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?
I get the regular flu shot every year, and have for years. I have never had a problem, it never hurts more than an average shot, and no reactions. This is my very first H1N1. My parents tell me that I actually got a swine flu shot back in the 70's as a little girl, but I don't remember it.
This shot did hurt going in. It burned something horrible, and the burn just spread out in a circle so my whole upper arm was on fire. Then after it noticeably swollen, red, and hot when you touched it. It also felt as if someone slugged me in the arm, and I had a hard knot. The entire arm shoulder area hurt when I moved my arm.
My arm still hurts when you touch it and the knot is still there, but the swelling and heat are gone. Of course now I am covered in itchy welts, and feel physically bad LOL.
You need to report your reaction to the manufacturer of the vaccine you received (I sure hope you kept your consent copy with the manufacturer's name and lot# on it, although the department at the hospital that administered the vaccine should have the original of that...), CDC at their flu vaccine site, and ask your doctor if you need to take Benadryl (and the dosage he/she recommends) in future similar circumstances!
Although it seems that you worked throughout your reaction to the vaccine, that alone isn't an issue for workers' compensation unless the circulation in your arm is greatly affected with repercussions, or there is infection at the injection site and further issues arise from that.
Be very careful about submitting workers' compensation claims, as doing that can label you adversely, as someone who is "disloyal" to your employer, etc. When I worked as an employee health nurse the latter was the case, to the extent that anyone who filed a claim (and believe me that wasn't kept confidential by unit staff) found themselves out of a job within a year......
Specializes in Med/surg, ER/ED,rehab ,nursing home.
No reaction or pain at shot site. My husband and I got the AFLURIA at a local pharmacy. Neither of us got a flu shot last year due to other health issues. I know I got some type of swine flu shot in the 70's. I have never had a reaction to them. But your reaction shows an allergy to something in the mix. Hope you get better. I know if you have a reaction to the TB skin test, you are no longer required to have it done. Only if you have symptoms of TB do you get X-Rayed.
I get the flu shot every year, last year I got the pneumonia shot.
I usually have a small reaction to the flu shot: pain at site, a medium sized are of edema and erythema (maybe 4 inches in diameter) and some aches. Last year when I got the pneumonia shot, I had dreams of being stabbed in the arm for two nights, my arm hurt so bad.
This year's flu shot didn't hurt at all. I didn't have any pain post injection, and no soreness even later that day.
putting my manger hat on: i think you meant "manager"..... unless you're appearing in a nativity scene.....
a. notify dept that administered the vaccine; often employee health if hospital. you will want to get lot number of vaccine. any official consent form must include the manufacturer's name and the lot#. a copy of that must be given recipients of vaccines in situations such as the one reported.
b. immediately notify your manager in writing-- will need to complete work comp form. i would hold off on that, as filing a claim can adversely affect your employment.....(please see my post on page 5)
c. take picture of arm area.
d. pull out your orientation manual; look at facility intranet or in break room for information regarding going to work comp panel physician if you do not have employee health open on weekends ----weekend nursing supervisor should name or work comp. yes, they have to recommend that, but i've known backlash that follows filing for workers' comp, and i'd advise anyone to think it over very carefully first. if there is no reason to expect "compensation", it could be an "exercise in futility".
this needs to be addressed by tomorrow. the only reason for haste is in the employer's and their lawyers' minds. the worst that a delay could imply, is the possible question in court (if it comes to that), "why didn't you report that immediately?" then, no true answer is a wrong answer, believe me. lawyers use it as a tool to get a reaction from someone, that could present an opportunity for loss of control, which could then give rise to unguarded responses to other questions presented shortly afterward.
there is the "statute of limitations" in all states, whenever any adverse event occurs, which is usually at least a year within which action could be taken (unless it involves the damage a fetus might have, from something that happened during gestation, in which case the time is much longer). if someone's condition worsened greatly as a result of a delay getting medical attention, that could adversely affect the award required by the court.
in this case, other than the poster having an anaphylactic reaction that was life threatening (which didn't happen), i doubt that having quickly filed for workers' compensation would benefit her, other than being praised for being in line with protocol. in the long range, it might disserve her.
i've heard of this type of reaction when nerve hit on entering skin..
it is quite doubtful that any nerve of consequence could be "hit" when an injection into the deltoid region is administered (it's the gluteal region that has a large nerve, the sciatic running through it, which is why intramuscular injections there are administered into the "upper, outer quadrant"). that wouldn't present "hives", or fever or sore throat however.
further info.
please followup with us on outcome.
this is an opportunity to take a close look at values that have been established for a long time, and the results occasioned by following protocol too closely. the question being addressed seems to, as usual, involve fault. making a larger than necessary fuss about the more severe reaction to flu vaccine could be professionally damaging, especially when it seems no thers receiving the identical vaccine were as adversely affected.
my attitude toward this has been formed through 5 decades in health care provision, of learning not to "shoot myself in the foot". possibly i haven't learned that quite yet, as i'm contradicting karenrn who is due our respect for her position and her other very responsible posts.
Well first let me say that I didn't want compensation or to file workers comp. If we miss work it is considered an occurrence (bad mark), and we are only allowed so many. I have never had one and didn't want one. In this situation I was asking if it should be considered an occurrence if I missed due to a reaction from a flu shot that I was given by my supervisor, at my job, and I was told the flu shot was a required part of my job description. This being said when they marked an occurrence next to my name for missing the night...they are basically saying you have a black mark, and its my fault. I am just saying since the shot was required, given at work, by my supervisor if it should be considered an occurrence (my fault). I don't want money, or to file a claim, but if they are going to assign fault I don't think its mine.
it is important to make sure that your adverse reaction gets reported.
check out the vis you were given at time of vaccination:
• ask your healthcare provider to report the reaction by filing a vaccine adverse event reporting system (vaers) form. or you can file this report through the vaers website at vaccine adverse event reporting system, or by calling 1-800-822-7967. vaers does not provide medical advice.
That system for recording absences at the facility where coolpeach works, is absolute wrongheaded tyranny!
We all know that going to work while "sick" is inadvisable, especially if we have something that is contagious. They evidently never heard of a "mental health" day..... If I ruled the world, not taking sick leave when that's appropriate would earn a "black mark".
I hope you don't live in a small community where there are no other facilities in which you can work, coolpeach.
Just got back from the Dr, and he said it is a reaction to the flu shot. The hives have now almost gone, but I have pain similar to when I had shingles about 5 years ago along a Dermatome on the left side of my back.
He said there have been reports of people getting shingles after the flu shot, but not enough is known. He stated "This flu shot is knew, and we just don't know what can happen yet". Good to know.
So will I get full blow shingles? Will I get better today or will it get worse before it gets better? Don't know ....just have to watch and wait.
He did say that I can no longer get the H1N1 flu shot because I am apparently allergic to it.
Sorry to say, but it sounds like you're a guinea pig in the great unknown of flu vaccinations. I had a reaction similar to your reaction (minus the hives, but extend that flu-that's-not-the-flu for 2 months after receiving the vaccine). That was the one and ONLY time I have ever received the flu vaccine (back in 1995). I will never, ever get it again.
Doctors and nurses who say you can't get the flu from the flu vaccine -- B.S. What do else do you call high fever, aches, pains, chills, sweats, and feeling like you've been run over by a truck? Sure sounds like "flu" to me. Or a bad "reaction" to the flu vaccine.
I also HATE that the flu vaccines are not tested more thoroughly before being put out on the market. Yes, I understand why - we want to vaccinate for what we "think" will be this year's strains of the flu - but how can we really KNOW?!
Also - putting a live virus vaccination into your body certainly can cause "the flu". Why do we recommend that people with chronic illness, pregnancy, young children, etc (aka those that are immunocompromised) NOT get the live version of vaccines?
Call me paranoid, but I refuse to be a guinea pig for something that in all sense of the word will actually make me sicker than I normally would be each year.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Yes, I understand why - we want to vaccinate for what we "think" will be this year's strains of the flu - but how can we really KNOW?! .
We know (or make our best guess) by looking at what current influenza strains are happening on the other side of the globe. Historically, that's how influenza moves - from one side of the globe to the other. They don't just pull it out of their a**es. Likewise, in Asia, they are formulating their next season's influenza vaccines based on what is currently affecting US.
And the injected influenza vaccine is not live virus. Only the nasal mist is live, and contraindicated for immunocompromised individuals.
Be very careful about submitting workers' compensation claims, as doing that can label you adversely, as someone who is "disloyal" to your employer, etc. When I worked as an employee health nurse the latter was the case, to the extent that anyone who filed a claim (and believe me that wasn't kept confidential by unit staff) found themselves out of a job within a year......
Sorry to hear that happens at your hospital. I had a sever adverse reaction to the Tdap vaccine almost 3 years ago and I still have a job.
I too just recieved the flu/H1N1 shot I came home right off the bat and took tylenol but so far I have had sneezes my arm has been sore (as usual) but not as bad as I thought it would be
lamazeteacher
2,170 Posts
You need to report your reaction to the manufacturer of the vaccine you received (I sure hope you kept your consent copy with the manufacturer's name and lot# on it, although the department at the hospital that administered the vaccine should have the original of that...), CDC at their flu vaccine site, and ask your doctor if you need to take Benadryl (and the dosage he/she recommends) in future similar circumstances!
Although it seems that you worked throughout your reaction to the vaccine, that alone isn't an issue for workers' compensation unless the circulation in your arm is greatly affected with repercussions, or there is infection at the injection site and further issues arise from that.
Be very careful about submitting workers' compensation claims, as doing that can label you adversely, as someone who is "disloyal" to your employer, etc. When I worked as an employee health nurse the latter was the case, to the extent that anyone who filed a claim (and believe me that wasn't kept confidential by unit staff) found themselves out of a job within a year......