Some people simply don’t like needles and therefore refused to get a flu shot. I’m cool with that, it’s an individual choice. The thing that bugs me though, is there are at least a few people who claim to be afraid of needles, take a pass on getting the shot, and the rest of us pay the price for their winter sicknesses…but I’m digressing.
Typically, I haven’t had a reaction to the flu shot. I know full well that you can’t actually get the flu itself, but some people do experience side effects. For the most part its matter of tenderness where the needle went into the fleshy part of the upper arm. I had a great nurse administer my shot; quick, painless, and a smile when she was done. It was over in less than 10 seconds.
The day after I was injected with what is supposed to keep me flu-free this year, my arm was incredibly tender to the touch, itchy and hot; and it felt like there was a golf ball was just under the surface of my skin. I put a cold pack on it, which helped, as did the Advil that I took. The situation persisted into a third day. I didn’t really want to have to go to my doc to have her tell me, “it’s a normal reaction.” So just to be on the safe side I called who most of our staff call when they have a medical question.
Nurse Maria is our director of health and nutrition services. She’s been doing her job for quite some time and is an exceptional nurse. When I had questions about my thyroid, subsequent surgery and treatments, she kindly and willingly helped me to make sense of some of my anxiety. In the case of my flu-shot-arm situation too, Nurse Maria was the voice of reason. She reassured me that, in fact, what I was feeling was “normal”.
Related articles
- Now is the time for flu shots (fox2now.com)
- Do I need a flu shot? (ask.metafilter.com)
- 8 Reasons to Avoid the Flu Shot (healthunbreaded.com)
365 Days of Thank You 