Any older Mumsnetters felt ill after a shingles jab?

[Hedgerow2]

Had mine yesterday - shingles in one arm, pneumonia in the other. Started to feel unwell yesterday evening.

Today both arms are really stiff and the shingles one is extremely painful. I ache all over, my glands feel tender, my skin is very sensitive, my head aches, I feel lightheaded and I'm absolutely freezing. Currently wearing 2 jumpers and wrapped in a shawl with a thick blanket on top. Central heating is on and dh has just lit the log burner. My hands are shaking with cold.

I've sometimes felt under the weather after a Covid jab, but never anywhere near this bad.

Anyone else reacted like this?

How do we report reactions to the Shingrix manufacturer?

@hamjamwitch you can use the yellow card scheme https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ however most side effects we have experienced on this thread fall within the bounds of 'normal'.

My arm hurt like hell and I was ill for days afterwards. Glad I had it done though!

DH had a GP appointment this morning and mentioned how ill I am. They said that my side effects were unusual and if I don't feel any better tomorrow I should give them a ring.
I've also developed a large angry rash around the vaccination site today.

My hydrocortisone cream just arrived from Amazon Will share if it helps the arm swelling

@Hedgerow2 can anyone pop to a chemist to get you some hydrocortisone cream? And pharmacist advice ?

I had Shingrix because that’s what’s offered to everyone aged 50+ in the US. I had it a year early because I have diabetes and the pharmacist offered it to me. I guess they cannot ever say anything is 100% effective but this is apparently the nearest you can get. I was very happy to have it, despite the frankly crap aftermath.

Interestingly, I am one of the last birth years to get the vaccine at all because of the chickenpox vaccine for kids introduced in 1980 in the USA. A varicella vaccine is on the list of necessary shots to be able to
immigrate to the US but British people get special dispensation because there is no such programme offered in the UK. Wonder why?

@Paninaro94 I agree. When my son had chickenpox, it made him quite poorly.
I had chickenpox at age 19, which was both painful and embarrassing

@Paninaro94 raises an important issue here. If the UK vaccinated against chickenpox, would it stop children suffering from chickenpox and adults the pain of shingles?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-recommends-chickenpox-vaccine-in-childhood-immunisation-programme#:~:text=The%20Joint%20Committee%20on%20Vaccination,and%2018%20months%20of%20age.

@Hedgerow2 how are you today ?

@hamjamwitch - I just came onto Mumsnet to ask you the same question!

I felt loads better yesterday as the day went on. Slept really well and then woke up with a banging head, feeling sick and clammy again. Can't even face a cup of tea. My arm still hurts but the rash is going.

How are you doing?

Arm still been red and a bit swollen. Somewhat better today. This morning I had a lot of pain in the back of my neck. Cleared with 2 migraine tablets. No energy today again. Felt like crying randomly yesterday.

I'm sorry to hear that. I woke up again with a banging head this morning and still feel clammy/light-headed from time to time. Eaten reasonably well today though which is a good sign.

Let's hope we're both completely better soon!

@hamjamwitch - hello. I wondered if you'd had your second jab and if so whether you reacted badly again?

I had mine on Friday - reluctantly. The nurse said I may have reacted badly last time because having 2 jabs might have been too much for me (I also had the one for pneumonia). My arm is very red, swollen and painful. I felt off yesterday and slept all afternoon, then all night (unusual for me). Today I'm feeling fluey, shivery, light-headed and generally unwell. I hope the side effects don't last so long this time.

My husband reacts like you do to the COVID jab. Whenever he has the jab, he has to plan for the next 3 days in bed. Once the 3 days are up, he's back to normal 🤷‍♀️