weird flu shot side effect?

[disney world dreamer]

so i generally get a flu shot each year around this time and this has never happened before and i don't know if it has happened to anyone else or if i just have some weird side effect.

i got the flu shot on tuesday.
it only hurt like a very tiny pinch which i find weird cuz it usually hurts quite a bit.
wednesday i work up with a whole thumb size red splotch which is raised and warm to the touch.
its not even at the injection site.
i can see a tiny puncture wound where the shot was given and then about 1.5 inches below that is where this splotch is.
its thursday night/frieday morning now and its still there.
its not as dark as yesterday and its not as raised but it seems to have spread out a little bit and its still warm and only a little sore now.

anybody have a clue was to what it is?

 

[asta]

There are two types of flu shots. The older type uses a bigger needle. About two years ago they began offering one with a smaller needle. It hurts less but can cause skin irritation. The nurse who gave me mine said that this is the first year that insurance companies have covered the newer type of injection. It sounds like you had the newer one.

I was given the option of which type and I picked the newer one. The nurse warned me about the skin reaction and I have an itchy raised spot on my arm. I can't tell if it is exactly at the injection site. I hope it goes away soon.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I never thought the flu shot needles were big at all. Glad to hear they are even smaller now!!

disney world dreamer--it's not unusual to have your swelling near your incision site and not at the site. It's a reaction to the serum. Rub the spot that is swollen several times a day to get that moving around and the swelling will go down faster. You can put some ice on the spot if it is really uncomfortable.

 

[kcool]

My family got the flu shot on Wednesday evening. There are 4 of us. My 9 year old has a large, red, raised,warm area where his was given. His is about 3x3. I had a similar reaction, but much smaller in size. We the shot every year,but this is the first time any of us has had an issue. Other son and husband,no issue. The son that had the reaction and I are both fair and are usually very sensitive. I am just going to watch his. The pharmacist seemed to act like they were getting more calls this year from reactions.

 

[dawnhaze]

I got a big red splotch from mine this year too, but I have eczema and my skin reacts weirdly to tons of stuff, so I attributed it to that.

Edit: I got a splotch last year but that was with the smaller intra-dermal needle. I requested a standard needle this year.

 

[jen73]

Wow! I have the exact same reaction. I got the flu shot on Tuesday and have been complaining since then that I would not get it ever again. Same red swollen hot patch y'all are describing. My whole upper arm is sore too, ugh

 

[Laura66]

Wow! I have the exact same reaction. I got the flu shot on Tuesday and have been complaining since then that I would not get it ever again. Same red swollen hot patch y'all are describing. My whole upper arm is sore too, ugh

That happens with most shots I get.

 

[asta]

The nurse or whoever is giving the shot should be warning about the possible irritation. I was given the choice. The nurse told me the smaller needle came with a risk of more of a reaction near the injection. She specifically asked if I had sensitive skin because that made a reaction more possible.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I never thought the flu shot needles were big at all. Glad to hear they are even smaller now!!

disney world dreamer--it's not unusual to have your swelling near your incision site and not at the site. It's a reaction to the serum. Rub the spot that is swollen several times a day to get that moving around and the swelling will go down faster. You can put some ice on the spot if it is really uncomfortable.

DD gives lots of flu shots at her pharmacy. The down side of the short needle is that sometimes it doesn't penetrate far enough to work.

 

[tvguy]

There are two types of flu shots. The older type uses a bigger needle. About two years ago they began offering one with a smaller needle. It hurts less but can cause skin irritation. The nurse who gave me mine said that this is the first year that insurance companies have covered the newer type of injection. It sounds like you had the newer one.

I was given the option of which type and I picked the newer one. The nurse warned me about the skin reaction and I have an itchy raised spot on my arm. I can't tell if it is exactly at the injection site. I hope it goes away soon.

Interesting on the needle size. This year was different for me too. I didn't even feel the needle, usually it hurts. But the injection site was sore shortly afterwards, the next day, and finally is easing 2 days later. Never had soreness before. No blotches though.
This was the 10 th year in a row I got a flu shot, and the first time this happened.

 

[bdcp]

so i generally get a flu shot each year around this time and this has never happened before and i don't know if it has happened to anyone else or if i just have some weird side effect.

i got the flu shot on tuesday.
it only hurt like a very tiny pinch which i find weird cuz it usually hurts quite a bit.
wednesday i work up with a whole thumb size red splotch which is raised and warm to the touch.
its not even at the injection site.
i can see a tiny puncture wound where the shot was given and then about 1.5 inches below that is where this splotch is.
its thursday night/frieday morning now and its still there.
its not as dark as yesterday and its not as raised but it seems to have spread out a little bit and its still warm and only a little sore now.

anybody have a clue was to what it is?

Flu shots never hurt me and I find the needle to be very small. I got my shot at work yesterday and I only felt a pinch and other than my arm being slightly sore for about 24 hours, no other reaction this time.

That said, probably 7 years ago I had a red raised hot round splotch around my flu shot. It went away after a day or two. I figured it was just a reaction. Never happened before or since and I've been getting the flu vaccine for the last 18 years. As long as it's not worse, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[amg35]

This is the first year that I've gotten a bruise! It's dark, dark purple. First day there was a lump with the bruise, whole arm sore. Now 4 days later, lump is gone, bruise still dark but smaller and only tender if pressed.

I think my nurse stabbed me!

 

[bdcp]

This is the first year that I've gotten a bruise! It's dark, dark purple. First day there was a lump with the bruise, whole arm sore. Now 4 days later, lump is gone, bruise still dark but smaller and only tender if pressed.

I think my nurse stabbed me!

A bruise usually forms when the needle is moved while doing the injection. It should go straight in and come straight out. Any movement of the needle under the skin can cause small capillaries to bleed.

 

[Angelrose]

I got my flu shot at Target. He told me to relax my arm because if the muscle is relaxed, it will hurt less . He mentioned the reactions and that my arm might be sore for a couple of days.

I didn't have a reaction, but my arm was sore for 24 hours. I thought it was so nice of him to tell me about relaxing my arm muscle. I had never been told that before.

 

[North of Mouse]

I got my flu shot at Target. He told me to relax my arm because if the muscle is relaxed, it will hurt less . He mentioned the reactions and that my arm might be sore for a couple of days.

I didn't have a reaction, but my arm was sore for 24 hours. I thought it was so nice of him to tell me about relaxing my arm muscle. I had never been told that before.

That's what I was told last year and it was 'so' true! I don't like shots LOL, so I have always been tense and it hurt like crazy - so glad someone 'finally' told me relaxing would make it much easier! My arm didn't hurt at all!

 

[tcufrog]

Have y'all gotten the trivalent or quadrivalent shots? Last year I got the quadrivalent for the first time and felt really sick afterwards. That had never happened to me before. My kids got the quadrivalent nasal spray I think but they didn't have any side effects.