Lymphoedema Boosters and Flu Jab

[delly]

Hi girls

I'm out delivering flowers this morning, to all the threads I subscribe to on this lovely Forum. Give us all some CHEER. I love Amaryllis at this time of year. So Beautiful.

Are courtesy of "Delly-veroo" 😊 ❤️

Perhaps you could forward them on to your fellow thread friends too and we can Smother the whole Forum in flowers. How lovely that would be.

Lots of love,  Delly x❤️x

[Slightly Lopsided]

Hello @delly 

Who knew ordinary life could be so full of danger?!

I think quite a few of the online gardening shops stock them-I  bought them from Harrod Horticultural and then I saw Sarah Raven also stocked them.The make is Bradley-they may even sell them direct.

I opted for the ones with roses but they still make me feel like a medieval knight in chain mail!😀

[delly]

Hi @Slightly Lopsided - Like you, I had a nasty experience when I bent down to pet a dog, tethered outside a shop. Only a smallish terrier, but turned on me with a bite like a Rotweiler!! Bit my hand and broke the skin. The owner then came out and told me he was a bit wary of strangers (the dog not him), but a bit too late. I went in to do my shopping, but within 20 mins, started to feel woozy/light headed. I was sat down in their staff room until I felt less light headed. But within about 40 mins from being bitten, developed redness and red streaking up my arm - sign of infection spreading. Wow, so quick. 

Had to drive myself to the nearest walk-in emergency centre, about 20 mins away, for antibiotic cover. Soon sorted, but I'm a lot more wary of tethered dogs since!! 😅

Glad to hear you've treated yourself to some long gauntlet gardening gloves to protect against those Rotweiler roses and their thorns. I always wear long sleeves and gloves for gardening, but I'll have a look for some of those gloves. Had wondered if anywhere did them, so thanks for the tip.

Lots of love to everyone,  Delly  xXx 

[Slightly Lopsided]

Hello @katytc 

Glad to hear all went smoothly and I hope you have had no ill effects and feel ok after your jabs.

I had radiotherapy last year to the axilla as I had one positive lymph node from the original  sentinel lymph node  biopsy when I had a lumpectomy.I don't actually have lymphoedema but I had read about avoiding having procedures such  as blood pressure and injections on the affected arm,  and  I have become even more  careful and cautious since having an arm infection this summer.I had a tiny prick from a rose in the garden (it sounds like the beginning of a fairy story!) and thought I had been very careful applying disinfectant,  and was rather alarmed when it started to turn purple and spread.... I was really lucky to get an immediate appointment with my GP and was very impressed by how thorough she was ;she went through my  treatment history and pointed out that I was at higher risk of developing lymphoedema due to having radiotherapy to the underarm area.  It gave me quite a scare and I rushed out and bought some rather pretty long leather gauntlets  for anything risky in the garden! 

[katytc]

Thank you for your replies, really interesting. 

I received both flu jab and covid booster today, 3 cm apart haha in the one arm (only one arm affected).

Was really lucky because the person that was jabbing was a GP so he went through all the details with me, it's done woo hoo!

So if anyone else is wondering what happens they will know exactly what's what.

Another question did any of you have radiotherapy to your axilla? Just interested, many thanks xx

[delly]

Yeh, @Kitkat23 - Pretty painless, hey. And definitely favourable to a buttock I'd say. At least you're not sitting on a thigh afterwards!! 😆 xXx 

[Kitkat23]

Hi Katytc  
I don’t have lymphodeoma..... but have had nodes removed in both arms....I had Covid booster in one leg and flu jab in the other leg.

[delly]

Hi @katytc 

You don't say if both your arms are at risk, or just one. Both of mine are immunosuppressed/compromised from bilat masts and full ANC 2006 and 07. Never developed lymphoedema, but am always extra careful, no jabs, blood taken from, cannulas into, BP cuffs, bites, scratches etc. 

Had both my Covid jabs in my thigh. The nurse was very grateful for me to bring it to her attention, and pleased that I was soo careful. Plus we were in a private cubicle. I would think, if it's the same for you with both your arms, and it be your thigh, you'd be taken somewhere a bit more private to drop your trousers and bare a thigh!! 😄 But don't risk an arm if you are compromised in both.  xXx   

[Slightly Lopsided]

Hello @katytc 

I asked my practice nurse a few months' ago when I suspected we might be offered flu and Covid boosters around the same time.She said it was fine to get both jabs in the same arm  2 cm apart.

There's  guidance on the Lymphoedema Support Network's website which suggests using the thigh  for the original vaccine if  both arms are affected but it hasn't actually been updated to cover getting both jabs at the same time-common sense suggests the same principle applies.

I must admit, I fudged the issue and managed to get my flu jab  first when I took my father  to the pharmacy for his and then  the Covid booster a fortnight  later .I didn't really fancy having to either undress in the middle of a vaccination centre or alternatively have to face a potential standoff if the vaccinator hadn't had guidance as to what to do in the situation and be sent home with only one jab and have to rebook. 

Good luck!💉💉  

[katytc]

Thank you bookish, and you made me laugh too haha!!

Have always been fine with flu jab but didn't feel the best with covid vaccines........

Really just wondered what they would do/offer xx

[bookish]

I got everything in one arm, flu and pneumococcal one week, then purely through timing of eligibility, covid booster in same arm the following week. I did offer them my behind as an alternative, *think* the nurse got the joke 😉

[katytc]

Just a quick question for my fellow lymphoedema friends, have received letter stating that next week I am due for both vaccines. As far as I know it's one in each arm which obviously we cannot do!

Does anyone know if they just postpone one or are they offering 2 in one arm??

Ouch..........

Would be grateful if anyone has any knowledge, many thanks xx