Has anyone had the H1N1 vaccine, and become sick?

[awhitney]

I got my H1N1 vaccine Oct 27th, i work in the health care field, and for Health Canada, so it was recommended i get it. Right after the injection, i was in serious pain, i couldnt lift my arm higher then my waist. 5 days later i was STILL in pain. my arm hurt sooo bad! alot worse then the normal flu shot. since then the pain has gone away and i can lift my arm, but ive been getting bad headaches, chills, feverish and some intestional problems. Anyone know if these are normal "after shot" symptoms, or do I have the flu?

[LVMademoiselle]

I have not gotten mine yet because they ran out. But a coworker got hers and she made the same complaints, but I don't know if it lasted longer then a day. Today, I discovered that a SA I know told me that the last time we were playing with the makeup and she was feeling ill with the flu, she later found out that she had H1N1! I never got sick, so I guess that is good news. She even touched my face, put on makeup, I ran into her weeks later and she later told me that she was heading to the doctor again with her mother...
Wow! I'm glad that I did not get it. This all happened before the whole media hype.
She is not getting the shot because she feels that one flu was enough and she thinks she is stronger now. SO & I plan to get the shot.

[lv-lover]

My mom got both the seasonal influenza and the H1N1 vaccine and she got headache, fever, cough, tiredness. Her doctor said it was common among people that had both vaccines. I got the H1N1 shot and developed a cough, but I think it was unrelated.

I think it's weird that your arm hurt so much. Mine hurt a lot the first day, but the day after it was practically back to normal.

[meganfm]

I got both shots yesterday-I've never had a regular flu vaccine (they recommended it to me because I live with my elderly grandfather) and I had really bad chills and headache all yesterday and today. The arm I got the H1N1 really hurt today as well-my dad got his shot 2 days ago and has had a lot of trouble sleeping on that arm still.

@LVMademoiselle - They're telling people here if they had a lab confirmed case of H1N1, they don't need to get the shot since they now have an immunity built up to it.

Have you called your doctor? 5 days seems quite long to be having those symptoms. The H1N1 is supposed to be a dead version of the virus, so I don't think the symptoms are supposed to be too serious.

[Designer_Love]

I haven't gotten mine yet, but I don't qualify (where I live only kids 0-24 years of age, preg woman and people with health problems are allowed the vaccine). I do know the vaccine has to be in your system 3 weeks in order for it to be effective.

[awhitney]

meganfm- Im going to the doctor on-call tomorrow morning. I think i may just have a light type of flu, but i want to make sure anyways.

[meganfm]

@Designer_Love I've been told it's 2 weeks-however I think the vaccine we have in Canada is different than the one in the USA.

@awhitney Let us know how it goes!

[awhitney]

i didnt know that! i work in the dental field (in remote northern ontario, where the H1N1 is exploding) so im constantly being exposed to aerosols, and adults and children coughing, touching everything, and never washing hands. i thought i would be good right away.. hmmmmm

Originally Posted by Designer_Love

I haven't gotten mine yet, but I don't qualify (where I live only kids 0-24 years of age, preg woman and people with health problems are allowed the vaccine). I do know the vaccine has to be in your system 3 weeks in order for it to be effective.

[meganfm]

Originally Posted by awhitney

i didnt know that! i work in the dental field (in remote northern ontario, where the H1N1 is exploding) so im constantly being exposed to aerosols, and adults and children coughing, touching everything, and never washing hands. i thought i would be good right away.. hmmmmm

Like I said before, the nurse who administered it to me yesterday told me 2 weeks. But yes, you still have to be careful. Although she told us that you DO start building up immunity immediately, you just don't reach full immunity until 2wks. Also, if for some reason you DO catch it, most likely you will not get as ill because your body has SOME defences against it already.

[awhitney]

makes sense Megan, thanks!

[vhdos]

I have had both seasonal and H1N1 (had H1N1 just yesterday) with no complications whatsoever.
Also, it is quite possible to get the flu even though you've had the vaccination. There are numerous strains of seasonal flu and H1N1 and the vaccines do not protect against all of them.

[awhitney]

So i went to the doctor today.. He said i likely have the H1N1 virus (they arent testing or confirming them anymore)..which i must have gotten 2 weeks ago before i got my vaccine, and the symptoms are just showing up now. He said i dont have the flu that bad because i already got the vaccine. All he said was take tylenol and advil together starting in the morning to relieve the headaches. Now im kinda happy i got the vaccine! it could have been alot worse!

[vhdos]

Feel better soon!!!!

[meganfm]

Oh no! Hope you feel better soon.

[flashy.stems]

OP, i hope you feel better very soon.
i have not gotten the h1n1 shot, as it is too new and shady. but i do not a few coworkers/friends that have gotten it and 3/4 are very ill, and in a lot of pain!