The flu vaccine, do you ever suffer from side effects?

[Rustydogtail]

As I'm now in my 50's, suffer from a few chronic health issues (not respiratory), care for an elderly parent with advanced dementia and have myself suffered from flu in every decade since my 20's I've decided to have the flu jab this winter.

However, I'm really concerned that it'll make me feel like crap. I know if it does it's unlikely to last long but I already feel like crap every day (IBS, perimenopause, endometriosis) and really don't want to feel worse than I do although from experience I know a dose of the flu will make me feel dreadful so a small price to pay I suppose if I do react.

Do you get your shots and do you ever have reactions from it?

I’m currently in bed feeling awful after flu and Covid vaccines yesterday. Fever, headache, chills etc. Now regretting having both together! I know it will pass in a day or so though. I’m envious of those who have no side effects at all.

Didn't they misjudge the strains last year so we weren't completely covered?

"Flu" as in wanted a day off at short notice.

Flu or diarrhea (whether real or fake) were the most common excuses for going sick for a day or two and never raised any questions.
A cold was not considered worthy of a day off.

This year had Covid and flu at the same time.

2 days of quite strong reactions, my Oura ring showed major signs of illness, increased temperature, poor sleep, was awake half the night for two nights, arm really sore - every time I rolled over on it I wakened up. Was shiver and achy for more than 24 hours. Totally knackered too.

Had it Thursday, still suffering sleep wise and only had 20 minutes of deep sleep last night. Usually I get 90.

For me it’s totally necessary I get both, literally can’t afford to get sick and have a partner with Long Covid.

I get it every year and usually just have a sore arm. This year I’ve been feeling a little off and had a headache during the night. Totally worth it, though, to have some protection from flu.

We're never completely covered, because each year the scientists/vaccine producers are making their most educated estimate as to how to defeat a putative strain of the virus.

Had mine yesterday afternoon. Aside from a minor tenderness in the injection site for a few hours I've never had any side effects or bad reactions. The GP did ask me, prior to administering, whether I'd had it before or suffered any reactions, and I'm sure I've been asked this when I've had it at the pharmacy previously, so you could discuss it before they give it to you OP.

Just a slightly sore arm for a couple of days.

I've had it once and felt really ill for days..it was more of a reaction than I've ever had from actual flu, so I haven't bothered since. If I catch a bad flu one year I would probably start to take it but I don't tend to catch flu.

I get really stiff muscles for a couple of days extremely tense all over and obviously very sore upper arms. Sometimes I go hot and cold in the evening.

It only lasts one day and then it’s over and generally I can always do everything as normal I just have a bad nights sleep. Feels a lot better than the flu which lays me low (I’m immunocompromised)

Slightly sore arm if any reaction at all 🤷🏼‍♀️
No reaction to Covid jabs. The only thing that I reacted to was my second shingles jab when I felt a bit off for a day or two.

No,you really don’t do you. I first caught flu at the age of 26, swine flu at 36, flu again at 43 and again last year at 52. I remember each one vividly, took me around 2-3 months to fully recover and I developed pneumonia after the flu at 43. I really should have gotten over my fear of the vaccine many years ago.

I’m considering the shingles jab. My poor mum has advanced Alzheimer’s disease and new evidence suggests the jab can help lower the risk. It’s an evil disease so I’m seriously looking into getting it.

Having had the flu quite a few times now has really left me quite afraid of catching it. Weirdly, I hardly ever get a cold.

I had it yesterday and developed a really horrid headache about 6 hours later. Paracetamol and a couple of hours sleep fixed it. All fine today.

I hope it passes quickly for you.

Same here - it’s now day 4 after both vaccines and only today that I’m back to normal. I thought judging by this thread that I was the only one with such a bad reaction so pleased to see I’m not - although obviously sorry you’re going through it too!

I’m more afraid of the flu than I am of Covid. I’ve had 3 occasions with the flu where I was so ill and took a long time to recover. I really wouldn’t want to go through that again and I’m not sure that without the vaccine my body with it’s health issues, would cope with it again.

No but we use it as an excuse for a lazy day. So maybe lazing around gives you a chance to let it do its work without keeping you active as well IYSWIM

I had my first flu vaccination when I was in my late 20s and have had one every year since then - Im now 68. there has only been one year, about 20 years ago, when I was really unwell afterwards, and several people I knew at the time also had a bad reaction, but apart from that Ive only ever had a slightly sore arm.

I always have mine separately because Im concerned at the impact having two inoculations on the same day would have on my immune system.

I had mine Friday and haven’t had any side effects, other than a slight ache in my arm. I’ve had flu and it’s awful so always get my flu jab now.

I had mine done yesterday due to a health condition I have and there's a tiny bit of tenderness at the injection site which is always the case. The first year I had it done I felt tired for a few days but now it doesn't effect me at all beyond a tiny bit of tenderness in my arm.

I started having the flu jab in 2017 and before that I was getting ill every year with a high temperature and dizziness. Since then I had no issues.
I don't have live vaccines though due to a supressed immune system.

I don’t, never had vaccine side effects with anything even the Covid ones (apart from arm pain).
I guess I’m just lucky