Adverse reaction to Pfizer after first jab

[Songoftheseas]

Disclaimer: I only want advice from people who are happy to give objective advice based on my situation, so no rabid pro- or anti-vaxxers commenting please.

I had my first jab (Pfizer) in early July, very reluctantly as I was terrified of having a vaccine with no long-term safety data available. I was effectively bullied into having it by family, some of whom refused to see me unless I was vaccinated.

I had all the usual side effects immediately afterwards but they lasted for approximately 10 days - feeling light-headed, extreme fatigue, random shooting pains in different parts of my body and pins and needles in my hands. Fortunately they all went away after the 10 days but I have been left with a tight, heavy feeling in my chest that comes and goes. It isn’t what I would describe as actual pain (otherwise I would have been straight to the hospital) but nevertheless is bothering me. I have had it sporadically since early July.

I admit to having health anxiety anyway and am really scared that I have damaged my heart and that if I get the second jab I could end up having a heart attack. I don’t want to go to an NHS GP to be checked as I’m worried that they will claim it is nothing to do with the vaccine (despite my only having had this since having my first dose ). I am also overweight (no nasty comments please, I am working on reducing my weight) and know that a lot of GPS like to blame most symptoms on excess weight. Again, I have only had this issue with a tight chest since having the vaccine. Weight aside, I am in good health and can’t even remember the last time I had a cold.

I could wait things out but would it be worth contacting a private GP and requesting an ECG and blood tests, or would that be totally ridiculous? My parents want me to do this, not only to rule out any serious issues but also to ensure that it is safe for me to have the second dose of the vaccine. Based on how I feel at the moment I don’t want it, however if any serious adverse effects to my first dose were ruled out then I would consider it.

Just to add that I’m in my early 40s and requested Pfizer due to my concerns about AZ and clotting - we have a history of strokes in our family. Because of my anxiety it took a lot for me to have my first vaccine, hence leaving it until July.

Hi i also had similar reactions to the 1st jab which i had in May and im also still having the feeling of a tight chest. Its hard to explain. I had an ECG at the doctors which they said was ok and i have also had a 24 hour heart monitor last week which I am still waiting on the results. I am due my second vaccine next Month.

Sorry i had my 1st Jab in June not may

Sorry I can’t be much help, but wanted to give a flowers 💐 emoji to you.
Definitely go to your dr to put your mind at rest. Did you report the reactions on the Yellow card scheme? You will have been given details about it when you had the injection.

@TSJ19

Hi i also had similar reactions to the 1st jab which i had in May and im also still having the feeling of a tight chest. Its hard to explain. I had an ECG at the doctors which they said was ok and i have also had a 24 hour heart monitor last week which I am still waiting on the results. I am due my second vaccine next Month.

I’m sorry you are going through this as well but it’s strangely reassuring to feel that I’m not alone. I don’t know anyone else with these side effects in my family/friendship group. When will you get the results from the heart monitor? Did you have any other tests apart from the ECG? I read that there are blood tests which can indicate the likelihood of heart damage as well.

@Sugarandtime

Sorry I can’t be much help, but wanted to give a flowers 💐 emoji to you. Definitely go to your dr to put your mind at rest. Did you report the reactions on the Yellow card scheme? You will have been given details about it when you had the injection.

That’s so kind, thank you! 🤗 I was expecting a barrage of abuse for saying anything negative about my experience with the vaccine (I guess that might still come, lol). I will make an appointment with a doctor. I haven’t yet reported my reactions on the yellow card scheme but you are right, I should - will do this now.

Hi I am going to ring up tomorrow and try to get a phone appointment with my doctor and hopefully she will have the results. I am also going to ask her for some routine bloods to be done. I also had a racing heart for a while after my vaccine. Did you?

@Songoftheseas

Disclaimer: I only want advice from people who are happy to give objective advice based on my situation, so no rabid pro- or anti-vaxxers commenting please.

I had my first jab (Pfizer) in early July, very reluctantly as I was terrified of having a vaccine with no long-term safety data available. I was effectively bullied into having it by family, some of whom refused to see me unless I was vaccinated.

I had all the usual side effects immediately afterwards but they lasted for approximately 10 days - feeling light-headed, extreme fatigue, random shooting pains in different parts of my body and pins and needles in my hands. Fortunately they all went away after the 10 days but I have been left with a tight, heavy feeling in my chest that comes and goes. It isn’t what I would describe as actual pain (otherwise I would have been straight to the hospital) but nevertheless is bothering me. I have had it sporadically since early July.

I admit to having health anxiety anyway and am really scared that I have damaged my heart and that if I get the second jab I could end up having a heart attack. I don’t want to go to an NHS GP to be checked as I’m worried that they will claim it is nothing to do with the vaccine (despite my only having had this since having my first dose ). I am also overweight (no nasty comments please, I am working on reducing my weight) and know that a lot of GPS like to blame most symptoms on excess weight. Again, I have only had this issue with a tight chest since having the vaccine. Weight aside, I am in good health and can’t even remember the last time I had a cold.

I could wait things out but would it be worth contacting a private GP and requesting an ECG and blood tests, or would that be totally ridiculous? My parents want me to do this, not only to rule out any serious issues but also to ensure that it is safe for me to have the second dose of the vaccine. Based on how I feel at the moment I don’t want it, however if any serious adverse effects to my first dose were ruled out then I would consider it.

Hi OP I don’t think you need to arrange to see a private GP, just arrange to have an ecg at your own GP practice. If that comes back normal then you should feel reassured that your heart is fine. Do you have any other symptoms though that make you believe your heart has been affected? Are you getting palpitations, high/low bp, breathlessness, chest pains etc? Anxiety can definitely give you the feeling of tightness in your chest. Just make an appointment with your GP and get some reassurance or advice from there.

I think you should have a call with your GP. Any strange or new symptoms should be investigated. They may or may not be related to the vaccine (I didn't have Pfizer but I did have some strange symptoms after my first vaccine which I ignored for ages thinking they were side effects, but turned out to be completely unrelated and easy to fix). Your GP would be the best person to advise

I would call your gp - can't do any harm.

Speak to your GP and if that doesn’t satisfy you and you have the means to, go the private route.

Ultimately, if you have health anxiety you’re not the best judge of the symptoms you’re experiencing because you’re starting at a point of thinking the worst. Until you consult a medical professional you don’t actually know what you are/n’t dealing with.

@TSJ19

Hi I am going to ring up tomorrow and try to get a phone appointment with my doctor and hopefully she will have the results. I am also going to ask her for some routine bloods to be done. I also had a racing heart for a while after my vaccine. Did you?

No, no racing heart or palpitations, just a feeling of heaviness/tightness. I’ve also had an occasional weird cough which is not Covid (ruled out by several PCR tests over a period of a few weeks). Good luck with your results and with the blood tests, I hope they can provide some answers and rule anything sinister out 💐

Thanks for your comments, they have made me feel better and that I won’t look like a crazy person asking my GP to run some tests. I’m prepared to accept that it could be my anxiety causing the tightness/heaviness in my chest but my gut instinct tells me that it isn’t. Another theory is that I unknowingly had Covid before I had my jab and am now having some residual effects/long Covid?! I haven’t got much to base this theory on other than some ice pick headaches in the days before I had the jab which are obviously not typical of Covid. No cough, temp etc.

I would suggest you talk to your GP rather than worrying, wondering and asking a group of random people on the internet.

Very helpful, thanks! I am perfectly capable of deducing that for myself, I was posting to see if people have had similar experiences and if so what they have done about it. Also, if you actually read what I wrote, I have concerns about going to see a GP on the NHS in case they dismiss my symptoms.

Thanks to the encouragement on this thread I am definitely going to book an appointment with my GP.