[Riverwild]

I saw a new PCP today and he's a keeper, BUT...

the sadist made me take both a flu shot and a pneumo shot.

The flu side is doing fine, but the pneumo side is killing me. Of course the office is closed until Monday now...soooo, anyone had one of those and is it supposed to hurt like this?

There's no redness or itching but it's painful to touch and feels like a Copax lump under the skin for about 5 inches around the shot site!

[yeahbut]

yes, the last time I got one the same thing happened to me. I was told it was because when the shot was given the fluid didn't distribute. The nurse suggested warm pack & the keep rubbing it to help distribute the fluid.Good luck!

[Riverwild]

Thank Ya my leetle Yabbit!

I was afraid I was actually having some sort of weird reaction and that is an unusual thang for me!

[SallyC]

(((((((((((River)))))))))))

Get that river/fluid movin..

[NurseNancy]

if you're feeling ok and no fever probably just a site reaction.

actually i was going to suggest some ice for the first 24hrs.
then maybe some heat.

but, why don't you check with your pharmacist? or, any pharmacist.
i know my walgreens is open today and tomorrow. they know about shots.

hope it resolves.

[4boysmom]

I found with the flu shot, it helps to rub it for quite awhile. Maybe the same goes for the pneumo shot. Sitting in the hot tub to rub it always worked for me!

Of course you have to like hot tubs for that to work.

[Natalie8]

RW, we are allowed to have flu and pneumo shots on Tysabri? I never bothered asking. I thought maybe I didn't want to do any mucking around with my immune system more than I have to. hope your arm is feeling better!

[SandyC]

Hope your feeling better! Jim got the pneumonia shot a few years back and we heard just this year that you never have to get it again unless you want to! The nurse said they only give it every five years now to those who are seriously immune compromised. Apparently the first shot you get builds up an immunity. Jim hasn't made up his mind yet where he fits. lol

[dmplaura]

There's an article in the Canadian Reader's Digest (Decembers?) that talks about various vaccinations and who should get them.

I told my boyfriend about the pneumo shot, because it lists diabetics as needing this shot. First I'd heard of it. To his knowledge he's never got it, and his doctor's never suggested it.

Nothing about MS'ers needing any particular shots discussed, just FYI They talked about Hep A & B vaccines, HPV vaccine, etc etc.

[Riverwild]

I talked to my neurologist before I talked to the PCP. Since the neuro said it was ok, I did both. I've had the flu shot every year except for last year, just because I forgot .

The pneumovax was a new one to me. I hadn't had it before, but since I work with an at risk population in my job, it's been suggested before and I finally took the needle. I'm worse when I am ill than when I am well!

It never got red, it never itched, it just HURT! It's still tender to the touch, but the swelling has gone down and I can sleep on that arm/shoulder again. The doc did tell me that the life of the vax is thought to be 9-10 years and that it may prove out to be longer, so I may well never have to have it again!

Since both the flu shot and the pneumovax are NOT live virus, it is ok to have both of them according to my neuro and the PCP. They both said the Flu-mist was NOT ok to have with Tysabri, since it is a live virus.

Talk to your doc/neuro if you have questions or concerns about either.