Submitted by via InYourArea ... on Mon, 22/02/2021 - 01:00.
22nd February
What is it like to get a Covid jab - and what side effects after?
Reporter Emma Ferguson (inset) receiving her vaccine on Saturday
Packet reporter Emma Ferguson shares her experience of what it is like to get a Covid jab – and what comes after.
Despite more than 17.5 million people now having had their first one, it's not something that's been written about in detail very much: exactly what it's like to get a Covid-19 vaccination, and then the part that comes later.
But on Thursday I got the call (or rather text) to say that due to an underlying health condition now falling within the extended shielding list, I had been moved into the 'at risk' category and was eligible for a jab.
In the hope it might help remove some of the fear around receiving the vaccine, or if anyone remains on the fence over whether to take it up, this is my experience from start to finish.
Saturday: Vaccination day
I arrived at Helston Medical Centre, my local vaccination site, feeling a strange mix of emotions.
A degree of apprehension over what was to follow – would I be one of the lucky ones who breezes through the whole process and subsequent days as if nothing has happened, or would I end up feeling the full spectrum of side-effects?
A strange feeling of almost guilt that I was now suddenly receiving a jab when so many were still waiting.
And running alongside this a sense that perhaps, finally, this really was the beginning of the end to one of the strangest, most difficult years of our lives. I'm not ashamed to admit that, to be greeted by the team of volunteer marshals still smiling and welcoming, despite giving up hours of their Saturday to sit in the cold and rain, made me choke up slightly.
The atmosphere both outside and then inside could not have been more calm and relaxed, however – quite clearly the staff from the medical centre and their fellow practices of Porthleven Surgery, Meneage Street Surgery, Mullion & Constantine Group, and St Keverne Health Centre, have got the clinics down to a fine art.
After some brief health questions the vaccine was administered in seconds and I was given advice over what to expect next. A sore arm is apparently common, along with some mild flu-like symptoms, such as aching and a headache.
With many people reporting waking in the night with a temperature, it was recommended taking a couple of paracetamol before bed in anticipation, and to drink plenty of fluids.
Before I knew it I was home again, with only a slightly throbbing arm to show for it, which eased off after an hour, and I finished my day at work as normal.
I wasn't prepared for was the wave of tiredness that hit me come mid-evening, however, so expect an early night!
Sunday: The day after
I experienced a slightly feverish night of fitful sleep, in which my arm was too sore to lie on, but it was by no means as bad as, say, a night with the flu.
One thing I found was that I kept waking with a dry mouth, very thirsty, so it's definitely worth taking some water to bed with you in case.
By morning my arm was still sore, stiff and heavy, but aside from a slightly aching head I just felt a little delicate.
You might want to plan a quiet day if possible, as I did find myself feeling a little grotty as time went on, in the same way as you might feel with a flu-like cold, but two more paracetamol sorted that out and by the evening the pain in my arm had started to ease off, so that I was just left with tiredness.
Waking on Monday, I was pretty much back to normal again.
It's worth stressing that everybody reacts differently. Many find themselves having no effects at all, and some just a sore arm.
What I'm 100% sure of though is that I'd take 24 hours of minor discomfort over a week on intubation – or worse – every single time.
Receiving this vaccine is not a hardship: it's an absolute privilege.
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I was just blown away at the calm organisational promptness professionalism and care we recieved and very thankful and appreciative.
As most people report, everyone's side effects are different and for the vast majority, they range from nothing, nada zero to moderate.
I've drawn the conclusion however, that whatever part of your body is your usual "achilles heel", in other words whatever is your weakest part of your body, therein will be the challenge.
But its a small price to pay for immunisation against one if the worst modern day viruses so far known to afflict and torment man and keep your chances of hospitalisation, or death, low.
So lets dive straight in.
My symptoms were wide and varied.
Begining on the first evening about 5hrs after the jab with cramping pains in my abdomen, loose stools slight nausea, loss of appetite, and genetally feeling a bit off.
This was accompanied with a fever in the night, rather mimicking the effects of a 24hr nasty stomach bug.
By the early hours of the mornng I felt absolutely drained weak and ill with moderate to severe aches and pains all over. Mainly (my achilles heel) lower back, neck shoulders loins arms and legs felt on fire, with increasing nausea, vertigo & on fire pains, followed by a fever which laid me low for two days. I took anadin extras, since paracetamol alone is less effective on me and tends to cause nausea.
I noted my osteo arthiritis pain increased, too, along with sore bladder weirdly showcasing the fact that we know covid has an inflammatory reaction in the body for most, all of varying degrees of intensity depending on our own unique body chemistry.
My arm was very sore and swollen where the needle had been. This has lasted, but the soreness is happily and gradually going even tho' is still slightly sore now its still a better alternative.
For at least 48hrs I was rendered housebound and unable to sleep much.
I couldnt focus my eyes and felt as if I had veen slammed against a wall.
By the third day I still felt as if someone was beating my lower back with a cricket bat and all along my neck shoulders legs and arms, which if I'm honest, is a normal thing for me everday anyway, as everyday upon waking I am stiff and sore as I suffer with osteo arthiritis & chronic fatigue, also bizarrely esp effects the loins/ lower back area whenever Im run down or feeling beliw par. (waterworks? Who knows!)
All I knew was a fiery cricket bat type ache in my bladder, dehydration? with pains and chills all over and I have to say is a large part of my everyday life's effect on me sometimes where I have been operated on. Not nice but have to get on with it.
So my advice is if it does happen to you, simply go with the flow (pardon the pun!) and drink gallons of water to flush put any toxins/and dilute the infection. If you dont feel like eating, thsts fine, its your body's way of expelling any nasties, so dont worry, just fluids, and it will pass.
By day three/four I started to feel a bit better. I had no fever the third night, but still felt groggy aches and chronic fatigue nausea decrease in appetite tender tummy and exhaustion was still there. But it didnt last much longer.
Cheerfully now, 8 days later I'm fully recovered just a tiny bit of residual soreness in my arm where the needle entered still. But even that's going down well.
And that was it. Done.
So you can see how everyone is affected differently. Please dont let my experience put you off though, as I said, the vast majority of healthy people with a good functionuing immune system are fine.
It's so much more important we concentrate on the reasons why we need to forearm ourselves, especially if like me, you usually suffer from many other underlying chronic illnesses, and so kind of expecting it scenarios.
Conclusion :
If you fit the vulnerable but not life threatening catagory, suffer enough pain or dehability in your daily life, ( be that as a carer for someone, and/or are only just over the age of 60) do ring your surgery as I did at the begining of the year to let them know you would be greatful if they could bear you in mind- once all the higher extremely ill and vulnerable cases had recieved or been offered the jab, would they consider you, and state whether you would be happy to come at short notice and/ or take the place of a last minute cancellation. And what's more without feeling guilty about it.
I see it as not being selfish at all, rather a duty protecting the most vulnerable. Not only yourself but your cared for loved ones as well, plus safeguarding the general public.
All in all a sensible action.
So, the sooner we are all done and accept this, the better.