Flu vac ?

[SuziCutie]

Delighted to have my flu vac 18 September. Never had a bad reaction until now. The next day I was really unwell. Thought I may have been having a heart attack. Pain in chest, giddy etc. I phoned 111 for advice but gave up after no answer after 15 minutes. Started to feel a bit better by lunchtime. By the evening it had all passed over.

Then few days later, nasal irritation started. Today on antibiotics for sinusitis. Considering I was shielding and am still super cautious, where ever did that come from ?? I am suspicious of the flu vac.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Oh, not nice!

Have to say I had mine last week, no issues.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You can't have caught a virus from the flu vaccine - so it must have been something else. I know what you mean though - OH developed all his usual signs of a chest infection recently and HE doesn't go anywhere near other people and when he is within several metres the mask is on!!!! Our flu vaccines aren't out yet - wasn't taht!

[GOOD_GRIEF]

It's a bit difficult to see how a virus vaccine injected in your arm could have caused a bacterial infection in your sinuses.

[HeronNS]

Sounds suspiciously like you picked up something when you went out to get the flu shot? I think a cold can give symptoms pretty quickly, usually about three days but can be as little as one.

[Pixix]

If you went to a surgery to have the jab, or a chemist, I would think it would be there you caught it! Sadly, even the person who gave you the jab could have passed anything to you...or just in the air? A fabric mask won’t, I don’t think, stop you inhaling ‘bugs’. I don’t know a lot about the ‘flu jab, I’ve had it, without any following symptoms, for many years, my husband, too.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

A fabric mask does reduce the number of viral particles reaching your airway, especially if it is double or triple layered. Two masks (on the way out and on the way in) reduces the viral particles a LOT! Well over 80% I think I have seen,

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry, I didn’t mean to infer they do nothing, of course they do! The mask you wear protects others, their mask protects you! But a fabric mask does not prevent all viruses & bacteria from coming through to you, otherwise the health workers could be in them, instead of microfiltration FFP3 masks! Yes, more layers equals more filtration...we wear triple layer inserts inside our fabric masks, but wear FFP2 to go to surgery or hospital appointments. But then we are shielding again now, week 3! Thanks for your clarification, I was in a hurry, as always & must reread & check before posting! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

The trouble is, lots of people think they do nothing so refuse to wear them because they are "uncomfortable", and an "invasion of liberty" - but infinitely preferable in both respects if they reduce the number of people needing ventilation.

Both daughter and grandson being fitted for their FFP3 masks in the next week or so - she is going back to work in A&E having been shielding first time round, I said all along she'd be going back as the second wave rolled in, and he is starting placement as a student nurse.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

People who find mask wearing difficult are buying a sort of ’spacer’ which sits inside it & helps you breathe. Not sure if allowed to mention names, but Amazon selling them, & friends reporting success & greater comfort. I’m NOT promoting it, but mention it so people can look into it, if they wish! I did wonder if your daughter would be going back, good luck to your grandson! The word ‘shielding’ seems to have disappeared into the blue here!! We are doing it anyway! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

He is about to be subjected to the mini-lockdown as he will be in Middlesborough - rather complicates life! They will be able to move him on Saturday as it doesn't take effect until midnight. She has started her uni lectures today - video link. One this morning, one after lunch - and it saved a fortune on fuel to get to Sheffield and didn't have to get up at 6am - win-win!

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Life is complex right now here, but I do believe they are working hard to prevent a national lockdown, which would harm the economy & people, but the gov.uk web site seems to get little promotion, but contains all the answers re covid in an easy to read way! Yes, there is a winning formula for video links & zoom meetings as well as a negative! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

Just watched an interview with the mayor of Middlesborough - what a lot of sense he talked and he is furious! He met the gubmint with a load of proposals - perfectly reasonable and much the same as is working here. He wants people to be able to meet in their garden - my daughter and husband visit an elderly aunt who lives alone and has early Alzheimers. She has an enormous wintergarden - she sits there and they sit in the big garden. As of Saturday night they can't.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Difficult understand both points of view sun shine great here today but black clouds comes over it rains for ten mins need to go inside! If people were allowed in their gardens and then it rained they wouldn’t go home they’d go inside! We have a large gazebo for shelter but the temp drops fast when rain comes! Sorry it affects your Aunt...mine is in the same position and will just get more lonely now...but the second wave has to be stopped somehow! Offline now for pm walking in sunshine and showers!! S x

[Jan_Noack in reply to PMRpro]

Can't they still met her as her carers. There is an exemption here for carers of children and elderly/disabled to visit even in lockdown to provide care if no other care can be found, but we have never stopped people being in their own garden?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jan_Noack]

Yes they have, or at least that is how the media presented the rules: you could meet in the park but not in the garden on the grounds it might not be big enough and if someone needed the loo they would go inside ...

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRPro. Regarding face coverings....I'm back at school as you know and wondered if you have any reliable information on how effective wearing just a visor is? Our senior leadership team have said new government advice has said they offer little protection. Have you any thoughts on that please?

I hope you and your husband are keeping as well as you can.

Thankyou for your time.

[Constance13 in reply to Kendrew]

I use a very thin one day mask under the visor if I have to visit shops or hospital.

[Kendrew in reply to Constance13]

Thankyou Constance13. I'm reluctant to wear a mask as well as a visor (even though I know it makes sense) as we have hearing impaired children in class who rely on lip reading to communicate effectively. A bit of a dilemma!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

Think you need a mask too - the gap at the bottom allows air in . I suppose a scarf around the bottom would work too? And your face is free to be seen. They certainly don't work well to protect others from you.

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou. I like the idea of a scarf. That could certainly help and be a reasonable compromise.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kendrew]

ox.ac.uk/news/2020-07-08-ox...

Probably the best option will be a fine woven material plus silk maybe:

"The general public does not need to wear surgical masks or respirators. We find that masks made from high quality material such as high-grade cotton, multiple layers and particularly hybrid constructions are effective. For instance, combining cotton and silk or flannel provide over 95% filtration, so wearing a mask can protect others"

There are now masks available with see-through sections over the mouth - no doubt out of stock. But there is always DIY:

youtube.com/watch?v=YVMKi7G...(Not working as expected?)

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou.... as always..... for your help, and the links. The more information I have access to, the more of an informed choice I can make . I appreciate your time in helping me..again. 🙂

[greekdog]

If you look on NHS site it says a reaction is rare but possible,I felt just like the beginning of PMR, flu like symptoms, aches ,including back ache which I don't have with pmr. The inj area was fine,I felt really ill for about 8hrs. I wouldn't advise against the vac. lots of things can cause noses to be runny, flowers, pet s and general dust!

[nickm001]

If you had flu vaccine with adjuvants, then it is quite possible that they enhanced reaction to any virus you had floating around in your body. Before vaccine reaction to the same viruses was negligible, but with adjuvant it was enhanced up to 100x times.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to nickm001]

Have you a link for that Nick, sounds like a quote from a study?

[nickm001]

I don't have a link. It is a conclusion from the fact that adjuvents are not virus specific. Have you read anywhere that adjuvents were design to enhance only the virus from the vaccine? Not long time ago I read that one of the adjuvents used was aluminum oxide, how specific would that be to enhance virus only from vaccine?

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

or cdc

cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/conce...

[SuziCutie]

Started an interesting subject I think. Just to say I would definitely have the flu vac next year as 1 day feeling grotty is worth it to avoid real flu.

The Sinus problem was not like regular sinusitis. It was blood literally leaking from my nasal passages for 5 days. Really horrible. Starting to ease now.

I have a few autoimmune conditions. I know this new flu vac had additions that could have caused the nose bleeds. I have a blood problem too .

Appreciate I could have caught a bug. I think I may start wearing double masks 😷