Evening everyone. Just wondering if anyone has found themselves in a similar situation - I've received a notification suggesting I book my latest booster for a vaccination. My dilemma is that with my last one I felt quite ill and it played havoc with my ectopic heartbeats. I have been lucky enough this past few months to have seen a big improvement since being prescribed low dose flecainide, and really don't want this to be upset. So go ahead or not is my dilemma. Is anyone in a similar situation? Thank you.
Dilemma with vaccination.: Evening... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Dilemma with vaccination.
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DebbiB28
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Jean
I have decided - no more COVID jabs. I am still unsure of the flu jab as there are some nasty flu bugs around,.
Thank you. I am leaning the same way. With all the flu jabs I've had, never experienced side effects, but not the case with the other one.
I too decided I won't have any more until all the questions have been answered. I have had 3 Pfizer COVID, 2, initially and one booster 18 months ago - the government here in South Africa seems to have forgotten all about it - the uptake was so poor they wasted millions of tax money. I've had a 'flu Vac. for the last 25 years without a problem, so will continue with that and the pneumococcal which is every 5 years. At the moment I am debating about the Shingles, as the vaccine is very expensive.
Do you have to pay for all your vaccinations?
I have had 2 shots Shingrix jab taken 3 months qpart last year. I decided that of all of the jabs, that was probably the most important although that may have been instilled in me as a child that it was something you die from.
I had shingles about 2 years ago, during lockdown, and thankfully recognised it immediately and had antiviral meds on repeat prescription with some in the house so was able to start medication. I was not very ill but the lesions are painful for a long time. Both my son, who was very ill with it, and then my grandson contracted it around the same time although there was no connection between us as we lived 230 miles apart and we were in Lockdown so just coincidence. There was a lot of juvenile shingles around that year and thankfully my daughter in law was also very aware and convinced the GP, who said it was so rare it couldn’t possibly be, that it really was juvenile shingles.
Shingles is not something you want and I didn’t have any reaction to those shots but I found that the anti virals are very affective if you can start taking them within 48 hours.
I don’t think we in the UK appreciate just how much medications and vaccinations cost.. I do think it is governments responsibility is to provide vaccination for communicable diseases. the population free or subsidised because it is in everyone’s interests.
No, the COVID ones are free, but certain others like 'flu and pneumococcal come out of your 'Health Plan' if you are a Medical Aid Society member, but are given free and the primary care clinics for those who depend on public health, which is the majority and greatly overburdened. Extras' like Shingles, you have to pay for and they cost several thousands of rands (not that the rand is worth much )!. If there are no side effects, then I think I will go ahead and have them - fortunately the interest on my savings has gone up to 9%, p.a.,so I can pay from them out of that, ha,ha, ha.!
Fascinating how different health care systems work.
I have also received notification to get a booster. No more for me. I had immediate shortness of breath my two Pfizers and I've had to have a second ablation. My cardiologist agrees I should not have another jab and gave me a deferral. The heart damage from the shots is well documented.
I hadn’t heard about the vaccinations causing damage to the heart. Where can I look for this info ? I’ve tried to find via Google but no luck.
I don’t think that all vaccinations cause heart damage to the heart but there is mounting evidence of a direct link between vaccinations and heart disease in some people. It is considered to be ‘rare’ but there are studies. There is SO much information but if anyone here tries to post you links etc, moderators will may pull the thread as it causes alarm and people report.
What disturbs me most is that I don’t seem to be able to find information on exactly how the vaccination ‘prevents serious illness’. From my very limited understanding the vaccinations educate antibodies - that’s just an early warning signal for your immune system to go on high alert. It’s the other parts of the immune system that fight the infections,
I have auto-immune diseases which mean my immune system needs to be suppressed so in theory - I should be extremely vulnerable. I’ve had COVID 3 times, once seriously, twice like a mild cold/flu. I have NEVER developed antibodies from any of the vaccinations and I was tested after each. I developed antibodies after each infection though.
British Heart Foundation have an article from John Hopkins, suggest that you start there which talks about how COVID itself affects the heart. All info on vaccination heart complications is much less transparent but dig deep enough and you will find it.
All I can say is that I was free of AF after pacemaker implant in 2018, then I got COVID with pneumonia and was ill for weeks. AF kicked in on Day2 big time and I had a suspected heart attack so blue lighted. I was fully vaccinated.
I was advised to have the booster - think that was my fourth - straight into AF and was ill for 3 weeks. Next jab - 5th, less reaction but still a reaction. What did it for me was the 6th - I felt so ill and AF didn’t abate for about 4 days.
The last vaccination I had was in February 2023 and had COVID in September. I’ve been in direct contact with people with active COVID since. This is just personal experience and I believe everyone needs to weigh up their personal risk:benefits. It seems to me that the risks outweigh the benefits FOR ME but making that choice when there is only a blanket approach - Everyone needs to get this vaccination makes me highly suspicious.
Assuming you mean covid ,I've not bothered with a covid booster,I've had the illness and had no symptoms at all, with the covid jab I felt awful,so in my case it's a big fat no.
I would say that if you’re worried about it, then seek medical advice. I did double check when getting my 2022 booster, as I had just gone into persistent AFib at that point. (My AFib just turned persistent following a Covid infection, but of course could just be a coincidence.)
I think that you will find that any opinions on here are split right down the middle on this. Personally, I take any vaccine offered when it is advised.
Thank you.
hi
the last vac offered includes cover for OMICRON which others haven't.
i had my last in July.
I'm in NZ and we have 5,000 cases now. but most are repeats and they don't tell us if they have been covered by vacinations.
1, Drink plenty before vac.
2. have 1/2 banana
3. have vac
4 sit out the 20mins wait.
5. eat other piece banana
6. more drink.
cheers JOY 74. (nz)
Thank you.
I had no issues with any of my 5 jabs, getting Covid laid me up for a a week. I’ve also had flu jabs at the same time.,I’m Paroxysmal AF and none brought on any AF / AFL episodes. However, we are all different and can respond differently to the jab. I suspect for the vast majority of us it is no issue and so on a global risk / probability basis you should have it, but that is little comfort if you are in a small minority who will react badly. I struggle to give strong advice either way, unless anyone has definitely reacted badly previously.
We have all got out of the practice of listening to our individual body and instead follow the crowd. In your shoes there is no way I would have another jab.
I understand the C-jab has a very poor risk/reward rating according to eminent doctors around the world and the mainstream media is slowly dribbling out the same message as the stats are published.
The question is what impact would a Covid infection have on your AF or ectopics and your general health? For example, according to the evidence, despite the alarm over an infinitesimal number of blood clots forming among those who were vaccinated with certain vaccines, the chance of this happening with a serious infection is many, many times greater.
Nothing is risk free and you have like all of us weigh up the personal risks in the context of your general health, age and so on, of the booster and not having it at all and risking infection.
I sympathise and have delayed mine so far too as I fear feeling unwell just before Xmas, but we all have to make the decision.
Despite having had all vaccinations so far, I've still had the C infection twice. For me, the last vac was worse than either infection. I guess we all respond differently. I agree though that the thought of ruining Christmas is a big part of my overall decision.
So very sorry to hear that you still got the infection despite the vaccination. Luckily I had no reaction at all to the three or so I have already had but not had one recently. I like to think I must be already resistant but they say not, and that the new variation is more potent than former ones. We have a Christmas meal booked for the middle of next week with friends and I really don't want to have a vaccination that makes me feel ill for that. But on the other hand, going out socialising is of course making us more likely to encounter infections! We cannot win! I hope you remain infection free for Xmas. Have a good time. 😄
Thank you! Best wishes and good luck!
Except the vaccine doesn’t stop you getting a Covid infection. Therefore your risk of clots is cumulative: Covid risk plus vaccine risk.
No more for me thank you very much, all vaccined out. Seek your medics advice and balance your decision on what they say and what you feel is right for you. Best wishes.
maybe seek advice from your cardiologist rather than a GP? A cardiologist I spoke to would not advise me to have it and the general team and staff have been supportive, if not cheering of my decision. I’m not anti-vax, I have strong reactions to drugs and one being injected into me is not something I take lightly. With no flu or Covid jab, I’ve never had the flu in my life and had Covid just once 2 years ago.
Advice from GP has been “take it” almost to the point of harassment.
🫶
I had all Pfizer vaccines last year and year before without any issues but haven’t had any this year. Was called for my booster about a month ago but didn’t have it, I’m currently working from home with covid 🤣 after it's been going around my work place, haven’t been too poorly, more like a really bad cold/mild flu. This is the first time I’ve had it, won’t be getting the booster now as I’ve got some immunity but I’ll probably get the flu one.
if you have travel insurance just check the small print. Mine says I must have covid jabs as recommended otherwise it will affect my cover. They get you all roads 🙈
Hi Debbi, when you put your hand in a fire and it burns you, would you put your other hand into that same fire.
I went into afib after my first Covid jab but not the next three. I went into afib after my 7th flu jab but never before or since. No problem with any other jabs. AF is an unpredictable foe for sure xx
Had covid booster and flu jabs at same time at end of September. I suffered no adverse effects at all.
Probably the worst thing you could do for your heart but that's my personal opinion. Just dont do it.
DebbiB28 in reply to
Thank you.
So DebbiB in answer to your question, it's for you to decide. I've had every vaccination going, plus boosters and never knowingly had COVID. I haven't had other things for which I've been vaccinated either, e.g poliomyelitis, tuberculosis.I have largely controlled long-term asthma, lymphoedema in my lower legs, BPH, (a male condition), and permanent, though asymptomatic AF. I also have Foot Drop of my right foot. I'm in favour of treatments and vaccinations which have improved my life.
yes I am just like you. My second and third vac I was really poorly, but with the second one I thought it was just coincidence. When I had the third one my afib and tachycardia lasted for 5 weeks and I felt so bad. So I haven’t had any more especially after the third one I got covid anyway It could be said I might have been more ill if I hadn’t had the jabs, but.. ?
I have been in a dilemma about it, but I read somewhere the vacs aren’t too much help with the latest covid strain??
Our cousin has had 6 jabs and been so ill after the last two snd still hasn’t recovered to full health
I know we are only 2 people amongst the thousands but that’s just our experience
Good luck with your decision
All I can do is offer my experience. I listen to the guy with 7 years medical training and 15 years medical practice. I get that many here have a deep mistrust of the medical community at large, but I am one of the fortunate ones, and they have done well by me nigh on 70 years, so until they cause me grief, I’ll act on their advice. I’ve never had any reaction to all the covid jabs, or the flu jabs, but did get pretty sick for a few days after my yellow fever and dengue shots, but was told it was expected.
I contracted the latest strain of covid just over a month ago, thought it was a bad cold the first 2 days, then things went south. Fever, strep throat symptoms (not strep, just felt like it) head like a 40lb smartie, body aches and a stuffed up head. Zero heart issues at all.
The new variant was SO new here, that I got it before I could find a jab…I was looking lol. I was also masked when out, sanitized and had minimal human contact, as I’m retired out in the country. One trip to the grocery store did it.
It is such a virulent strain, that everyone here has it, or had it before the jab rolled out. If you have the jab, my friends and family say it’s like a mild cold, without, like me, it varies, it seems no 2 people have the all the same symptoms. Lasts about a week.
The flu, RSV, Covid are running rampant where I live, ER’s are full, but fortunately this particular strain is not killing people, so the ICU’s aren’t clogged up. No one is wearing masks anymore, so I expect there will be a run on over the counter meds this holiday season lol. Great stocking stuffers! “OoO look darling! Benadryl and Halls! Thanks Santa!”
After my last booster last year I immediately developed a bad arrhythmia for 3 weeks. Nothing was done about it and by the time tablets were suggested it had stopped. Then in October this year it started again and I was admitted to hospital for 4 days monitoring. It turned out it wasn't AF but the cardiologist said it had been caused by the booster and I should think seriously about having another. My decision has been to avoid it this time, purely because all they were getting was the same brand I'd had for all 5 shots. If it had been a different brand I may have risked it. They are sending reminders to everyone. I've received about 8 now but in the end it's absolutely your choice. The virus is rampant round here right now b ut as I'm almost housebound, my risk is lower than most unless of course someone brings it into my house without knowing. My cleaner came l ast week feeling off colour. Last night she phoned to ask if I want her to come today. She sounded terrible but had tested negative but I still said No. Whatever it is she has, I don't want it. It's 100% your choice.
I’ve had every booster for Covid, every flu, RSV, and even shingles vaccine over the past year and no effects other than the sore arm and feeling tired. No worries. Get protected.
DebbiB28 - Most who have seen my posts know that I do advocate for getting the so called vaccines that they had to change the definition of to call it a vaccine. I would suggest that you do not get it, Most of the "science" now shows that it provides one with little or NO protection while potentially screwing up your immune system. Countries like in Africa who have LOW vaccination % have very few re-infections. Countries like in the UK, USA New Zealand and Israel with high percentage of vaccinations have re-infection rates of approximately 753%. Not to mention died suddenly issues.
My sisters youngest son was 42. He had a cardiac event 2 weeks after shot #2 of Moderna. Dead now. No previous cardiac indications.
My Wife's oldest sisters husband started talking "word salad" with no understandable words about the same time after jab #2. In hospital they found brain swelling - in 2 weeks b4 he recovered.
Daughter's husbands mother got the jabs and now has developed lupus. No sign of it b4.
My sister had a recurrence of shingles after she got the jabs. I've read that that one is a common recurrence for those jabbed.
And what about all of these young athletes who are in their prime suddenly collapsing and some dying.
Then there are celebrities like comedian Bob Saget who bragged about his booster and 3 weeks later was found dead in his hotel room. They said it was a head injury, but how did he get it? Heart issue that perhaps made him fall and crack his head open caused by jabs?
And this is just who I know directly.
I haven't had ANY vaccines since 1978 and somehow I am magically alive at age 68.
I wouldn't get any flu (fool) shots either. God knows what's in there especially now. I've read that some of the newer shots use the same mRna technology so beware.
When they threaten us with job loss or with holding services because one resists the jabs, there is something wrong. If a person thinks it will help, go for it, but me and my family will stay pure. Look up an old George Carlin youtube video entitled "germs." It really says it all for me. OK, here is the link
George Carlin - Germs, Immune System
youtube.com/watch?v=X29lF43...
Good luck on your search for better health.
LANGUAGE WARNING - GEORGE USES A LOT OF CURSE WORDS, BUT THE MESSAGE IS STILL SPOT ON AND FUNNY TOO
in reply to solarjdo69
"When they threaten us with job loss or with holding services because one resists the jabs, there is something wrong.!
I support every word you said! If people resist taking COV jab, why not give them the same as "flu jab"!? There are even ideas to give the jab to people through the food or spraying it into the air. Why is it so important that even "pure blood" get this mRNA stuff!? I have a very diffinite idea, lol!
That made me laugh, especially him talking about germs. I was brought up on a dairy farm and we kids played there. Never ever did I wash my hands before eating, I guess I only ever washed them in the morning, but cant even remember doing that. I had my first cold around the age of 14.
This man is right we are obsessed with hygiene these days and of course that does nothing to help toughen up our immune system.
Watch the George Carlin talk above it will make you laugh.
I'm sorry now that I just washed my breakfast dishes with a germ killing liquid
Jean
Thank you for replying. I wish you and your family all the best.
Recently saw on a news program where a higher ranking member of health care in the United States was being interrogated by a Senate committee about the Covid vaccine and he admitted it is a money scam. He pointed out that Pfizer never let anyone know that 8,509 people died after getting the shot within 24 Hrs. Dr. John Campbell of the UK has been saying there is something going on from the beginning and he backs it up with similar data. I'm 77 years old and will never get a Covid shot again, but we are all different and need to make the decision as we see fit, I would just advise to do research before making decision and Dr. John Campbell on you tube would be a good start. Best of Luck to You.
Did you know that Dr John Campbell is not a medical doctor but actually a nurse and lecturer who teaches nursing studies? He has quite a reputation for referring to studies and misrepresenting the results. Best to rely on peer reviewed research.
I think it would be more accurate to say is that he has a Doctorate in nursing, he is still running nurse training. Whether or not he misrepresents the results of studies is debate able - the studies he highlights are genuine statistical data and he makes no secret of his bias.
The sad thing is that there is such lack of transparency. A good friend of mine, Consultant Rheumatologist, was advising against the COVID vaccines from day 1 as from their viewpoint, knowledge and research they were prophesying an overwhelming tsunami of patients presenting with auto-immune conditions following MRNA. It appears that may be the case although it’s still early dayss.
I think only when we can view the last 5 years from a historical perspective will we have the insights as to whether or not the vaccines were effective.
l have decided no more Covid vaccination for me. I had my booster a month ago and l am still ill. I am not a headache person, but still have a headache and feel generally unwell. It happens every time. I am ok with the flu vaccination. It’s a personal decision l think, so best of luck.
Of course, anyone with a compromised immune system or weak cardiovascular system is at greater risk of the downsides of any viral infection. The virus rarely is the cause of fatality or serious illness, for example, it's the impact on the cardiovascular system through the production of clots etc that caused most deaths in younger as well as older people. See anything, in particular BBC Newsnight from a couple of nights ago, interviewing Michael Morpurgo. Do the long term upsides of vaccination outweigh the short term downsides?
Thank you for replying.
I had the 2 Pfizer Covid jabs followed by 2 boosters. I was very ill after the first one but tolerated the second jab and first booster. Shortly after receiving the initial jab I had an episode of AF and was checked out at hospital. I had Echo on the heart and told everything was 'healthy'. After the second jab, I had a couple of episodes of AF of short (typically 6 hours duration). The 2nd booster was done at the end of October 2022 and I went into permanent AF 2.5 weeks after it; still have it to date. I also suffered damage to the injection site (incorrectly) positioned and had physio for nearly a year. Still having problems with that and they said they couldn't give physio for the tissue damage. I have decided enough is enough and have refused any further jabs. My reasoning is that there is some heart issue now, plus some lung issue; heart is enlarged. I had 2 episodes of Covid; both not long after the boosters so I'm not prepared to keep being boosted for no good reason or to risk further damage to my body.
You asked “Do the long term upsides outweigh the short term downsides!?”
With regard to the Covid vaccine, I believe it’s the other way round. The known short-term upside is limited protection for a matter of weeks. And the long-term downsides are as yet unknown.
Sorry I don’t follow your response. And the original thread was about the Covid vaccine. For which my statement stands.
Expect the same side effects for any vaccine similar to previous vaccinations. I am fortunate that all flu, covid and shingles vaccinations that I have had over the last 3 years have giving me nothing more than a sore arm. Did not phase my AF at all.
I’ll take ‘belief’ out then. My statement is factual on both counts.
Here’s a link to a JAMA meta-analysis paper on the waning efficacy of the booster.
jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...
“This systematic review and meta-analysis of secondary data from 40 studies found that the estimated vaccine effectiveness against both laboratory-confirmed Omicron infection and symptomatic disease was lower than 20% at 6 months from the administration of the primary vaccination cycle and less than 30% at 9 months from the administration of a booster dose.”
And there is no long term data on any downsides because the vaccine has only been around for 3 years.
I think I’ll leave it there.
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