Yesterday, I went down to the local pharmacy, at 4pm, to get the current flu vaccine, and a Covid booster (Pfizer). Like with the Shingrix vaccine, the injections themselves were not a particularly big deal.
I walked to the pharmacy, and home again. It’s about a half mile each way. I was tired by the time I got home, but feeling okay. I went to bed about 9:30pm, after taking Tylenol PM. The pharmacist strongly suggested I take Tylenol every six hours for at least the first day, given the possibility of side effects from the vaccines. Well, technically, he first suggested ibuprofen, but I can’t take NSAIDS any more. Last summer I was diagnosed with mild chronic kidney disease1 (CKD) and taken off of all NSAIDS. And I was living on diclofenac2 for my fibro pain.
Back to the injections: I had a bit of dizziness post injection, both times, but that quickly subsided. I have needle phobia (part of my CPTSD from Barbara’s long term hospitalization and later death), so that might be the reason for the dizziness. Otherwise, I was feeling pretty good, and walked home and relaxed. I had dinner, and took the suggested Tylenol.
I got to bed about 9:30pm after a dose of Tylenol PM. Here’s where it got fun. I woke up at least twice with (mild) leg cramps. Was that from fibro due to the one mile round trip walk? Or a side effect from the vaccines? It could be either.
I took a second dose of Tylenol during one of those awake periods, and managed to (mostly) sleep until 8am this morning. I am feeling the usual muscle soreness after exertion, or is that another side effect? Again, it could be either. I am still taking Tylenol, and will continue to do so at regular intervals through the day.
Unlike what I’ve read online, I have not experienced fever, chills, diarrhea, or other flu-like symptoms. That honestly surprised me, given those are side effects of both vaccines, and would presumably have an additive effect. (Narrator: she quietly knocks on wood.) I do have soreness at the Covid injection site, which is again to be expected.
So that’s the story as of this morning. I will update later if anything changes.
An Aging Trans Woman 
I got my flu shot at the beginning of Sept.; an old habit from when I worked at the schools. 😉 I usually get achy and tired for a day afterward, but these past 2 years, it’s been OK. I still don’t think I’m brave enough to get both vaccinations in one day! Woot, Janet!
So, I got the new COVID booster/vaccine last week. I’d been getting Moderna since I was eligible for shots, but went to the pharm rather than the Health Dept., as their shots did not arrive and the pharm had plenty. Anyway, usually after all but the 1st Moderna, I got chills, fever, achiness, and tiredness-not-quite-fatigue after 4 hours that lasted about 4 hours. This time I got Pfizer. My arm was sore, but Biofreeze really helped it. Around bedtime, I was suddenly fatigued, much more than usually tired at bedtime. I was tired-to-fatigued all the next day, but that was the only symptom I had this time. My arm felt better by noon that next day, too. I managed to function through the day, slept well, and by Friday, it was as if nothing ever happened. It’s just interesting how things hit people differently.
It’ll be important to mention you got both shots, IMO, when you go in on the 6th. But you know that, I know.
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I plan to review all recent vaccines with the cardiologist. I strongly suspect this has been a reaction to the Covid vaccine, that escalated the cardiac symptoms I’ve been slowly developing. 🤷♀️
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I also got Prevnar-20 back in late July. I had zero reaction to it. If I hadn’t seen it administered, I would have doubted they actually gave it to me.
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