Long, but i hope that this helps someone.
2nd Pfizer on Monday. 60's, Moderately severe asthmatic with multiple allergies which cause, reactions ranging from anaphylaxis to hives to rashes to turning beet red with a swollen face. Other health conditions, but not overweight.
1st shot (at a drive through mass vaccination site), buzzing feeling with numbness spreading down the arm to wrist to fingers while waiting 30 minutes after the shot, did NOT honk the car horn or flash the lights for EMTS, but moved my arm/wrist/fingers, did not rub anything. The feeling stopped within the 30 minutes and settled in with soreness near the injection site, so i waited 15 more minutes (for a total of 45 minutes) and left. The soreness, moving the arm, etc., was addressed in the handout given with the shot.
Had a sore arm for 2 days and slightly sore neck (from favoring the arm, I suspect). That was all!
2nd shot. The EMT and nurse read my list of allergies and were more concerned that the first set, stressed, as the 1st time, that i should park close to the ambulances and wait 30 minutes. They were worried about 2 of the allergies, but those cause hives and a rash, not the (from my experiences) "really bad reactions." I told them that i was much less worried than by the 1st shot, because i had only experienced the arm soreness and neck. The 1st time, i really felt the shot and it seemed to take at while, this time, i barely noticed and it was quick.
Same reaction once i parked. The tingling/numbness left more quickly and I left after 30 minutes.
Started feeling dry mouth about 3 hours later, (hydrated, but the feeling didn't go away). 12 hours after the shot, BOOM. Arthritis in my legs, ankles, hip (rare to feel in the hip) and only on the side of the injection site (usually both lower legs and ankles) neck, arm, shoulder, elbow muscles ALL HURT. Hobbled out and got another Gatorade and water (I had also had coffee, ImmuneAId, Gatorade, water after the initial shot and throughout the 12 hours), huddled under one and then a 2nd throw........fell asleep. Woke up 6 hours after the pain assault, cautiously got up (bathroom.......) and no more pain except the shoulder, like the first shot.............whew.
Fell back asleep, under one throw. Woke up to a weird headache when i moved my head a certain way and the sore arm. Exhaustion (but no sore muscles except the shoulder, weird, because i would expect muscle strains) and kept falling asleep for 1-2 hours all day.
Day 3. Still headache and sore shoulder, but no napping.
Today. Slightly sore shoulder.
While i am worried about the RNA shot technology (from taking a medication that affects leukotrienes, in the early days of it being approved, watching more conditions being approved for treatment, more side effects appear etc, i am wary of treatments without decades of research) I am more afraid of Covid 19.
The last few days remind me of my body's reaction to the flu shot, which i take every few years. The flu shot seems to give me an "immunity" for 5-7 years and a milder case eventually. The following year, i get a flu shot. Works for me.
Hopefully, this vaccination will do the same. Feeling a little safer. Will stay home for another week plus before meeting up with relatives who have also been vaccinated. Will still wear a mask and social distance.
Reading this thread helped me decide to be vaccinated as soon as I could get an appointment. Thank-you all.
