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Sore arm after flu jab

(142 Posts)
Doodledog Fri 09-Oct-20 23:08:31

I had a flu jab yesterday, and my arm is really painful. I couldn’t sleep last night, as every time I so much as touched it with the duvet it hurt. Today it is achey and tender, and I get occasional stabbing pains in the injection site.

Is this normal? The nurse did say that it might be a bit sore for a couple of hours, but this is more like 36 hours later and it is painful, rather than sore.

Pixieboots Mon 12-Oct-20 22:43:24

Hi, does anyone know if you can have the flu jab if you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto ?

EllanVannin Mon 12-Oct-20 22:45:41

Yes, Pixieboots, you can still have the flu jab---more so I suspect.

Pixieboots Mon 12-Oct-20 22:50:19

Thank you EllanVannin. Had this discission with a friend as it was her reason for not having the flu jab. Ive not had one before but have it booked for next week. Fingers crossed that I'll have minimal side effects.

EllanVannin Mon 12-Oct-20 22:52:48

Hashimoto affects the immune system so you need protecting.

Pixieboots Mon 12-Oct-20 23:07:44

I thought it was basically underactive thyroid ?

GogoTJ Mon 12-Oct-20 23:18:45

Until recently one of my main jobs at a GP surgery was giving flu jabs. Occasionally it can cause a painful reaction but nothing to worry about and should go after a day or 2.
If you get a painful, red arm paracetamol will help.
If the site is red and painful, make a note of the size of the redness. If it spreads and becomes more painful and hot over the following few days/week then ring the surgery. It is very unusual to get an infection like cellulitis from a jab.

Daisymae Tue 13-Oct-20 07:50:58

I took some ibuprofen as it helps to reduce inflammation. Really helped. Give the surgery a call if it's still a problem

Oopsadaisy4 Tue 13-Oct-20 08:33:18

Hashimoto disease does affect the Thyroid, but it’s an autoimmune disease.

Lovetopaint037 Tue 13-Oct-20 10:51:51

Never had a sore arm or any reaction from it. Remember reading a leaflet in the surgery that said any apparent ill effects were not related to the flu jab. My daughter denies this and said she was unwell for quite awhile. I always wonder if it was the actual flu vaccination.

Tweedle24 Tue 13-Oct-20 11:03:54

icanhandthemback

My daughter had such a problem with the site where she had a flu jab, for so long and with such pain, she never had another. They thought they might have hit a nerve.
This year mine is still feeling slightly bruised (I had mine on the 26th of last month) but it is significantly better than the early days. Quite honestly though, it is so much better than flu!

icanhandthemback You are quite right, unless you have one of the extremely rare bad reactions, it is better than the flu.

I think that people underestimate flu thinking it is just a heavy cold. It isn’t. It is a potential killer.

glammagran Tue 13-Oct-20 19:05:27

Upthread I said I had my first one on Thursday afternoon. Had a very sore the next day and felt spaced out but back to normal by Saturday.

On Sunday I got a painful, red raised lump under the same arm which felt like a lymph node. Started thinking the worst. Then I looked it up and read it can be a rarer side effect from the flu vaccine. Feels a little better today. Has anyone else experienced this?

Stephenmarra Tue 13-Oct-20 20:37:34

Just had my Flu jab today and touch wood no soreness at all, let's hope it stays that way. hmm
After reading this thread I was a bit worried this year but so far all's good.

Patsy70 Fri 16-Oct-20 16:20:36

Feeling quite poorly after yesterday's flu and pneumonia jabs, both in the left arm, which I suggested as I didn't want two sore arms. Am feeling very achy and tired, with a humdinger of a headache. I went to bed at 7pm last night and didn't get up until 2pm. This is unheard of for me. I guess it is just a mild attack of flu.

Marydoll Fri 16-Oct-20 16:31:14

Patsy, The flu jab cannot give you the flu – the flu jab is an inactivated vaccine, which means it does not contain any of the live flu virus. This means that it is impossible to catch the flu from the flu jab. However, you can get mild flu-like symptoms as a side effect of the flu jab that will pass after a few days.

I did find that taking paracetamol helped, if you can take it.
Hope you feel better, sooner than later.

Patsy70 Fri 16-Oct-20 16:39:15

Yes, I realise it isn't flu, Marydoll, but it certainly feels like a mild dose. I'm sure I'll be fine soon. I'm taking Ibuprofen for the aches. Thank you.

b1zzle Tue 20-Oct-20 21:29:29

Had my first flu jab ever today - and all was well apart from almost eight hours afterwards when I was suddenly overwhelmed by tiredness. Couldn't fight it. Gave in to it and an hour later was back to normal.