Dr advised it’s probably best I don’t have my second vaccine

[roseyroses]

I will start by saying I suffer with severe health anxiety.

I had my first dose of AZ (very reluctantly) in March. I had this was I have a BMI of 40, I’m 33 years old.

The day I had my vaccine was the day the news of the clots was released, but I went ahead anyway.

Since having my first dose all i have thought about is my second dose.
I’ve had two weeks off of work because my anxiety has spiralled, I’ve been physically sick, and unable to function.

Today I had a face to face appointment with the Gp (to increase anxiety meds) and spoke to him about my fears.

He could see how utterly affected I was by this decision to the point I literally struggled to breathe.

He told me he thinks for the sake of my mental health it’s a good idea not to have my second vaccines.
He told me I will have protection from my first dose and that the first dose protection lasts as long as the second dose protection, the second dose just boots the immunity.

He told me it’s far safer for me to be partially vaccinated than not vaccinated and he didn’t think I was mentally well enough to cope with putting myself through a second dose.

I felt so relieved by this and like a weight had been lifted.

But now I’m home, anxiety is setting in and I’m starting to worry that I’m at risk of Covid. 😔

I will point out that I have already reduced my BMI to 36 and I’m continuing to do so, that is my only risk to Covid.

I think you’re Dr’s advice is a bit off to be honest.
It is incredibly rare to get a clot anyway. The actual clotting mechanism that is caused by the COVID vaccine really would have happened after your first.

You are far, far more at risk from dying of clots caused by COVID than you are of getting a second vaccine.

You are obese and that with your age means you have a higher risk from complications of COVID if you catch it.

I think with the Indian variant it works best with both vaccinations done, as the first only offered lower protection.

Hopefully you might be able to mix vaccines eventually.

If you don't want it yet (or ever) just don't do it.
You don't need others agreeing or following to validate your choice.
Just crack on, do you and don't try to influence others eh?

I disagree with your doctor tbh

you need both doses

Yeah, I think that's not great. I know anxiety can be absolutely horrendous but it boils down to having difficult thoughts (that's not meant to sound dismissive, btw). The vaccine measurably reduces your risk of having serious problems with Covid and with your weight being higher, that's just arguably the bigger risk for you. I know it would be tough to have the second jab but do you think with support you could go ahead? I wonder whether you wouldn't have a difficult month of worry having done it then feel better for having a) got yourself through it and b) knowing you are as protected as possible.

Cases are really low, you are young, you have one dose so some immunity, you have the advice of a doctor. Enough.

Unfortunately there is no answer to this until the ha is dealt with. Until then whatever decision you make will be undermined by contraindications and media stories, transferring the anxiety elsewhere. Your gp is simply trying not to feed it. I think if you look back to your previous threads (assuming you are the poster I'm thinking of) you were advised that this was not to going to resolve quickly but that you needed some element of normality to help you through. Good work on reducing bmi.

Nobody can really give you the answer because they don't know how you feel. I can sympathise with your anxiety.

The only thing I would add is that if you do have the second jab, you will obviously be incredibly anxious in the day (perhaps you could ask your Dr for a beta blocker or something to get you through it) however after a week or so once the opportunity for clots has passed, hopefully it will reduce. It will be an intense but finite period of anxiety. Whereas from what you've said if you don't have the second jab you will continue to be anxious about catching covid for an indeterminate amount of time. Just something to think about as it doesn't seem to be a case of anxiety vs no anxiety - it sounds like either option will stress you out.

If you don’t have the vaccination, will you spend the next few weeks being anxious about any rise in cases and variants?

I can understand you are anxious about the vaccine, but once you have it and pass any window of possible side effects - would you feel more relaxed?

Can you live longer term with anxiety about Covid?

Only you can decide what is better for you.

Your GP was right in your case. Your anxiety is sky high.

As you know, the issue is with your health anxiety which will always find something to hold on to. Your relief has been transient because it was never really about the vaccine. If your anxiety about Covid gets bad enough for you to have the vaccine then it will only transfer to something else.

The risks for both of these things are relatively small in the scheme of things - you're not that likely to get covid, you're very unlikely to get seriously ill if you do, you're very, very unlikely to get a clot if you get the vaccine, and with your health anxiety, you're very, very, very unlikely to ignore the symptoms and fail to get treatment if you do so you would likely be ok.

I can see why your doctor thought it was a good idea to tell you not to have the vaccine, but it was a sticking plaster of a solution and it's already peeling off.

Good work reducing your BMI which is going to have loads of positive effects on your health.

The chances are, whatever decision you make about covid will have no impact on your health one way or the other, but ultimately the only thing that's going to help is by getting to a place where you can tell your intrusive health anxiety thoughts to fuck right off (and I know that's a hard, hard, hard thing).

im a bit older than you op and have had secind thughts myself but the chances are still low of getting a blood clot and i worry about the new variant-theyre saying you only have about 30 percent immunity with only one dose so thats enough for me to get the second

It's a very difficult situation and I am sorry that you are so worried by it.

Factually and statistically if you exclude all other factors, you are more likely to have a clot than someone with a normal BMI regardless of catching covid or having a vaccine, so you are doing a good thing by reducing your weight. Congratulations on your efforts so far.

You do remain at risk if you were to encounter covid, but at less risk than if you hadn't had a vaccine at all.

Objectively, the risks of developing a clot after a second vaccine are still lower than the risks associated with catching covid, so for most people having the vaccination is the wisest decision. Health Professionals will encourage you to exercise your free choice however and it is fine for you to choose not to have it.

I think you should follow your GP's advice. Can your GP refer you to start again with the Pfizer vaccine (if you would have it)?

Well done for reducing your BMI by that much already. It sounds like you might be struggling with anxiety either way Could you seek some CBT or other support for your health anxiety?

I've had an appointment this morning to discuss my mental health and mentioned that I've cried for 3 days at the thought of getting the vaccine tomorrow. I do have severe anxiety and depression so things like this aren't uncommon.

He spend 10 minutes talking me down and has given me 2 further appointments this week so I can tell him about any concerns following my injection. He stressed how important it was for me to go for it.

My gp is amazing.

@Velvian

I think you should follow your GP's advice. Can your GP refer you to start again with the Pfizer vaccine (if you would have it)?

@Velvian

My GP said they aren’t mixing vaccines just yet but he did say I would be eligible for a booster and AZ will not be used for boosters.

Your doctors advice is questionable. You’re at absolute minimal risk of a complication from the vaccine. You’re likely to get very sick with Covid if you catch it, and the pandemic is not over yet.

I think that’s sounds like such a difficult situation, we’ll done on having your first dose!
Of course the least risky thing for you to do physically is to have both doses, but if you and your doctor think the risk to your mental health outweighs that then I’d be seeing what help is available for your anxiety to get to a place where you can get the second jab. I presume you already are on medication and have had talking therapy / CBT. Maybe a small dose of propranolol or diazepam might be enough to help you get through the appointment?
If you don’t get help with your anxiety then it will return over a different issue.
Well done on the weight loss as well!

How are you going to manage in the future?
You realise covid is here to stay and will have to be managed so it will likely be yearly vaccines.

I think your GP is correct and I say that as someone medical who works at a vaccine hub.
It's not due to the clotting that that decision would have been made. It would have been mental health based and also due to the current infection rates. It would have been a weighed up decision.

Also, the CDC is investigating reports of myocarditis after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. So if your anxiety is so out of control, I can’t imagine why you’d feel happy to have an alternative vaccine as a booster?

Won't you need to 'start again' though if there's a massive gap between vaccines?

Your GP sounds very nice and understanding, but unfortunately his reassurance and his ‘permission’ for you not to have the second dose does not make it safe.

Op read that excellent post by @ditalini. Really wise words there. You won't have peace of mind if you decline the 2nd dose, your anxiety will hunt around until it finds something else to worry about.