Flu shot issue

Nurses COVID

Published

I get a flu shot every year without any problem, and took a flu shot at work this week. This flu shot hurt a lot. It burned going in, and literally made my eyes tear up. Usually it doesn't hurt at all. I work nights, and went home and to bed right after. When I woke up the area was very swollen, red, hot to touch, and very sore. I took two Tylenol and went to work thinking the new H1N1 made it hurt worse, and it would get better.

By the next morning I felt feverish, my throat was so sore I could barely swallow my own secretions, and I was having periods of dizziness. I would be sitting there charting and suddenly feel as if the room had spun sideways. I made it through the night, and went home to bed. I woke up and my throat was better, but I had nausea, a headache, and was achy all over. I was off for the night so I went back to bed, and had a really rough night. I would be cold, but wake up wet with sweat so I think I was sweating off a fever.

When I got up I had hives all over me 16 total (back, buttocks, and sides). Since I have been up I have two more appear. I am still have a headache, feel achy, and feel feverish even though it shows my temp is normal.

I called into work tonight, and plan on seeing the Dr in the morning.

This year my hospital REQUIRED us to get the flu vaccine, paid for it, and administered it. If this is indeed a reaction can they consider my call in an occurrence, or would it fall under the workers comp plan as a work related situation?

Specializes in Primary Care Nursing.
I hear there's a sale on tin foil at Walmart this week.....

Now recycling insults? How unimaginative.

Ha Ha Ha! conspiracy theories! Tin foil so they can't read our thoughts! Secret extermination campaigns! I love it! "Paranoia may destroy ya". Watch what you write here- they know where you live...

It's not really a conspiracy theory when its right in front of your face. This stuff is no joke and no laughing matter. The world isn't spiraling out of control for no reason. But maybe Bill Gates isn't a hypocrite. He's as truthful as anyone else. :/

Specializes in LTC, Medical, Rehab, Psych.

I wasn't recycling insults. I'm the tin foil hat gal. I was merely responding to the original insult that continues to get recycled (and intended for me).

I actually find it hillarious that some of these arguements are written off. That's how things seem to work these days. Too many people sleeping.

I'm actually not attacking anyone in particular and haven't yet. I don't need personal attacks to discredit my adversaries because they don't have any new arguments. It's the groupthink that I question. Believing the party line has become absolute DOGMA......and for people who have claimed to have studied SCIENCE. Why? Instead of the personal attacks, why not PROVE to me that vaccines are safe without using the vaccine manufacturers information to back yourself up. Can you even do that? If you've been paying attention to the previous posts, you'd know that the CDC, the FDA, the AMA and the APA don't count because there are too many conflicts of interest. So then, what independent studies? Show me. They don't exist. But hey, I dare you. Send me the links.

Specializes in Primary Care Nursing.
I wasn't recycling insults.

I was referring to the poster I quoted.

Adding some science to the discussion. . .

Study supports flu vaccine efficacy in young children

Lisa Schnirring * Staff Writer

Nov 24, 2010 (CIDRAP News) – Doubts about flu vaccine effectiveness in children younger than 2 years have kept some countries from recommending immunization for them, but Finnish researchers presented promising data yesterday that they say might prompt some to reconsider. . .

In a prospective, nonrandomized cohort trial, the Finnish researchers found that the vaccine was 66% effective in children younger than 3 years and wasn't accompanied by adverse events. Their findings appeared yesterday in an early online report from Lancet Infectious Diseases. The investigation was part of a larger trial on antiviral treatment in children.

CIDRAP >> Study supports flu vaccine efficacy in young children

see:

The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Early Online Publication, 23 November 2010

doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(10)70263-2 clear.gifCite or Link Using DOI

Influenza in young children: burden, immunisation, and policy

Mark C Steinhoff

Listen, the world is most definitely out of control. We are overpopulated which is at the root of it. The thing is you have to be rational about it. The mission of those who create vaccines is to help people. Not only that but the United States has nothing to gain as a country from any sinister plots against its own people. Perhaps the powers that be are hoping that we will buy into the vaccine program and when the big global pandemic hits, which it will, we will be the survivors. We who live in democratic nations can then go on to fix the messed-up world. Doesn't that make more sense?

Taxpayers, structure, continued operation of the machine, these things are needed for our government to stay strong. Do we need crazy extremists in third world countries? No, they are what is creating havoc. If they don't get the vaccine when the big one hits, well you can figure it out. I just don't understand this big plot that you are getting at, other than profit motive. But flu shots are $20, not really a big money-maker there.

Specializes in ER/Ortho.

Went back to the Dr yesterday. My rash is better. Still light visible in some places, but going away. The nerve pain is still there (similar to singles pain), but all over back, thighs, neck, scalp, and from chest up.

Doctor says that while this reaction is rare he has heard of it happening. He expect the rash to continue to get better, and completely go away. As far as the nerve pain he cannot be sure how long it will last. I am on Lyrica, and will continue to take it for a while. If the nerve pain persists much longer I will be referred to a neurologist.

A poster above stated that maybe it was an illness that I was coming down with prior to the shot. According to the Dr. what I had did not resemble an illness. The closest thing to what I had was shingles, but the rash was an allergic reaction rash, and not a shingles rash according to the Dr. Apparently, the vaccine or some component of it affected my nerves. It came out as a allergic reaction type rash through the nerves in dermatones similar to shingles, but affected the whole body instead of just never crossing mid-line like shingles. does.

I am concerned at this point that it has taken up residence in my nerve roots similar to the chicken pox virus. The Dr hasn't said this, but it would make sense since the nerve pain is lingering, and he doesn't know if or when it will ever go away. If this is true even if it does it does the whole scenario can repeat every time my immune system gets worn down or something reactivates it. The problem is not enough is known so we just have to wait and see.

Just a note my company workers comp picked this up, but then denied me because I didn't report it as a work injury with 24 hours of getting the injection. I tried to explain that I only had a swollen arm the first 24 hours (which is a common reaction) and I had no need to report. Still I was denied for late reporting.

. . .

Just a note my company workers comp picked this up, but then denied me because I didn't report it as a work injury with 24 hours of getting the injection. I tried to explain that I only had a swollen arm the first 24 hours (which is a common reaction) and I had no need to report. Still I was denied for late reporting.

Sorry to hear that that this has not cleared up and that there may be some longer term effects. Your comments about worker's comp denying your claim are concerning. You should have been given the benefit of the doubt and been covered. It is this kind of self-preserving behavior by insurance companies and other organizations that feeds the conspiracy theorists here. You should continue to press your claim.

And everyone else should consider coolpeach's situation when getting a flu shot.

While reactions are are rare, if you seem to have some kind of response, report it immediately. It may turn out to be be just a sore arm. But if it is something worse, you won't end up like coolpeach and be denied a claim for some kind of procedural issue.

Coolpeach remember that if your nerves are injured they take months to heal. Don't assume that this will take up residence and continue to be a problem for you, keep the faith that this was a response to something, a one-time event. Your immune system apparently does not tolerate something in the vaccine.

As for workers comp, if you are ineligible for workers comp you are now eligible to sue. Workers comp is partly to protect employees and partly to protect employers. If it picks up your bills you are pretty much accepting that as compensation. I don't know how far you could get with it since their are protections from lawsuits related to vaccines at least in my state. Many lawyers won't charge you to consult them about these type of lawsuits, you could call and ask. It might create animosity with your employer though. A lot to consider. I would at least find out the statute of limitations in case you continue to have problems. Did you report this in the VAERS system?

Specializes in CNA.
"The last time I checked tin-foil hats don't protect against pandemic viruses - but a vaccination might. "

Cute. I'm sorry but the pro-vaccintion folks haven't done their research. If more people actually paid attention to anything more than the party line, this country wouldn't be in half the mess it's in.

Yeah. There is no evidence behind the efficacy of vaccines at all. Measles, smallpox, hepatitis, polio...all just government conspiracies.

It's all fun to throw bombs on a message board, but if you want to work with patients in a facility, get your shots. You want to work out of your kitchen selling conspiracy theories and folk remedies, go ahead and do that.

"The last time I checked tin-foil hats don't protect against pandemic viruses - but a vaccination might. "

Cute. I'm sorry but the pro-vaccination folks haven't done their research. If more people actually paid attention to anything more than the party line, this country wouldn't be in half the mess it's in.

I guess I didn't understand. Thanks for enlightening me. So the mess that this country is in today - the oppressive national debt, threats of terrorism, high unemployment, housing foreclosures, bank defaults, massive oil spills, climate change and global warming, and teenagers who talk back - can all be traced back to the commies in the 1950s who helped Jonas Salk develop and deliver the polio vaccine to unsuspecting youths.

So if we just stopped vaccinations all of our problems would be solved; harmony and peace would again settle over the land of the free and home of the brave.

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