2nd Covid Vaccination Complete: Just thought I... - CLL Support

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2nd Covid Vaccination Complete

Cgolen99 profile image
31 Replies

Just thought I would drop a line that I had my second Covid vaccine yesterday. This was the Moderna vaccine. The pharmacist at my medical clinic actually administered my vaccine and when I expressed my worry about low immunity and will I produce antibodies she very clearly said, "I have studied these vaccines extensively and I can tell you that even though your immunity is low your immune system still knows what to do and you will have protection from this vaccine and I want you to be confident in that" (of course still being careful with masks and handwashing etc.). The reassurance was great!

I had a very sore arm after my first vaccination on January 4 but I was secretly hoping to have more than that after the second one as I know can happen. Well I can tell you today I am home from work with a pounding headache and quite aggravating nausea and back and neck aches as well as a very sore arm. I have never been so happy to feel like crap in all my life. 😁.. Just a little more reassurance that my body is reacting the way it is supposed to!

My immune globulin's were down to 245 in October and 309 in December. I have had two infusions since.. even with that I am mounting a response! I wanted somebody to tell me this so badly in the last couple of months but I couldn't find anybody who had had both vaccines.. so I thought I would pass this along here.. between the pharmacist and my feeling yucky I have hope! 🙏🏼💜

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Cgolen99
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31 Replies
GMa27 profile image
GMa27

Are you planning to get the spike antibody test to see if you did get good response? I had one shot so far. I planned nothing the day of second shot or days after....heard it can't get quite rocky as far as side effects. 🙏💪💕

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to GMa27

I'm not sure. Is that something I would request my oncologist do the next time I have blood drawn? It's not horrible.. it feels A bit like a nasty hangover, Lol, and I haven't had one of those for many many many years! 😂

GMa27 profile image
GMa27 in reply to Cgolen99

It's just a blood test for antibodies.

wroxham-gb profile image
wroxham-gb

Good to hear Cgolen. Great.Sue

Pageboy profile image
Pageboy

I have my first vaccine this morning. You’re right about the second vaccine, not too much known about reactions yet. However, my doctor has had two patients with 2nd doses who he said both had flu like reactions for 2-3 days. Which is a good sign! Hope you’re doing ok and feel well soon.

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to Pageboy

Thank you! I had lots of night sweats during the night so I may have had a slight fever I didn't realize. I took a couple Tylenol before bed due to the pounding headache. I let that go all day but then finally took something. Taking something after the shot is not a problem, they just don't want you taking anything beforehand. It took me a couple hours to get my bearings this morning, but I took a long shower, changed all the bedding and went to work. The rest of the day was pretty good. I just heard from 3 of my friends who also had their second shot and they had exactly what I had. One day of Yuk and then it was all uphill. I had heard it started 10-11 hours after the second vaccine and that is exactly what happened for me and these same friends.

shazie profile image
shazie

I love your attitude. Great job.

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to shazie

Thanks!🥰

RedheadedDeb profile image
RedheadedDeb

My husband has had both Moderna vaccines and all he had was a sore arm and he does not have CLL, but he does have some heart issues. I’ve had the first one and only had a sore arm, but it was barely sore. My second one is Feb. 11th. I guess I’ll have to get the spike antibody test later to see if I mounted any response. So, if there is “little to no” antibody response, I wonder if one can get a second vaccine or a different version of the vaccine or if that is still unknown at this point.

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to RedheadedDeb

I read that someday they will know if this vaccine is better for this population or that vaccine is better for that population and who needs a booster etc. So much unknown right now but I am going to be confident, as the pharmacist told me to, of course still being VERY careful, and hopefully getting an antibody test at some point.

in reply to RedheadedDeb

My lady had the Moderna shots and she got very sick for several days after the 2nd shot. Headaches, fever, loss of appetite. She spent 3 days in bed and a few fatigued days once she got back on her feet. I’ve been told that women are getting more reaction to Moderna than men and no one knows why.

Jenileigh profile image
Jenileigh

My husband has CLL. For his first Moderna shot, he only experienced a sore arm 1.5 weeks after the shot. His second shot was 1/28. For the next 2 days he experienced a fever, chills, horrible headache. The 3rd day, headache & slight dizziness/ feeling off. On the 5th day, swelling in the armpit lymph node on the side of his shot. Hopefully that means he is producing good antibodies! Hope this info helps someone.

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to Jenileigh

It seems that is all a good sign! I had a couple small dizzy bouts and feelings of "off" today but nothing like yesterday. I expect I will be completely good tomorrow.

Pete9876 profile image
Pete9876

Hi Cgolen99,

I just had my 2nd Moderna vaccine shot 2 days ago. The first shot just resulted in a minor sore arm for a few days. With the second shot, I have a very sore arm, mild upset stomach and just a minor headache. I just woke up and today I am feeling fine. I have CLL, but was on the AVO clinical trial at Dane Farber and now I am MRD negative and no longer taking any medicines. I hope everyone has a chance at getting the vaccination.

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to Pete9876

Yes me too! It sounds like your immune system knew what to do too. That's all a good sign! Yay! 😁

TheaB333 profile image
TheaB333

Your attitude is amazing. 🕊

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to TheaB333

Awww thank you! I am just so dang grateful to not be terrified every day anymore. 🥰

Thanks for the update! My wife and I will be getting our 2nd shot in about 2 weeks. We are prepared to feel bad for ~24 hours. After which, we will celebrate our 'immunity' to the COVID-19/Wuhan virus. Woooo hoooo.

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to The-Man-with-a-Plan

Yes, it is a feeling of relief. No matter what, we will have some protection. I read an article about the participants in the trials and 25% being older and many of them with underlying conditions. They all still had the 94-95% protection. I know we will have enough. I keep being told that by every medical professional I speak to. I'll take it! 😍

wizzard166 profile image
wizzard166

I had the first Moderna shot with the second coming up February 18. My first one didnt produce much of a reaction, other than some mild soreness around the site. This reaction was nothing like what I remember years ago when getting some other vaccine. Years ago i remember redness and a little swelling and a lot of soreness. I suspect the amount of reaction is an indication of how much your immune system is reacting to the invader, so the more reaction the better. Not sure if I'm right on that, but I am guessing.

So I'm hoping I feel a lot worse after the second shot; although, if bad shot symptoms are not an indication of building immunity then I guess I have no reaction. Anyone with more knowledge on vaccines and immune response? Are these pretty bad symptoms Cgolen and others are referring to a good sign?

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to wizzard166

That is what my Oncologist, my GP, and this pharmacist all assured me of. The nurse that I spoke to had Covid, so her 1st vaccine was the bad one for her because her body had built up some antibodies from having the disease and then recognized the invader (the 1st vaccine). She was quite ill for 2 days she said, then her 2nd vaccine wasn't as bad. With me, I never had COVID so the 2nd shot is recognized by the 1st shot as the Invader and that is why that one is worse for most of us.. That is how she and the doctor both explained it to me.. She assured me that not getting sick did not mean I was not mounting a response, some people just don't, but I didn't mind being sick for the reassurance that I was!

cllmom profile image
cllmom

I had my second Moderna shot on February 1, 2021. I am on watch and wait and have had CLL for 4 years. I only had a sore arm after both shots. My husband who has diabetes had fever, sore arm and body aches after the second shot. Kind of concerned that I had no reaction. My 82 year old mother gets her second shot Thursday, so we will see.

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to cllmom

My doctor and the pharmacist assured me that even if you have no response that does not mean you are not protected. People's body can just plain react differently and they were both SO confident in the trials and that we will be protected to some degree at least. 👍

cllmom profile image
cllmom in reply to Cgolen99

Thanks so much for your response. I'm thankful I got the shot.

Ptown profile image
Ptown

Hello! I’ll admit, it feels quite strange to be so happy about your yucky yet potent response to your second shot or jab, but I said a hearty “yahoo!” when I read your missive. Thanks for letting us know🤓. Carolyn

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to Ptown

Thanks! And I am just fine today. It was strange to feel so lousy one day and fine the next.. 😊

DWresch profile image
DWresch

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am scheduled for Moderna #2 on Feb 10th. First shot was just a sore arm for a few days. I did have a lump and redness at the injection point for about 1 1/2 weeks following. I don't know that I share the enthusiasm about side effects (I'm kind of a wimp ☺) but do understand that it is in fact an immune response which is a good thing. Interestingly enough my company hosted a COVID vaccine webinar for employees yesterday. I thought these 'adverse effects' stats were very interesting. Keep in mind these tend to mild and short lived.

Headache: Moderna 1st 35.4%, Moderna 2nd 62.8% Pfizer 1st 41.9% Pfizer 2nd 51.7%

Fatigue: Moderna 1st 38.5%, Moderna 2nd 67.6% Pfizer 1st 47.4% Pfizer 2nd 59.4%

Nausea/vomiting: Moderna 1st 9.4%, Moderna 2nd 21.3% Pfizer 1st 1.2% Pfizer 2nd 51.9%

Chills: Moderna 1st 9.2%, Moderna 2nd 48.3% Pfizer 1st 14.0% Pfizer 2nd 35.1%

Fever: Moderna 1st 0.9%, Moderna 2nd 17.4% Pfizer 1st 3.7% Pfizer 2nd 15.8%

Body Aches: Moderna 1st 23.7%, Moderna 2nd 6.1% Pfizer 1st 21.3% Pfizer 2nd 37.3%

cllady01 profile image
cllady01Former Volunteer in reply to DWresch

thanks for that description of effects from each of the two shots. I don't look forward to any such reaction, however, I do know what's good for me, whether I like it or not.

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to cllady01

I keep telling everyone, it's like a bad hangover with no fun the night before! 😂

Cgolen99 profile image
Cgolen99 in reply to DWresch

Wow! That is interesting! I had two of the most common and two of the not so common. Thanks for the info!

Davidcara profile image
Davidcara

Had my second Pfizer on Feb. 12, came home and took my ibrutinib. Mildly sore arm were only side effects.

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