AstraZeneca Side-effects

[pookiki]

I took my first shot of AZ on 22 June and my arm was sore at the vaccination site for several days and then abated after taking Tylenol before sleeping.  However, during the past several days, the pain in my arm increased significantly especially when I tried to sleep.  The level of pain was similar to that I experienced when I had shingles some years ago. I went to the hospital this morning and when the doctor examined my arm, there were hives on my arm at and around the vaccination site.  I was prescribed a topical steroid cream, an antihistamine, two different medications for pain, and an antibiotic. I will go back to see the doctor on Wednesday - 7 July.  When I asked the doctor if I would encounter the same kind of issues when taking my second vaccination shot, the answer was 'yes'.

[rabas]

 

Goodness!  I do too.  I just looked after reading your post.  I got my AZ shot on the 23, had quite mild symptoms part of the 24th, the muscle was slightly sore for about 3 days.

 

Then last night, half asleep, I was surprised to feel a little tingle at the injection site. After reading your post I looked in a mirror and saw a very pronounced reddish patch that looks splotchy like a rash. It's about the size of a fist.

 

I could also measure a half degree C temperature rise from the  same place on my other shoulder.  I hardly ever get rashes, obviously from the shot.

 

 

[Lorry]

Try to get Moderna in the beginning of October,  instead of a 2nd AZ shot.

You probably won't get it so early,  but it would be the obvious solution. 

[Lorry]

1 minute ago, rabas said:

 

Goodness!  I do too.  I just looked after reading your post.  I got my AZ shot on the 23, had quite mild symptoms part of the 24th, the muscle was slightly sore for about 3 days.

 

Then last night, half asleep, I was surprised to feel a little tingle at the injection site. After reading your post I looked in a mirror and saw a very pronounced reddish patch that looks splotchy like a rash. It's about the size of a fist.

 

I could also measure a half degree C temperature rise from the  same place on my other shoulder.  I hardly ever get rashes, obviously from the shot.

 

 

Anecdotal evidence says reactions delayed by up to a week are common. Ask friends and relatives. 

Scientific evidence says no. Read the journals. 

????

[rabas]

 

Covid-Arm

The rash seems to be considered one of the common side effects along with fever. It's noticeably delayed by a few days from other common side effects that often start in the second day.  It's also called COVID arm. The technical name is Delayed Localized Hypersensitivity Reaction. Such reactions are also seen with other COVID vaccines and a few non-COVID type vaccines. 

 

Mine looks just like the one in the first link.

 

Media: Notice a strange rash days after getting the COVID-19 vaccine? Experts say it's a good thing.

Paper:Delayed Localized Hypersensitivity Reactions to the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

 

Of course, anything that gets bad needs medical attention.

[pookiki]

1 hour ago, rabas said:

 

Goodness!  I do too.  I just looked after reading your post.  I got my AZ shot on the 23, had quite mild symptoms part of the 24th, the muscle was slightly sore for about 3 days.

 

Then last night, half asleep, I was surprised to feel a little tingle at the injection site. After reading your post I looked in a mirror and saw a very pronounced reddish patch that looks splotchy like a rash. It's about the size of a fist.

 

I could also measure a half degree C temperature rise from the  same place on my other shoulder.  I hardly ever get rashes, obviously from the shot.

 

 

I hope you don't experience the pain that I have had at night.  Worst pain I have had since I had shingles. And I just looked at my arm, again.  The hives have turned to blisters filled with yellow liquid.

[ThailandRyan]

9 minutes ago, pookiki said:

I hope you don't experience the pain that I have had at night.  Worst pain I have had since I had shingles. And I just looked at my arm, again.  The hives have turned to blisters filled with yellow liquid.

Better get checked again.

[pookiki]

29 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Better get checked again.

I go back for a follow-up visit on Wednesday.  I have a topical steroid to apply to the blisters.  I resisted taking oral steroids.  Two different meds for pain.  Hopefully, I will get a good sleep tonight.

[ThailandRyan]

10 minutes ago, pookiki said:

I go back for a follow-up visit on Wednesday.  I have a topical steroid to apply to the blisters.  I resisted taking oral steroids.  Two different meds for pain.  Hopefully, I will get a good sleep tonight.

Wishing you the best. Keep us updated.  My AZ jab was on the 24th. So far only had pain in the arm for 3 days and a slight fever and chills after the first 12 hours that went away after I took Tylenol.

[cormanr7]

I had my first shot of AZ on June 22nd, so far only minor side-effects such as sore arm and moderate headache that disappeared after ca 24h

From the literature it appear that hives (urticaria, red itchy welts) sometimes occur only one to two weeks after administration of AZ (or other) vaccine, see this quote from the Melbourne vaccination centre  'Delayed urticaria following a COVID-19 vaccine. Acute generalised urticaria can occur one or two weeks following vaccination. The symptoms can last on average 3-4 weeks but may resolve more rapidly. The urticaria can be generalised and intensely itchy. For adults, symptoms can be managed with up to 4 tablets per day of non-sedating over-the-counter antihistamines (such as cetirizine 10mg, loratadine 10mg or fexofenadine 180mg). This type of urticaria with onset that is delayed after the vaccination is generally not an indication of reproducible allergy to the vaccine and therefore investigations are not indicated. Future vaccinations can be given in a routine environment, with a 15-minute post vaccination observation period. If symptoms are persistent or there are additional concerns, then review by an immunisation specialist or allergist could be considered (end quote). See https://mvec.mcri.edu.au/references/covid-19-vaccines-and-allergy/ for more info.

Pookiki: pls see a physician/doctor!

 

[pookiki]

14 minutes ago, cormanr7 said:

I had my first shot of AZ on June 22nd, so far only minor side-effects such as sore arm and moderate headache that disappeared after ca 24h

From the literature it appear that hives (urticaria, red itchy welts) sometimes occur only one to two weeks after administration of AZ (or other) vaccine, see this quote from the Melbourne vaccination centre  'Delayed urticaria following a COVID-19 vaccine. Acute generalised urticaria can occur one or two weeks following vaccination. The symptoms can last on average 3-4 weeks but may resolve more rapidly. The urticaria can be generalised and intensely itchy. For adults, symptoms can be managed with up to 4 tablets per day of non-sedating over-the-counter antihistamines (such as cetirizine 10mg, loratadine 10mg or fexofenadine 180mg). This type of urticaria with onset that is delayed after the vaccination is generally not an indication of reproducible allergy to the vaccine and therefore investigations are not indicated. Future vaccinations can be given in a routine environment, with a 15-minute post vaccination observation period. If symptoms are persistent or there are additional concerns, then review by an immunisation specialist or allergist could be considered (end quote). See https://mvec.mcri.edu.au/references/covid-19-vaccines-and-allergy/ for more info.

Pookiki: pls see a physician/doctor!

 

Thank you for this very detailed information!  The doctor prescribed Travocort cream to apply to the hives/blisters 2x daily. I have Zytizine to take daily - an antihistamine. Augmentin 2x a day just in case of a bacterial infection. Two pain killers Lyrica and Tylenol with codeine.  I  hope this takes care of the problem. Thanks, again!

[rbkk]

7 hours ago, rabas said:

 

Covid-Arm

The rash seems to be considered one of the common side effects along with fever. It's noticeably delayed by a few days from other common side effects that often start in the second day.  It's also called COVID arm. The technical name is Delayed Localized Hypersensitivity Reaction. Such reactions are also seen with other COVID vaccines and a few non-COVID type vaccines. 

 

Mine looks just like the one in the first link.

 

Media: Notice a strange rash days after getting the COVID-19 vaccine? Experts say it's a good thing.

Paper:Delayed Localized Hypersensitivity Reactions to the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

 

Of course, anything that gets bad needs medical attention.

From a previous thread.....

AstraZeneca side-effects mostly found in people of working age

in Thailand News

Posted June 13 · Edited June 13 by rbkk

"Covid Arm" is a side-effect I haven't seen mentioned in Thailand. I know about it because i have had it for the last 2 1/2 days. It didn't begin until 3+ days (78 hours) after vaccination with AZ on Monday 7th June 3 PM.  It is a hot red rash distinct from the vaccination site (10 cms away)  but on the same arm. It worried me enough that I returned to the hospital that gave me the vaccine. That was a waste of time as the doctor said he had never heard of it (He got out his phone and Googled it the same as most of you are doing right now!)  and he had no medication or advise for me. The "Internet advise" is not to worry as it's the immune response doing it's thing. It would of been nice though not to have been surprised by the reaction and more prepared. 1+/100 people could get the rash (10cm x 7cm oval)I also have a very slight tingling in the fingers on only that arm. I have been fatigued but no fever or shivering. The rash is much less obvious today. I asked my wife to report it on the Mor Phrom App, but there is no reporting channel available it seems.

 

 It looked similar to be image below.

 

 

 

The 'Rash' and "Blisters" don't seem the to be the same. My "Rash" was hot but not raised or blistered. Also, the reports are for other different vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) not the Astra Zenecca vaccine. I couldn't find any reports of "Rashes/Covid Arm" from the UK where a large number have had the AZ jab. Odd.

[pookiki]

I had another night of extreme pain in my arm - even after taking the pain pills - which made it very difficult to sleep. I may go back and talk with the doctor, again, today. I've talked with several people who had a rash shortly after getting the AZ vaccination but not the pain I am experiencing.  Thanks to all who have replied to this post.

[Peterw42]

I had 1st jab on 7th of June so almost a month ago. A sore arm for a couple of days and mild fever feeling in the evenings, nothing a couple of paracetamol didn't fix.

A month later, still get the mild fever feeling and sweating once a week or so.

 

Good thing is, I haven't lost my car keys for a month as they are stuck to my magnetized shoulder.

 

[CANSIAM]

Received first AstraZeneca shot July 3,  no fever, no rash, ( yet ) slight arm discomfort like any other of my vaccinations in the past - monitoring.......... 

[rabas]

9 hours ago, rbkk said:

From a previous thread.....

AstraZeneca side-effects mostly found in people of working age

in Thailand News

Posted June 13 · Edited June 13 by rbkk

"Covid Arm" is a side-effect I haven't seen mentioned in Thailand. I know about it because i have had it for the last 2 1/2 days. It didn't begin until 3+ days (78 hours) after vaccination with AZ on Monday 7th June 3 PM.  It is a hot red rash distinct from the vaccination site (10 cms away)  but on the same arm. It worried me enough that I returned to the hospital that gave me the vaccine. That was a waste of time as the doctor said he had never heard of it (He got out his phone and Googled it the same as most of you are doing right now!)  and he had no medication or advise for me. The "Internet advise" is not to worry as it's the immune response doing it's thing. It would of been nice though not to have been surprised by the reaction and more prepared. 1+/100 people could get the rash (10cm x 7cm oval)I also have a very slight tingling in the fingers on only that arm. I have been fatigued but no fever or shivering. The rash is much less obvious today. I asked my wife to report it on the Mor Phrom App, but there is no reporting channel available it seems.

 

 It looked similar to be image below.

 

 

 

The 'Rash' and "Blisters" don't seem the to be the same. My "Rash" was hot but not raised or blistered. Also, the reports are for other different vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) not the Astra Zenecca vaccine. I couldn't find any reports of "Rashes/Covid Arm" from the UK where a large number have had the AZ jab. Odd.

 

Agree. I read mostly the same though some AZ references do mention rash or hives, but it's considered significantly rarer that the red spots.  az-covid-19-vaccine-consumer-information-leaflet-en.pdf

 

Uncommon  (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• sleepiness or feeling dizzy
• decreased appetite
• abdominal pain
• enlarged lymph nodes
• excessive sweating, itchy skin, rash or hives

Sounds like yours and mine are about the same, the OPs is on a different scale.

 

[rabas]

1 hour ago, pookiki said:

I had another night of extreme pain in my arm - even after taking the pain pills - which made it very difficult to sleep. I may go back and talk with the doctor, again, today. I've talked with several people who had a rash shortly after getting the AZ vaccination but not the pain I am experiencing.  Thanks to all who have replied to this post.

 

If the symptoms don't seem right to you or it's progressed beyond what the doctor described, I would not hesitate to go back immediately. Also don't hesitate to ask the doctor if you should see a specialist.

 

Searching around, yellow liquid filled blisters are seen in some conditions including viral infections, but I don't see them mentioned with COVID vaccine reactions. Just possibly something else is going on or you have an unusually bad reaction. 

 

Good luck!

[pookiki]

4 hours ago, rabas said:

 

If the symptoms don't seem right to you or it's progressed beyond what the doctor described, I would not hesitate to go back immediately. Also don't hesitate to ask the doctor if you should see a specialist.

 

Searching around, yellow liquid filled blisters are seen in some conditions including viral infections, but I don't see them mentioned with COVID vaccine reactions. Just possibly something else is going on or you have an unusually bad reaction. 

 

Good luck!

I was planning on going to the see the doctor, again, this morning and then changed my mind. My experience in Thailand is that the medical profession, as a whole, are most reluctant to prescribe opiate based pain medications unless you are hospitalized.  As such, I was fortunate to get the paracetamol with codeine but it doesn't overcome the pain I experience when I try to find a comfortable position in bed. I've never experienced anything this. When I had shingles many years ago, the pain was just as intense as I am feeling now, but be able to sleep and rest after taking pain medications was not a problem.  My next appointment is Wednesday evening.  I will try to gut it out until then.  I will ad that my condition seems to be very similar to shingles and the vaccine shot could have 'triggered' a similar neurological response. I had a similar problem with a very painful root canal that went awry a few years back. Getting old is no fun. Thanks for your post.

[rbkk]

44 minutes ago, pookiki said:

I was planning on going to the see the doctor, again, this morning and then changed my mind. My experience in Thailand is that the medical profession, as a whole, are most reluctant to prescribe opiate based pain medications unless you are hospitalized.  As such, I was fortunate to get the paracetamol with codeine but it doesn't overcome the pain I experience when I try to find a comfortable position in bed. I've never experienced anything this. When I had shingles many years ago, the pain was just as intense as I am feeling now, but be able to sleep and rest after taking pain medications was not a problem.  My next appointment is Wednesday evening.  I will try to gut it out until then.  I will ad that my condition seems to be very similar to shingles and the vaccine shot could have 'triggered' a similar neurological response. I had a similar problem with a very painful root canal that went awry a few years back. Getting old is no fun. Thanks for your post.

"...a very painful root canal"

15 years ago I went to the counter of a small pharmacy inside  a Tesco Mall for the first time. They gave me Tramadol for my tooth pain. Strong stuff. Not sure if they are allowed to do that now but worth asking.

Edited July 5, 2021 by rbkk

[BobinBKK]

Pain surrounding the injection site or arm muscle is caused by the person administering the shot not knowing what they are doing. Unless the medication is actually known to cause a burning sensation upon injection there is reason to feel pain.

[orchis]

we all had moderna (i went back to europe to get it):
my mother didn't feel anything;
I had a sore arm for 4 days though not on the first day, 3 hours after the shot I felt emotional, tired, this was gone the next day;
my friend a sore arm, not great for two days after the second shot;
my sister two days of pain with the first jab, sick in bed for 4 days after the second shot.
4 different experiences.

 

Edited July 5, 2021 by orchis
corrected auto-correct.

[pookiki]

I went to the hospital this morning to get a refill on my pain medication. Two other doctors examined me and determined that I have shingles - a diagnosis with which I fully agree. So, if you have had chickenpox or shingles in the past, please know that the AZ vaccination can trigger a nonoccurence! And please know that the pain medications available in Thailand are not all that good for the pain one experiences with shingles.

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, pookiki said:

I went to the hospital this morning to get a refill on my pain medication. Two other doctors examined me and determined that I have shingles - a diagnosis with which I fully agree. So, if you have had chickenpox or shingles in the past, please know that the AZ vaccination can trigger a nonoccurence! And please know that the pain medications available in Thailand are not all that good for the pain one experiences with shingles.

Thanks for the update.  Take care and heal quickly, I know how bad shingles makes one feel.

[pookiki]

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

Thanks for the update.  Take care and heal quickly, I know how bad shingles makes one feel.

Thanks!  This is the third time for me!

[Denim]

7 minutes ago, pookiki said:

So, if you have had chickenpox or shingles in the past, please know that the AZ vaccination can trigger a nonoccurence! And please know that the pain medications available in Thailand are not all that good for the pain one experiences with shingles.

 

I assume you mean recurrence. 

 

Since shingles is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses , I wonder if the AZ vaccine can cause other kinds of the herpes family to flair up again ? 

[richard_smith237]

On 7/5/2021 at 10:25 AM, BobinBKK said:

Pain surrounding the injection site or arm muscle is caused by the person administering the shot not knowing what they are doing. Unless the medication is actually known to cause a burning sensation upon injection there is reason to feel pain.

 

This is completely incorrect, you may be getting mixed up between intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, the latter requires more skill. 

 

Some of the discomfort ‘could’ be associated with poor ‘bedside manner’ and the patient ‘tensing their arm’ at the injection sight - but really, this is somewhat of a reach. 

 

The Pain... ‘Covid Arm’ is a normal symptom of the body's innate immune response - As soon as the Injection is administered and foreign bodies are identified in the body, some of us will encounter an localised and over-exuberant innate immune response as the body’s immune response fights what it interprets to be an infection. 

 

The infection site is flooded with cytokines and chemokines which cause inflammation and can irritate the nerves, the cytokines also dilate the blood-vessels which increase blood flow, cause localised swelling, red colouration and a localised increase in temperature (due to greater blood flow to the area).

 

The innate immune response also commonly manifests itself throughout the body with fever, joint-pain, headaches, a generally cr@ppy feeling !

 

The intensity of the innate immune response depends on the reactogenicity of an individual vaccine, the strategies and ingredient employed in the vaccines are how the body’s innate immune response.

 

It has been reported that the innate immune response is stronger with the Moderna vaccine than other vaccines. 

 

I have had both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines - both caused an aching arm at the injection site, the arm ache after AZ lasted longer. The headache from Pfizer was worse. 

Post vaccine symptoms arose more quickly with the Pfizer vaccine (about 12 hrs after) compared with the AZ vaccine about 20 hours afterwards. 

 

Recommendation: After the injection go for a walk, move your arms, allow the blood to flow through the deltoid muscle to disperse the vaccines more readily and limit the concentration and thus concentration of localised innate response. 

 

Symptoms are very normal. That said, I’ve had a lot of vaccines and have never felt unwell afterwards, these Covid-19 vaccines have kicked my <deleted> for 24 hrs - twice now !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 6, 2021 by richard_smith237

[pookiki]

34 minutes ago, Denim said:

 

I assume you mean recurrence. 

 

Since shingles is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses , I wonder if the AZ vaccine can cause other kinds of the herpes family to flair up again ? 

Yes, I mean recurrence. Sorry for the error. I've been talking with some other people who have had various kinds of nerve problems or nerve inflammations. I have no idea about whethwre AZ can trigger the other kinds of viruses in the herpes family. What I do know is that the first time I had shingles I was under considerable stress at work. The second time was after a very painful root canal. This is ii the third time. The pain associated with the vaccination probably triggered the recurrence - plus the stress all of us have been under with the current COVID-19 situation in Thailand.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Denim said:

 

I assume you mean recurrence. 

 

Since shingles is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses , I wonder if the AZ vaccine can cause other kinds of the herpes family to flair up again ? 

Herpes May flare up more readily when the body is tired, worn down etc

 

Thus rather than a direct response to the vaccine the herpes flare up may be due to the body being tired, i.e. an indirect response. 

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Herpes May flare up more readily when the body is tired, worn down etc

 

Thus rather than a direct response to the vaccine the herpes flare up may be due to the body being tired, i.e. an indirect response. 

Fatigue is also a known side effect of the vaccine as well so looks like it could have created a firestorm inside his body.

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Fatigue is also a known side effect of the vaccine as well so looks like it could have created a firestorm inside his body.

The body’s innate immune response- described a couple of posts ago…. 
 

The body is weaker while it’s ‘fighting’ the vaccine allowing other dormant viruses to flare up.