Covid second jab after 18 hours

[jmbar2]

Felt fine afterwards. Then around 18 hours later, fatigue, aches, and chills started. No appetite except for cold cantaloupe chunks

What's odd is that I get little "zingers" around areas of prior injuries/surgery, such as
- root canal
- broken wrist from 20 years ago
- area where I sprained my ankle a couple of times
- lower back and piriformis - preexisting, but made worse.

It's tolerable with ibuprofen. I think of the long haulers and that they must feel like this every day. My heart goes out to them.

[Ms. Toad]

1. Interesting -

a number of people with sarcoma have noticed pain in the surgical sites. (I didn't)

The Pfizer vaccine seems to have triggered migraines for me.

Since it seemed odd (migraines, specifically - I know headaches, generally are common).

At 1 week past the first dose, I had my first migraine since ~2009. It was a doozy.

After the second does, I had one more serious one - and what I call shadow migraines every day but one for close to 2 weeks.


(I had migraines from age 4-age 55, aside from a 1-2 year break when I was pregnant and/or nursing. So migraines are a known entity for me - and that's what these were. Because the first was 2 weeks after the first vaccine, I denied it for quite a while. But I've come around to it being triggered by the vaccination.)

[jmbar2]

16. A friend of mine had terrible migraines afterwards

She was laid out for three days.

I hope that it subsides for you. Haven't had them myself, but I've been around others, and they are miserable.

[Ms. Toad]

17. They are mostly gone -

(19 days post-vaccine). There's still a shadow migraine there about half the time, but it is not threatening to turn into a real one. (Shadow migraine is a lingering pain in the back left quadrant of my head that is low enough that it can't build up enough steam enough to turn into a full blown one.)

But since I've got a bum arm (recent sarcoma diagnosis, shark-bite-Franken-arm, which created a bit of carpal tunnel syndrome), I'm editing student papers with a talk-to text program (that requires a headset) - and I'm still wearing a mask most of the time. Anything around my face aggravates a migraine. That delayed getting past this.

So editing papers was delayed about a week, and yesterday I finally caught up with 4 days of email.

They are definitely miserable! (But far less miserable than COVID!!!)

[jmbar2]

18. That's a scary diagnosis to deal with in addition to Covid

Hang in there. Much respect for teaching during this strange time.

[Ms. Toad]

19. Definitely scary

Fortunately, I am obsesive about doing my own medical research. I've been watching this site and expecting cancer since 2014. A spot I somehow knew was trouble came back with some markers that in a very, very small number of people is actually pre-cancerous. My doctors viewed it as entirely benign - but humored me when I insisted on having it excised 3 times since then. This is time #4. But - that means I caught it far earlier than most. Ordinarily, at the stage this is usually diagnosed, survival is 50% survival at 5 years. Because I caught it early, I'm in the 90% survival camp.

Teaching is bizarre - I like having been able to master the technology (I've been teaching a synchronous hybrid class since August). But far more students opted to attend from home as this semester wore on, and I find there needs to be a critical mass of students in the classroom to make hybrid more effective than purely remote.

Hoping to teach fully in person classes in the fall.

[jmbar2]

23. Ii spent most of my career designing training and/or doing labor market research

I did not enjoy doing online learning at all, mainly because it was so time-consuming, and not very interesting.

The folks who contracted people like me rarely had a background in it, so they tended to underestimate the time it takes to do it. They also expected you to be a designer, graphic artist, and technical wizard all in one.

As training went more and more online, I no longer wanted to do it. I still get lots of job ads - everyone is looking for people to create online training. But I prefer daytrading.

I have so much respect for folks like you who have made the hybrid thing work. There's a whole new generation of teachers who now have way more experience than I. I salute you!

[Tink41]

26. Very interesting!

I've hardly ever suffered from headaches of any type. After my 1st Pfizer shot I experienced a low level headache several days a week, for 3 weeks. Some were aggravating enough to take some Tylenol. 2nd shot was Monday and no headache just felt cold and tired the next afternoon. I didn't think to link the headache to vaccine. Haven't had one since.

[Ms. Toad]

36. Both Moderna and Pfizer are known to cause headaches

somewhere in the range of 20-30% experience headaches. (It's one of the most common side effects).

What surprised me was that the first started 2 weeks after the first vaccine (pretty far outside the time range for that side effect). And - I figured headaches would be something other than migraines.

[Tink41]

38. No kidding.

I just didn't expect them to start several days later and linger for 3 weeks.

[Ms. Toad]

39. Yup.

That was why I refused to believe the first massive migraine was triggered by the vaccine - all the general side effects were supposed to start wtihin 48 hours.

But they are behind me now, and I can visit my parents in their retirement community, without masks, for the first time in more than a year.

[5X]

2. I'm still getting similar symptoms 2 weeks after my second Moderna shot

All my old injuries, of which there are too many, ache much worse than normal.

[jmbar2]

15. Makes me feel better

I thought I was just imagining it.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

3. Interesting.

Congrats on your 2nd dose!

I just got my 2nd dose of Moderna about 30 minutes ago!

Nothing yet, not even feeling the needle injection like last time (same doctor administered the 1st dose), but that will surely change by tomorrow.

[jmbar2]

14. Congratulations

Our herd is growing exponentially!

[unblock]

4. i started feeling off within hours of my 2nd moderna shot.

the day after was honestly one of the most physically painful days of my life.

i had enough congestion to trigger a massive migraine and it didn't respond to my usual meds. so that on top of feeling like someone took a baseball bat to my arm and chills and sweats and loss of appetite and massive fatigue but i couldn't sleep because of all the pain....

clearly everyone reacts differently, but this ain't no ordinary vaccine, that's for sure. glad i got it, and now 72 hours after the shot i'm almost back to normal but, whoa. no picnic at all.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. Moderna uses more than triple the vaccine as Pfizer.

The end-results are about the same for both, so maybe Moderna will scale it back eventually?

JAMA recently published that Moderna recipients tend to have stronger immunological reactions, and it wouldn't surprise me if the dosage amount plays a role in it.

[unblock]

7. yes, it's been known for a while that moderna has stronger side effects

my particularly severe reaction could have to do with my own allergies (not to anything in the vaccine, but it could have something to do with the immunological response) and my migraines.

so i might have been in for it no matter what.

but yes, i'm sure the vaccines will be tinkered with and later versions will be improved over versions 1.0.


and we knew this, but figured better to get the immunity asap because covid is worse than a bad day or three of side effects.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. Oh, definitely!

I'm expecting to feel ill by tomorrow (just got my 2nd Moderna shot), but it's totally worth it for the protection!

[Ms. Toad]

20. My Pfizer triggered migraines -

so it may not be related to dosage.

I haven't figured out the trigger - since mine are tightly tied to hormonal changes (none during pregnancy and menopause). So it's been more than a decade since I've had any.

[jmbar2]

11. I didn't even connect the congestion to the shot

I'm also having it. I've had deviated sinus surgery many years ago. All surgical spots seem to be mildly affected.

[MissB]

6. I had my second Pfizer yesterday

I was tired pretty much all day yesterday.

Today I feel ... off? Low grade fever and some joint pain. But honestly not like after my first shot.

[abqtommy]

9. I'm getting my second Moderna jab in 2 weeks. And I find that cantaloupe chunks are

especially tasty if they're placed atop a generous serving of ice cream.

[jmbar2]

12. That sounds wonderful!

Good excuse for ice cream.

[ProfessorGAC]

27. One Of My Dad's Faves

Used to halve the cantaloupe, carve out some room in the middle with a melon baller, then add vanilla ice cream, then put the stuff he dug out on top.
When I was little, I considered a waste of ice cream! LOL!
But, by my early teens, I got it!
On Edit: just a pinch of salt on the melon makes for a great salty/sweet & creamy combination.

[bedazzled]

10. do you do stretches fot the piriformis?

I found some stretches online and do them every night. they really help

[jmbar2]

13. I found a great site - Bob and Brad physical therapists

They are really corny, but they provide exercises and stretches for anything that ails you. Mine is coming from L4-5 disc compression. Only feel it when I lie down.

[bedazzled]

21. i am glad you feel better

we are talking serious pain here. i do stretches every night. pain like that is highly motivating

[jmbar2]

24. Yes it is!

How long have you had it, and are there any other strategies for managing it? It mainly affects me when lying down.

[bedazzled]

31. I had a job with very heavy lifting and lots of bending

several episodes of extreme back pain. did some research and realized that was what it was. amazing pain, similar to experience with childbirth. i no longer have the job, thank heavens, and i still do flexibility exercises during the day and right before bed. i made some adjustments to the ones i found online. god bless folks with back problems. can't sit .... stand ... lay ... walk. i give thanks every day. hope you feel better too

[ananda]

22. I got mine this morning. So far..

a bit of a sore arm.

I have put off going anywhere until Tuesday
just in case of other side effects.

They did say I could medicate and it wouldn't
affect the vaccine.

[jmbar2]

25. Good thing you set time aside

I haven't felt like going anywhere today. But this afternoon, starting to feel a bit perkier.

[ananda]

48. My arm is sore today, but no other side effects so far.

I'm glad I'm not going anywhere.

[jmbar2]

49. That's good

I'm feeling completely normal today.

[ananda]

52. Lucky you.

I hate the arm pain but I don't want to medicate
till tomorrow in order to make sure my body has
the proper inflammatory response to create enough
antibodies.

[paulkienitz]

28. my SO hit near 104 fever on Tuesday, is still immobile on the couch on Thursday,

and expects she won't be 100% again for maybe two weeks after Monday's #2 Moderna shot. Whereas for me after Pfizer #2 I ran a mild fever on the second day and quit work before lunch, then was pretty much fine the next morning.

[alotus51]

29. No after effects

FWIW... I had my second Moderna shot 3 weeks ago. Absolutely no after effects that I was aware of. I had the shot on a Saturday, played Softball on Sunday. My arm was a little sore but at my age (79) most days something hurts, so hardly noticed. My brother who is a few years younger and had the same vaccine felt like crap for a few days. Your mileage may vary.

[jmbar2]

50. Softball at 79!

I am SO impressed!

[Delphinus]

55. Welcome to DU!

Good to have you here and good to see your story!

[JenniferJuniper]

30. My bad knee on the opposite side

went nuts 24 hours after the second Moderna. Worst pain I've ever had with it. Was much better after another 24 hours.

I also had 2.5 weeks of pretty significant on and off shoulder pain. Same shoulder as the shot and same shoulder that was involved with Lyme arthritis a few year back.

So it seems to go for the weak spots. On a happier note, I had no flu-like symptoms at all.

[Blue_true]

34. Same here. My shot area soreness lasted less than a day, when I woke up,

it was gone. No fever, no cough, no feeling tired, nothing.

[Blue_true]

33. I just recently got my second shot (Pfizer).

I had pretty much zero reaction to both shots. The only thing that I noticed was very mild tenderness at the injection point, but I always have that when a needle is inserted into an arm. I got the second shot in the same arm as the first one, I was given a choice.

[SamsDrink]

35. No significant after effects from the 2nd Pfizer shot

Other than a spacey feeling (more than normal) most of the day. We pounded down as much Sugar-free Gatorade the day before and the morning of our shots as we could tolerate. Friends tipped us off to the Gatorade regimen and it seemed to help.

[Delphinus]

57. Welcome to DU!

Didn't even think of Gatorade - had my second Pfizer yesterday and had the chills last night; went to bed and slept OK. Feeling a bit off today - tons of water. I'll get some Gatorade and see if that helps.

[mainer]

37. Fatigue lasted for a week

A friend reported likewise. So if you’re tired days after shot #2, it’ll go away.

[JudyM]

40. Zingers! Good word for it. I got my 2nd Pfizer yesterday and have been getting zingers today

in one single spot, the center point in the crease at the top of the thigh when seated. Totally weird, has been hitting intermittently all day, tiny spot but doubling me over! Other than that, I had a mild headache most of yesterday.

[NutmegYankee]

41. My long hemorrhaged disks started to hurt.

I’m avoiding taking painkillers, but the aches are impressive.

[BobTheSubgenius]

42. Your middle paragraph worries me.

I'm already plagued by things that happened several decades ago. An ankle I rolled REALLY badly in about 73. A popped hip joint from throwing an ill-advised (wasn't warmed up at all) side kick at a 6' target. A broken radial head of my L elbow from '80 or '81.

Can't wait till those come back full force.

Still, I thank you for sharing the information. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.

[jmbar2]

43. Your mileage may vary

But let me know. Just sort of curious.

[BobTheSubgenius]

53. I will.

Thanks again!

[whistler162]

44. It is the nanites fixing your issues.

[jmbar2]

45. Had to look that one up

If little robots keep me from Covid, it's all good.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

46. My second jab of Moderna was 19 hours ago...

... and I have no symptoms except a sore arm, which is definitely more sore than after the first dose.

My temperature has increased about 1 deg F too (checking it periodically), but that's not noticeable without a thermometer.

Maybe it will take more time for me, or I'll be nearly symptom-free?

[jmbar2]

47. Hope it holds for you

I feel completely normal today, but with some residual tiredness. No aches.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

51. I hope so too.

I'm not the type to needlessly worry that MAYBE it didn't work simply because my immune system didn't strongly react to it (yet). I read many weeks ago that there was no correlation anyway.

By the way, the jerk ahead of me showed up 5 minutes late for his appointment, which are scheduled 15 minutes apart at that local pharmacy. So he was 5 minutes late and I was 10 minutes early, walking inside the pharmacy behind him. I recognized him from 4 weeks ago.

Then he had a bunch of paperwork to fill out for whatever reason. He also LIED that he never received a vaccine card the first time, so that was another delay as they gave him another one with both entries filled out. I never mentioned that he was fibbing, but I specifically remembered them handing him a vaccine card the first time. (I wanted to be sure they handed them out, and I was relieved to see him get one a few weeks ago.)

Oh, well... at least he got vaccinated. He delayed my shot by about 20 minutes, but whatever.

Edit: I once again received a "fresh" dose, based in the Moderna lot number. There's a website to look up those lot numbers, and this dose was also just a few days short of 6 months from expiring. So that surely means it was manufactured just a few days ago.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

54. Well, here I go... temp is 101 F now.

It's now been a little over 24 hours since the 2nd shot.

I was feeling a little light-headed, so I then checked my temperature again.

I still couldn't tell without a digital thermometer! Don't feel hot, don't have chills, etc. Checked it again with a different digital thermometer, and that one reads over 101 F too.

Maybe some Ibuprofen for me later if it keeps increasing.

[jmbar2]

58. Your body is hard at work

Hang in there for a few more hours.

[Kingofalldems]

56. I had symptoms bit glad I did.

I know I didn't get a placebo.