Flu symptoms after jab?

[MissCKitty]

I have had a lingering but fairly mild cold for about 4 weeks now (am 34+5 and insulin dependent) and have on and off felt a bit rough. However I went up to my GP yesterday for an unrelated issue and while I was there got my flu jab. Within 5 hours of having it I felt bloody awful: really high temperature, chills, aching muscles, horrendous cough, sinusitis, earache and a really tight feeling in my chest. Have I been unlucky enough to have caught the flu before my jab or has anyone else had this extreme reaction to the vaccination? Waiting on some advice from NHS direct right now.

AFAIK the vaccine isn't live, so it's unlikely to cause flu.
It sounds like you've caught something before the jab.
Poor you :( Hope you feel better soon!

unlucky as op said its inactive:( hope you are ok. It sounds like it could have gone to your chest.

Good luck with NHS direct as well....never had a good experience with them yet. Someone I know, finally got a call back several years later....no exaggeration.

Spoke to my GP instead and he said it sounds like I had picked up the virus before I had my jab and potentially could have antiviral drugs like Tamiflu or Relenza. However am v wary of taking them cos the risks for pregnancy are not known. He has written me a prescription that I can get and use if I want but he thinks that I should treat the symptoms, drink plenty of fluids and get some rest instead of taking the drugs. What would you do?

oh NO! I'm so sorry that you're not well, and right before the holidays when it's not always possible to be bed-ridden! :(

perhaps ask your DP to pick up the prescription, though don't take it unless you need to and take the resting/drinking fluids advice of your GP seriously...despite the holidays. Last year I had the virus when I wasn't preggers, and it took 5 days to recover at home in bed. Hope you feel better very soon! :)