Flu jab reaction

[Skodadet]

Had a horrid reaction to the flu jab last night. Slightly painful arm, shivery, nausea and stomach pains, muscle aches and generally feeling very unwell. I was surprised as I was ok last year. Improving this morning though and I guess it's better than getting the flu. Has it happened to anyone else?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Hopefully it will pass quite quickly - just take a couple of paracetamol to see if that helps and drink plenty today. Did you get any info when you had it to explain what you need to do if you had problems? This might help

nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati...

Had mine Friday afternoon - bit stiff - but managed to sleep on that side okay.

Hope you soon feel better.

[Skodadet in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou! Paracetamol is helping

[Mrsd12f]

Had mine, yesterday. Very painful, last night, but better, today. Because I have already got quite a lot of pain in my left arm/shoulder, I asked the nurse to put it in my right arm - big mistake, as I discovered when I realised I couldn’t lie on either side! I’ve been told that this year’s cocktail isn't very nice, but the alternative is a lot worse, isn’t it? Hope you feel better, soon.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Mrsd12f]

Both my shoulders/upper arms hurt through OA - so didn’t really matter which I chose 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Skodadet in reply to DorsetLady]

Oh dear! Poor soul!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Skodadet]

I’ll live - been through worse - but thanks for concern ❤️

[PMRpro Ambassador]

A reaction like that is a sign your immune system is doing what it should: creating antibodies to make you immune. Which flu jab did you have? Over or under 65?

[Skodadet in reply to PMRpro]

That's reassuring! It was the over 65.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Skodadet]

Which is made to improve the immune reaction - probably why you noticed it.

[Yellowbluebell]

Me and OH had our under 65 flu jab yesterday and neither of have noticed anything thankfully, not even a the injection site. Being on pred makes me.bruise but i haven't even done that. Hopefully yours reaction will subside fairly quickly and with any luck you wont see any flu signs again this winterx

[Hidden in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Mine hasn't been a seconds problem since I had it done weds. After the long discussion I had with the nurse about the possibility of taking over 65 instead I had the under 65 as there was no one she could ask. I presume I may have been better on. Over 65 as I take pred and a dmard. I will have established this by next year hopefully.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Hidden]

We didnt get a choice really. I could have insisted on one of the others of the 5 they were using but as i am under 65 i decided to go ahead with what i have had in the past

[Smokygirl in reply to Hidden]

Me too Poops! Although I’m 77 I chose the under 65 flu jab. No reaction at all, not even a pink mark! Hope we did the right thing!! 🤪🤪🤪

[Cally55]

Husband and I had ours on Saturday, over 65s, he had very sore arm and felt rough yesterday, I didn't notice a thing, does this mean pred and dmard have stopped it working for me or am I just lucky?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cally55]

I doubt they stopped it working altogether but the pred will probably have reduced the skin reaction to some extent. Take it and run!

[Cally55 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.

[Grants148]

I am sorry you had this reaction, l had a bad one a few years ago,plus a reaction the year following ,l do not have one now,just hope l avoid the flu .

[keepfitdoll]

Hi folks

Had a sore arm for one day but was told to expect it by the pharmacist. He also told me if you have a suppressed immune system (on preds) the vaccine is not as effective as for other people. The GP dose not tell you this.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to keepfitdoll]

But it still prepares your body to some extent for meeting the real virus and reduces the risk of severe flu and serious complications. With the vaccine your body has weeks to work on it, if you don't have it and then contract the virus, it has hours to do the same. By which time you can be seriously ill.

[keepfitdoll in reply to PMRpro]

I was advised to have the jab by the pharmacist but it is good he explained all the facts.

[Skodadet]

Pleased to report that I'm fully back to "normal" now. Horrid though it was, a small price to pay and made much better by all of your reassuring and kind comments!