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Original poster

DS reaction to the PFizer caused by anxiety and not the jab

31 replies

Jenasaurus · 29/05/2021 15:13

My poor DS has been working himself up over having the vaccine since he was booked in a week ago to have it today. He isnt anti vax but he is terrified of needles, He is 31 so not a child but bless him he has just had it and messaged me what happened at the surgery.

He basically was in a sweat and panic wating his turn and gave his allergy information to the vaccinator, he has hayfever and had a very bad allergic reaction to chlorine whilst on holiday. Anyway he had the jab and then as he was walking away to sit for the 15 minutes, he was perspiring heavily and passed out, the nurse rushed out an jabbed him in the leg with an epipen.

He called me to say he came round to find all the patients crowding round him and the nurse leaning over him with a yellow tube in his leg (epipen I think). I asked him if he thinks he had a reaction to the vaccine and he said, "no I was just in such a state because of the needle and ended up having 2 needles with the one in his leg as well!" His GF is treating him to a cake now in a local cafe.

I hadnt really thought about needlephobic people and there reasons for not wanting it, he went through with it but he was so scared and the result was this.

OP posts:
skyvv90 · 29/05/2021 15:25

I'm needlephobic but I'm a bit better about it now. I stayed calm during the jab but sitting down afterwards I still got the blood pressure drop phobic response and starting sweating and feeling like I was going to pass out. Luckily it passed after 5 minutes, but a couple of them were looking at me for a few minutes like they were wondering if they'd need to do some first aid! I sympathise, not pleasant!

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 29/05/2021 15:31

Erm, are you sure?

Standard practice is to call an ambulance when an epipen is administered.

Onthegrapevine · 29/05/2021 16:16

Easily done. I didn’t pass out but my body was gearing up for a panic attack during my 15 min observation. I was sat calmly and my heart started racing like never before.

Original poster
Jenasaurus · 29/05/2021 16:24

@ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn

Erm, are you sure?

Standard practice is to call an ambulance when an epipen is administered.

Thats worrying as I did wonder, its the first time he has been given an epipen, he says he feels really sick and I am not sure if thats a reaction to the epipen or just anxiety.

Do you think he should go to the hospital to get checked out. He was given it at a medical centre and they didnt call an ambulance but made him sit there for 15 minutes afterwards. Now I am worried

OP posts:
ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 29/05/2021 16:51

I'd call 111 and ask. I carry epipens and it is drilled into us that we must call an ambulance as soon as the first one is administered.

scottgirl · 29/05/2021 16:56

So the nurse gave him an adrenaline injection because he fainted...

LaMariposa · 29/05/2021 16:56

I'm a bit of a fainter with needles. I'm not scared, but I get a bit fraught and have fainted once. Told the nurses at the vaccine centre and I got to lie down and someone to chat to. They told me I was the 3rd person to tell them in advance and they much preferred that.

I hope your DS is OK, for the next one get him to mention it when he goes in.

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 29/05/2021 17:21

@scottgirl

So the nurse gave him an adrenaline injection because he fainted...
It does seem very odd, doesn't it?
Darkbrownistheriver · 29/05/2021 17:26

It’s correct that people who are prescribed epipens are told to call an ambulance. I think it’s because the effect of the adrenaline only lasts about 15 minutes so the reaction could recur. I’d guess that if there were clinicians there and they were sure your DS didn’t in fact have an allergic reaction they felt it was safe for him to leave.

User629202 · 29/05/2021 17:28

My MIL is a vaccinator and she had a lady pass out from panic - it happens! My husband is very needle phobic so he might have a wobble when the time comes. Hope your son is ok now!

Zippea · 29/05/2021 17:29

Has he been checked out in A&E? I carry several epi pens at a time and the advice is that you are to be checked out at the hospital.

Moondust001 · 29/05/2021 17:41

@Darkbrownistheriver

It’s correct that people who are prescribed epipens are told to call an ambulance. I think it’s because the effect of the adrenaline only lasts about 15 minutes so the reaction could recur. I’d guess that if there were clinicians there and they were sure your DS didn’t in fact have an allergic reaction they felt it was safe for him to leave.
^This

And a salutary lesson for next time / anyone that scared of needles. Don't try to tough it out. Tell them! You won't be the only one, and if they know they don't assume that it's an allergic reaction instead of a panic attack.

Sunnyfreezesushi · 29/05/2021 18:08

I passed out due to the Pfizer vaccine and racing heart rate (only with the second dose). It was not nerves/worry or panic at all, but a reaction to the vaccine. So are you sure it was his anxiety with his allergy history? The local doctor did not give me an epipen straight away - her reasoning was to drink water, rest and have a biscuit because according to her if she had to administer the Epipen I would never be allowed the Pfizer again. Strange how they all deal with it differently.

scottgirl · 29/05/2021 18:51

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn sure is odd, so it was either a big mistake or they have let a patient walk off after a serious anaphylactic response?

fallfallfall · 29/05/2021 18:56

my son similar, started panicking the following day worked himself into quite the tizzy. hyperventilating etc.
he landed himself in the hospital with a pair of headphones on a relaxation/breathing taped program...

Torvean · 29/05/2021 18:58

Is there a chance she had the epipen with her in case it was an anaphylaxis reaction.
Completely different symptoms than a faint. Like others say you have to call an ambulance as ppl in anaphylaxis can need a second dose.

covetingthepreciousthings · 29/05/2021 19:16

DH collapsed after his vaccine (needle phobic) then collapsed again after having his blood pressure taken after, no epi pen was given.

I think it's a bit strange she administered one in this scenario, unless your DS had an anaphylactic reaction to chlorine and that was what prompted her reaction.

XenoBitch · 29/05/2021 19:21

Sounds like the nurse panicked a bit herself! Your DS probably feels sick as he had a shot of something he didn't need. Call 111 if worried, but it sounds like this was hours ago now anyway. I hope he enjoyed his cake, and well done on overcoming his phobia to get the vaccine. I might one day (in about 2 years I bet!)

Original poster
Jenasaurus · 29/05/2021 19:52

@covetingthepreciousthings

DH collapsed after his vaccine (needle phobic) then collapsed again after having his blood pressure taken after, no epi pen was given.

I think it's a bit strange she administered one in this scenario, unless your DS had an anaphylactic reaction to chlorine and that was what prompted her reaction.

yes he did have an anaphylatic reaction to chlorine when he was abroad a couple of years ago and he also was very wound up so I can imagine the way he told her about his history, he definitlely had a jab in his leg as he said his arm is fine but his leg hurts
OP posts:
Original poster
Jenasaurus · 29/05/2021 19:58

@XenoBitch

Sounds like the nurse panicked a bit herself! Your DS probably feels sick as he had a shot of something he didn't need. Call 111 if worried, but it sounds like this was hours ago now anyway. I hope he enjoyed his cake, and well done on overcoming his phobia to get the vaccine. I might one day (in about 2 years I bet!)
Thank you, he did enjoy his cake a treat for him as he has been on a very low fat diet recently, so was delighted when his gf texted him to say she was getting him a cake. He saus he feels rough but to be honest some people feel rough after the vaccine so it could be that. I had the AZ one and was lucky just to feel a little tired and my arm was sore, but I am 56 and beleive the younger people get worse side effects. He had the Pfizer and is 31.
OP posts:
scottgirl · 29/05/2021 20:07

So did he have a completely unnecessary drug injected into his leg, or did he suffer anaphylaxis with the Pfizer vaccine? Has he been told not to have the second dose? This all sounds very worrying.

Original poster
Jenasaurus · 29/05/2021 20:16

@scottgirl

So did he have a completely unnecessary drug injected into his leg, or did he suffer anaphylaxis with the Pfizer vaccine? Has he been told not to have the second dose? This all sounds very worrying.
He said that he fainted after the jab, and is sure it was due to his needlephobia and the built up anxiety, I wasnt there but he said he fell to the floor and came round to lots of the patients in the waiting room looking at him with the yellow pen in his leg. I mean if it was a reaction to the vaccine surely he wont be allowed his second one. I am going to call him again in a minute to ask him more questions.
OP posts:
SleepyMathematician · 29/05/2021 20:54

I can’t believe a trained nurse would give him an epipen and not call an ambulance - that’s standard practice. DD has one and it’s been drilled into us and everyone who deals with her over the years that when you administer an epipen, you ALWAYS call an ambulance. It makes no sense at all that he just left to eat cake.

If for some bizarre reason he didn’t go to hospital, he should do. There is always the risk of a second, delayed anaphylactic shock and the epipen works on the heart. He needs monitoring.

Are you sure you have the facts right or he isn’t misremembering? Anaphylaxis looks very different to fainting. This scenario makes no sense.

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 29/05/2021 21:06

@SleepyMathematician

I can’t believe a trained nurse would give him an epipen and not call an ambulance - that’s standard practice. DD has one and it’s been drilled into us and everyone who deals with her over the years that when you administer an epipen, you ALWAYS call an ambulance. It makes no sense at all that he just left to eat cake.

If for some bizarre reason he didn’t go to hospital, he should do. There is always the risk of a second, delayed anaphylactic shock and the epipen works on the heart. He needs monitoring.

Are you sure you have the facts right or he isn’t misremembering? Anaphylaxis looks very different to fainting. This scenario makes no sense.

Yup.

And if it wasn't anaphylaxis he should still have been seen by A&E in case there were problems after being given adrenaline. His BP and HR should have been monitored at the very least.

This just doesn't make sense.

LovelyLadyLily · 29/05/2021 21:06

It's unusual to pass out due to a panic attack as your blood pressure goes up.