bottleblank wrote:
Yeah, I was a bit concerned at first because I didn't even feel the needle go in, and when I had the chills I thought maybe I'd eaten something bad, I wasn't convinced I'd been given the shot at all. But having heard that others have experienced similar symptoms, I'm now happy enough believing I had it (not that I believed it was some kind of trick, but maybe the needle didn't go where it was supposed to, or the stuff in it wasn't active, I dunno, but I don't think that was the case, I'm sure I've had it now).
Sounds like you had a bit of a rougher time than me though, that sucks. Encouraging to hear that the second one wasn't as bad, I've heard it said that the second is worse, but I guess I'll find out in a month or so. At least yours is done now, like you say, it's out of the way and hopefully we won't need more of them, I'm looking forward to the same, I just want to get back to normal.
Modern needles are very fine. It makes me laugh when I get the "How can you do that?!?" reaction to taking insulin, because 98% of the time it's painless. The Covid shots seem to be similar needles. Yes you'll feel
something but it can be very subtle and it doesn't normally hurt. In comparison the needles we had 40 years ago felt like knitting needles!
Some injection pain is definitely fear-related too. Some people get stressed and tense up and then it IS gonna hurt. I have regular blood tests and the nurse that does those is really good. Yeah it stings very slightly but provided I look the other way it's no big deal.
Some people have had very little reaction to either the first or second dose. Now that could be the vaccine but it could also be that they've already had Covid-19 and not realised, which is quite possible. For those who do react it seems to be either one jab or the other that provokes a big response, but not both. So if you had chills with the first one, chances are the second will be fine. Though I'd still buy the aspirin, just in case....