Are, shall we say, digestive difficulties common after Moderna boosters?

[Terabith]

I’m assuming this is a vaccine reaction?  But not one I had with my Pfizer original round or that I remember other people complaining about.  I had some significant fatigue, chills, aches, and headache about 12 hours after vaccination, but they went away and I felt better but kind of hit again about 40 hours post shot with nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.  I’m assuming this is normal but thought I’d check.  

[Katy]

6 minutes ago, Terabith said:

I’m assuming this is a vaccine reaction?  But not one I had with my Pfizer original round or that I remember other people complaining about.  I had some significant fatigue, chills, aches, and headache about 12 hours after vaccination, but they went away and I felt better but kind of hit again about 40 hours post shot with nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.  I’m assuming this is normal but thought I’d check.  

I had a Moderna booster after a J&J shot, and I did have stomach cramps & diarrhea, but I frequently do the day before my period starts, so I didn’t think it was connected. 

[Amethyst]

I have not experienced this. Just got my Moderna booster yesterday. 

[TarynB]

I've now had 3 shots of Moderna and never had that issue. But DS19 had diarrhea that lasted about 10-12 hours the day after his Moderna booster (not after either of his first two doses though). I'm sorry you're dealing with that.

[DreamerGirl]

Yes. I have not experienced it. DH did a bit.

But my friend did and to quote her "had to leap out of bed before an accident happened". I remember it so vividly because she was trying to express the urgency without being graphic.  This was Pfizer.

DD is getting her first shot and I am getting boostered (?) next week. My doctor recommended I do so I shall update if well....

 

[QueenCat]

It's been a little over a week since my booster. No stomach issues. Just a bit of tiredness the next day or two. And a sore arm that wasn't as bad as the first two shots.

[Selkie]

No one in our family has experienced that, either with the first two Moderna shots or the boosters.

[DreamerGirl]

@Terabith nosy question.

Can I ask why did you take a Moderna booster when you had a Pfizer first round ?

I am sort of playing ostrich with the latest COVID vaccine regulations and I have signed up for I guess a third Pfizer shot. Should I switch it up ? My doc just recommended I take a booster, did not specify the type.

[AmandaVT]

From a very anecdotal perspective - I've noticed that when people get covid, they're having similar symptoms as their shot side effects, just way worse. I've now had 4 coworkers test positive in the past month (yay for working in a community that thinks covid isn't real). All vaccinated and all four had symptoms that were similar to their shot side effects. 

1. Had stomach issues after the shot and had BAD stomach issues as a covid symptom. Lost sense of taste and smell.

2. Had flu symptoms after the shot and had similar but much worse when they were diagnosed. Lost sense of smell, but it came back quickly.

3. Had minimal symptoms after shot and only has a slightly sniffly nose for covid symptoms now. Taste and smell is fine.

4. Fatigued and achy and a bit flu like after the shot. Super flu symptoms w/ full body aches with covid. Everything tasted and smelled like stale sour coffee. 

[Terabith]

16 minutes ago, DreamerGirl said:

@Terabith nosy question.

Can I ask why did you take a Moderna booster when you had a Pfizer first round ?

I am sort of playing ostrich with the latest COVID vaccine regulations and I have signed up for I guess a third Pfizer shot. Should I switch it up ? My doc just recommended I take a booster, did not specify the type.

I didn’t have a brilliant reason for doing Moderna booster, other than it seemed like slightly more durability.  It was also the vaccine that was most convenient for me to get.  

[Scarlett]

5 minutes ago, Terabith said:

I didn’t have a brilliant reason for doing Moderna booster, other than it seemed like slightly more durability.  It was also the vaccine that was most convenient for me to get.  

I think that it seems to last  longer is a good enough reason.. I wish I had thought to suggest that for Dh….he had  Pfizer for first two and Pfizer booster.  Dss20 and I had Moderna. 

[AmandaVT]

20 minutes ago, Terabith said:

I didn’t have a brilliant reason for doing Moderna booster, other than it seemed like slightly more durability.  It was also the vaccine that was most convenient for me to get.  

I'm proud of my little moderna shot - I've been cheering it on as I've been exposed to more covid than I ever thought I'd be able to handle this year and keep testing negative. My coworker who I eat lunch with and a half dozen kids that I work with all tested positive last week and I just got my second negative test this week. Go Moderna - Hold the Line!!! 

[DreamerGirl]

40 minutes ago, Terabith said:

I didn’t have a brilliant reason for doing Moderna booster, other than it seemed like slightly more durability.  It was also the vaccine that was most convenient for me to get.  

Thank you.

I shall talk with DH about this. More durability is indeed a good reason.

[Corraleno]

@DreamerGirl I also had Pfizer for the first two shots and wanted Moderna for the booster because of the higher dose (50 µg vs 30 µg for Pfizer), since studies show that immunity from Moderna did not wane as quickly as Pfizer, most likely because of the difference in dosage. I actually had to hunt around quite a bit to find Moderna (my GP originally said they would have it, but now they only have Pfizer), so after a week of searching I finally scored an appointment for tomorrow that's about 30 minutes away. I had very little reaction to the two Pfizer shots, so we'll see if I get more of a reaction to the booster, since Moderna's booster is nearly double the dose of the Pfizer shots. I am currently guzzling water to try to get as hydrated as possible before the shot.

[PeterPan]

If you have some Florastor or a probiotic lying around, might be wise to take it. 

[Terabith]

1 minute ago, PeterPan said:

If you have some Florastor or a probiotic lying around, might be wise to take it. 

At this point, I don’t think I could keep it down.  

[PeterPan]

5 minutes ago, Terabith said:

At this point, I don’t think I could keep it down.  

If it's a probiotic, you can open the capsule and wash it down with warm water. Not a lot.

I'm sorry you're so sick. My moderna was pretty rough too, but I went into it knowing it would probably be bad. Still haven't done the 2nd one.

[Terabith]

I’m sick but not incapacitated or anything. I’m just going to stay away from food for a couple hours. I’m sure I will feel better in a bit, and reduced likelihood of covid infection is a pretty awesome superpower.  

[AngelaR]

DH got J&J first, then got Moderna booster and about 4-5 days later was seriously laid up with “digestive” issues (both ends!).  I got Pfizer for 1st 2 and got Moderna for booster—oh so much worse. Such a colossally sore arm.  I grew up overseas and me, my friends and family always had to get shots, and everyone agreed Typhoid was the worst for sore arms.  Well.  Let me just say, I’ve had many a wretched sore arm from Typhoid shots and that blasted Moderna blew them ALL away. I also felt like TOTAL crap the next day or two. Had to medicate with Tylenol for two days afterwards. I reckon my immune system is now completely COVID-proof. 😆

[kbutton]

I had a single episode of digestive upset after my first Pfizer but not with the others two Pfizer shots. It was one of the very few symptoms I had with the first shot.

[Not_a_Number]

My FIL had digestive issues after both his first two Pfizers, but not, as far as I know, after his booster. But he didn't get a Moderna booster. 

[KungFuPanda]

5 hours ago, Terabith said:

I’m assuming this is a vaccine reaction?  But not one I had with my Pfizer original round or that I remember other people complaining about.  I had some significant fatigue, chills, aches, and headache about 12 hours after vaccination, but they went away and I felt better but kind of hit again about 40 hours post shot with nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.  I’m assuming this is normal but thought I’d check.  

I had this with my initial J&J shot. Normal sick symptoms for 24 hours, then recovered well enough to visit my community garden, then got hit with a GI time bomb that made getting home a bit precarious. It was rather dramatic and I didn’t care for it. I’ll stay closer to home after my booster. 

[Rebel]

I had Moderna for all 3 and only had digestive issues after the 3rd dose. It was a full dose and not a half dose booster.

[melmichigan]

To answer your question, my nephew had significant nausea and vomiting following his second Moderna.  Six weeks later he now has a serious case of covid, as does the roommate who had Pfizer.  I'm becoming more disillusioned with the statistics lately.

[KSera]

I had no GI effects with my first two Moderna. With the Moderna booster, I had some mild nausea and not a lot of appetite the next day, but that was it for GI stuff. I’d say the half dose booster gave me about half the degree of side effects that the full dose second shot did (fever and headache primarily). 

[Terabith]

Okay, follow up question:  I haven’t had any vomiting but I have had some nausea and diarrhea and stomach pain. So I’ve been sticking to stuff like tea and crackers but I’m also hungry.  I’m still taking ibuprofen for a temp right around 100 and a headache.  What can I eat that will not make me puke or make anything worse but won’t leave me hungry?

[TarynB]

The BRAT diet? Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. That's what my mom fed me when I had stomach problems as a kid. 

ETA - And plenty of liquids so you don't get dehydrated. 

Edited November 7, 2021 by TarynB

[TarynB]

@Terabith how are you feeling now?

[Terabith]

Just now, TarynB said:

@Terabith how are you feeling now?

Much better, thank you!