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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Dale Parker on October 09, 2009, 09:03:49 pm

Title: Problems with the 5 year pneumonia shot
Post by: Dale Parker on October 09, 2009, 09:03:49 pm
I got my 5 year pneumonia shot yesterday and was wondering if any one else has had a problem with it. The doctor gave me the shot in my upper left arm at 10:00am. At the time it was fine. Then I went down and got the blood drawn for my tests right after the shot. They took the blood from my left arm as well but lower down.  Since I was going rollerblading I took an Advil at 1:00pm as sometimes I get a pain in the back of my legs.
After rollerblading I lay down on the couch and had a cat nap. I woke 20 minutes later with a major pain in my left arm. It went from the point where I got the shot up to my shoulder, and down the left side of my rib cage. It was really painfull and I took another Advil. It didn't ease the pain. It felt like someone had hit me in my armpit with a baseball bat. Basically it incapacitated (due to the pain) my left arm over night as it was too painfull to do anything with. The pain kept me awake most of the night. The few times I did manage to sleep I woke up after 30 minutes or so in a light sweat (not like the Aids sweat). Even now (35 hours after the shot) I have a little pain left in my armpit.
I'm pretty sure that it's nothing to worry about but would like to know if anyone has had a similar experience.
Title: Re: Problems with the 5 year pneumonia shot
Post by: Assurbanipal on October 09, 2009, 09:20:25 pm
I had a sore arm for a couple of days and trouble lifting it, but nothing like you describe with pain going into the chest/ rib cage.

If you google pneumovax side effects you will get quite a few web sites with lists of the common side effects.  e.g. http://www.ehow.com/about_5402739_side-effects-pneumovax.html

Didn't see anything quite like you described though.

And just in general, if you have concerns about stuff, might be worthwhile to call your doctor and describe what is going on (it's not exactly malingering you know  ; after all, you have AIDS!   :) )

Hope everything turns out fine and you feel better.
Assurbanipal
Title: Re: Problems with the 5 year pneumonia shot
Post by: Dale Parker on October 09, 2009, 09:25:52 pm
Thanks for the info Assurbanipal. I'll check it out. I'm pretty sure it's nothing to worry about as it is going away. If it was geting worse I sure would go to emerge and have it checked.
Title: Re: Problems with the 5 year pneumonia shot
Post by: Miss Philicia on October 09, 2009, 10:04:23 pm
I've gotten pain from them too, just not to the extent you did.  Guess I'm more manly ***WINK***

BUTCH QUEEN UP IN DRAGS FIRST TIME AT A BALL!  TENS TENS TENS ACROSS THE BOARD!

Anywho, I trust you'll feel better in the morning.
Title: Re: Problems with the 5 year pneumonia shot
Post by: positively_me on October 09, 2009, 10:11:04 pm
The first time I got this shot was right after I was diagnosed and don't remember having any problems with it.  When I had it again after 5 years, it hurt like a son of a gun!  I wasn't able to use my left arm to full capacity and it ached so badly that I wanted to cry. I've got a high tolerance for pain so I don't think I was being wussy...I think that shot is a nasty bugger!  I don't remember night sweats so I hope you aren't coming down with anything else.
Title: Re: Problems with the 5 year pneumonia shot
Post by: Dale Parker on October 09, 2009, 11:00:42 pm
Hey positvely: I do have a bit of a cold. It's about a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10. Like you I have a high tollerence for pain.