Please excuse me for troubling you. I have thought long and hard before reaching to a post. But I believe it’s important you are informed of the possible consequences.
Here goes after learning here that due to being immune suppressed for having CLL I should take the pneumonia vaccine I have contacted my GP and last Tuesday I got both flu and pneumonia jags done on the same arm.
On Wednesday I woke up with a slight fever 🤒 took some paracetamol and carried on with my day. When I arrived home I was quite ill. More paracetamol and bed. I sleepy right through the next day.
Thursday came and fever was still there. More paracetamol and a very swollen and sore arm. Ended up phoning my GP and got an emergency apt.
Dr not too concerned quite confident it’s just a reaction to the pneumonia jag. Prescribed me some antibiotics and drew a line around my swollen patch. Told me to keep an eye on it.
Today 3 days later I’m still hurting. Phoned the dr but she isn’t working today. I’m hoping to get better soon. But I wanted to share my story. Any one else with the same reaction? If so how did you deal with it?
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Flabal
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This is why I never get different vaccine shots at the same time. You never really know which one you are reacting to or if there is some kind of reaction to the combination.
That’s not a normal reaction and after 3 days on antibiotics you’re still hurting and the soreness has extended beyond the penned area. Do you still have a fever?
I notice you’ve had a strange reaction to bruising on your hands when you clap them together so you may have some kind of bruising/skin sensitivity issue I’m not remotely qualified to speculate on.
I see your doctor isn’t available but I’d be inclined to seek medical advice now particularly if your temperature is still elevated and it’s burning. Cellulitis is always a possible issue. I got it from badly managed cannula care.
Could you give your haematologist’s secretary or specialist nurse (if you have one), a ring and ask for advice. You can always ring 111 if you need to see a doctor at an Urgent Care Centre. Don’t feel like a nuisance and trust your instincts. If this persists, you persist and ask for medical reassurance. You may need different antibiotics or a topical cream. Could ease by itself but don’t hesitate if you are worried.
Just to clarify I didn’t take the antibiotics because the dr sounded very confident it was a reaction to the injection. But I have collected it today and will start taking it immediately.
I also phoned my gp and asked for help. A dr told me to start the antibiotics immediately and to come by on Monday.
I have read a little about cellulitis and think this is what I have. So antibiotics is the way to go.
Take the antibiotics NOW ! What you you been given ? I don’t like to contradict anyone but when I had Shingles it was lots of tiny blisters.
But if it is cellulitis then it may be safer to go to A & E as you would need IV antibiotics. I don’t wish to scare you but call 111 and describe your symptoms and the size of the red area. Safer to be seen before the Friday night rush.
At your age you should have had the normal flu jab.
Just throwing this out there, but I had a friend whos kid tested positive for every allegery. Turned out he was allergic to egg, which was used as the substrate in every single test.
Why a GP would give a CLL patient flu and pneumonia shots in the same arm at the same time is beyond me... Hopefully he didn't give you the High-Dose Fluzone vaccine... ☹️
My doctor required Prevnar 13 and adjuvant trivalant flu shot to be spaced apart by a month... but everyone is different... 😁
Chris they didn’t even offer me the pneumonia vaccine. I had to request. It’s all part of the ‘don’t care attitude’ I see so widely spread in Scotland. I have started the antibiotics and while I was taking it it occurred to me the area wasn’t cleaned before the injection (!). I should’ve paid attention.
My arm had eased off now. But I’ll go to the minor injury hospital today.
Glad its resolving.. you should have a chat with that doctor, but I would be seeking someone more on the ball... frankly.
I hope it was Prevnar13... you need to ask them about that. There are two pneumonia vaccines and Prevnar13 used for children, is better for us.
The other pneumovax23, covers more serotypes, but is not as effect... if possible we need both... the 23 is given ever 5 years normally...
Don't Care Attitude, ...just blind sided me, my young GP decided to go into rocket science or something, boarded up his practice and left 2000 patients with no doctor... NO NOTICE...ZIP... ! A letter would have been nice, or an email.. not a 'voice mail is full' message.
Sounds like cellulitis from skin bacteria transferred into your arm via the needle, so starting antibiotics was what was needed. Glad it is resolving, but do watch out for any red line from the swollen area heading towards your armpit. That means the bacterial infection has entered your lymphatic system (lymphangitis) and is on its way to your heart and thereby into your blood system, causing sepsis: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...
Please make sure your GP knows that this happened from not cleaning your arm prior to your vaccination, with you being at greater risk of such infections because you are immune compromised!
I had a similar but lesser reaction but just had the pneumonia vaccine. My Doctor is head of the CLL at Sloan Kettering. He felt the vaccine was important. My swelling is lessening but my arm is still sore after 2 weeks. I get the second part in 3 months. Agree, 2 vaccines at one time seems wrong but not taking the antibiotics is kinda crazy too. Get yourself to a doctor that understands CLL or at least an oncologist. Don't panic. Keep us informed. It will be painful for a while, mine still is. Another medical opinion is really important. So is taking the antibiotics.
As others have said, since you got two jabs on the same day.... FWIW, I had a bad reaction to this year's flu jab, which is far more potent than usual - there is a thread about it somewhere within this community. My wife - who does not have CLL - also had a bad reaction... we were head-achy and nauseous for 24h, and unwell for a week - sore arms - but not such a large reddened area as yourself.
I spoke to the dr. As I don’t have flu like symptoms (fever has subside, I dont have chills and this is the only part of my body with a rash, no tingling ) I should start on the antibiotics immediately and go to see him on Monday. Fingers crossed it’ll work.
I had a bad case of cellulitis, years ago, from a mosquito bite. I know, because I killed her while she was biting me. I had never heard of cellulitis infections and assumed that it was a reaction to the bite. My whole forearm was red and swollen when I went into the ER. I was very fortunate that a shot and oral antibiotics turned things around.
If your plan is to see if the antibiotics help before seeing a doctor, take a pen or marker and redraw the current margin, as yours has extended beyond what the doctor drew. If the red does not start to recede or extends beyond the outline DON'T wait! Get to a doctor right away! That is especially critical if you see the red, or red streaks going in the direction of your heart!
Cellulitis doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but I know people who have spent a week, and more, hospitalized and on IV antibiotics because of what started out as something that seemed minor. Please update us!
Sorry to hear this. I had both flu and pneumonia jabs last week but on different arms. My arm was swollen the same as yours but it was on the arm I had the flu jab. Was also sleepy and took paracetamol, swelling is going down now and that is 7 days. I hope this helps you.
I have to say this and I am sure the Admins will agree, never apologise for writing a post, if something concerns you or you want to warn others or you just want to give off your emotions that's what these forums are all about......sharing with others. Secondly, to give you both jabs in the same arm and at the same time is, in my opinion, a little inconsiderate and if you are concerned then if you are in the UK ring 111, it looks as if you are certainly having a reaction. Good luck x
My doctor made sure the shots for both were a month apart. Apart from a slightly sore arm, I had no reaction. As I am aware the pneumonia shot needs only renewing every 5 years. So for you at least you don’t have to go through this every year
I believe having both injections on the same day is a risky undertaking. Every injection or pill has it’s particular side effects and they impact differently in every person. Gambol
Sorry to hear about your pain and discomfort. As a CLL patient (early stages) I do not take the flu shot, I am 65 and strongly believe that one should build up there own immune system through metabolic approaches. It sounds like it is subsiding which is good news, but you should avoid antibiotics it compromises your immune system.
We need to be very careful about giving medical advice. If this is a reaction to the injections antibiotics may not be indicated. If it is cellulitis they would be. That decision is one for an MD to make!
I take medical advice from here - just to my Dr though to test it out. It has helped me a lot (this group knows more about CLL than my GP and my first 2 haematologists).
I hope your doing better. When I had my prevnar 23 vaccine, I had a really bad reaction. My entire body ached, chills & fever. I felt as if I was coming down with the flu..My arm looked like yours. I went back to the pharmacist that gave me the vaccine. She told me to take aleave or tylonal and if it persisted to see my doctor and to keep to call her the next day...shortly after it got better.
I had the same reaction a few years ago when I had to have a 3 in1 vaccine. My Doctor and Hematologist both said it had nothing to do with the vaccine but was an infection either from the needle (new and sealed) or my arm wasn't cleaned properly. It cleared up fast once I started the antibiotics.
One thing I want to comment on is you should not have taken them both in one arm! Each will make your arm sore and possibly and usually a low grade fever and swelling and pain. By taking them both in the same arm at the same time you doubled the area in which they each react. No wonder you have a large reaction and feel like hell. I’m so sorry you are ill and hope you will soon feel better !
I had no reaction to either of the pneumonia vaccines, luckily. But I have never had two vaccines given on the same day.
Just seen this thread, perfect timing. I had both injections (same arm) on Tuesday evening after the nurse 100% assured me that it is fine to do so. (She didn't swab my arm btw, I'll know to ask for it next time). Well by Wednesday lunchtime I had to leave work and over the next 2 days I was vomiting, had the chills and was dizzy. Spent the time in bed. Felt nearly better by Friday morning and then my arm started swelling even worse than yours, as far as my wrist and armpit. My doctor's aren't interested, just say there are no appointments available and that I need to go to the walk in centres or A and E. So I'm still feeling ok but my arm is burning. A friend who is a paediatrician said that it is starting to look better than it was. I dread going on antibiotics as ifind they don't work for me and I have to be on multiple rounds of them..... I actually asked my Dr what the types of the injections are and they said they do not know...!!!! But they were able to confirm that they are not live. Thanks for your patience reading this and I wish you and me a very speedy recovery Flabal.
I hope your arm is looking better! I’m glad that you at least have a doctor friend who can help you decide whether antibiotics are needed. When I had my bad cellulitis it was actually a doctor friend who told me to get myself to a doctor right away. I thought I was just having a really bad allergic reaction to the mosquito bite.
Thanks for your reply. I am feeling well in myself but my arm is still burning and sore although the redness isn't any worse
But my armpit is very sore and I've just felt a big lump in my armpit - I got a shock. Wondering if I have to go to a and e (too tired) or if it can wait till tomorrow. I feel ok in myself though.
Sorry for this second reply, but I just wanted to add to several comments and like Flavia I would have been totally unaware of the idea that two injections in the same arm is not a good idea.
I am almost never directly looking while the needle goes in as I'm getting a vaccine. Sometimes it happens before you can realize what has actually happened.
As you know, I had similar reaction, arm red from deltoids to elbow from flu vac. I was red for 7 days, worst of reaction ( fever 102F, night sweats) ended after 3 to 4 days. Then got on with life. Missed one day of work.
Hello. I am so sorry I can't remember now. It was probably not more than a few weeks.
I have just come back from a week in hospital with Thrombocytopenia my platelets were down to 2. I was kept in after a regular CLL appt. I had 4 doses of immunoglobulin and steroids and other tablets. They have let me home even though it is still low. I am wondering if this is a forum to address it or whether I should join another group specially for it?
Sorry to hear that, I hope your platelets recover soon and that you feel better. From reading these posts, it seems that they focus on the reaction of vaccines rather than CLL so perhaps there are others that are most specific to CLL but it doesn't hurt to be on multiple. Best wishes to you, feel better soon.
I've had the pneumonia vaccine, but never at the same time as the flu vaccine. That's a no no! No matter what they say. Any vaccine you have, never have two in same arm on the same day.
I need my second hepatitis vaccine and a flu vaccine. Next week the flu vaccine, a month later my hepatitis vaccine.
A cellulitis infection spreads from cell to cell under the skin. I ended up with a hard, red, hot to the touch golf ball, to lemon, to orange, to papaya, until it spread from finger tips to elbow. Thank goodness for antibiotics. It's also why you draw a circle around the red so you can tell if it's spreading. I wish I'd known all of that when that mosquito chomped down on my arm.
Hi, how are you doing now. Did things settle down and get better? My redness got better but now I have a big lump (size of golf ball) under my armpit. I've found someone to speak with who is forgotten to use - my Macmillan nurse, she was ever so nice and told me that if the lump hurts snd hurts to touch then it is a good sign. Well it does hurt so I'm just being a patient patient and hoping it will settle down. I've now got the sniffles and a sore throat starting which is a real shame. Hope you are better.
Hi. I’m all better. My antibiotics worked a treat and I finish them today. I’m sorry you are having w hard time with your armpit now and the hurting is surely a good thing. It looks like a little of patience in your case may be the way to go. But if you feel unwell in anyway and not she why please contact your dr.
Hi Flabal, I had my Pneumonia jab a couple of weeks ago ) I have CLL and the Dr. advised me to have it)within 12 hours my arm was really sore and I also developed the same rash as you. The tenderness went right round my arm into my armpit,I have never had a reaction like this before.I was also feeling "under the weather" for quite a few days. It is hard to know what to do regarding vaccinations .I have had the flu jab and the Pneumonia Jab within a week of each other.
How many days did it take for the redness to stop growing for you? My husband is currently in the hospital for this. He has been on antibiotics and iv but it is still spreading. He got the pneumonia and flu shot wednesday and now on Sunday he still feels terrible with fever until he is given tylenol. The red on the arm is hot to the touch.
Hi. It took me about a week but I went back tomy gp as soon as I realised something was wrong. I took both jabs on one arm. I suspected cellulitis. How long ago did you husband have his jags? What are the drs saying at the hospital? Is he taking antibiotics?
The shots were given last Wednesday, he went to the hospital Friday night when the redness was about 4". He is currently on antibiotics and tylenol at the hospital via IV. Kidney function and white cells were down last night but this morning white cells are back to normal which is good but redness still spreading on arm and still has fever so they are keeping him. Thank you for sharing your post, hopefully by this Wednesday he will have recovered as it will be a week then.
My heart breaks that someone else had to go through this awful experience. I am also concerned that your husband ended up in hospital. For me the antibiotics worked but it took time. My arm was very red, swollen and painful. I fail understand why our gps wouldn’t know the consequences of administering both jabs on the same arm at the same day. Please keep us posted. My thoughts are with you and your husband.
I had a similar experience. Only had the pneumovax 23. By the afternoon I had a terrible headache and was super tired. Had a fever for two days. My arm was extremely sore and swollen. I couldn't use my arm for 3 days. Couldn't sleep for 4 days due to my arm hurting so much. Went back to the nurse on the 4th day she gave me an ointment to relieve inflammation and swelling. Had a hard lump by injection site when swelling went down for 5 days. Headaches on and off. Worse vaccine experience of my life.
Having reacted to a double jab of flu & pneumonia- I never get both done at same time - you cannot rely on your GP/nurse knowing best protocol for us - I tell them to stagger vaccines over a couple of weeks.
Ps - ask for children’s pneumonia jab - it gives us better cover apparently
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