second vaccine if still unwell (ear ringing) after first?

[ThatsnotMyNameAgain]

i ve had my first AZ about 6 weeks ago and got my appointment for the second early next week.

i ve also had 6 weeks of on/off headaches, had a weird rash with tiny tiny prick like red dots but my worst symptom is non-stop ringing in my left ear. It s constant.

I got checked for D dimers and platelets and this was ok, so was told to just monitor and it could get better. I may get an ENT referal some time in next 3 to 6 months. It s not so far getting better, is stopping me sleeping well, and is very irritating during the day.

I m not sure i can have the 2nd jab now - the anxiety is breaking me and the idea of making symptoms worst is terrifying.

Has anyone got ear ringing or hissing? has it improved over time?

Have you asked the GP about having it, as you are still under review with possible referral to ENT ?

GP says "see how you feel about having it"
and then proceeded to tell me how important it is to get the 2nd jab as one on its own does not offer much protection.

I had terrible vertigo and eat pain after my first and I was really worried about having my second but I had no symptoms apart from tiredness and a one day headache.

After my first it took a good month or so for things to settle down.

**ear pain

My mum has had this with both - in each case it took six weeks to settle

She is mid 70s so I guess it makes sense to have the vaccines. Younger people - meh - not so much. I’m hearing far too many of these stories

Did you discuss having a different vaccination for your second ?
Apparently Gp’s can arrange it for medical reasons.

You can't mix vaccines but you could discuss having a different one next time. I don't know anyone who has the AZ that was poorly after the second of that's any comfort.

Your GP can prescribe you medication to deal with the tinnitus, go back and demand some. Do you have hypothyroidism? It's possible it's an autoimmune reaction if so, there is a relationship with meniere's; I've had tinnitus each time my thyroid medication was too low (no issue after the vaccine, but well medicated right now).

Are you the same person who was mentioned on the news this morning? They said it's not a recognised side effect. If this wasn't you there are at least two of you.

My side effects (AZ) were not mentioned anywhere in their leaflet. Horrendous worrying brain fog lasting around 2 weeks. Asking around this symptom is also pretty common.

ps. my side effects were much worse with 2nd jab.

@DinosaurDiana

Did you discuss having a different vaccination for your second ? Apparently Gp’s can arrange it for medical reasons.

Hi OP - yes this is true - you can discuss having a different vaccine (likely Pfizer) next time. This is what i did (and others on the main 'alternatives to AZ' thread) after a bad reaction to AZ.

I went around a loop of GP/119 but basically I needed a letter from GP to take to the vaccination centre on the day.

In summary - you can mix vaccines, if there are medical reasons to do so (and you have a supportive GP).

I was very ill with the first AZ (not ears), but have had terrible pressure in my head and weird feelings and sounds in my ears since the second AZ. It feels like it's getting worse too and it's horrible.

Could yoube anaemic - iron or b12? Are you veggie?

@Dontfuckingsaycheese - nope not me in news i just wish my GP acknowledged how terrifying it is to not see symptoms improvements, especially when this impacts on sleep and work (and mood, i m a wreck, I snap at DCs and DH because i m both anxious and tired).

@mrex I am not hypoT as far as i know, but it s not been tested for a while. I was also thinking about premeno. GP is not keen to test for either as he does not believe a link exists, so i ve bought one of the kits from the private online companies - now waiting for my next cycle to do the finger prick.

I m interested to know about meds for tinnitus - i have no hearing loss (i believe) so GP implied that nothing else was to be done - he suggested white noise machines.

i ll ring again and will ask about alternative vaccine (assuming it does not come with similar issues)

@HSHorror i ve got low iron stores (but not anaemia) and on regular iron supplements (for years - thks to super heavy periods).
B12 was ok last time i checked, and I eat regularly animal products (not discounting of course that i could have an absorbtion problem).

@ThatsnotMyNameAgain - it's a good idea to check your thyroid, your GP should let you at least get a blood test, but rude not to. There's a range of drugs; anxiety meds for just the ringing, stemetil or beta histines if you also have balance issues. You might find useful info here: www.tinnitus.org.uk/Listing/Category/covid19. (I haven't read it, but it's bound to have something helpful.

There are actually a lot of tinnitus cases reported and I am in a group (with another condition which may be auto-immune) who have sadly had a nasty reaction to the vaccine and many on the group have reported tinnitus and balance issues. However, things seem to get batter around the 4/5 month mark for many so hopefully things will settle for you. It is very hard to decide whether to have the second or which one for those of us with issues after the first.

thanks @Grimbelina. I m at a loss with what to do. GP is minimising it altogether, since my reaction was not "that bad". When I read 4 to 5 months my heart sank. I m going bonkers :(

I had bad tinnitus during and after actually having COVID. I had bad headaches with it which felt like they were pushing into my ears. I think there's been some minor damage to my hearing.

Are you sure you haven't been exposed to actual COVID sometime around the vaccination period, OP?

However, things seem to get batter around the 4/5 month mark for many

Can confirm this is the case for me. It's still there but nowhere near as bad.

Are you sure you haven't been exposed to actual COVID sometime around the vaccination period, OP?
Zoe app have had a significant number of people reporting tinnitus after AZ jab. I think they said it was one in fifty.

@LilyPond2 where do i find this on the app? interested to read more if they have anything

otherwise, no recent COVID in last few months according to LFTs and no "classic" symptom either.

I’m in a Facebook group of people with tinnitus after covid vaccine. It’s all the vaccines so far so no point having a different one. I also got hearing loss which happens in a percentage of the people getting tinnitus. Mine started after my first Pfizer and didn’t get worse with booster at 9 weeks. It’s still here 3 months after booster but have days when it’s not so bad now. Had my thyroid checked and it’s fine. There is no medication for tinnitus ☹️ I’d try an anti inflammatory diet. It also happens after covid and I suspect it’s the spike protein that’s causing the issue which is why it’s happening post vaccine too to some people. I’m glad I had my second dose, especially with the delta variant but I’m reluctant to get any booster shots now but hoping I have enough life long memory from two shots.

I have a buzzing in my head and ringing in my ears. The buzzing is coming and going now and ringing in ears only there when buzzing gone. There are lots of people in the Facebook group who have recovered and others still with it 4 months later. Most people think it will resolve eventually.

thanks @JS87. If you have info on the FB group i d be keen. It feels like the GP thinks i m a time waster. Maybe I am. So conflicted about that 2nd jab esp if Pfizer also is linked to tinnitus.
I could cry