Booked the vaccination but couldn’t sleep last night

[QuietBatPeople1]

Anyone else like me? I have finally booked the dreaded thing. But I couldn’t sleep at all last night. There was a feeling that I will not make it - blood clot/anaphylactic shock whatever that might be. It’s next week so feel I only have a few days to live..thought it’s the initial wobble but no feel pretty much the same. I was planning to place an order online for some stuff but mentally I just cannot bring myself to do it today morning- there is a voice which keeps saying what’s the point you are not going to be here are you?

I’m 40-just turned, and guess would be injected with AZ.

Atleast I’ve taken the 1st step - but unfortunately I’m struggling to see this as the amazing magic bullet- rather the opposite

I cried when my daughter said goodbye before going to school as it felt that I don’t have a long time to spend with her.

Yes- Covid is worse
No- I haven’t had the pill ever, the clots are very different
No- I’m not a troll
No- I am not an anti vaxxer
No- I have no one to talk to irl- my family are in a country currently being ravaged by corona- and most likely my dad will have to undergo a heart surgery in the next week so don’t want to trouble mum with my issues
Yes- I am getting help for my anxiety but nothing is helping today

@QuietBatPeople1
I get you! It's pre, during and post jab anxiety.
If you have an anaphylactic reaction, you're in the best place for medication to be administered.
Blood clot risk is much better known now that it was, so you would be aware of any symptoms - presumably more people are now successfully treated.
All medicines carry some risk
I'll give you an example of a fairly frequently given drug - my MIL had some kind of inflamed artery. Untreated causes a lot of pain, serious other consequences. Drug for it either makes it literally all better in about half an hour - or- makes you really unwell. Depends 100% on a correct diagnosis.
(I may not have remembered all details correctly!)
Ultimately it's up to you. Having the vaccine will open the door to a freer existence. But if you're happy to live in a way that minimises risk, perhaps you would prefer to do that for now?

[quote QuietBatPeople1]@Beamur this is what I am stewing in a sense- so basically I take this jab- wait to get an anaphylactic reaction (potential)

If I get it - might die or not

If I don’t - okay passed the first hurdle

Then wait for 28 days - counting down first 4/5 days as high risk- then up to day 14 as medium and potentially after that as low? But I know of someone who had a clot almost a month after..so basically a month of agonising over this.

If nothing happens - well done you are one step closer to safety. Welcome to second jab

Tell me how this compares with a medicine? If I take a medicine- I might have a reaction immediately if not the side effects are not life threatening and the medics can be altered

I take this jab but can potentially die within a month but I should just skip along happily to have it...I just cannot understand that.

Maybe it’s my anxiety but doesn’t feel right.[/quote]
If I take a medicine- I might have a reaction immediately if not the side effects are not life threatening and the medics can be altered

Why do you believe this?

A vaccine is unusual in that all possible side-effects occur very soon after you've had it.

Side effects from medicines can manifest years later!

What they have in common is that SERIOUS side effects are extremely rare. What happens with both is that highly experienced and qualified people have determined that the risk of medical intervention is LESS than the risk of NOT medically intervening.

It's a bit like when seat-belts were first made mandatory in the UK. You had people worrying about occasions when they'd need to leap out of their vehicle quickly or perish and the seat belt get in the way.....seems silly now looking back because we've all accepted the expert advice, that you're far safer WITH a seatbelt, but initially, because it was a new thing, people grabbed onto the most unlikely of events as something to fear.

@Beamur thank you for being kind and understanding- I’m really trying hard to shake this feeling but it’s like an octopus with tentacles that keep tightening around me.

I would be happy to wait a bit longer but I’ve been asked to come into work - I’m going in tomorrow which really freaks me out. But what can I do? Rock/hard place

Tell me how this compares with a medicine? If I take a medicine- I might have a reaction immediately if not the side effects are not life threatening and the medics can be altered

This just isn't true. I have several medical conditions and take 8 different drugs every day. Some of the possible but rare side effects can appear months or years later if you are taking them continuously.

Vaccines on the other hand don't behave like that at all. A minor reaction within hours or a rare more serious reaction within a week or two. No vaccine has side effects that appear years later.

You are more at risk of death in a car accident on the way to work than vaccine side effect.

Deep down you know all this. As a pp said if you have the vaccine you will have a stressful week or two but if you don't then you will always have it hanging over you.

You don't have to have it op. the chance of you getting covid and dying is very low. there is also a very very low chance you may suffer severe side effects however if you guts telling you not to have it yet and wait a bit go with that.

There’s no guarantee it’ll be AZ maybe you could go along but know that you have the option of refusing if it is AZ I’ve heard of a few people more recently in their 40s managing to get an alternative. It would also give you the chance to talk it over too.

This must feel very stressful for you. I think a good idea is for you to go to your appointment and ask your questions to a nurse or a vaccinator. Remember you can change your mind once you get there if you wish. Anxiety is a horrible thing to deal with.

Try not to worry. I am 51 and have just been to have my 1st job and was offered Pfizer which I was happy about. I think there is a lot more choice now and if you want Pfizer or Moderna you should be able to get it.

Thank you you responses. I don’t know how I’ll feel closer to the day but for now I’ll just keep taking each day at a time

For what it is worth I feel the same, perhaps not the level of anxiety as you but a very deep unease about having this vaccine. I am in no way anti-vax. I cancelled my appointment for tomorrow and I will re-consider in my own time. I'm under a lot of pressure from family to have it but just couldn't do it.

@Emmalou15 i absolutely understand where you are coming from and I would not dream of naming anyone who is concerned an anti vaxxer. Although sadly that is the trend now.
Do you go to work? If not I suppose you are safer? My issue is that I’ve been asked to come in now and going in tomorrow even without being vaccinated- so feel like I’m pushed into this decision.

Can I ask how you know the OP will be fine? What is it about the words she's typed that enable you to know that?

I get that you are trying to be kind but no one can possibly tell whether another person will have side effects, you really shouldn't be saying that to anyone

As a test, I have a group of 4 friends all of similar age, all had our first jabs within days of each other - tell me what outcome we each had. I won't lie , if you get each one right I'll be truthful.

I feel exactly the same as the OP, I've booked and cancelled twice. I've already had Covid in February, so not even sure if I need to have a vaccine.

Getting a bit concerned by all the vitriol being thrown about now to anyone not vaccinated.
I'm scared to have it and get ill or die, leaving my children without a mum. I personally know someone who died following the AZ jab, which doesn't help.

It's on my mind constantly, I just don't know what to do.

I am so sorry you are feeling so grim.

Anxiety is awful and it creates thought patterns that lie to you. I think as you say, you can only take the anxiety one day at a time. However once you have it, you are on the path to putting it behind you - and I think getting through this process and out the other side is going to have the best impact on your mental health. As a rule avoidance fuels anxiety.

@BelleBlueBell

Can I ask how you know the OP will be fine? What is it about the words she's typed that enable you to know that?

I get that you are trying to be kind but no one can possibly tell whether another person will have side effects, you really shouldn't be saying that to anyone

As a test, I have a group of 4 friends all of similar age, all had our first jabs within days of each other - tell me what outcome we each had. I won't lie , if you get each one right I'll be truthful.

My quote didn't work, my question is to @FloraFauna27

Yeah I’m not going to be ‘tested’.

Because OP is overwhelming likely to be fine, statistically speaking. And I say this as someone whose DM had a very serious health complication post vaccine.

Are you always so literal?

Also @BelleBlueBell, having side effects doesn’t equal not fine. OP is worried about dying.

Yes I work in construction so spend 2 days a week on average out on site and by that I mean I am usually in the building with a bunch of different trades, then a couple of days in the office. I don't work in a close contact role though. My OH told my MIL that I had postponed my vaccine and now she is saying they won't stay with us if I'm not prepared to get it, so that's caused another issue this evening. Its all so awful.

@Mindymomo

I am older than you, but felt the same and was convinced I would be laid up in bed for a few days feeling ill, but in fact I had zero effects and if I hadn’t seen the needle go in, I would have doubted I had it.

Same here. I am 40 and got AZ. was all ready for major symptoms.... and got none.

The chances of adverse events are low.

I felt exactly like this before my first & 2nd jab. I even had a panic attack after the first one.

I’m 3 weeks posts 2nd jab and still here!

You are going to be just fine.

You don't have to have it. According to Professor Tim Spector of the Zoe Covid app, your current chance of getting Covid if unvaccinated is 1 in 47,000.

@Lavender17 is this pre or post the Indian variant?

Hey op. I'm frankly astonished by some of these responses. It is true that you 'don't have to have a vaccine' but the actual issue here is your anxiety. It's apparent that you want the vaccine because you have pushed yourself to book it. I have struggled with anxiety in various ways in my life.

For instance, I had a 'phobia' of wasps. It came from nowhere and suddenly I found myself screaming and panicking when one was near me. I hated it and I started thinking about my reactions. I don't have an allergy although I didn't know that for sure as I was never stung. So I started reading about them. I googled life cycles and really read up about them. I still do t like wasps. But I have learned to react to them better. I admit I am unhappy in the presence of a persistent one but I don't instantly recoil and run away because I have educated myself enough to understand the risk is ridiculously low. I was stung three years ago completely by surprise. The little bastard flew at me from nowhere and stung me. It turns out I'm not allergic and it hurts 'a bit'

Another example would be pregnancy/labour. I went overdue on my second baby by 19 days. The hospital and maternity staff were not pleased but I refused induction. I could not have done this without education. I read up on the risks. I considered those risks 'in comparison to like situations' and consulted with the medical staff. I was then able to make decisions accordingly.

You are currently in a state of anxiety. You have been bombarded for months about a terrifying disease and just when we though we had a solution, we discover in fact that this amazing vaccine 'might kill us!'

What you are not doing is actually looking at the facts. Don't take it from me or any random mn poster. Look at the statistics. Do you, or any other family member take medication? Look up the side effects of those. Do you or any family member partake of any adrenaline sports? Look up the stats. What about smoking, drinking, obesity, sun beds? Look at the statistics.

The actual truth is that yes, this vaccine carried a risk for a tiny number of people. There is also a very real risk that labour will kill the mother, car collisions will kill a person, cancer will kill you etc. The risk associated with this vaccine, unless you are a pre-disposed to certain conditions, is tiny. Minuscule. Way lower than other risks you and lots of others take every day.

I urge you to put your concerns into perspective and stop giving your anxiety power.

It will be fine

It's just a jab!