I just wanted to update everyone, as I am the person who first ASKED the question!
I received my flu shot this year (2009), and experienced NO PAIN! I spoke with the nurse about my previous awful experience, showed her the site of injection, and she said, "oh, no! that is way too high up on your shoulder! the needle must have hit something that needed healing!"
The proper place for the injection is 3 finger-widths below the shoulder (about 2 finger-widths below my previous injection in 2008).
I got the flu shot yesterday, and did not have that sickening feeling as the needle went in. I have NO PAIN from the injection, nor in my muscle. It is great to advocate for yourself! The nurse was reassuring, showed me the site in advance on my arm, and made me feel comfortable that she understood.
Please...if you have a nurse that is trying to hurry through your injection, ask when a non-rush time is to come back. Ask in advance where on your arm the injection will be, as you had a bad experience last time (I did tell the nurse that I may sound like a "high maintenance" patient, but let her know this was very unusual for me! Seemed to put her at ease a little, too. I believe advocating for yourself does not necessarily mean the other person is on their defensive).
Anyways..I'm just excited to share that it is possible to get the flu shot if you are interested, and not have residual pain. Yeah!!! Find another nurse if you need to, come back to the location at another non-busy time...but make sure you feel comfortable about the situation if you've had a previous bad experience (or, to prevent a first-time bad experience).
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I just wanted to update everyone, as I am the person who first ASKED the question!
I received my flu shot this year (2009), and experienced NO PAIN! I spoke with the nurse about my previous awful experience, showed her the site of injection, and she said, "oh, no! that is way too high up on your shoulder! the needle must have hit something that needed healing!"
The proper place for the injection is 3 finger-widths below the shoulder (about 2 finger-widths below my previous injection in 2008).
I got the flu shot yesterday, and did not have that sickening feeling as the needle went in. I have NO PAIN from the injection, nor in my muscle. It is great to advocate for yourself! The nurse was reassuring, showed me the site in advance on my arm, and made me feel comfortable that she understood.
Please...if you have a nurse that is trying to hurry through your injection, ask when a non-rush time is to come back. Ask in advance where on your arm the injection will be, as you had a bad experience last time (I did tell the nurse that I may sound like a "high maintenance" patient, but let her know this was very unusual for me! Seemed to put her at ease a little, too. I believe advocating for yourself does not necessarily mean the other person is on their defensive).
Anyways..I'm just excited to share that it is possible to get the flu shot if you are interested, and not have residual pain. Yeah!!! Find another nurse if you need to, come back to the location at another non-busy time...but make sure you feel comfortable about the situation if you've had a previous bad experience (or, to prevent a first-time bad experience).
If you want to follow the thread, I posted this as a separate SHARE: No Pain in arm or shoulder after flu shot this year!
October 22, 2009 - 2:41pmThis Comment
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