Bad reaction to flu shot

Queen Mum · Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:53 pm

Had my checkup today. Decided to get my flu shot and doc said pneumonia shot too.

Got the flu shot and the nurse went out. Doc came in and I told her my arm itched. She said there was a reaction about the size of a small pancake - I needed to be watched for about a half hour. She told the nurse and office staff that if the reaction spreads to call 911 and THEN call her.

The nurse and doc took turns checking on me every few minutes for the 1/2 hr before they'd let me go.

They wouldn't give me the pneumonia shot - that will wait........

AnnOminous · Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:08 pm

I saw something online that said that the H1N1 flu shot had neomycin sulfate in it. I'm allergic to mycins. I don't know if the regular flu shot has it in it, but you better believe I'm going to be asking before I get it!

1grandma · Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:38 pm

I had my flu shot yesterday. Happily no reaction. Glad yours turned out well. No more of them, though.

Ayla · Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:59 pm

I'm considered high risk, working in ER, but I won't get a flu shot. I think we muck with our immune systems too much!

TraciL · Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:07 pm

wow what an experience glad you're ok

amberella · Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:10 pm

Yuuuuuuccckkk!!!

I'm glad it turned out okay!! I luckily didn't react to the one I got... plus I had a tetanus shot too, so even if I HAD some weird reaction, I probably would've been more focused on the other sore arm :P

I actually did get chicken pox on my arm from my final chicken-pox shot, though. Lasted about a week. THAT was unpleasant.

scraptag · Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:25 am

glad they watched you for a bit. Hopefully, that 1/2 hour was the riskiest part....

Northern Brat · Sat Oct 08, 2011 10:10 am

I haven't had a reaction to the flu shot...but I've only had it 2 times, and both years I have had it....I have been sick...and terribly sick...I'm avoiding it this year!

TraciL · Sat Oct 08, 2011 12:22 pm

Northern Brat wrote:I haven't had a reaction to the flu shot...but I've only had it 2 times, and both years I have had it....I have been sick...and terribly sick...I'm avoiding it this year!

ditto ditto ditto - except I only had it once! Was down for 5+ days! missed work - when I could finally make it to the dr. they said "well you have different flu then what you got the shot for" -

I'm just not into them and I have to argue not to get one every dr visit because I'm diabetic

Heidi1154 · Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:33 pm

Sorry to hear you had a reaction to the shot.
Hope you are feeling better...

I have gotten one for at least the last ten years.
Thank goodness all have been a good thing:-)

deerewife · Sat Oct 08, 2011 4:02 pm

I tend to get a reaction to the flu shot each year in the small itchy spot, but I still get one each year as dd has asthma and we try to keep as healthy as possible to keep her healthy. We had h1n1 about 2 years ago and it took the girls almost 10 days to get over it and Emily got pneumonia afterwards. I had lucked out and gotten the h1n1 vaccine and was sick for about 2 days.

I need to get both girls in for their shots...

Sat Oct 08, 2011 5:25 pm

that's a bummer. I studiously avoided getting a flu shot until about 3-4 years ago. Was heading to Florida to stay with DD and then new baby grandson and my DH said, you better take a flu shot so you wont catch anything on the plane and take it to the baby. sigh So now being old(er) I get a flue shot every year. No bad reactions though luckily. I dont think I have ever had a pneumonia shot either. DH has his regularly but still spend 8 days in hospital this summer with pneumonia. Seems the shot only protects you from one kind.

wahoo_mom · Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:50 pm

Wow! I have never heard of that before. Glad it turned out ok.

I have been getting them every year since I went back to work in a school and the commute is 45 min. long. If I got it, I would still have to take the kids to school or be stuck at home with 2 healthy DSs bouncing off the walls while I was miserable. DH and I disagree on DSs getting them. I think it wouldn't do any permanent damage for them to go without (yes, the wouldn't feel well for a few days, but they would get over it) and maybe even strengthen their immune systems. He thinks they should get them.

txbelle26 · Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:33 pm

I am severely allergic to EGGs so I can't get the flu shot (or the MMR and one other)...needless to say since I cut hair I tend to get the flu almost every year. I'm glad your reaction wasn't worse and you are alright!

Queen Mum · Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:48 pm

Well, here it is almost 48 hrs later and my arm has a big red spot the size of a softball and it itches like crazy. I've used cortaid on it but it doesn't do anything (that's what the doctor recommended) I switched to benadryl lotion. Not helping.

But I can breathe so that's a good thing. I do have an epi pen at home because I'm so allergy prone.

Bud wants me to call the doctor's office tomorrow if there isn't a big improvement. I don't think they can do anything.

Ayla · Sun Oct 09, 2011 5:08 pm

Queen Mum wrote:Well, here it is almost 48 hrs later and my arm has a big red spot the size of a softball and it itches like crazy. I've used cortaid on it but it doesn't do anything (that's what the doctor recommended) I switched to benadryl lotion. Not helping.

But I can breathe so that's a good thing. I do have an epi pen at home because I'm so allergy prone.

Bud wants me to call the doctor's office tomorrow if there isn't a big improvement. I don't think they can do anything.

It depends....if the reaction is still intense, they may put you on a short term course of steroids to cut the itching and help quell the reaction. Don't hesitate to use the epi pen if you start to feel the slightest bit short of breath.

deerewife · Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:39 pm

wahoo_mom wrote:Wow! I have never heard of that before. Glad it turned out ok.

I have been getting them every year since I went back to work in a school and the commute is 45 min. long. If I got it, I would still have to take the kids to school or be stuck at home with 2 healthy DSs bouncing off the walls while I was miserable. DH and I disagree on DSs getting them. I think it wouldn't do any permanent damage for them to go without (yes, the wouldn't feel well for a few days, but they would get over it) and maybe even strengthen their immune systems. He thinks they should get them.

You do know that it could be more than just a few days of not feeling well? You can have severe complications from the flu even as a young child that seems healthy. But, I'm sure you know that too

Queen Mum · Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:27 pm

Well, it still itches.

I used benadryl lotion on it all day yesterday - until dinner time. Then at bedtime I took two benadryl pills.

It's still red and itchy - but not bad as bad.

Not gonna bother to call the doctor to complain but I do need to call to refill a prescription so will ask them to let her know that it's day three and still itchy.

No breathing problems at all, thank goodness.

-Mo- · Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:48 pm

I only get it because I have a 1 yr old and don't want to bring home anything to her!!

Before having her...I wouldn't get it!

Michelle

Queen Mum · Tue Oct 11, 2011 10:55 am

IT still itches - but not bad. This is day 4

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