Covid-19 vaccination experiences

I think it’d be a good idea to speak to GP about arranging vaccination in a hospital. People who have severe allergies / adverse reactions are often vaccinated in a hospital setting so that if anything happens, eg if you get an angioedema attack, they can treat you immediately.

@Trish as far as I know, dentists who do home visits can’t do teeth extraction in home settings. I’ve been having home visits for a few years now from the community dentist.. they can only really have a look at your teeth and advise what may need to be done. But the treatment - extraction, X-rays, fillings, they asked me to go into the clinic (or would need to go into a hospital setting in particular cases).

 

I'm taking my 4th vaccine today. Is anyone still interested in these experiences (if it is better or worse than the previous ones) or has everyone already formed an opinion by now?

 

Still interested! Good luck

 

So am I.

 

Me too. The variation in responses is interesting and perplexing.

I can't help but envy those who have straightforward responses and an easy decision to have the next vacccine. I am due my fourth vaccine but cannot face it after three very different significant adverse responses. Fortunately my GP has decided I shouldn't have it because it would be "dangerous". It's not a comfortable position to be in: am hoping that it will be recognised at some point and there will be more formal interest.

 

I wonder if our reaction to vaccines varies where we are at in the course of our ME. Some twenty years ago, when my ME was just moderate, I stopped having flue jabs because they would result in three weeks in bed and as I no longer working I could at least avoid anyone with symptoms. However with the first three Covid shots I had a sharp short negative response feeling really bad for a few days, then was fine. I also risked a flue jab late last year and had no negative response at all.

 

4th?? We've only had 3 vaccines here in Canada.

 

Here in the UK people considered at high risk, those seen as imuno-compromised, are being offered a fourth vaccine (now called the booster) three months after their third jab. As always this generally is not including people with ME, unless they have proactive GPs or manage to put up an exceptional fight.

Added:

Government guidelines - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coron...-people-with-severely-weakened-immune-system/

MEA commentary - I read something they published on this but can’t find it again?

 

I stayed away from having any vaccines of any kind for the last 30 years since M.E, but after having 3 Covid jabs (x2 Pfizer x1 Moderna) with zero reaction, I feel a lot more confident now going for other vaccines.

 

@TigerLilea, even in Canada, there are Provinces that offer a 4th dose for a particularly vulnerable target clientele:

" 4th dose for immunocompromised, immunosuppressed or dialysis patients
The immunocompromised, immunosuppressed or dialysis person has a much higher risk of presenting very serious complications if they have COVID. If you are one of these people, getting four doses of the COVID vaccine is very important to maintain your health."

https://www.cisssca.com/vaccination-covid-19/vaccination-covid-pour-la-population/ (french)

 

I had heard that immunocompromised people in Canada would be eligible at some point for a 4th shot, but I haven't heard anything further since then so assumed that it hadn't happened yet. I'm immunocompromised so I'm surprised that I haven't been notified as for the other three shots I got notification as soon as they were available.

 

4th vaccine experience

First, my vaccine reaction history so far: I had 2 doses of AZ, then a Pfizer. I had very strong but normal vaccine reactions (brutal headache, feeling feverish and ill, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, the whole range really) for 1-2 days. This was a little bit milder with each vaccine.

4th vaccine: Pfizer. My reaction was at least as strong, probably even stronger than with the 3rd vaccine. My symptoms weren’t as bad as they could have been, but I still felt very groggy and ill and useless for two days and had to sleep a lot. This is my 3rd day and I still have symptoms, although now I think it’s a mix of the now milder vaccine effects and a worse day in my ME/CFS symptoms. The line between the two is getting a bit blurry.

So it looks like I always have a strong reaction, which is still considered normal though. So far no serious relapses (if it changes, I’ll let you know but I don’t expect that).

If someone is interested in my "immune profile" for comparison or for whatever reason, here it is. (Although I’m not even sure if it makes too much sense.)

Yes, there are a few countries that made the 3rd and 4th vaccines available earlier than others (Israel too, for example). I got my 3rd one in August. You can get the 4th if you are over 18 and 4 months after your 3rd. In theory the doctors administering the vaccine may want to consult with your GP, but in practice I don’t think anyone does that. I’m happy to be a guinea pig if the next one arrives earlier here again.

 

@Jonathan Edwards I'm not asking for medical advice, I'd just be interested in your thoughts about this in general.

In a hypothetical scenario, if you were about to start treating one of your patients with Rituximab, how many weeks (if any) would you wait after the patient had their booster/fourth dose of covid-19 vaccine, before giving them their first Rituximab infusion, and why?

Let's say this hypothetical person most likely does not have ME, they are being treated for a completely different diagnosis.

(I'm not the person in the hypothetical scenario. I'm just curious. The recommendations here in Sweden differ a lot depending on who you ask.)

 

I thought that I had got lucky this time as I didn't have any adverse reactions to the booster shot (Pfizer) at four weeks post vaccine. Well here I am two weeks later and I'm close to being bedbound again for the third time. I feel like I have the flu but I don't have a temperature or any respiratory symptoms. The fatigue is overwhelming, I have no appetite, the leg and arm weakness is back, my legs feel like they are vibrating all of the time, and the neuropathy is back again with the skin burning. I've noticed that the reaction is more delayed with each vaccine. The first time it took five days and lasted for five weeks. After the second vaccine it took four weeks for the reaction and lasted for close to five months before I felt slightly better. Now after the third vaccine it took six weeks. I just hope that it doesn't take as long to recover from as it did for the second vaccine. I definitely won't be getting a mRNA vaccine again.

 

So sorry this is happening to you @TigerLilea

 

Possibly as I was classified as CEV (Clinically Extremely Vulnerable) and the required classification now to get a 2nd booster is to be 'extremely clinically vulnerable' this might explain why I haven't been 'invited', despite it now being nearly 6 months since I was given booster 1.

Gotta love 'em

(of course these are the public categories, the NHS, according to my medical records, uses a different name for it - can't have the public using the same terminology as the NHS can we, as that might mean people could know what was going on and what to expect.)

I hope your side effects pass quickly.