Whooping cough paranoia

[MammaMia1234]

I have been struggling with anxiety so far in this pregnancy and just when I though I was starting to relax something sparked it off again. I had my whooping cough vaccine this morning and when I arrived at the surgery there was a muddle over my appointment time - they had wanted to change me to a later appointment but had forgotten to call me and muttered something about shingles vaccinations. Anyway, I had the jab and when I got out to the car had a horrible feeling of what if I have been given the wrong vaccine. The nurse confirmed I was in for the whooping cough but I keep thinking what if she took the wrong box out of the fridge, as she had been doing shingles ones before my appointment. What if she just did it on autopilot. I went back to ask if i could see the box and info leaflet but the receptionist said the GP was not prepared to do that. I asked if I could speak to him, she then came out with generic info on the vaccine printed from the internet. I told her I wasn't worried about getting the vaccination but just in case I had been given the wrong one. She said she had checked with the nurse and I had definitely been given the right one. I still feel a niggle. I just feel like a mess.

The nurses will have 'autopilot' ways that they triple check what they're doing. They do so many jabs, from oaps to newborns. They have been trained and won't just take a vaccine out and inject it. They will double / triple check it.

I've also had anxiety so understand your paranoia, but don't let it override your pregnancy experience. Try and cast it from your mind as much as you can.

Thank you screamer. I couldn't sleep much last night and didn't manage my dinner. I feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown or something. Just when I thought I was starting to relax a bit more this happened.

Just to update this - I went back to GP and was shown my notes with correct vaccination and batch number recorded. There's a tiny part of me trying to find a loophole in that - or what if she made mistake then covered it up. But I know that is highly unlikely and I just have to try to accept it now for what it is. Thanks for the supportive messages.

I hope that reassures you. Please take the others advice of seeking more help for your anxiety. Even do some self help or mindfulness. There are SO many things to worry about when your baby arrives you really don't want to let it get out of hand. Better to keep it in check now.

So more than one person checks patient details and correct vaccination. Trust me when I tell you she wouldn't have been able to cover up something like that. Eventually it would be discovered you had, had the wrong one and she would be in a lot more trouble if she covered up. Like prison trouble. She wouldn't have covered it up. I would be reassured by the fact that they noticed you were there around shingles vaccination time. Means she is going to be extra vigilant. Not less xx

Oops, sorry, I thought this had posted last night.

DP said to go back to GP and they will be able to show you your notes with the vaccine recorded and batch number, etc. He also said that it's vanishingly unlikely that a mistake was made as these things are checked, checked and checked again. Making a mistake like that could cost a nurse their job. I hope you're feeling a bit more reassured now X

Glad you got the batch number!

Please do try to get some better help for the anxiety. Mine has blighted my first year with my baby and I'm only just getting proper treatment for it. I wish I'd done it sooner. Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy- hope you have a smooth ride of it!

Hi everyone, although i felt better for a little while after visiting the doctor I can't help but think what if the nurse did make an error and then covered it up. Just because she has entered the vaccine details and batch number into the system does not mean this is the one I received. I know I sound paranoid and I am struggling with my anxiety. I just feel lapse that I didnt ask to see the packaging at the time to verify what I was receiving. Does anyone else ask to check at the time of a vaccine that they are receiving the correct one? If it had been flu jab morning I wouldnt have thought a thing as I would know everyone was in for the same thing and that it is very unlikely that another vaccine would be accidentally selected.

I have even considered getting a blood test in a few weeks to check that I am producing the antibodies. Does anyone have any idea how many weeks after it would be best to do this?

You need to see the doctor now, not to arrange an antibody test but because your anxiety is getting totally out of hand.

There is absolutely zero chance that she entered the vaccine details and batch number of a vaccine that you didn't receive on to the system.

Think about it, it was shingles morning. Where would she have got the details of the whooping cough vaccine to put on your records except because it was the vaccine she gave you?

Because she has other Boostrix vaccines in her fridge - easy to get the batch code from the box.

If there was a mistake you would be informed.

Mamma but she presumably typed the batch code onto your notes while you were there?

What you're now suggesting is that the nurse deliberately falsified your records, which is totally irrational.

Hi she didn't type up the batch code when I was there. As soon as she had administered the vaccine she let me go.

You need to be careful now as you're suggesting that the nurse committed fraud/gross professional misconduct.

Look at the two scenarios
Nurse calls you in and says 'you're here for the whooping cough vaccine'
Nurse gives you the whooping cough vaccine
Nurse types up the whooping cough vaccine batch number into your notes
When you ask whether you had the correct vaccine, the nurse says yes
When you check your notes, the correct vaccine is on there.

Versus:
Nurse calls you in and says 'you're here for the whooping cough vaccine'
Despite you being young and pregnant and not elderly, and despite saying you're here for whooping cough, nurse administers the shingles vaccine
Nurse then has the opportunity to call you back and rectify the mistake
Instead she commits fraud and falsifies your medical records (possibly criminal behaviour?)

If you can't see how bizarre the second scenario you are proposing is, then you really need to see the doctor.

I see your logic of course I do. It just seems duffult for me to fully accept and believe in it right now. I would never openly question the nurse or accuse her. It's my doubts and fears. I feel stupid that I didn't ask to she the box during my appointment.

If it wasn't this it would be something else, you are suffering from medical issue that won't be solved even if you get a totally unnecessary blood test to check for antibodies. You'll just find something else to fixate on.

Please see your doctor!

I am already seeing a counsellor for CBT - don't think it's doing any good.

Without sounding harsh, there's nothing we can say that will comfort or reassure you right now because you're being overwhelmed by your anxiety which is not rational.

I don't say that to sound mean, but objective reason (which is that you did not receive the wrong vaccine) is not making you feel any better. You're obsessing over this now and you really need to talk to someone about your anxiety problem. Please try and seek out some help because that's what will ultimately make you feel better

If CBT isn't working you need to go back to see your doctor.

Pleaae tell your GP how you are feeling, this stress won't do you any good.

And no it wouldn't enter my mind to check I was getting the right injection - the nurse has no reason to lie. Please get more support

PeachBellini - when I say check the right injection I mean just to confirm/double check, not because the nurse would be deliberately getting it wrong but just to be sure.
I agree I do need more help with this. I just thought if I got the blood test it would put it to bed.

It won't put it to bed, you'll start thinking the blood test has been messed up. Or start worrying about something else.

Help with your anxiety will put this to bed.

Your post has really upset me. You have severe anxiety and I'm upset because my DH suffers too. His CBT helped and he settled a lot and has learnt his own methods of coping. You desperately need this.

Trust that the doctors and nurses care about your wellbeing. They wouldn't lie to you, not only because it's poor practice but these people are caring and have morals.

You are better than your lack of trust. And you owe it to your unborn baby to relax, breath deep and think rationally about the situation. There is no loophole.

You are worth so much more than believing bad things could happen to you. Think of that little life you are growing and how beautiful that is. He/she will depend on you and you must give them the best love and care you can.

You also need to realise that feeling mixed up and hormonal is completely natural. It's ok to feel like this. But what you are cycling in your head isn't healthy and you need a way of talking yourself out of the situation.

Everything will be just fine. You will be absolutely fine. Because you didn't get the shingles injection. You got something that keeps you healthy for your little bump. Refocus.

Please have a read about breathing and focusing techniques. I think they could help.

www.getselfhelp.co.uk/healthanxiety.htm

I feel for you but I feel this is way beyond the vaccine now. You need some help. What difference would it make if you'd seen the box? Where does it stop? Did they package it incorrectly in the factory?! Etc etc, questioning the nurses integrity is unfair to her. We have a code of conduct, we know what we are doing. Please get some help xx

I 100℅ would not question it beyond verifying I had the correct vaccine. I am not crazy and would not start wondering about the factory etc. I've had my flu jab no issues. I am just struggling with anxiety on this issue.