I got the seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccine yesterday and I was really hurting

[NNN0LHI]

I went to Walgreens because it was convenient as I happened to be driving past one. The pharmacist must have been using a very large needle or something? Because they both hurt like hell as he administered them. And as the day went on the pain only got worse. I had swelling on both arms but the one I got the pneumonia shot in was really painful. Lot of swelling at the injection site and my arm felt like it was on fire with fever. I couldn't even button my britches after taking a leak. My wife had to do that for me. How embarrassing. Thank you Sue.

Let me tell you what really helped though. Cold packs and a couple of ALEVE pain killers pretty much straightened me out. Don't feel too bad today. Just a little sore. At least I can button my own britches now.

I probably should have started with the cold packs as soon as I got home. I will next time.

Now I can get my H1N1 vaccine in two weeks.

Good luck all.

Don

[pnwmom]

1. I got the seasonal flu shot and it hardly hurt at all going in. My pharmacist

has a better technique, maybe?

My arm was a little sore that night, but not bad.

I got the pneumonia shot years ago, and that one is known to hurt more. Sorry that you had to go through two like that!

[excess_3]

2. what size needle did they use? .nt

[NNN0LHI]

4. I don't know but it felt like a ten-penny nail when he stuck me

[Ready4Change]

7. Were you nervous about getting the shot?

If your muscles were tensed up the needle does a little more damage as it enters. If you are relaxed it doesn't do nearly as much harm.

As a kid I recall getting my measles vaccination. I was fascinated by the preparation of the hypo, recall the clear, bright purple color of the vaccine. When the nurse was ready to inject she said I should look away. I said no, I wanted to watch it. She shrugged and gave me the injection. I barely felt the pinprick and never felt any sign of it after that.

My brothers and sisters all were tensed up, and they all complained about pain after wards.

It's a case where your concern about the pain actually CREATES the pain you are worrying about. When it's time for you H1N1, do your best to relax before hand.

[NNN0LHI]

12. I have an aversion to needles so it is very likely I was tense

I pass on shots for pain at the dentist for fillings because I don't like needles.

Think I will get a Valium from my doctor before he gives me the H1N1 vaccination.

Don

[ShortnFiery]

3. A new Canadian Study suggest that those who receive the seasonal flu vaccine become ...

two times more likely to contract the Swine Flu. :wtf: :shrug:

People need to be aware of this study so they may weight the evidence and make informed choices.

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/suspends+shot+campaign+over+H1N1+concerns/2045733/story.html

British Columbia is suspending its annual seasonal flu shot program amidst emerging concerns the vaccination could make people more susceptible to catching H1N1.

The suspension -- which limits the seasonal flu vaccination mostly to the elderly -- puts B.C. in line with many other Canadian provinces, but means most people will not have access to any type of influenza vaccination until at least mid-November.

The decision was announced Monday morning by provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall, who characterized this year's flu season as an "emerging and complex scenario."


Kendall said the decision rested in part on a new Canadian study -- which has not yet been peer reviewed or published --that found those who receive the seasonal flu vaccine become two times more likely to get H1N1.

[AuntPatsy]

13. wow

[calimary]

14. Makes me feel like taking a pass on all these for a few years.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

16. By all means, make medical decisions based on non published or peer reviewed information.

[calimary]

19. I said it made me feel like I was going to pass on it.

I haven't decided one way or the other yet.

Good heavens...

[uppityperson]

26. Let us know when it is peer reviewed or published. Until then, it means little

[Junkdrawer]

5. My wife had the same reaction. It got worse for about 5 days...

then SLOWLY got better.

I'm debating whether I'll get the shot. Last year's was no problem, but there this and then there's all that news about increased susceptibility to H1N1.

[ShortnFiery]

6. Those people born BEFORE 1957 are believed to have *best* immunity against

contracting the H1N1 virus. That's because they have been exposed to other similar strains in the past.

Damn, I just missed the cut. :(

"...the United States, Britain and Australia, have not found an association between receiving the seasonal flu shot and susceptibility to H1N1. This unfortunately adds to the confusion, and consequently the Canadian research is being peer-reviewed.

But there is another reason for the decision to immunize against H1N1 first: Epidemiological evidence suggests that H1N1 will be the predominant strain of flu this season. It seems to make good sense, then, to focus our efforts on protecting people against the greatest threat.

There is one exception to this vaccine regime, which unfortunately makes things more confusing still: People over 65 and those in long-term-care homes will have access to the seasonal flu vaccine in October, before the H1N1 vaccine becomes available.

The reasons for this are twofold: First, people over 65 are at greatest risk from the seasonal flu, which disproportionately affects the elderly. And second, H1N1 presents less risk to the elderly than it does to younger people, because the elderly were exposed to a similar virus that existed before 1957, which allowed them to develop some immunity to H1N1."

On Edit: Oops I forgot the site reference. :blush:

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Timing+vaccines+confusing+various+groups/2057970/story.html

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. The first fatality to the H1N1 in NY was in his late 50s. :(

[ShortnFiery]

9. True, but statistically, the worst complication occur to YOUNGER people.

Hopefully, increasing numbers/stats will be published in the near future.

As I understand this virus, the more your immune system kicks in, it produces a deleterious effect to your body systems. However, all bets are off with the elderly and those with compromised immune systems to begin with ... they are at a double loss.

[no_hypocrisy]

10. I made the mistake of getting the flu shot in one arm and the pneumonia in the other.

Both arms were "out of commission" for about four days with exquisite pain in both.

[xchrom]

11. i usually go when all the senior citizens go

down at the hospital.

there's a bunch of older and retire nurses who administer the shots.

like butter -- it never hurts.

but yeah some people give you a shot -- and it's like they hit you with a sledge hammer.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Yeah they are going DEEP into the muscle, same thing at Target

cannot wait to get the Hinie flue at... the clinic.

[Fla Dem]

17. Heard other complain about getting their shots at Walgreens.

A nurse I know says the pharmacists at Walgreens are really not trained well enough to give painless shots. Also, they don't do them all the time like a regular medical professional, so don't really perfect their technique. Try to get them done by someone who gives shots all the time, not just seasonally.

[REP]

18. Got my seasonal flu jab last Monday and my arm is still swollen and bruised! Glad I got it though!

I've never had a reaction this marked before - my arm kept swelling and the bruise kept growing for days - but I got in the arm that I've retorn the rotator cuff, biceps tendon, and have injured in other ways, so no huge shock that it's Not Happy. Other that, no other reaction.

[Liquorice]

20. My doctor told me the pneumonia shot was one of the worst for causing pain. I couldn't

raise my arm for two days.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

22. Yellow Fever and Typhoid are exceptionally miserable in terms of soreness.

I have heard that the Anthrax vaccination was excruciatingly painful. To the point of some people needing narcotics.

[Liquorice]

23. Wow, that IS bad! nt

[Critters2]

21. Sorry to hear. Got mine at Walgreen's, and had no pain or bruising at all.

I've been on injection meds given regularly for a couple of different conditions in the past, and always had bruising and muscle pain. So, I expect it. But not this time. I was surprised by that.

I hope your pain goes away soon.

[Sheltiemama]

24. I got my flu shot on Friday.

It stung at the end of the injection, and I'm still a little sore, but it's not a huge deal. I think it made me tired, because I took a nice, long nap on the couch later that night. I usually get a little fever the night I get my shot, but I didn't this year. I'm a firm believer in flu shots. I haven't gotten the flu since I started getting them 10-plus years ago. I don't need a pneumonia shot, but I do plan to get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as healthy adults are allowed to.

[Skittles]

25. I get stuck with a needle much bigger than that every two f***ing weeks

(platelet donor)

got my flu shot in August too

[TorchTheWitch]

27. what did they charge for the shots?

I'm wondering if it's that much cheaper than going to the doctor to have it done. Did you have to wait in line?

[uppityperson]

28. I got one at work tonight and OMG! They made me keep working! Sorry yours hurt though

I forgot I got one until I found the bandaid later. Ah well. Sounds like your wife is a caring, hopefully non-smirking, woman.