Bad reaction to flu shot

[soxfan]

I haven't had a flu shot in 4 years. The pharmacy I work at gives them free to employees so I figured I would get one this year.
2 hours after I came home from work I started having chills..so violent my teeth were chattering. Then my temp went up to 101.1 and my stomach felt as though it had a huge knot inside. It was so painful.

I had chills for about 5 hours and then fell asleep after taking motrin, pepto and my lunesta.

Today I am a little better but have that very tired flu sleepiness and have spent most of the day in bed actually sleeping...which I never seem to be able to during the day. I also now have the flu headache too.

It seems as though whenever I try and do the right thing for myself I end up worse off...this will take me probably a week to recover from.

Anyone else ever have this type of reaction?

 

[Wayne]

Anyone else ever have this type of reaction?

I had an elderly aunt (now deceased) who hadn't had the flu for many years. She also had not gotten any flu shots during those same years. When she was in her 70's her doctor convinced her to "do the right thing", and get a flu shot. She said she was never so sick in her life, and never got another one.

There are a lot of stories of PWCs getting all different kinds of vaccines and having very bad reactions to them. Personally, I would never go near one. I think the shock of any kind of vaccine could easily send me reeling; possibly to the other side.

I'm sorry you're going through such a difficult time. It may be an opportunity to learn that "our systems" are not at all ordinary. And what "regular" people can usually handle rather easily are things that can be very dangerous for us.

Best, Wayne

 

[soxfan]

I am so sorry I had this shot...last one I had in 2006 and had no reaction to it
so I didn't think there would be a problem. You know I almost just walk out of the store when my shift was over but at the last minute decided to have it. Should have trusted my insticts. I am worried that I am going to be down and out for a while and I wasn't doing great before all this. I will never have another one.

 

[Sushi]

I had a really bad reaction to a flu shot 3 years ago (the last time I took one!). My reaction was more of an autonomic nervous system storm.

Never again. Sorry you had a bad reaction too.

Sushi

 

[zoe.a.m.]

I've never had a doc recommend any type of shots, especially flu shots. The first doctor--the one who actually diagnosed me (and this was almost a decade ago)--said that he recommended against all immunizations because of the overall dysfunction of the immune system. It seems like every other year I do get the flu though, but I figure I'm probably better off with that and treating with Chinese herbs, which can really tackle a flu. Although the more I find out about seasonal viruses, the more I realize I may not have had the flue each of those times...

It's really too bad that the 2006 shot didn't give you a problem and this one did: I wonder if it's a matter of the newest strain or a change to the formula? I know there are a couple of homeopathic, over-the-counter treatments that, if taken early enough, can help the body respond better and--most importantly--get it cleared out so that you don't have a 'lingering pathogen' as they're called in Chinese medicine. Don't know if you're using anything alternative though.

One thing to do the minute you start to get the symptoms is to take a fair amount of Lysine (I would take 1000 mg up to 5+ times a day at the start; it's never bothered my stomach) and C. Lysine, of course, stops viruses from being able to replicate, so it's something I take about 6 months a year as a prophylactic method. But it's useful probably only in the first 24-48hrs of onset of symptoms.

 

[soxfan]

I am feeling much better today...reaction lasted about 24 hours but I am sure it will actually take me much longer to recover from the stress it put on my body. Thanks everyone!
Oh and the pharmacy actually called my doctor and asked if it was okay if they gave me the shot and he said YES! I knew from the start he didn't know anything about CFS yikessss.

 

[Boule de feu]

Too bad you had such a bad reaction to it.

I remember the year I refused to have one. My GP wrote down in his notes
(and this was sent to my insurance company, later):
"My patient refuses to have her flu shots even though we advised her to have them."
I felt really bad at the time - the bad bad patient that I was! - but still didn't want them
and we never discussed them afterwards. That was the end of it.

You were probably feeling well enough (at the moment) to accept having one.
Maybe, this is why you went for it? So, don't be too harsh on yourself.
Personally, I'm so sick all the time, I could not imagine adding more to my problems. But, I would have done the exact same thing as you...

On the same topic, when she was little my daughter was allergic to eggs but they persuaded me to give her her vaccine anyway. This vaccine had albumine (I think it was albumine) in it. What a mistake it was! There are many GPs who don't know what they are doing...

 

[soxfan]

Yes..I was feeling well enough to have one. I just figured that I work in a pharmacy where sick people come in all the time so I am really exposed. I thought it would be better in the long run if I got the shot and was protected...I feel miserable most of the time also but really had no idea I would have this kind of reaction.
Today I just feel really worn out and tired...probably from the 5 hours of chills I had.

 

[Boule de feu]

Yes..I was feeling well enough to have one. I just figured that I work in a pharmacy where sick people come in all the time so I am really exposed. I thought it would be better in the long run if I got the shot and was protected...I feel miserable most of the time also but really had no idea I would have this kind of reaction.
Today I just feel really worn out and tired...probably from the 5 hours of chills I had.

With the info you had at the time, you went for what seemed to be more logical...
I just hope that you will get well soon. Take care.

 

[*GG*]

I am feeling much better today...reaction lasted about 24 hours but I am sure it will actually take me much longer to recover from the stress it put on my body. Thanks everyone!
Oh and the pharmacy actually called my doctor and asked if it was okay if they gave me the shot and he said YES! I knew from the start he didn't know anything about CFS yikessss.

Yeah, stiff him on your medical records on the way out. That's what I did!!

He wanted to charge me $50 for MY medical records!, outrageous!, I never paid and they left me a message saying that if I did not pay, that he would not see me anymore!

No problem there, I had no intention of going back to him!

GG

PS You should post anyting that is not terribly pressing on this forum, there are lots of us with good knowledge! That's what I do.

 

[JAXintheCity]

I am always forced to get the flu shot...sometimes I get a cold afterwards, but the doctors always tell me that it's "coincidence." However, I had a HORRIBLE reaction to the Meningitis Vaccine. I woke up the next day with my knees burning, bright red, and locked STIFF! I couldn't move them or walk, and I had to be given high dose pain medication. The reaction actually had to be reported to the vaccine people by my doctor...

That being said, I get really mild flu's when I do get them. Last year, I got Swine Flu and barely made a dent in my day! (I've had CFS days which were way worse!)

 

[Boule de feu]

I am always forced to get the flu shot...sometimes I get a cold afterwards, but the doctors always tell me that it's "coincidence." However, I had a HORRIBLE reaction to the Meningitis Vaccine. I woke up the next day with my knees burning, bright red, and locked STIFF! I couldn't move them or walk, and I had to be given high dose pain medication. The reaction actually had to be reported to the vaccine people by my doctor...

That being said, I get really mild flu's when I do get them. Last year, I got Swine Flu and barely made a dent in my day! (I've had CFS days which were way worse!)

Why are you "forced" to get the shots?

 

[SOC]

I generally get flu shots, but I've never had a bad rxn to them. Same for my daughter, also a PWC. We both got H1N1 leading into walking pneumonia (whatever that is) last fall and it was NOT good. For us, it's better to get the killed virus shot than to get the live virus itself.

We do NOT take live virus vaccines, as those seem to make us very sick, but most of the flu shots are killed viruses.

That said, I've heard this year's shot has a higher "dose" than previous years, which makes me a little nervous. Has anyone else heard this? Maybe it was just higher dosage for the elderly?

 

[*GG*]

Why are you "forced" to get the shots?

Mmm, yes, why are you forced? Are you in the medical field?

 

[*GG*]

I generally get flu shots, but I've never had a bad rxn to them. Same for my daughter, also a PWC. We both got H1N1 leading into walking pneumonia (whatever that is) last fall and it was NOT good. For us, it's better to get the killed virus shot than to get the live virus itself.

We do NOT take live virus vaccines, as those seem to make us very sick, but most of the flu shots are killed viruses.

That said, I've heard this year's shot has a higher "dose" than previous years, which makes me a little nervous. Has anyone else heard this? Maybe it was just higher dosage for the elderly?

Really, your ME/CFIDS/CFS dr advises you to get the fllu shot? Mine don't! I would rather deal with a "little more" illness, than take something with unknown consequences in us!

Of course, I don't have children, and if I die, so be it!

 

[SOC]

Really, your ME/CFIDS/CFS dr advises you to get the fllu shot? Mine don't! I would rather deal with a "little more" illness, than take something with unknown consequences in us!

Of course, I don't have children, and if I die, so be it!

Yep, both my ME/CFS specialists have recommended annual flu shots UNLESS I have had bad rxns in the past, which I hadn't.

If we get the flu, we have bad relapses that can last for months. I'd rather take the flu vaccine, which doesn't give me trouble. Like I said, we don't do live virus vaccines, but we've done fine so far with killed virus vaccines.

I suppose it's one of those things that depends on the individual case.

 

[taniaaust1]

You kind of need to be your own doctor when you have this illness.. rather then rely on a doctor who probably doesnt know much at all about this illness. Ask questions of communities such as this if its something non urgent to find out how ones with CFS/ME usually react.

Ive never had a flu shot and never will as I know vaccines can make us worst and I wouldnt want to do anything which may make my level possibly permanently worst. Also Ive heard that as our systems dont function right.. with some vaccines we may not even make the antibodies which the vaccines are meant to make us make... then think we are protected when we arent.

Those of us who never get cold and flu's have our immune system permanently over reactive working one way instead of being in balance (research CFS Th1 Th2 dominance to find out more). This over reaction of one side of the immune system ({to the "not good" (sorry i have word loss) to the other side)) will make you far less likely to get colds and flus. It makes sense that those who have over reactivity in this area.. would not do too good with flu vaccination.

im glad to hear that things are settling down for you.

 

[soxfan]

I had symptoms for about 24 hours...mostly that flu tiredness. I stayed in bed all day and was back to my self the following day with no after effects. The interesting thing is I had lunch with a co worker yesterday and she had almost the exact same reaction. I hadn't known that because she had the flu shot 2 weeks ago.
I am one of those who never gets sick...ever. I will have to say one of the reasons I got the shot is because my father in law just went into a skilled nursing care facility and I really didn't want to expose him to anything since I do work in a pharmacy where I am surrounded by sick people.
The pharmacist did tell me it was not live virus injection.

Thinking back I don't think I regret getting the shot..maybe because I feel better now. It was an experience and now next year I will have to think twice about getting it again. I will also say that I have felt much worse with PEM than I did with the reaction to the shot...

 

[Boule de feu]

I had symptoms for about 24 hours...mostly that flu tiredness. I stayed in bed all day and was back to my self the following day with no after effects. The interesting thing is I had lunch with a co worker yesterday and she had almost the exact same reaction. I hadn't known that because she had the flu shot 2 weeks ago.
I am one of those who never gets sick...ever. I will have to say one of the reasons I got the shot is because my father in law just went into a skilled nursing care facility and I really didn't want to expose him to anything since I do work in a pharmacy where I am surrounded by sick people.
The pharmacist did tell me it was not live virus injection.

Thinking back I don't think I regret getting the shot..maybe because I feel better now. It was an experience and now next year I will have to think twice about getting it again. I will also say that I have felt much worse with PEM than I did with the reaction to the shot...

If you are in close contact with the general public and you are visiting a nursing home, I believe it is important that you get your shots. For your own sake and your father in law's. I do believe you did the right thing and it is true that this is an individual decision we all have to make (depending on what our own case is).

I have noticed that each year I did get the shot, I was terribly sick. It was the same for my children.
They also got allergies that they never had before. My neighbors got vaccinated for swine flu and they all had it pretty bad. Was it a coincidence? Surprisingly, we were fine.

Now, I do have the over reaction mentioned by taniaaust1. I never have a cold anymore (it's been 5 years). Before, I would go through a very severe episode of pneumonia (once a year). It could be that my body has switched (out of balance) and it might not be associated to the flu shots at all.

 

[Wonko]

when i developed type 2 diabetes I was advised to take the flu shot, a shot for pneumonia and then swine flu - not knowing any better I took the flu shot and a few hours later was very ill leadign to a relapse that lasted a few weeks -i refused to take the other shots as still advised despite havign told them of the reaction to the flu shot - coincidence I was told - it's an inactivated virus it cant cause any symptoms - which is a total lie

it may not be able to cause the flu as it's inactivated but the symptoms are caused by your bodies reaction to the virus - the body doesnt know it's dead so I still got symptoms - more severe symptoms than any 'mere' flu I've ever caught - possibly because it was injected straight into my blood rather than being filtered by the rest of my immune system

now I know - vaccines - not nice - avoid