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Original poster

I had cluster headaches after AZ vaccine

91 replies

TwoBreakingIntoOne · 07/04/2021 18:15

WWYD?
I had my first vaccine in jan. I got a headache immediately but was OK after paracetamol. 2 weeks later I got a migraine which turned into 9 days of cluster headaches. Half way through i was so dizzy that I couldn't even crawl on the floor and I threw up. I have had migraines but not for several years. I spoke to the GP who gave me a prescription for migraine relief and advised soluble aspirin every day which I've been taking
The headaches/dizziness gradually improved. I have an appt for my second jab on Monday but I am now worried about the neuro symptoms

OP posts:
WilsonMilson · 07/04/2021 18:19

I feel really bad for people in this position, especially after the AZ vaccine. We have zero data on the medium to long term outcomes of these vaccines, so unless you are elderly or vulnerable (in which case I would recommend getting the second dose) then I wouldn’t be getting the second vaccine, but now you’ve had the first you’re kind of between a rock and a hard place.

Original poster
TwoBreakingIntoOne · 07/04/2021 18:36

I'm over 50 and work in a front facing, NHS role
I did mention the vaccine to the GP but she didn't think it was linked, obviously that was before the new evidence
I guess I could go along and ask their advice

OP posts:
blameitonthecaffeine · 07/04/2021 19:00

I would want to talk to a doctor in your position.

99.99% chance you're fine and it's unrelated. But it would set your mind at rest.

Roonerspismed · 07/04/2021 19:02

Have you yellow carded?

It’s difficult as you just don’t know if there is a link or not. Personally I wouldn’t but I’m a bit neurotic about what does in my body

everythingthelighttouches · 07/04/2021 19:02

Did you report this via the yellow card system?

2boysand1princess · 07/04/2021 19:02

Think head she’s can also be normal after vaccines. When you get a cold or the flu, so you find you have a headache too? It may just be the way your body responds.
My sister had cluster headaches for a week and she had Pfizer. She is 30 with no other underlying problems.
I had a headache the day after the vaccine and it took about a day and a half to go a bit like when I get a cold or flu.

Original poster
TwoBreakingIntoOne · 07/04/2021 19:07

I didn't report after the GP consultation as she thought it was unrelated

OP posts:
RavingAnnie · 07/04/2021 19:22

I'd report it anyway. GP doesn't know it's unrelated. That's why there's the yellow card system so reactions can be monitored across the population. An individual GP wouldn't necessarily see any patterns within their limited patient pool.

WhoWants2Know · 07/04/2021 20:08

I'm in a similar situation. Headaches for weeks after the vaccine, although that does happen to me sometimes anyway. But 4 days after getting the vaccine, I woke up into something that could have been sleep paralysis or an aware seizure. It's happened a couple of times since, always on waking. I'm afraid to see the GP about it.

They've calculated risks based on events among people with one dose of AZ, but they have no idea what the risk is for second injections. That scares me.

RoseWineTime · 07/04/2021 21:37

Why would you think it’s related 2 weeks later?

Terracotta9 · 07/04/2021 21:48

Why would you think it’s related 2 weeks later?

The official NHS guidance states that it can take 1-2 weeks for the AZ vaccine to become effective.

If there is a window for the vaccine to become effective (ie. cause the changes in the body which it was designed to produce) then presumably the same window applies to adverse reactions too.

everythingthelighttouches · 07/04/2021 23:26

I do think many will now be looking back at any reaction to the AZ vaccine with new eyes. Especially as the window for this event is quite long (~14 days).

The result will be over the coming month we may see an increased rate of these vary rare events.

Like your GP, I wouldn’t have linked this at the time but now it makes sense to report via yellow card.

Babyroobs · 08/04/2021 01:06

@WhoWants2Know

I'm in a similar situation. Headaches for weeks after the vaccine, although that does happen to me sometimes anyway. But 4 days after getting the vaccine, I woke up into something that could have been sleep paralysis or an aware seizure. It's happened a couple of times since, always on waking. I'm afraid to see the GP about it.

They've calculated risks based on events among people with one dose of AZ, but they have no idea what the risk is for second injections. That scares me.

I had a very weird episode with my eye 4 days after AZ jab. It was like nothing I have ever experienced before, almost like a seizure in my eye which was all consuming and lasted about 40 seconds. Have also had bad headaches since having the jab. Have yellow carded the incident as it was so scary. I am frightened to have second jab.
emzy1990 · 08/04/2021 11:46

I suffered headaches 2 weeks after vaccine 4 weeks later there still there but not as severe also face cheek tingling called my gp who said its my sinus but I'm so unsure now I'm 30

HolmeH · 08/04/2021 12:40

Guys, getting a clot is a very specific mechanism in your body. This one specifically caused by low platelets. Every other headache or dizzy spell is not remotely related.. it’s a completely different reaction in your body. A headache can be a sign of a clot but not every headache is linked to one nor the mechanism that causes a clot.

Theres a lot of psychosomatics going on here. We all get headaches. I’ve got a cracker of one right now from a cold. But it could have been caused as a side effect of the throat spray I’m currently using to help more sore throat. It’s listed as a side effect. Or it could be from the fact Ive not drunk as much water the last couple days..

Yes. The vaccine can cause some unpleasant side effects but they are short lived & not dangerous.

The ‘eye seizure’ sounds like Ocular Migraine. I get them quite frequently, they are scary, sometimes my vision goes almost completely in one eye, but nothing to worry about thankfully!

Ashleighz88 · 09/04/2021 08:43

Hi, my mum had the vaccine just under 2 weeks ago and yesterday I had to rush to her house as she woke up and couldn't get out of bed at all, when she tried to get up she was that dizzy she nearly passed out and had to lie down,, then she was sick. She has never suffered from migraines before and hasn't had another episode since but still had terrible headaches. This sounds similar to @TwoBreakingIntoOne I'm so worried about her getting the second vaccine now 😫

Llh1979 · 09/04/2021 08:55

I had my vaccine 6 weeks ago after 9 days I developed a migraine with zigzags infront of my eyes that lasted for the day but after I had a 2 week headache
Now I keep getting low level headaches not enough for painkillers but it let's me know it's there
I suffer with bad anxiety anyway so all this in sure is not helping

Original poster
TwoBreakingIntoOne · 09/04/2021 13:01

Ashleighz88
I've spoken to GP and decided to go ahead with the second so I'll let you know how I get on

OP posts:
CovoidOfAllHumanity · 09/04/2021 13:08

From my reading it would be quite easy to exclude any symptoms as being due to the rare clotting disorder just with a full blood count and a D dimer ie a simple blood test at the GP. No expensive scan needed. If you don't have a low platelet count on the blood test then you don't have the disorder.
Headaches are very very common and this complication is very very rare.

Ashleighz88 · 09/04/2021 13:49

@TwoBreakingIntoOne thanks so much.

And thanks everyone for reassurance etc, I know it's extremely rare on the blood clotting, just a bit weird how quite a lot seem to be having the funny turn around 1-2 weeks after.

Popfan · 09/04/2021 14:30

@Ashleighz88 your mum's symptoms sound a lot like labyrinthitis (which wouldn't be anything to do with the virus). I had that, started when I was in the bath (strange I know) huge dizzy spell with the room spinning. When I managed to get out I was then really sick. After that I was ok for a bit but it then came back so I could barely move my head, felt dizzy and nauseous even when lying down. Really horrible. Severe symptoms lasted about a week until I could get up and move around but the dizziness carried on if I moved my head a certain way for a longish period afterwards. Could it be that?

Popfan · 09/04/2021 14:30

Sorry, anything to do with the vaccine.... not virus!!

FictionalCharacter · 09/04/2021 14:59

Headaches are listed as a very common side effect with lots of vaccines, including the flu and HPV jabs.

It’s not correct that side effects happen with the same time course as development of immunity. It takes weeks for immunity to develop, but most of the side effects last less than a week.

All of the blood clots reported happened after the first dose. None have been reported after the second.

The risk of a blood clot from Covid is many times higher.

LiveintheNow · 09/04/2021 15:06

I had migraine with aura after AZ, but at least 10 days after, I had several more over a short period which is very unusual for me, normally one migraine per year.

Ashleighz88 · 09/04/2021 15:11

Just so everyone knows I'm Pro Vaccine, all my family is. Even with the very very very small risk of blot clots I agree everyone should have the vaccine. I was just worried about my mum as she's only 53 and never suffered anything like this before.

@Popfan funny you should say that as my nanna had vertigo around a year ago and she couldn't move with it, and we did say that it could be that, especially as it was first thing in the morning. I suppose we won't know unless it happens again. Which I'm hoping it won't. Did you get any kind of treatment for the labyrintits? Thanks for the advice

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