The effects of the Pfizer vaccine - nine days later.

[kentuck]

In some ways, we are like the frogs in the pot. We are subjects in a vaccine experiment. The health experts issued the vaccine under "emergency use".

Of course, this is only my own personal experience and opinion. Everybody is different. Sometimes it may be more difficult to understand our bodies over a lengthened period of time.

However, nine days ago, my wife and I took our first vaccine. It was the one-year anniversary of the W.H.O. declaring it a world pandemic.

The effects I have personally noted after nine days:

I have mostly lost my smell and taste buds. Food and drink taste more flat. (Does anyone have an idea whether that is short-term or permanent?)

However, I do seem to be sleeping a little more soundly. My breathing seems to have improved over the last few days. My lungs seem somewhat more strengthened. (I have asthma)

The vaccine seems to affect the nose, the sinus area, and the lungs, in my personal experience.

Has anyone else experienced any effects from their vaccine?

[HUAJIAO]

1. I would contact your doc about the loss of smell and taste....

as you probably know these are very common effects of COVID-19.


Just to be sure....

[LisaL]

2. Are you sure those are effects of the vaccine?

Actual covid infection can lead to loss of taste and smell. I have not heard of a vaccine doing that.

[brewens]

5. Yup. It would be pretty unlucky to have contracted COVID right after being vaccinated, but not

any more so than it's been all along.

[LisaL]

7. It happened to one of my relatives.

Last edited Sat Mar 20, 2021, 10:21 AM - Edit history (1)

Covid was likely contracted a couple of days before vaccination. Relative got vaccinated, then several days later was positive for covid.

[greatauntoftriplets]

40. It happened to my niece, about two weeks after her first shot.

She's an NP and so is the first person I know who got vaccinated. Two weeks later, she had COVID, then passed it on to her three daughters. So she could have been infected when she had that shot.

[kentuck]

15. I have lost my sense of taste and smell before...

I took a regime of prednisome a few days ago and had regained a strong sense of taste and smell, as some might testify to their appetites when they take that stuff.

So that may be why I even noticed it?

Also, it does seem to create a little more disorientation and forgetfulness, in my personal experience. (Not that they were that great before the vaccine)

Also, I have experienced a couple of short and not very painful headaches since the vaccine. But they have not been much of a concern. I forget them soon thereafter.

[Claire Oh Nette]

23. Um, not so much the vaccine...

I had covid, and i've had the first Pfizer vax.

Outside of the achy shoulder from the bolus injection, and about 15 hours of bleh, I'm fine several days out.

If you've got all these symptoms now, 9 days out, especially loss of taste and smell, get thee to a doctor.

First symptoms were profuse sweats, like hot flashes on steroids, then the headaches, then loss of taste and smell. That came back after a couple of weeks.

Vaccines related symptoms would be gone after 24-48 hours.

See a doctor, treat the symptoms, soak in the sunshine.
Get better!

[bottomofthehill]

56. I am in that odd catagory

Got the first shot of the vaccine on Jan 4, was exposed to Covid on Jan 6, tested positive on Jan 15 had symptoms starting in 1/17, the symptoms lasted a week. Fever, chills, head and body aches, exhaustion, still sleeping a lot more than my usual pattern.

[In_The_Wind]

3. Call your doctor!

[kentuck]

19. But I feel better after the vaccine?

Why should I call the doctor?

[In_The_Wind]

41. Do you have a cold that could be affecting your breathing and lack of taste?

It's always a good thing to check in with your doctor about unexplained changes in your health.

I would like to continue reading your post.

[kentuck]

46. I have had that problem before...

....as explained in a post up the page. Long time sinus and asthma problems.

[In_The_Wind]

50. sorry, ignore my bad advice above

carry on

[Irish_Dem]

4. 2nd dose of Moderna one week ago:

I still feel dizzy and brain foggy.
Food and drink tastes off. Tastes "flat" is a good description.

I am sleeping more soundly because I no longer have the covid anxiety dreams I was having before I received the shots.

[kentuck]

16. Thanks for your input, Irish_Dem

[Irish_Dem]

22. YW! In terms of taste, it is weird:

Before I realized what had happened in terms of loss of taste, the first thing I noticed was
how textured food felt. When I ate something it just felt rough and very textured. Then I realized I was not tasting the food, just feeling the texture of it. Does that make sense?

[kentuck]

31. I haven't experienced that...

....yet.

[Irish_Dem]

35. Perhaps it is just me.

I am a person who has always been sensitive to how food feels in my mouth.

[Goodheart]

6. I've been getting stronger erections.

[kentuck]

25. That's just the sap coming up in the trees..

[phylny]

8. My husband and I have no side effects 11 days after our second dose.

After the first, we had sore arms and napped in the afternoon. After the second, I had a sore arm and very mild fatigue. He had a sore arm, no fatigue. No trouble with taste or smell.

[ratchiweenie]

49. Those are the very same reactions my hubby and I had.

[catbyte]

9. I felt really "out of it" brain foggy for about 4 days after my first dose on 2/23

then I snapped out of it and felt fine.

I had my second dose on 3/16. I felt stoned the next day, and I'm still tired today, but the brain fog is much better than yesterday. My arm never was sore and I have no other symptoms. I'm sorry you're having such a big reaction. Have you reported your symptoms to the CDC? They have an app that monitors your symptoms and collects the data for research purposes. They check in with you daily for a week, then weekly afterward via text. Here's the link if you're interested:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html

Edited to add: I had the Pfizer vaccine.

[kentuck]

17. Thanks for the info, catbyte!

[msfiddlestix]

10. Not me. Moderna, fully vaccinated. Second one almost two weeks ago

I've experienced none of these symptoms. Although, the past few days I've seem to develop a sort of dry cough. It feels like my allergy cough I get from time to time. But it is sort of weird. I don't think it is related.


The only side effect I can actually connect was an intense fatigue set in a few hours after the second shot. I took a nap, woke up an hour latter and was sort of wired. Stayed up late, had a good night sleep, woke up normal. That was it, other than this weird dry cough which isn't happening at the moment.

[OneGrassRoot]

11. Isn't there a CDC nurse call line after getting the vaccination?

I recall some people saying their provider gave them the information and signed up to be followed up on after the vaccine, but not everyone is being provided with this information. I tried to Google but no luck.

Anyone have that info?

[2naSalit]

12. I received my first...

Moderna shot yesterday. I was given an info packet with a list of side effects and what to do about them. They say that loss of tastes and smell can occur short-term but if they don't go away after a day or two, you should contact your doctor.

So far, roughly 19hrs in, I had a really sore arm where the shot was and made it hard to sleep. I was a little tense too but that could be residual from the reflexive cringing about being pierced by a needle. This morning I felt like crap until I had my coffee, now I feel pretty good and my arm doesn't hurt much at all. I hope that's the extent of it, I don;t like to feel crappy.

If those symptoms have lasted longer than 48 -50 hours, I'd get in touch with someone who can answer your questions. Did you get any printed info when you got your shot? If so, there should be contact info there.

[USALiberal]

13. Call your doctor, not random strangers. nt

[kentuck]

20. The odd thing is?

I feel better physically after taking the vaccine.

[Blue_playwright]

14. I felt lightheaded within minutes...

And rough the first two days. I feel like I have a touch of brain fog - but that could be pandemic brain fog and I’ve just been alert since the vaccine and noticed.

[Jirel]

18. Nope.

Are you sure you didn’t get a mild case of COVID prior to the vaccine? The loss of smell and taste are not associated with the vaccine. They ARE associated with COVID, of course. Nor does the vaccine affect breathing that way. It doesn’t clear anything up. But getting over COVID or another respiratory illness would do that. Or just plain psychological relief at having had the vaccine finally, would improve sleep (though not breathing, of course).

Everyone I know who has had at least the first dose reports NOTHING like that. We all had 1 day of a sore arm. A couple had a day of malaise and very mild fever. One had a hefty headache with that. No changes in breathing or sleep, certainly no loss of taste or smell.

[Elessar Zappa]

27. I had five days of high fever

after both vaccines, along with sleeping much more. It was definitely from the vaccine.

[kentuck]

29. I felt I had something like the COVID a year ago...

I was pretty much down for a couple of weeks afterward.

I had experienced fever and some hallucinations, like the same dream on a loop for several nights in a row. (I had written about it here on DU at the time)

I had been to the doctor a couple of times afterwards, but there was no temper or symptoms of COVID?

It is possible that there are long-term affects from COVID. I have read about people that are experiencing those at present. Nobody truly or fully understands this virus. Not even the experts.

I can only report my experiences and what I am feeling after I took the vaccine.

[ProfessorGAC]

21. My Wife Got Pfizer #1 On Monday

No symptoms at all.
Same with me, but i got Moderna.

[Walleye]

24. Had my second Pfizer shot two weeks ago.

I have been noticing some sinus symptoms lately. Was pretty tired for a few days after. Now I’m just trying to figure out how to get back to real life.

[Siwsan]

26. 2 days out from my 2nd Pfizer jab. If I've had side/after effects they were too mild to notice

I was a little tired after the 1st, but hadn't slept well the night before. I kept waiting for the either fatigue, headache or body aches I was told might happen after the 2nd jab, but nada.

I have noticed that my anxiety levels are slightly lower, so I guess that would be a psychological side effect.

So, this vaccination experience pretty much falls in line with all the others I've had, save for my first small pox when I was an infant. My mom said I had a rough go, after that, but when I was re-vaccinated in the Navy, I didn't even develop a welt.

[ananda]

28. I hear you about mood.

After I had my first Moderna shot Thursday,
my mood was SO much better.

My arm hurt so I took some acetominophen
last night and it's much better today.

My second shot is next month.

I'm not as afraid to go out places now. I go
grocery shopping in the stores now, and that
makes me feel better because I have more
food choices.

I have my semiannual visit to the doctor
scheduled Monday to get my thyroid checked.

And I can meet with my financial adviser about
some complicated matters that need addressing.

Life is so much better now.

[Siwsan]

32. I might even start heading to the grocers, if I need something and it ISN'T vulnerable shopper time.

Of course, if we start making progress on containing the virus, that little 'perk' might start disappearing.

[LisaL]

37. It takes a while to build up immunity.

Full immunity doesn't start until 2 weeks after the second dose. If you had first dose on Thursday, you have not build up immunity yet.

[ananda]

48. I still mask and distance.

I just feel a bit freer.

[apcalc]

30. Nineteen days after Pfizer #2- nothing to report.

[kentuck]

33. Thanks for that info.

Very helpful.

[mcar]

34. I had the Pfizer vaccine

Had fatigue and mild flu-like symptoms for a few days, but I've been fine ever since.

You are the first I've heard having those kind of symptoms. I'd contact my healthcare provider.

[kentuck]

36. Everything is relative.

I was debating whether or not I need the second shot?

[liberal_mama]

52. From what I heard from a scientist family member, the first shot of Pflizer is quite effective

I think the reason for the second shot is that it gives you longer lasting immunity. I've also had my first shot of Pfizer. I'm on day 13 and getting the second dose on March 28. I didn't have any noticeable side effects from the first dose, but I have diabetes, RA, lupus, and psoriasis so I always feel kind of crappy.

[Shrek]

38. It's three days since my first Pfizer dose

I had a mild headache the first evening, and it disappeared by morning.

My arm is still sore, but otherwise no noticeable effects.

[Ferrets are Cool]

39. We have had no bad effects from either Pfizer shot.

So sorry you are.

[LiberalLoner]

42. I got the one and done Janssen vaccine two days ago. Reporting my symptoms here

Because it seems like a good thread for people wanting to know of experiences others have had with the vaccines.

When I got the injection, it felt a bit achey going in, which surprised me as I don’t usually feel any thing with injections. Not bad pain or anything, just a slightly noticeable bit of aching that disappeared after the first minute.

No other arm pain or swelling or anything like that happened to me.

About six hours after the dose, felt some chills and a couple of small headache pains. Both went away pretty quickly. Felt a bit tired in the evening, went to bed a bit early, slept well with no problems during the night.

Next day, felt slightly fatigued and low energy. Hard to say if it was the vaccine or just normal variations in energy levels I get due to multiple sclerosis. About 24-26 hours after the vaccine, noticed my sinuses were burning a bit and my nose started running. Kind of like when you are coming down with a cold, you know? That lasted an hour or two and went away, and then that was it for my reactions to the vaccine. So far. It’s been two days so I figure I’m in the clear.

Not very bad reaction to the vaccine, when I used to get the yellow fever vaccine when I was in the Army, I had a much bigger reaction to that vaccine, than this one. So as far as vaccine reactions go, I would say I had a very very mild experience.

[Baitball Blogger]

43. Four days out from my first Pfizer shot.

My sinuses and breathing have improved. But no problems with taste.]

Hope you get better soon.

[lark]

44. Me.

I had Covid back in Dec. and when I got my first vaccination, I had some of the same symptoms - lack of oxygen, dizziness, tired, racing heart and aching. It lasted 2 days then went away. Started about the day after the shot.

Just got my 2nd vaccination yesterday. Arm is really really sore, couldn't sleep because I kept rolling over on it and the hurt would wake me up, feel dizzy and weak again but oxygen and pulse rate are normal this time so that's a relief. Arm is feeling much better now than I'm up, it's just the dizziness and lack of strength now.

I got the Moderna shot and am totally ok with my side effects as long as my oxygen doesn't get too bad. If a booster becomes necessary for the variants, I'll get that too.

[frogmarch]

45. I had my 2nd Pfizer 2 weeks ago

No side effects at all. I feel fine.

[piddyprints]

47. I got my first Pfizer yesterday.

I'm about 24 hours out. I got a little dizzy when I parked my car in the waiting area. It felt about the same as when they first put the knock-you-out drops in the IV before surgery. You feel sort of strange right before going under. It almost felt as if I could feel the vaccine travel through my body in that moment.

That didn't last long and I'm not 100% sure it was a result of the shot. The man asking the questions had on about a year's worth of cologne and I almost gagged before the injection. Normally, that kind of thing causes a reaction for me, so there's no reason it wouldn't this time. And I had a lot of anxiety about the possibility of serious side effects, which comes with its own symptoms.

I felt better after I got home and had lunch. Sometime in the late afternoon, I noticed my arm was a little sore. Not muscle soreness, and it didn't affect my strength at all. Just sort of bruised, as if I'd run into a door or been punched. There is no mark or rash of any kind on my arm and I can't even see where the injection was.

I didn't sleep well last night, but that's not unusual for me. Arm is still a little sore this morning. The fatigue and mild headache I have today are not out of the ordinary for me, particularly after a rough night.

So I'm thinking the only real symptom I have is the slightly sore arm. And relief. I'm not as afraid of the second one now that I've survived the first one.

I'm sorry about your symptoms, but I tend to agree with other posters that they don't sound like they're vaccine-related.

[Bayard]

51. We got Pfizer shots on Wed.

I've been more tired ever since. Mr. Bayard has no problems.

[hamsterjill]

53. My daughter got the first Pfizer on Wednesday

and she said she felt like it was a sinus infection coming on. Took about six hours to start, she was tired on dragging on Thursday, but fine by Friday morning.

[Ms. Toad]

54. Likely too late now -

But, as others have suggested, you should have been tested for COVID. NOt just because of loss of taste and smel, BUT if your nose, sinus area, and lungs got worse after the vaccine (and then inproved the "last few days,&quot that is more consistent with COVID 19 than wtih the vaccine.

Systemic signs and symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, headache, chills, myalgia, and arthralgia, can occur following COVID-19 vaccination. Preliminary dataexternal icon from mRNA COVID-19 vaccine trials indicate that most systemic post-vaccination signs and symptoms are mild to moderate in severity, occur within the first three days of vaccination (the day of vaccination and following two days, with most occurring the day after vaccination), resolve within 1-2 days of onset, and are more frequent and severe following the second dose and among younger persons compared to those who are older (>55 years). Cough, shortness of breath, rhinorrhea, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell are not consistent with post-vaccination symptoms, and instead may be symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 or another infection.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/post-vaccine-considerations-healthcare-personnel.html

[kentuck]

62. Sorry for the miscommunication.

The symptoms did not get "worse" after the vaccine, they got better.

I am assuming that I had some long-term leftover effects from a previous encounter with COVID?

I had previous health conditions before coronavirus ever appeared.

But, bottom line, it seems to have a positive affect on me personally.

[Ms. Toad]

63. That's been reported by a number of "long-haulers."

I have not seen any explanation of it yet, but counterintuitively the mRNA vaccines seem to interrupt whatever process it is that creates a long-haul effects in some people who have had COVID.

[lostnfound]

55. 1st Moderna, 2 days later, feel my heart skipping beats much more than usual

Took a baby aspirin, seems better today. Slight headache, sore arm.

Still so happy I got the vaccine.

[mahina]

57. Sorry to hear Kentuck. Lemons limes and coffee

Try smelling those. It is said to help bring back your sense of smell. Coffee grounds or beans moreso than the drink.

Good luck

[Sunsky]

58. 1st dose of Pfizer

I had chills for a few hours after and a sore arm which got worst the day after. I was fine after that until day 9. In the night I had the worst case of GI issues. I felt nauseous/retching but couldn't bring anything up, gassy, and the works. After those subsided a bit, I had the worst stomach pain for 1 day. The pain was progressive and intermittent. I told my hubby it felt like pregnancy and labor all in one. I have a high pain tolerance but this was very intense. Most of the healthcare providers at work seem to think it was the vaccine. The CDC website also has GI issues as recorded adverse reactions to the vaccine.

[Mysterian]

59. I've had zero side effectrs from Pfizer #1

and look forward to #2 next week.

[Gore1FL]

60. My Pfizer symptoms were gone in a few days after the shots.

Headache, grogginess and sore arm were all I had. I recommend you see a doctor. What you are describing sounds more like Covid-19 (or some other issue) than the Covid-19 vaccine.

[Withywindle]

61. Got my first Pfizer shot on Thursday

I didn't have any reaction except for the sore arm, which was mild the rest of the day Thursday, got much worse on Friday, and is now (Sat afternoon) completely gone. I feel fine. It's interesting other people are reporting sleeping better - I have too, the last two nights. Weird vivid dreams, but not nightmares. More like surrealist sci-fi movies in my head. I don't know if this is a physical effect of the vaccine or a manifestation of relief and a years' worth of anxiety starting to crack and move like ice on a lake in the spring.

[live love laugh]

64. First dose of Pfizer here with zero side effects. nt

[live love laugh]

68. Update: I have a small painless rash on my chest.

About the size of a golf ball in diameter. I also slept more soundly than usual after feeling tired when I went to bed. Neither of these things is debilitating or hardly noticeable.

I was vaccinated 4 days ago.

[Azathoth]

65. You might want to get a covid test to be safe

Losing smell and taste nine days after a first dose is consistent with contracting a mild case of covid while your immunity is still building.

[Sogo]

66. I'm still on a waiting list so don't have anything to report, but

I have read and heard from others who have gotten their vaccines that it’s a good ideas to stay well hydrated both leading up to having the vaccine and in the hours after in order to mitigate side effects. It makes sense to me, and I plan to follow that advice.

[Luciferous]

67. I got my first Moderna a couple of weeks ago. Since Tuesday, my arm has been itchy and tingly. My dr

put me on some medication yesterday so hopefully it helps.