How do I ameliorate my reaction to vaccines?

October 20, 2009 12:58 PM

How do I ameliorate my reaction to vaccines?

Since childhood, I've had an immune response which might be charitably described as vigorous — once my body picks up on something, I can count on ridiculous fevers, fourteen hour "naps" and such, all of which I recover from as swifly as they come on, but when I'm out, I'm out. Unfortunately, this holds for vaccines as well. The first DPT shot I can remember ended up with my parents having to cut my shirt sleeve in half, as my arm swelled up to a painful and almost comical size. A recent tetanus shot produced a great deal of swelling, though not as much. Other vaccines are also troublesome. Some give me some mild localized swelling. For a flu vaccine, I can always count on an elevated temperature on the thermometer, deep aches, and weariness for a day or two. Because the shots come in the middle of the work week, I'm usually not functioning well for the rest of it.

Could I manage to lightly depress my immune function beforehand? "Pre-treat" a fever?

While I know that vaccines are overwhelmingly a Good Thing, and that the point of a vaccine is to provoke response and learning by your immune system, I'd rather it not be quite so extreme, as I can basically count on losing a workday, if not two, every time I get one. Yes, I know — "Well, would you rather be sick for two weeks?" — obviously not, which is why I am getting the shot, but I'd rather not be unhappy for a few days, either, and I'd like to avoid it if possible.

posted by adipocere to health & fitness (7 comments total)

Maybe you are allergic to a preservative? If this is concerning you to the extent that you are skipping vaccines, then you should involve your doctor. They may be wary (with good reason) of anti-vax woo, but if you have a documentable reaction to vaccines that does not go away under close examination then maybe something more interesting is going on.
posted by gensubuser at 1:04 PM on October 20 [1 favorite]

Because the shots come in the middle of the work week, I'm usually not functioning well for the rest of it.

Can you arrange to get the shot on a Friday, so that you have the weekend to recuperate?
posted by scody at 1:18 PM on October 20 [1 favorite]

Scody has the best solution - time it so you have a day 'off' to recuperate afterward. If you can't do that, go to bed early and get lots of rest the day of the vaccine.

I have to do the exact same thing, because my body also has a freakout once something new is introduced. So, usually I just get vaccines and the like done on Fridays, as I have the weekends off. (Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way; I had to get a flu shot today because stores around me were running out, and I didn't want to miss my chance. So instead, I'll be going to bed early tonight.)
posted by spinifex23 at 1:25 PM on October 20

"... Could I manage to lightly depress my immune function beforehand? "Pre-treat" a fever? ..."

IANAD, but have you tried a dose of Benadryl a few hours before getting a shot?
posted by paulsc at 2:33 PM on October 20

You really need to ask the clinician giving you the immunization about this. Call the clinic up a day in advance, describe what you've said here and ask their advice; if you should pre-treat with Benadryl or Tylenol, for instance. And, always give your history before getting an immunization.
posted by FergieBelle at 5:12 PM on October 20

It sounds to me like you're allergic to some vaccines. I was badly allergic to the MMR but have since had tetanus boosters and the Hep B vaccine with no reaction. Perhaps you are one of the people who should not get the flu vaccine? If you have an egg allergy or sensitivity, you should definitely not get it.

These are the people the CDC recommends to get the vaccine:

People who should get vaccinated each year are:

1. Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
2. Pregnant women
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
1. Health care workers
2. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
3. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Are you in any of those categories?

Guide to vaccine ingredients that can cause allergic reactions. (While this is geared towards kids, it may still be relevant.)
posted by IndigoRain at 8:08 PM on October 20

Sounds like the reaction I get to preservatives in vaccines and allergy shots (before I found a smart allergist.) I take 5mg of prednisone. Most people would take a benedryl, but the preservative usually has the same chemicals in it that are in Benedryl, so I can't. BTW, don't be surprised if the preservative is nowhere to be found on the vaccine or whatever label. In Canada, a preservative only has to be mentioned if it's (I think) 0.5% by volume, and the ones I'm allergic to usually are included at 0.4%. You can use the site IndigoRain mentioned or google 'formula xxx' which, if you're lucky, will get you the info you need.
posted by x46 at 8:28 PM on October 20