm. Feel absolutely nothing at all, apart from a slight sting at the injection point.
I also did arm exercises , circling them , putting up in the air and back down etc as somewhere I’d read to do that....
slept fine, on both arms.
I’m sort of waiting for side effects - but no headache, or fluey feeling at all.
I also am allergic to penicillin and some foodstuffs but the chap said that wasn’t a problem at all.