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.

[quote Chillychangchoo]@Nocutenamesleft

Ahh I must know a 1 in 58,000 then 🤔 (Aged 41,
Lung blood clot after a second AZ vaccine) If only I was so lucky with lottery odds.[/quote]
I’ve had 3 PEs. My first was 85 over BOTH lungs. I spent time in ICU. Months actually.

Mnetters disagreeing with doctors.
Well there is a surprise...

You have anxiety about a vaccine against a disease which is a high risk for obese people, but not about being obese?

It's a pity people generally aren't better educated about risk. As PP have said, you're far more at risk from clots if you contract COVID, and actually, your obesity is far more of a risk than anything. The risk of clotting after the AZ vaccine is also lower than the risk women take on some forms of the contraceptive pill.

@lightand

Mnetters disagreeing with doctors. Well there is a surprise...

Her dr gave her some BS though. The first dose isn't as good for protection as both. It does offer a layer of protection, but nothing like you'd have with both doses. I'm not disputing that they recommended not getting it for mental health reasons, but they definitely lied to her about the effectiveness of one dose.

Lied is pretty strong. He told her one dose had some effectiveness which is true, not that it had same effect as two. Op is stating what she heard, which may not necessarily be what was sad in context.

I imagine the Dr didn’t tell her not to have the jab though, it is more likely that he advised her that she was free to make the choice.

Her dr gave her some BS though. The first dose isn't as good for protection as both. It does offer a layer of protection, but nothing like you'd have with both doses.
I'm not disputing that they recommended not getting it for mental health reasons, but they definitely lied to her about the effectiveness of one dose.
I suspect if we had a transcript of the conversation between the doctor and OP it would be rather different to the summary which the OP is presenting. People will hear what they want to hear and reinterpret or completely forget the bits that don't suit their own narrative.

It seems odd advice given you’re probably just going to transfer the anxiety to something else anyway

So much underhanded judgement wrapped up in sweet niceties here OP. Do what is right for you and others are right - this is not a good forum when your anxiety is through the roof. Your doctor has seen you and advised you and most on here who are passively aggressively telling you you should get it would be telling you to listen to your doctor and ignore everyone else in almost every single other situation. Hope you’re feeling ok x

I heard there hadn’t been any cases of clotting after 2nd jab? Only first?

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

On average, that is true. But we're all unique and therefore averages are pretty useless. For a thirty year old woman with no co morbidities, the risk of developing a clot from the vaccine is roughly equal to that of serious complications from covid. The OP's obesity also needs to be taken into account, I'm not aware of any research as to whether that impacts the risk of a vaccine reaction*, so cannot suggest whether that increases her risk one way or the other.

• It may well exist, I've only read far enough to assess my own risk.

Please get a second opinion from another Doctor, not here!

GP talking shit - remember folk, GP's know nothing more about covid vaccines than any regular member of the public. They only know what they hear on the news etc...

The second jab both boosts the protection, esp against symptomatic disease and onward transmission, and is highly likely to lengthen the period protected, perhaps significantly. We don't have data on the latter yet though as protection from the first dose appears to last many months.

In NOT having the second dose, particularly with the Indian variant, you are quite likely to have a symptomatic infection and spread the virus to others around you, although you are very unlikely to fall seriously ill.

@Orf1abc

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

On average, that is true. But we're all unique and therefore averages are pretty useless. For a thirty year old woman with no co morbidities, the risk of developing a clot from the vaccine is roughly equal to that of serious complications from covid. The OP's obesity also needs to be taken into account, I'm not aware of any research as to whether that impacts the risk of a vaccine reaction*, so cannot suggest whether that increases her risk one way or the other.

• It may well exist, I've only read far enough to assess my own risk.

Sorry that's total and utter BULLSHIT from start to finish.

The risk of a clot from covid (never mind "serious complications") in ANYONE, ANY AGE, is FAR higher than that from the vaccine. This is a matter of statistical fact. It's ONLY if you factor in a person's chance of catching covid, given current infection levels, that the two become comparable. This only becomes relevant if the OP considers it likely that they won't be exposed to covid at any point in the next 5 years - i.e. no 3rd wave in the UK and no exposure abroad.

Obesity, massively increases a person's risk from covid, while there is NO suggestion of a link between weight and vaccine side-effects.

Keep your anti-vax drivel to yourself please.

Those trying to talk op round or belittle gp, bear in mind that no matter what stats you give op will always assume she will be the unlucky one, because of her anxiety. The arguments for/against just go round in circles in her head and wind her up more, so advice is not helpful however well meant.