Swine Flu Vaccination, H1N1, flu jabs in general

[parent]

Me & my daughter had our swine flu jabs this morning more painful for my daughter, so far both of us are ok.
T

[curlysue]

They are safe to have together - but one in each arm - so both arms will ache.

Can you let us all know which one hurts more? My colleague has just been and got his swine flu jab and moaned that it is more painful than the normal one - just wondering how much of a wimp he is!

Yeah sure, will do!

I read somewhere that the swine flu jab contains an 'accelerant' that might make the injection site more painful than a normal flu jab.

Would the potential side effect of fever, aches etc be more likely if I have both vaccines together?

CSx

[Eloise]

Both vaccines contain the surface proteins from the relavant flu viruses. It is these that then trigger your own bodies immune response. In some people this immune response gives a slight fever, aches and pains, but the size of this response is dependant on the persons immune system and it shouldn't make any difference that there are two lots of proteins.

(Some other vaccines have proteins from over 23 types of viruses but doesn't produce a reaction 23 times the amount - this is the pnuemococcal vaccine!)

[Finarda]

I think CurlySue was talking about the Adjuvant that was added to some of the H1N1 shots. I'm not sure what the adjuvant is that was used but I believe it's not related directly to the actual virus (or anti viral response) but provides a general immune system response. If I remember it can be minerals etc. I know that here in Canada the normal H1N1 vaccine contained an adjuvant, and the ones that pregnant people got had no adjuvant.

In my case, I'm still having worse joint pain than normal and it started the day after the H1N1 shot and I wonder if it was the adjuvant boosted my immune system and since I have auto-immune diseases I wonder if it's increased them too.

Having said that, I'm still glad that I got it based on how other people reacted locally to the actual H1N1 infection.

I also think that what helped us is taking Vitamin D. Since I started taking it I haven't had a cold which is SO not normal for me. When my daughter had H1N1 I started giving her a Vit D supplement and she got over it faster than most people that I know and with her history of asthma I was almost surprised that she didn't end up with a secondary infection.

Fiona

[curlysue]

Just been to the docs... chickened out of having the swine flu jab, just had the seasonal one. No idea what happened - I just panicked! I have such bad anxiety about vaccines/drugs (usually about side effects) and it just took over... despite me a) really wanting the vaccine and being afraid of getting swine flu itself; and b) having been reassured by other people that it's completely safe. I felt okay having the seasonal one because I had it last year and so it felt 'familiar'... it doesn't make sense but anxiety rarely does. I just saw the needle with the stuff in it and flipped out.

Arg. I'm angry with myself.

I've made another appt for two weeks' time and hopefully will be able to go through with it then.

Has anyone got any advice/coping mechanisms for this type of anxiety or is it just a case of making yourself do it, somehow?

CSx

[leashy11]

Hi curlysue I just want to reassure you. I had my swine flu jab on Monday and lots of people warned me it would hurt more than the seasonal jab (I find the seasonal one pretty painful so I was a bit anxious about this) but I barely felt it, it really didn't hurt at all. The nurse who did mine rubbed the area for a few seconds before she did it and I just didn't feel it go in, there was no stinging when the liquid went in and I was amazed! She warned me about arm numbness and it's a good job because my entire left arm from shoulder to hand went partially numb but only for about an hour or so. The injection site was a bit sore for a few days but nothing like as bad as the seasonal jab. As for side effects, despite being told there were going to be lots of them and they would be worse than the seasonal jab (even the nurse told me this) I just had a bit of a headache for a couple of days, felt a bit more tired than usual but nothing severe and had a mild case of the sniffles. All over and done with by Wednesday and today I wouldn't even know I'd had it. I too debated whether to get this jab because it seems unfamiliar but I just thought to myself it's just another flu jab, if they'd sorted it out in time it would have been in the seasonal one and we'd be none the wiser so decided to go. I'm very glad I did because the whole swine flu epidemic has had me a bit worried as an asthmatic. I feel relieved to have had it. It's really no big deal, I suspect some people have dramatised the jab because the people they are talking to won't know if they're telling the truth or not, I found it less painful and with fewer side effects than the seasonal one.

Go get it done and let us know how you get on!

[Blaadyblah]

Been jabbed this morning- twice, oink to the left, seasonal to the right. Hardly felt either!

No ill effects thus far, will let you know if any come along.

[loosebones]

no after effects from mine, just a very sore arm!
going to get it done was like going to a cattle market! lots of people, constantly moving and much complaining about the system...

[curlysue]

I had the swine flu jab last night - yay! (Managed to overcome the anxiety with the help of an appt with a really good counsellor earlier in the day.)

My arm was *very* sore last night (worse than when I had the seasonal jab) but so far today I'm not feeling rough or anything. Perhaps it'll kick in later, I'll let you know anyway.

Thanks for the reassurance! I am glad I managed to have it.

CSx

[Eloise]

Glad to see you are all going for it. Well done curlysue

From all the people I have chatted to - it does seem to cause more arm pain than the seasonal flu, but not have anyone with any other side-effects yet.

I am off for mine next thursday - mainly as I have contact with alot of babies and children and I don't want to risk passing it onto them.

[Blaadyblah]

Definitely a bit more sore than the other arm, but that was it. Unfortunately it doesn't guard against the common cold, which struck me down this week and has me covered in coldsores now.

[cll]

Hi

My flu jab always causes a sore arm, the swine flu jab caused no pain and no side effects and my arm didn't ache

Claire

[paw]

Most US states are getting ready to offer the H1N1 vaccination to anyone who wants it. The high risk people have had a chance to get vaccinated now, so anyone who does not like flu can decide to get vaccinated.

I am glad my family all got it.

[leashy11]

Well done Curlysue! I found my swine flu jab actually gave me less of a sore arm than the usual seasonal one, I felt a bit tired and woozy for a couple of days and that was all.

[lil_miffy]

I got my flu jab at tesco. it cost £8 and i got aload of extra clubcard points.

Its the best £8 iv spent as i havent had a single sniffle since (i got it in november) and usually im constantly full of cold and get flu on top of that at least once a month in the winter. ITs made a massive difference and im so glad i got it. I felt really naff for a week afterwards and spent a couple of days in bed but it was worth it.

I think it sucks that we can't get the flu jab free. I think its the same for the swine flu jab. I can't imagine how i would cope if i got flu, let alone swine flu, now the hms is so bad. My dad gets the jabs free becuase he has astma (even though he never needs his inhalors or has any problems with it and is fighting fit) but me and mum have to pay for ours and we spend half our life in bed and needing care because of hms (and fibro for my mum).

I think it would be good if people with chronic fatigue and chronic pain conditions could apply for say a card that says they are eligible for free jabs and other things that people with other conditions get. Maybe a specialist could sign it then whenever you need a flu jab or something that is restricted to the usual conditions like astma, diabetes etc, we could show the card and be eligible.