AZ second jab - preparation

[lkcreedon]

Hi all, Im waiting on my second AZ jab. It should be soon. I had my fiirst jab on a Sat, had a flare on the Sunday, felt like I never had a pain in my life on the Monday and was back to 'normal' on the Monday, stiff/sore in the mornings!! I never took anything beforehand like paracetamol or aspirin, my doctor said not to! I am a bit more scared of the 2nd jab now . I am wondering if I should be prepping myself a bit better for this? Is there anything anyone would recommend I do before I get this jab?

Thanks in advance.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Why? I don't think it is possible to "prepare" since you can't know how you will react until it happens. I had a bit of a flare adfter the second jab but the worst thing was the fatigue - wasn't pain as such and I only had to abandon the reduction I'd been attempting rather than having to increase the pred. I didn;t even have a sore arm second time around.

[lkcreedon in reply to PMRpro]

Yes you are right of course. Nobody knows how they are going to react. Just a bit nervous of it all. Wish it was over now. Have fatigue now anyway but am off work for summer so I can relax. Thanks for your reply.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lkcreedon]

Enjoy your rest!

[lkcreedon in reply to PMRpro]

Tnx PMRpro. Surely will 🌝

[Rimmy in reply to PMRpro]

Me too !!quite huge fatigue after 2nd jab.

[lkcreedon in reply to Rimmy]

Hope you got a good well deserved sleep!

[SnazzyD]

Not sure what you can do to prepare, to be honest, because who knows what happens inside that body of yours. My husband had stiff sore muscles after his AZ and he’s healthy, no PMR history, so it may not have a been a flare for you. Keep an open mind because no vaccination session is the same so you may as well go with the flow. I had my first Pfizer 2 days ago so am waiting with bated breath as I go through different phases. Scary isn’t it?

[lkcreedon in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks SnazzyD. Yes agree scary for sure and as you say we dont know what goes on inside of us! I too was waiting for'something to happen' after I got the AZ jab, quite mad. Good luck with your symptoms perhaps you wont get any or if you do hopefully they will be mild in nature....fingers crossed.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lkcreedon]

theguardian.com/world/2021/...

is a good read

[lkcreedon in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you kindly....I will read this article this afternoon 😊

[SnazzyD in reply to lkcreedon]

Well, so far, had tight face and hot throat after 15 mins which wore off after an hour and antihistamine. Then felt a bit peculiar for three hours but nothing to write home about. Then bang couldn’t stay awake to save myself plus bone pain in arms. Have slept most of last two days, sick once last night . Arm - Within 3 hours could brush my hair but not dance the Funky Chicken. Today arm ok but headache, though actually feel ok in all other ways. Going to take it easy and watch Formula 1. Far too ill to do any chores 😉. I will relax when I’ve gone through a full 3 week cycle of another funny, cyclical, rare condition I have. If I come out the other side of that 👍

[lkcreedon in reply to SnazzyD]

Oh dear SnazzyD sounds like you hav a few uncomfortable hours there! Do take it easy. Unfortunately the chores will be there for when you are back to 'normal'. Hope all else goes well for you. Thanks for your reply ❤

[Peptink in reply to SnazzyD]

Sorry to hear that. Let us know how it goes. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. 💕

[piglette]

They say the second Astra Zeneca is not as bad as the first and vice versa for the Pfizer vaccine. Although some people have no reaction to either.

[lkcreedon in reply to piglette]

Thanks Piglette. Had a bit of a flare after the first....or was it just a flare anyway...who knows. Have to go with it anyway. Here's hoping 😊

[piglette in reply to lkcreedon]

Good luck with the next one.

[Pr0jection in reply to piglette]

Yes, can confirm that. We had Pzizer and had no problem with the first vaccination except a sore arm but both felt under the weather after the second. I didn't have a flare though......

[lkcreedon in reply to Pr0jection]

All good then Pr0jection. TG 🙂

[Peptink in reply to piglette]

Are you able to mix the doses?

[Rose54]

Hi I had a bad reaction to first one but second one was fine.

Most people I know say the same

[lkcreedon in reply to Rose54]

Hi Rose 54, yes I have heard that with AZ most people have had whatever reaction to the first and not the second jab. Thanks for your response 🌝

[Coffeebeans]

I just felt a bit grumpy after the second which compared to he first was brilliant.

Just clear the diary in case you need to put your feet up 😊

[lkcreedon in reply to Coffeebeans]

Ha ha....will do. Expect to be tired anyway. As Im off work forvthe summer, putting my feet up sounds like a good plan. Thank you 🙂

[Dambusters]

I had no reaction second time around. Never felt a thing. Stay positive.

[lkcreedon in reply to Dambusters]

Thanks Dambusters. Feeling better with all the replies now. Appreciate your response. Lucia

[Pinkpepper]

Hi I had a bad reaction to my 1st jab and was scared on my 2nd but was absolutely fine apart from a tender arm the next day good luck

[lkcreedon in reply to Pinkpepper]

Thank you Pinkpepper. All positive ❤

[Pinkpepper in reply to lkcreedon]

No worries, keep safe x

[Highlandtiger]

I had a strong response to first AZ jag (shivers, chills, fever, aches etc). Second jag I felt fine until the middle of the next day when a massive and overwhelming wave of fatigue hit me and I had to go to bed and sleep for half an hour. I had arranged absolutely nothing because of how I felt after the first one but I was glad I wasn’t driving at the time it hit me. So just clear your diary I’d say!

[lkcreedon in reply to Highlandtiger]

Thanks Highlander. I can cope with fatigue....I think! Im able to rest up if need be as off work for the summet

[Highlandtiger in reply to lkcreedon]

That’s good. I was absolutely fine after my sleep. But boy, did I need it!

[lkcreedon in reply to Highlandtiger]

One always feels better after a good sleep 😀

[Poppy_the_cat]

Absolutely there is!!Drink water.

Drink like a fish.

The vaccine can in some people leave them incredibly dehydrated, incredibly.

It left me in a terrible state. As soon as I woke the following morning the headache I experienced was so bad I thought my head would burst...and I've experienced mega headaches, this was way up the scale.

My lips were so cracked and dry it was as though I'd had a fever... I had serious dehydration. Drinking helped pretty quickly... So equipped with this knowledge, I started drinking hugely 24 hrs before and it helped tremendously.

Drink water...drink drink drink!!

Like a 🐟🐟🐟🐟

Xx

[lkcreedon in reply to Poppy_the_cat]

Gee Poppy_the_cat....I will definitely do that if it avoids anything like the dehydration you suffered. Nobody knows how the jab will go but drinking loads of water certainly cant hurt. Thank you 😊

[Poppy_the_cat in reply to lkcreedon]

I was so seriously dehydrated, bad news if you've got Sjögrens, that the extreme dehydration contributed to problems with my eye. I had to go for an emergency scan for fear of a blood clot. It turned out that a small piece of the back of my eye, detached itself and came forwards, appearing as what is called a 'floater'. I've been left with a 'huge curved black line', rather like a sweeping windshield wiper, that interferes with my vision. It seems my brain will eventually compensate for it...but nonetheless I could have gone without out it. So I cannot stress enough the importance of drinking like a fish! Till your floating at the gills if necessary, and continue for a few days after!X

[lkcreedon in reply to Poppy_the_cat]

Hi Poppy_the _catX, how awful for you, a bit scary! I will take your advice and drink lots of water. Thank you. The wait ing time here (in Ireland) is round about 12 weeks still, they are trying to reduce that presently. Say the 2nd jab will be coming up in a week ir 2 now. Time to start hydrating 😀. Many thanks

[whitefishbay]

I was fine. Spaced out for a day but otherwise ok.

[Shiba64]

HiIronically I had my first AZ jab the same day I was actually being tested fur PMR. I had reaction to the vaccine with a temp of 38.3C. Weirdly for 48 hours I actually felt I was relieved of stiffness etc. But then wham it came back worse. I had my second 3 weeks ago and absolutely nothimg other than a sore arm where I was injected. If anything I could say I feel a lot better than I did but not certain if that's the steroids or the vaccine. So please don't worry yourself about your second. I'm sure you'll be fine xx

[lkcreedon in reply to Shiba64]

Thank you Shiba64 for your reasuring reply. I will just have to wait and see! No invite yet for the 2nd jab but Im sure it will come this week.Sorry your reaction was so unpleasant.

[lkcreedon in reply to Shiba64]

Thankfully your second one was ok 🙂

[Shiba64 in reply to lkcreedon]

We got our second date same time we booked our first but know lot of people didn't. I'm sure you should hear soon. But yes my second one was absolutely fine - no reaction and definitely no impact on my PMR. So you hopefully will be OK too 😁

[lkcreedon in reply to Shiba64]

Thank you so much Shiba64 ❤

[Downbytheriverside]

I recovered from PMR 2 years ago. I had a very bad reaction to my first AZ jab with symptoms that mimicked some of the unpleasant pain I experienced during my PMR period. I had a milder reaction to the second jab and just experienced a couple of days of fatigue.

The lesson I’m taking away from this is how much more unpleasant, if not life threatening, would be contracting Covid. Crack on with that second jab and don’t make specific plans for the next couple of days afterwards.

[lkcreedon in reply to Downbytheriverside]

Hi DownbytheriversideX, thanks for your response. Sounds like most people have some sort of reaction to the first jab. Mine was a 'flare' for a day which was painful but manageable. So loojs like the 2nd jab could be of a milder type if any. Wishing it was over now. All the best to you 😊

[Bcol]

Hi, I've had both OAZ jabs and had no adverse reaction to either.

[lkcreedon in reply to Bcol]

Hi Bcol, thats great! Have heard of quite a number of ppl now who have had little or no reaction. Thank you. 😊