Flu shot...OWW!

[momrek06]

It doesnt hurt me when the doctor gives it but man does my arm get so sore the next day.

Me too...the shot did not hurt a bit...had mine on Saturday BUT sheesh, the next few days I felt like someone punched me in the arm with all their might. OP, take a few advil.

 

[Gina]

I think I remember reading that the mist wasn't as effective as the shot.

Anyway, I got mine in the beginning of October. I've always been in the high risk category, but my oncologist made me get it this year.
The needle was fine for me, I barely felt it. I've gotten needles in places you'd have never thought of, so it was fine. The next two days were a different story. I was SOOO sore.

Actually, it has been shown to be more effective, especially in children. From the FDA:

"In clinical trials, FluMist was evaluated in 20,228 individuals, including over 10,000 children 5-17 years old. FluMist was effective in preventing influenza in approximately 87 percent of children in the trial.

In children under age five, two studies compared FluMist to placebo (no vaccine). Both studies demonstrated the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing influenza illness. A third study compared FluMist to an inactivated or "killed" seasonal influenza vaccine shot. The results showed that there were 53 cases of influenza disease among 3,900 children who received FluMist compared to 93 cases among the same number of children who received an inactivated or "killed" seasonal influenza vaccine shot.

In adults (ages 18-49 years), there were fewer upper respiratory illnesses with fever and fewer severe illnesses with fever in those who received FluMist versus those who received placebo."


And no, I don't work for FluMist or anything. I just puzzle at how many people line up for pain and possibly less effectiveness. I figured maybe people just didn't know about FluMist since it isn't advertised very much.

For me, it's a God-send. You'd have to convince me death was imminent before you'd even get a needle in the same room with me... no way I'd get a flu shot for the heck of it! I wish all vaccines were nasal like this one!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Our insurance doesn't pay for the flu mist yet. I would use it. Not the kiddos though because they have allergies and I wouldn't risk them.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Our insurance doesn't pay for the flu mist yet. I would use it. Not the kiddos though because they have allergies and I wouldn't risk them.

My insurance doesn't pay for the flu vaccine at all. Between the four of us, we will have paid $60 for the flu vaccine this year. Which will be worth every penny if we don't get the flu.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

I got mine for free yesterday at DH's job. They vaccinate all employees and spouses who want flu shots, no charge. DH and I both got them. Absolutely no pain then, and my arm isn't the least bit sore today, thank goodness. I was a little concerned since this is the first time I've gotten the shot, and after reading so many people say how much their arm hurt the days following the shot.

 

[N&B'smom]

I've been getting a flu shot for years and it never bothered me. Sure, the next day my arm would feel a little sore but nothing major. This year totally different story! It was SOOOO painful. The needle didn't hurt when it went through my skin but I felt the same burning you described. OUCH!!

The next several days my arm was SO sore all around the area. Then on day 4, I woke up and everything was back to normal. Weird.

Shelby

 

[TEENEE]

Same story here, didn't hurt when I got the shot but for several days after I was really sore. I usually have a fairly high tolerence for pain but wow that hurt. My dh didn't have any problems.

To answer the mist vs shot question. I get the shot because my company pays for it. My dh gets it because his company only charges their employess $12.50.

 

[aprilgail2]

I got mine for free yesterday at DH's job. They vaccinate all employees and spouses who want flu shots, no charge. DH and I both got them. :

I get mine at my job too- they give it free to all employees but not to any spouses.

 

[Carl]

This year I did not get sore, but last year I did.

 

[englishteacha]

Our school district pays to vaccinate any staff member who wants a flu shot. A different nurse did them this year. The nurse whose done them in the past is excellent at giving vaccines, and I'd get a shot from her any day. The new nurse wasn't bad, but I really felt it this year, both when I got the shot and for 3 days after. I also got a heck of a bruise this year, which has never happened before. If I don't get sick, though, it will be worth it!

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I get a shot every year at work for free. This year they had medical students giving them (they all looked like my grandkids!) but the girl I had made sure I relaxed my arm, and I didn't get a sore arm at all!

 

[WDWBarb]

I got my first one this year. The shot didn't hurt a bit and but I did feel a slight burn.

But then, the next morning, I WAS IN MISERABLE PAIN because I slept on the arm where I got the shot. OW OW OW OW.

Ached for about a week.

 

[DebbieB]

I got mine yesterday, it didn't hurt at all when I got it, didn't bleed (I wondered if she even did it!). But my arm was sore today.

 

[AnnR]

I have to give myself an injection every night. What I learned is that you have to let the alcohol from the wipe dry or you get stinging and even burning because the alcohol gets on the needle and is pushed in. So, if the nurse jabs you quick, it hurts.

The pain for days afterward is if you use the arm a lot after the shot. The day I got one and had to go to work in a daycare lifting 2 year olds, my arm was sore for days, as were the arms of the other workers in our room. someone told us it was because of the lifting, sure enough most of the other workers had no problems. The key is to use the arm slightly so it stays loose but not lift a lot. Also as a PP said, sleeping on the arm that night will make it sore (I did that this year).

But again a little pain for a couple of days is much better then later!

 

[vanillamickey]

I didn't get a flu shot, but I got a tetnus shot. I didn't feel it go in, nor did I feel the fluid, but it was sore a couple minutes afterwords.

I got my flu stuff up my nose.

 

[wvdisluv2]

Don't give up on flu shots op I've only been getting them for the last 4 yrs (our company gives them at work for $10) I think it's all about the "injector" I've never had ANY pain recieving the actual shot, but have occasionally had slight pain in that arm later in the day. Still better than getting the flu! *Knocks on wood* I haven't taken sick time in 13 months!

 

[Feralpeg]

I barely felt mine. My arm hurt slightly for about a day.

 

[Metro West]

I had my flu shot last Friday and it didn't hurt after 15 minutes.

 

[Piecey]

Unlike the flu shot, the nasal spray flu vaccine does contain live viruses.

LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Who should not be vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®)?

People less than 2 years of age

People 50 years of age and over

People with a medical condition that places them at high risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease; people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or people with illnesses that weaken the immune system, or who take medications that can weaken the immune system.

Children <5 years old with a history of recurrent wheezing

Children or adolescents receiving aspirin

People with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder of the nervous system

Pregnant women

People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components.

Aha. I thought there was a reason I wasn't allowed to do that!

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

My husband got his flu shot today and the nurse told him that after getting the shot that people this year are calling back to the office worried about how sore their arm is. Her point was that even if his arm is really sore that it is normal for this year's shot. I think she wanted to save him a phone call.