Quick update - reaction to flu jab

[CDreamer]

The swelling is now going down and much less painful so I don’t need to see GP but I have emailed reporting my reaction.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

[Padayn01]

Great news

[Coco51]

Phew!😊

[JaneFinn]

That’s a relief to hear, CDreamer! Sorry I only just now saw your post from yesterday saying about the reaction. Very glad it’s going down.

Especially with everything else healthwise you have going on, a reaction is the last thing you needed

Hope your heartbeat is steady too now? Xx

[jeanjeannie50]

Pleased to hear that CD and you did the right thing reporting it. It would be interesting to find out just what caused the reaction, but I guess that would be too much to hope for. Have you started taking any new pills this year?

[CDreamer in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean - nope. Only 1 epsisode of AF since PM revision & Mg relatively stable so just anticoagulants as prophylactic for AF.

Mind you taking a ton of supplements!

How are you after the cardioversion?

xx

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for asking, I'm still in sinus rhythm and feeling a lot more energetic. Feel I need to build up my stamina a little more now, but this awful weather we're having doesn't inspire me to go out walking.

On holiday in Croatia with my youngest daughter recently, she complained I was walking too slow. However, I'd say she was walking quickly and me normally. I like to stop and admire what I'm seeing too. I can remember racing everywhere like she does!

The only supplement I take at the moment is a liquid vitamin D3. I spend a fortune trying to get all I need from food and at the moment am thinking perhaps I'll start a veg garden again next year, the patch I had a few years ago is lawned over at the moment. Trouble is I find it hard enough maintaining the garden as it is without adding more to do!

It sounds like you're doing really well, long may that continue.

Jean x

[BobD Volunteer in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Know the feeling Jean. We filled in and grassed over our veg terrace but a neighbour has a large field and green houses where he grows veg so we are usually well stocked with cucumbers, tomato , squash and beans in season. We have just seeded a wild flower meadow up on the hill behind the house because it is too hard to mow for me these days and seriously thinking of PV panels on another area up there. (Sounds like we have a huge plot but its only 1/2 acre all told but being hillside it takes a lot of work) .

[Auriculaire in reply to BobD]

I am in the middle of reducing the width of a very wide border so as to cut back on weeding . It will go back to grass so more work for the mower (husband!) - but a lot less time for him to mow the extra than for me to weed it!

[Morzine in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Oh yes yes jeanjeanie, I’m in Oz on hols, with my husband and daughter.....the whole trip I feel like I’m being left behind....they walk too fast and I just haven’t the same speed..... I can see them all the time thinking I’m too slow.......I’m much better in morzine at my own pace!! Two more weeks to go!!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Morzine]

It makes you feel quite an unwanted burden doesn't it! They may discover what it's like themselves one day! Despite 3 ablations and numerous cardioversions my daughter still thinks my heart problems are all in my head. We talked to an elderly man while away and he took heart pills but didn't know what they were for, my daughter thought it amazing that he'd put whatever was wrong behind him. The insinuation from her was why couldn't I be like that!!! The first day we were out, it made my heart sore trying to keep up with her and I had to give in and slow down.

[CDreamer in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Youth is wasted on the young - said very pityingly was the reply my grandmother used for me when I tried to hurry her or ask how she couldn’t see something!

I’ve been practising mimicking that exact look!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to CDreamer]

Lol. x

[GrannyE in reply to jeanjeannie50]

You have to do things at your own pace. We cannot keep up with the young any more and should not try to do so. By and large we know our limitations. Just airily wave them forward and tell them to do their own thing. One day they will understand that it is not the case of lack of will power. We are lucky to be here and to be able to do as much as we can. Carpe diem.

Just a thought if you had a Kardia device or one of these new smart watches which measures heartbeat and does an ECG (I think some of them might do that now) then you could show your daughter what is actually happening to you and maybe then she would understand.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to GrannyE]

I try not to use any gadgets like that, they'd just provoke anxiety in me and make the situation worse. After three ablations, my EP has said I'm not suitable for any more. So I just have to get on with life as best I can.

[Morzine in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Well Jean I’m the same..... I’m glad it’s not just me....if that makes sense....I planned this Australia trip because i felt I could do it, i was so excited to go....I had the ablation in January..so I was 8 months when we started.......it’s a two plus month 4000 mile road trip...top Queensland to Sydney.....perhaps I over egged my expectations....well I know now I did....but in morzine and walking I was feeling normal....the flight was tiring but I reckon that’s normal.....but they walked so fast thru the airports I was floundering....in fact at one point I couldn’t see them......🤨

The heat in Queensland did hit me but it would have hit me if I was normal.....it’s the walking fast and making me feel inadequate that’s got to me......we’ve done rainforest walks which aren’t that long.......an hour or so....but if I’d done it at my pace it would fine but I feel like I’m on a route march and then they are ahead waiting .......come on mum.......same with beach walks....where’s mum???

.my daughter has said a few times look you’ve had this operation the cardio says your fine you need now to get fit..............get fit?.???? My cardio upped my tablets fir this trip..he said to keep me safe but I’ve no energy.....yes and like you when you give in and say look I need to rest, or I’m knackered.....you feel so inadequate......you get that “look”............I’m quite fed up with being pushed and feeling as if I’m not making an effort to “ get fit.” .........Doesn’t help my husband is 72 and still skiing....and fit.....aaaargh.......😩😩😩

Thanks fir making me feel a hit better Jean!

[CDreamer in reply to Morzine]

Practice the ‘youth is wasted on the young’ look. Absolutely works.

[Morzine in reply to CDreamer]

Like that!!

[Auriculaire in reply to jeanjeannie50]

She sounds like she lacks compassion. Serve her right if she gets a chronic disease as she ages and her kids have the same attitude.

[wilsond in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I was told that this year there are 3 different strains of flu combined on this jab...so probably bit strong reaction from some of us?

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[BobD Volunteer]

Good news CD

[Rostom]

Some 15-20 years ago I had an 'egg' on my arm after a'flu jab. I couldn't get my arm into jackets sleeves as it was so large. It also hurt!

I didn't report it at the time but have often wondered if I should have done so.

It took ten days or so to subside and I didn't feel brilliant but assumed that it had 'taken' well! I thought my reaction was better than having 'flu.

You are probably right to let your GP know as perhaps it needs reporting under the 'yellow card' scheme...

Glad you are feeling better!

[pottypete1]

That is good news glad to hear that it is a lot better.

Pete

[wilsond]

Sorry just caught up too. I too had to report very sore swelling and painful arm after mine

Gp.said it's because there are 3 flu strains in this Jab . I also had the pneumonia jab which was worse..in the other arm! Still better than flu...but best to let them know .Glad you are feeling better now. Xx

[dani777]

The flu jab can affect some people in a bad way. I stopped having them for nearly 20 years after I had one, and I was told to wait around for 15 minutes afterwards, and around 8 minutes later, I suddenly went all woozy and passed out. I came to on the floor with a Nurse behind me, supporting me and they gave me juice and some chocolate. I felt better after half an hour or so. Nurse said it was a reaction to the jab. But then, a few years ago, I had the worst flu I've ever had, and it spooked me so badly that I had the flu jab last year. This time, I had a delayed reaction, the next day I was out and about, and suddenly felt faint although didn't actually faint but had the weak legs, sweating, and vision going funny. It passed after about an hour. But I knew it was a delayed reaction to the jab. But after having had that horrible flu, where I was so poorly that I was really quite scared, I thought that it's better to have the jab and feel faint or even faint, touch wood, than to have that flu again.

[Hidden]

I had a slight reaction last year after having the flu & pneumonia jabs at the same time. After 20 minutes my lips, tongue & face started tingling and this lasted about half an hour.

This year I had to have mine at a separate appointment with the nurse & then sit in an adjacent room for half an hour with her popping in every few minutes between patients to make sure I was ok. No reaction so far 2 days on.

Pat x

[Rosemaryb1349]

Only took the flu jab twice back when I had small children and was in my 30's. First time I had horrible sloshing, gurgling noises in my head and went a bit deaf for nearly 3 weeks. Didn't associate it with jab, just assumed I had caught something ut following year, same thing only far worse. Was almost completely deaf for 6 weeks and the noises in my head were like being upside down in water with my head in a galvanised bucket. Dr advised I should never have have flu jab again but now I'm afraid of catching tge flu. Can't win.

[CDreamer in reply to Rosemaryb1349]

That’s the dilemma isn’t it? Someone is always going to be reactive or allergic to everything but the flu jab is to protect the population as a whole, which I get but it’s tough when you are the one who reacts!

[GrannyE in reply to CDreamer]

I always have lots of vit c a week before and after any jabs. I think it helps to ameliorate the reactions. You react to the stuff they put in to activate the immune system I think.

[Auriculaire in reply to Rosemaryb1349]

Make sure your vit d level is high- not just into the normal range but over 125nmol/l. Get tested privately if the NHS won't do it. Also you could take n acetyl cysteine every day. This is an immune booster. You should really start 6 months prior to flu season but it would be better than just crossing your fingers.