Shots knocked me back

[KerryT]

Wednesday at a reg. checkup my dr told me I needed shots updated - flu, pneumonia, and tetanus. I said okay, but feared side effects from the flu shot. She said there are no live cultures in their shots, so I won't get sick. Well I did. Thursday morning I woke with bad chills and fever, and every muscle in my body screaming. My whole upper arm was hot and swollen and hurt very much. Friday was just as bad, and my fever didn't break til Friday night. This morning I finally felt human again, my poor arm (injection site) is still red and swollen.

I called the doctor Thursday a.m. and they said some people react that way. Had I known I would have gotten this sick, I would have opted out of the flu shot.

Is this happening to any one else?

[AuntieLeela]

You want your immune system to react to the flu shot - it wouldn't work if it didn't.

Unfortunately some people have a stronger immune reaction to certain flu vaccines than others, the result is the flu-like symptoms you've been suffering from. I've gotten flu shots every year for the past ten years or so and I've had the "faux flu" twice. Not fun, including the punched-by-a-heavyweight shoulder bruise.

[Titchou]

It could have been from the tetanus shot. That's the reaction I have from them. Never have one from the flu shots and I have a ton of allergies - drug and otherwise.

[daisyanna]

I know several people who got their flu shots, then went on to get the flu anyway.

[noodles3]

Yes, this happened to me. I got the flu shot and was in bed the next day with chills, fever, body aches.

I declined to get it again after that experience. I don't know why my immune system reacted that way but perhaps it's not safe for me.