Regretting getting flu vaccine -- anxiety increasing

[MmeMulot]

I got the regular-flu vaccine (not the H1N1) yesterday at work. I dithered around about it for weeks, trying to decide whether or not to get it. I'd never had one before and was afraid of a reaction. I finally decided to get it, and now I'm freaking out about it, worrying I'll have a bad reaction. I made the mistake today of reading an article about a woman who ended up practically paralyzed and with trouble speaking after getting the vaccine. Her problems started about 2 weeks afterward, which is how long the nurse who gave me the shot told me it takes to get into the system.

My arm is very sore, which I know is supposed to be a not uncommon reaction. I keep imagining (?) symptoms like my tongue tingling and feeling really fatigued. My HA is definitely rising. And I had been doing really well with it for ages!

Compounding things is that my pharmacy changed manufacturers for my generic Celexa, which I just got refilled less than a week ago, so I'm wondering if that could be causing some of the increase in anxiety the past few days.

[daisy232627]

I know when I switched from Paxil CR to the generic form I did have a little anxiety, which is probably playing a small part and it passed very quickly. If you think about it a million people get the flu shot every year, it is very uncommon to have a fatal reaction, if it was they would stop using it. If you were having a major reaction you would know....without question, it would not be subtle. Your fear is playing tricks on you and as hard as it is to do, once you accept what will be will be, all those other anxiety symptoms will chill out.  My sis did the same thing, she was worried about getting it and then did...she worried for a good week. That was back in August, now she is glad she did and plans to get it every year now. Try to relax...Hope you feel better soon!

[monkey]

i got a seasonal flu vaccine for the first time this year too!!!! i was a little worried but i realized sooo many people get the flu vaccine yearly and i more than likely would be way better off with it. congrats on getting it! after your arm stops hurting you wont even think about the vaccine.

[MissBoo]

I got my regular flu shot over two weeks ago and everything is just fine.  I get it every year and every year my arm is sore and slightly bruised for days afterwards.

[harv]

I've been reluctant to bring this point up, because a hypochondria forum probably isn't a good place to talk about rare health problems, but I think its worth mentioning because the getting influenza is far riskier than the vaccine.   

Most of the "complications" from flu shots are coincidences.  Tens to hundreds of millions of people get flu shots, and statistically some of those will have health problems shortly afterward.  Those cases get more attention and make it look like the vaccine caused it, but huge studies have been done that have shown that the probablity of those ailments are just as high in people who didn't get the flu shot.

[MmeMulot]

Thanks, guys! It's making me feel a bit better. 

[wowthisismetoaT]

My kids have had seasonal flu shots for the last 5 years and never had a rxn.  I did have a rxn to one and it happened within 24 hours of taking the vaccine.  It also resolved pretty quickly.  I won't take another one, but it is really just me being on the safe side since I did seem to have rxn.