This is me trying to make a funny face at the CVS after my first Pfizer shot yesterday. I ended up looking deranged, hehe.
The saga of shots. Unlike other states or even other areas of our state, getting vaccinated against COVID is a nightmare of virtually standing in line, refreshing, refreshing, refreshing, finally getting in, and then being advised that the vaccine supply has ran out. The state exchange is a bust, so I’ve been stalking the CVS site for the last few weeks, and one day it told me they had appointments available. Score!
I force Gordon to drop what he is doing and get him to log into CVS. I am already in line, so I make my appointment for Friday, April 16th and then his turn comes and no luck. It’s booked. On a hunch, I try again, and I am able to get an appointment for him. We are both getting Pfizer. Fantastic.
I haven’t shared this with you, but I’ve had some troubling symptoms over the past year or so, and my doctor wanted me to see a cardiologist, which I did, and he ordered a stress test and a heart ultrasound to see if anything weird is happening. So first COVID shot is Friday, then cardio check up following Wednesday, April 21.
Friday morning Gordon says, “My appointment is cancelled.”
I immediately say, “Then I am not getting mine.”
Which is incredibly stupid. I am not sure what happened there, because yes, why wouldn’t I want to get vaccinated and reduce the risk to my unvaccinated husband? Brain glitch moment.
Gordon then says, “Get in the car. I’m taking you to get your shot.”
We drive to the CVS in New Braunfels, which is one town over, and the GPS messes up. We have to U turn. Finally we get to this appointment with 2 minutes to spare. I run into the pharmacy, and the nice check in lady says, “I have Gordon but not Ilona…”
I’m like, “That’s my husband! Hold on!”
I run to the car, drag Gordon out, and he gets his shot. Yay! While I am waiting for him, I check and I can get a Pfizer appointment this Wednesday at 10:30 am. My cardiology appointment is at 1:00 pm, this works, I grab it.
We get home and at 4:59 pm the cardiologist’s office person calls. “By the way, we need a clear COVID result for the stress test.”
It took me 2 months to get an appointment with the cardiologist, another 3 weeks before I could have this test, and they tell me I need a clear COVID test now. Like couldn’t you have mentioned this earlier? I have waited to so long for this appointment. I can’t miss it, because there is no telling how long it will take.
I starts looking around and I can get a rapid COVID test on Sunday. Fine. Rapid test results should be available “within hours.” Great. I have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning to get the results.
Sunday I get to the CVS and no rapid test, only regular COVID test, which I must administer myself in the car in the drive-through. Funny thing, when you shove a medical size qtip far enough up your nose, your body hates it and makes you cry.
Monday the cardiologist’s office calls. “How is the COVID test?”
I tell them I signed up for CVS Mychart and so far nothing.
Monday…
Tuesday…
On Tuesday afternoon, a very nice doctor calls and says, “Come in anyway. We will figure it out.”
Wednesday…
Gordon takes me to get my shot. The last shot I had was against tetanus, so I mentally prep myself for sitting there and having liquid pushed into my arm.
Poke.
“You’re done.”
Eh?
I poked myself with a needle harder when I sewed.
I take a selfie, sit for about 5 minutes, nothing is happening, and I have places to be, so I am out.
Kid 1 and Cage, her boyfriend, drive me to Austin, because Cage knows the city and I am not sure what state I will be in after the test. I get in 30 minutes early and am immediately ushered to the back. A very nice doctor once again explains that they can’t do the stress test, but I can get the chemical stress test, which means a shot to dilate my veins and 2 minutes on the treadmill. Great! At this point, I just want this over with, as I have stressed out over this for weeks. I am barred from strenuous activity until the results from this come in, so I want to go back to elliptical and walks.
It takes them 3 times to get the IV in – bad day for blood vessels – which is great. My veins usually cooperate, but occasionally they don’t and during one of the labors, I can’t recall which, they tried to get an IV into me 9 times. It’s in there on the third try, so awesome.
For the next 3 hours I am treated as if I am made of glass. Everything is explained, everything is reassuring, everyone has the same friendly yet very caring manner. I have ultrasound, I am placed into some sort of Star Wars looking machine for pictures to be taken, and by the time I get to the treadmill, I am totally relaxed. I get on the treadmill. My pulse is 80, which is normal for me, as my heart likes to beat a little fast and my blood pressure is 120/78. I starts walking in my mask, they give me the shot into my IV, and it’s like someone attached cinderblocks to my feet.
I keep dragging myself forward. I get short of breath. About two minutes later, they make me sit down. How am I feeling? Is my head hurting? Would I like some caffeine? They have coke and coffee, and when I tell them no thank you, I only drink tea, they assure me that tea can be brought to me. If you are around Austin and you need cardio work, go to Seton. Seriously. They check my blood pressure again and it’s something like 130/80. They seem to be happy with it.
Then I am given peanut butter crackers and cajoled to eat them. It would really help everyone if I ate the crackers. I’ve been fasting, so I eat the crackers. They take more Star Wars pictures, and I am out of there.
The problem that presented itself earlier didn’t reoccur when I was on the treadmill, so I don’t know if it means anything, but hopefully it means I am good and it’s unrelated to my heart. I will know more on May 11th. Gordon and I are scheduled for out second doses on May 8th and May 12th respectively.
When I got home, I logged into Mychart on autopilot, because I have checked it every time I signed on for the past 3 days.
Sigh.
I know you guys are waiting for the writing update. We are almost done with the project we are working on, and I have this odd superstitious feeling that it should be finished before we talk about it. So more to come. 🙂
I do like your funny face selfie — hard to get that much personality out of eyes alone, but it looks great.
Hope all is well with the testing — you did tell them at the cardio doctor’s office that you had just received a covid vacination a few hours before you came into their office? Please say yes. Stress of you body adapting to vaccine could change how it responds to chemical stress test. Sorry, born worrier.
To share a happy doctor story, I went in for my 4-month blood work, and my doctor was “upset” that he couldn’t yell at me. Apparently my A1C was down and I had lost 7 pounds, through no virtue on my part (I hadn’t changed anything). He said “keep doing what you’re doing” … wish I knew what that was?
Looking forward to info on “the project” — happy to wait until it is finished and you guys feel comfortable talking about it to your fans.
Yay good news on the bloodwork! No worries, I disclosed all the vaccine and medicine history. 🙂
It’s like you had a pre-stress stress test, the rollercoaster anxiety is a sustained test in it’s own. Hope they come back with a definite diagnosis that’s easily treatable.
Off topic, an fyi re covid vaccines and mammograms, turns out that there’s a 15% chance of having to do re-test of mammogram if you take it within 6-weeks of getting vaccine. So if you want to avoid that risk, get mammogram before vaccine or after 6 weeks have passed.
Source= my GP reminded me I’m overdue and to book. When I called yesterday, gal asked me if I had my shot yet (no, next week appt.), she immediately offered 2 slots for same day (yesterday) or they were booking 6months ahead. I took same day and went in and woman in just before me had just had shot and receptionist explained risk of swollen? tissue throwing off results. (Clients’ choice to proceed or re-schedule.)
Fingers crossed all your test results will be good.
Astra is now being offered to more age group in my province, but i preferred pfizer ☹️
More wait for me
Sorry to hear about all the back and forth trying to get your shot. That sucks. I hope you and Gordon had no negative reactions and in turn have no negative reactions when you get round 2. Glad to hear your test results at the cardiologist were good ones, and fingers crossed for the activity restrictions being lifted so you can get that much closer to normal life again. Lots of love and well wishes for you and the family! We’ll survive waiting a little longer for writing news. :hearts:
Whew what a day! I am tired reading all of that. Glad you got the shot.
Our county in NC had extras and I was able ti get my 18 year and myself appointments. Got our second pfizer last Saturday. Mild side effects for me, none for him. Hubby is Active Duty so he had his long before us.
Hoping for good results for the cardio test!
That’s just crazy. Mismanagement all the way around. But it’s great you were both able to get your first vaccine! Congratulations. Did they mention to drink lots and lots of water the day before as well as the day of the shot?
Medical care in the year(s) of COVID. I can’t wait for this to be over. Anyway, glad you got your shots and that the stress test went okay. Watch out for those cinder blocks; they’re sneaky.
Take care of yourself.
I had Astra shot in March. Now waiting for 2nd shot but my province is waiting 4 months before 2nd. Only issue was “covid arm” – felt like deep muscle bruise for 8 days
Yes, I had the Pfizer shot and I couldn’t move my arm for 2 days. I had to get my husband to help with my bra. It took over a week for the bruise to go away. That was about 1 1/2″ big. Oh well, it isn’t like I had anywhere to go except around the block for a walk. A little pain for hoped-for gain
When I got my first shot of Pfizer, I felt pain in my left arm, in the bicep area. I laid the blame on t he COVId shot. Then I remembered I had the shot in the opposite arm, lol. (I had heard it was best to get shots in your dominant arm as that was the one you keep moving, and it was best to keep your arm active after a shot).
After the second dose, I felt a little off the next day. Instead of walking three miles, I only walked two. By the next morning, I was back to normal.
I am a nuclear medicine technologist. They gave you a vasodilator and it’s very common to feel short of breath while the vasodilator is active in your system. We push caffeine, a vasoconstrictor to reverse the tiredness, shortness of breath as well as heading off a massive headache.
You are also now radioactive since you’re the source and the Star Wars equipment was a detector. If you want to have fun go to the international airport and you can set off their radiation detectors.
I hope you make out ok. Pfizer tends to give you a sore arm the next day. And if the staff doing you stress test that’s usually a good sign. When there is an ambulance waiting and you have met half the staff in the stress lab, that isn’t a good sign
Hang in there
“You are also now radioactive…” Too bad it doesn’t work like in the comics, because I wouldn’t mind superpowers.
My arm is very mildly sore and I only feel it if I raise my elbow above my shoulder. We’ll see what happens. 🙂
My Cardiologist gave me a card to show TSA that I was nuked for a Chemical Stress Test. If I remember correctly, the card was good for two weeks.
You already have superpowers – You are a story teller and we are your fan base.
+1
Just what I was going to say!
LOL!! I had the chemical stress test, too, then went back to work. I TOTALLY set off the Radioactive alarms. They didn’t think to mention that part when I left the hospital after the test, so we rushed back up there, only to have them stare at us / me blankly then be calmly reassured that it was “normal.” His next words were “Wait!? You went to work? Wow!” Explained that I waited a bit, took a shower and went in after lunch time. He just laughed and shook his head, said “Yeah. Guess I need to stress the “radioactive” part a bit more” wrote me a note, and sent me on my way.
My co- worker asked if I got bit by a spider at the hospital and could I climb walls now. Hehehehe!
Wow I feel better about my states shot roll out. I thought it was the worse system ever but nope easy peasy compared to you. Hope test results come back good. ????????
Wow that is a really busy experience! I am sorry getting an appointment was arduous but really glad you preserved. I live in a state where not too many people want to the vaccine sadly but it means it is easier to get appointments.
I am really glad you had a positive cardio experience! The recap made me laugh so thank you for sharing!
Your health is more important than writing or updates. Thank you for making time to take care of you.
NNNNOOOO! That chemical stress test is an extra-special piece of hell. Just say no. Going back up to finishe reading now.
Sending best wishes that the tests and medicines result in you feeling and *being* better. That’s all we can wish for.
Loved the idea of you being radioactive. ????
So glad you got the shot! I got both of mine, and now I am fully vaccinated and much less vulnerable. Go me!
Take care of yourself and Gordon, and kids! I hope the test results come out with flying colors!
Warmth, kittens, best wishes, peace.
What a saga! I’m glad you have that behind you and you’re one vaccine shot down!
Prayers, happy thoughts, and good vibrations to you and your family.
So glad you’ve got shot#1 under your belt, so-to-speak.
My doctor’s office sent out a blast text at 1:06 PM today that they had 3 doses of Moderna that needed to be used by 3 PM with a phone number to call. I’m a doc, so I had my shot a while ago, but my 18 yo daughter sees the same doc, isn’t vaccinated, and just started a job in a local fast food restaurant. It’s still hard to get an appointment around here (DC area). I called the number, sat on hold for 20 minutes, and scored her the appointment. She skipped her last class of the day and is now post-Moderna #1. I actually cried.
You will always worry about your kiddo, no matter how old. And this is relief and happiness, so it’s a good cry. Hugs to you and your daughter!!
I was so relieved when my 20 year old daughter who works at a hospital was offered a vaccine last December. It was like someone had given me the best gift ever! So, I see you, ma.
I totally get you ????. I felt the same way. What crazy times
Wishing all the best, what a nerve-wracking hellish experience. Except for how nice and caring the heart people were!!
We’re living some crazy times. People at my work are going nuts. And we work with clams. Which are supposed to be happy. I guess the clams are. The people not so much. 😉
Wow, what a zoo! It’s so weird to me how completely different this rollout has been even within the same state. I got mine thru Kroger’s and it was seamless, my kids have gotten theirs thru the state and it’s been anything but seamless. I totally think we should relinquish all of the organization of vaccine shots to the Chick-Fil-A or grocery managers – ha! I will say that I’ve been amazed at the sense of relief that has come with being vaccinated! Here’s hoping for the best for ya’ll and that all of your tests come back clean!
Delighted to hear you have had first jab! My dad had pfizer and my mum astra zeneca; both doing fine. Still not got to my age bracket for jab but roll out is going well and most vulnerable groups are now fully vaxxed.
Here in the UK anyone can now request a rapid lateral flow covid test online and they send you a free 7 pack (30 min turn around for result) literally the next day. Hope you and your family stay safe and healthy and that medical results come back fine
Or you can get one from a pharmacy, the one I use is now plastered with signs telling you this and has the boxes of tests piled high so you can’t miss them.
Oohh good to know, thanks 🙂
Exhausting, but congratulations. I have heard from my sister in California how hard it can be to get an appointment for the shot. That stress alone could cause heart palpitations I would guess. Glad you stuck with it and glad you both got your first shots.
Wasn’t too hard getting an appointment but might depend on county. My county in California was the second in the state to open up to 16+ over two weeks ago. My entire family is vaccinated.
Hubby got Moderna (he went a week before us to a different location) , 17 yr old got Pfizer and the 20 yr old and I got J&J – drive through vaccinations.
🙂
Hubby and 17 yr old will get their second shot in the next couple of weeks.
I wish you the best 🙂
I also managed to book an appointment to the vaccination center today ???? I’ll have to wait 1.5 month, but it’s worth it 🙂
I’m so sorry for the stressful times. Same boat-ish. I was diagnosed with diabetes on March 3rd. I always knew I was going to get diabetes because everyone in my family has it but I got it about two decades earlier than anticipated. I had the worst case of gestational diabetes when I was pregnant and I was on a ridiculous amount of insulin (think human pincushion) so I guess that was the tipping point basically made me fall off that cliff. On top of that I’m dealing with some health stuff from my delivery (a whole 19months after my baby girl was born!) – I’ve been to my personal physician and a physiotherapist but it’s not getting better, nope it’s getting worse and it took me forever to get a referral to a specialist and now I’m waiting for an appointment with said specialist. Just to add to this lovely hodgepodge of issues we recently bought an apartment and moved and I quit a job and I started a new job. These are all lovely amazing things that we are blessed to be able to afford and to happen to us but the actual day-to-day if it has been utterly exhausting. Ugh.
Vent over.
I reread all the Innkeepers and then Hidden Legacy and now restarting Blood Heir. Your books keep me happy (and sane).
I went through a very rough time emotionally and physically after the birth of my first child. Without any real support. I hope you get the emotional and medical support I did not get, to help you heal.
Ha ha ha. Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post.
Yes I like CVS for vaccinations too. Where I go they are well trained professionals and I don’t have to travel 30 minutes one was to get vaccinated. They give me a sticker thing for doctors office to update my medical records.
Sounds like a typical stress test. I take Mother every 3 years. She is allergic to iodine dyes but I have only had to jump thru irate patient caretaker hoops once which was before all her doctors had MyChart. Now everyone in her MyChart system know and it’s just outside specialists I have get test results sent to and from.
Glad to hear Gordon got Covid vaccination. Good. Great news that you finally got thru and scheduled.
I have gotten both Pfizer shots. The first and second jabs were not felt. But about 4 to 8 hours after the second I was exhausted like I had run a marathon after a Dragon Lady weight workout. In 24 hours I was back to normal. It took a bit longer for sore injection site to normalize. Of course everyone is different so react differently. So keep in mind adage “this too shall pass”.
I had a fever 14 hours after my second Pfizer shot and a bit tired the next day, but that might have been because the fever hit when I was sleeping, so I kept waking up every hour.
If you’ve ever had the Shingles vaccine, the Pfizer one probably won’t be a problem. (I had fevers after both Shingles shots.) I’ve heard the second Moderna vaccine is a PITA, but oddly enough, more for younger people than older people. YMMV
I had the Moderna and only had a sore arm for a day and a half. Getting second dose in a few days, hope that one goes as well! 🙂
Hoping all test results are good!
I threw up on the treadmill when they injected the chemical stimulant. Everyone was very nice about it but they didn’t offer me pb crackers. My results were fine and I hope yours are too!
Oh! I also got a bit nauseated, but I thought it was because I hadn’t eaten. Now I know.
I used to perform Stress Tests (both treadmill and chemical) and have tried the treadmill test routine on my lunch break… it can kick your butt! I think it is a very good sign that you didnt experience any of the symptoms at that time. Hoping the pictures turn out great and show a healthy and strong heart!
The day my boss was supposed to get his son vaccinated he received a computer ized phone call cancelling his appointment, then he got a text confirming his appointment. So he called, and some computer error sent a message out cancelling out all the appointments for vaccines with the county that day, and they had only just found out about it. I live in a different county and our population is small so i had a relatively easy experience getting an appointment.
It’s great everything worked out for you.????
I hope are results come Normal too????
A friend asked if I had gotten the shot yet … no … there are shots available in Tyler. I live in the DFW area. Not driving two hours each way to get a shot! Started checking pharmacy websites same day and secured a spot down the street, literally 5 miles round trip. Lucky! Second shot end of the month, then two weeks and I can finally visit some elderly family members in person.
Stress test several years ago – get to the office and was told that I would be running on a treadmill and couldn’t wear a bra because it would interfere with the electrodes. Two knee surgeries and told by that surgeon no running, especially on a treadmill. I am not a small busted female. Turns out I’m an excellent speed walker. Cardiologist diagnosis “You’re fine”. Hoping your results are even better!
I actually drove 3 hours from Houston to get my first shot in Tyler. I tried for 3 weeks to get a local appointment and then a friend that lives in Tyler said that they always have tons of available appointments. I logged into the site and got an appointment for the next day. It was at the convention center there in Tyler and I was in and out in 25 minutes including my 15 minute wait time after the shot. It was so worth it to me. I was able to get my second Pfizer shot at a CVS in Houston and since I actually live in Spring on the north side of town and the CVS was south of downtown I still drove almost an hour for that shot. The first shot I had no side effects whatsoever. Not even a sore arm. The Pharmacist that gave me the second shot was really horrible at it and it hurt more than any shot that I can remember so my arm was sore that evening but completely fine by the next day. Today I am officially at my full immunity so I’m very excited
If someone else is trying to schedule a vaccine shot, I can tell you two pieces that might help.
First, CVS site in the early morning hours (2-4am) works great for finding appointments. Night owls for the win!
Second, if their site does say everything is booked, don’t believe them. Click on the link to schedule a vaccine. Some people say to try another state that is showing vacancies, then when they ask where you want to schedule, pick your home state from the drop-down list. So if you’re in TX, see if AK has any openings, go through the preliminary steps, then select TX for the location to search for appointments. It does work best if you pick a state that has similar vaccine restrictions as your state, but I think everything is 16+ now??? so I would think every state would work. In my case, 2am for MD worked and I didn’t have to try a different state.
Great advice! After weeks of trying to get appointments, I was lucky enough to find a NJ Facebook group that posted all sorts of hints on how to get appointments. They listed how to get around the quirks of the various reservation sites, times new appointments typically drop, etc. I highly recommend anyone having trouble finding appointments do a search on ‘covid vaccine reservation helper site’ or something similar, as that will let you find any of the helper sites that may exist in your state….and the volunteers working these sites are angels on earth for helping so many of us get through all of the red tape!
In DFW area check in middle of night after 4:00. That’s when my daughter has gotten all her friends appointments.
Hubs and I got ours on Sunday, also Pfizer. No big deal. We’re in Ontario Canada. Looking forward to getting the second one and breathing a sigh of relief as hubby has multiple health issues. Take care and stay healthy!
PS. Love the mask????
1st COVID Pfizer was no problem – sore shoulder and mild headache
2nd COVID Pfizer was more of an issue. Minor sore shoulder, headache, chills and my skin felt hot everywhere but my feet although my temperature was normal. By the end of Day 2 I was fine again.
Sister-in-law had her second Pfizer shot and had a fever and chills. Day 2 feeling fine again.
Hubby got Moderna – both shots just a sore shoulder
We are all in our 50s. NY scheduling is a mess as every location has their own site you have to check. I was on the computer for hours looking for a shot with no luck. I had surgery a couple of days ago and the day after I became eligible the hospital emailed me to get my shot. Apparently they were saving shots to allocate to their patients. So I got my first shot Mar 25, my 2nd on Apr 17 and my surgery on Apr 20. Which was a bit of a relief as I worried about being in the hospital and picking it up there.
Hubby got his at a clinic near our house the day before I did.
In amongst all this I have been interviewed multiple times for a job since my 1st shot and trying to juggle interviews with Dr appts without letting them know. Got the job offer on a Friday, surgery the following Tuesday and I arranged a start date after my recovery. Happy everything worked out ????
That happened to me also. I broke my ankle badly last year and was sent to Johns Hopkins for the repair surgery. Hopkins contacted me this spring and asked if I wanted an appointment, I grabbed it.
Ilona, By the sounds of your situation they preformed a vasodilator test with limited exercise. The vasodilator is the actual stress test, the mild exercise just gets a better bio distribution and lessens some of the symptoms. You didn’t need to walk on the treadmill that’s just their protocol. They did this because you hadn’t received the COVID results. Had negative results been available they would have had you exercise without a mask on and done a protocol called a Bruce where every 3 minutes the difficulty would increase till you indicated either fatigue, dyspnea or something that that would limit continuing. ( chest pain) We try to get a patient to reach 85% of maximum heart rate determined by your age.
Vasodilator is faster, the exercise involved with that shouldn’t produce too much liquid particulates (potential COVID contamination). Also keeping a mask on won’t change any of the results. There are camps that say exercise test wearing a surgical mask will change some of the stats we gather during exercising. Vasodilator gives us 100% of perfusion without dependence exercise tolerance.
Having been a long time follower of your blog, your cardiologist just wants to screen your heart due to symptoms you brought to his attention so a vasodilator is a good protocol for your situation. No rebooking and results in a week. (That’s usually a standard).
And sorry to tell you, you only get to be radioactive for two days. From what you described the isotope was Tc99m. It has a 6 hour half life. Only superpower is setting off radiation detectors in federal buildings, transfer stations and airports. Yes our trash is by far better screened for radiation then almost anywhere else.
I’m surprised they hadn’t mentioned that you were being exposed but then this test overwhelms as soon as we say”It’s a 3 hour test”
Hope this helps. Hopefully this was a one and done.
Yay for getting the vaccine finally! It seriously feels like winning the lottery. When I found slots for the first shot on the state exchange for CT(CT uses the VAMS website), I freaked out, signed myself up, and then dragged my parents away and forced them onto their computer so we all got adjacent time slots. Just today I am two weeks post my second Moderna shot and while I am not about to go crazy it feels reassuring I have an added layer of protection. Still going to be wearing masks everywhere and only hanging out with small groups of vaccinated individuals.
Just last week I took Metro-North train into Grand Central for the first time in more than a year and took the NYC subway to go to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. I was shocked at how much of a ghost town the station was. The lower food court was completely closed. I was afraid people would not be wearing masks and it would be super crowded and yeah, you had a few unmasked individuals here and there but it wasn’t bad. I even did outdoor brunch, what a novelty.
Good luck with all the other medical appointments! Can’t wait to hear about the new writing project.
Omg I would be a big ball of stress after dealing with all that. I hope all your test come out with healthy results.
I’ve suspected I had a heart problem for years, ever since my heart suddenly stopped beating one day in 2013 (almost blacked out, then it started up on its own). I’ve had echocardiograms twice, EKGs, nothing was ever found. It was so bad one day in March that I went to the ER and was admitted. Echo and angiogram showed a normal, healthy heart. It just so happened that my heart acted up during the stress test and they saw something. So they gave me medication and it’s so much better. I hope they find an answer for you.
Very cool mask! Glad the vaccinations worked out.
Hoping your test results are positive.
Looking forward to the end results of your intriguing project.
Too bad you and Gordon were not up in the DFW area. I work for Texas Health Resources and have COVID clinics for people who sign up for the vaccine. I helped out at one clinic last month. We got people in and out in less than an hour.
Thanks to THR I was able to get both Pfizer vaccines late January. The first shot was fine. Kept taking my allergy medication during the wait time. The second shot made my left arm sore for a day and ran a slight fever. Kept taking my allergy medicine.
Now I’m looking forward to hopefully going to a concert in August. ????
Congratulations on the first round of vaccines!! I had the best sleep in nearly a year after my first shot!! Glad to have them both done now.
Vivid description of the chemical stress test. (I think I had a panic attack reading that…) A friend did that one once and said it was awful. Next time he had to do a stress test, he did the regular treadmill version.
(I’ve done regular treadmill twice – hoping to not need to do third one any time soon. As in, not in the next ten to twenty years….ah, well, one can hope!!)
This might help some folks who live in California: my husband and I were able to get our vaccines in California just a few days after we became eligible due to our jobs, by going to Kaiser. Kaiser will give the Covid-19 vaccine to non-members (like us), but many folks don’t know that, so Kaiser seems to have a fair number of openings. And the offerings change pretty often too, because they seem to get cancellations fairly often as well.
And, they have a nice online system set up so that if the facility you pick doesn’t have any appointments available, it will let you pick a different one to search. Since we’re in LA, a lot of the facilities aren’t too far away. We didn’t get the Kaiser closest to our house, but got one that was only about 10 miles away, and with very early Sunday appointments, no traffic, so we cruised. And they made our second appointment for us, right after we got the first shot, exactly four weeks later, and also early Sunday, so that was even easier.
The only bad thing is that if the facility you pick has some appointments, but they don’t work for you, then you have to start all over to try a different facility, and then you have to answer all the screening questions again. After a while I had them memorized…two “yes”, seven “no”, another “yes”, or maybe two more that were “yes”? It’s been a while so I’ve forgotten the pattern, but I definitely knew it a month ago. Overall it took me a bit more than an hour to find two appointments at almost the same time and close enough to us. And I think if I’d only wanted one appointment, instead of two together, I probably could have found a good-enough single one in only 15 minutes or so.
But a totally easy and straightforward experience, and we didn’t have to wait too long.
Hope all your other tests work out okay, IA – fingers crossed…
If you have issues getting the 2nd shot, just drive south. I am south of you about 2 hours and the vaccine distribution has been very easy at the our south Texas hub. We have people from Austin, Houston the Valley driving 3 hours to get it because it is so hard in the big cities and just a drive thru here.
I wish you the best on the test results! I’m glad you through the test and the stress of the first hurdle of Covid vaccine dose 1.
I haunted the CVS site as a high risk person and have received both dose one and two of Pfizer. I did learn the hard way that going in with a migraine was stupid, but I didn’t want to lose my place in line and my chance of getting a shot. Cue the worst migraine of my life. Second does made me tired but was a cake walk compared to dose one.
Glad Gordon got in too. Take care of yourself and when you feel ready to release the new project, we will be happily waiting on the front lawn so to speak (and I am sure we – the book devouring horde – will be as persistent as your raccoon and deer – for which I apologize in advance.)
Oh no! I got a migraine and fever from my first dose anyway (astra zeneca), so that must have been awful! But I’ve just discovered headache hats and am recommending them to fellow migraine sufferers. They are great, I was thinking it would hurt because of it wrapping around the head, but the coldness is sooo great!
*steals watermelon* ????
Congratulations on having the vaccination and fingers crossed for the heart results. My mother is just having some issues with her heart (possibly?) these past few months and has had ECG twice and will have a 24 hour one soon.
She has a fairly rapid resting heartbeat (and it’s regularly irregular!) but has had two ‘incidents’ and frequently has a feeling of her heart skipping a beat. The problem is the cardiologist ideally want to catch an ‘incident’ on ECG but the GP said sometimes a person can have issues for a long period (years!) without catching them on record. However there’s apparently a sub-dermal gadget you can get and just walk around with that you can then trigger during a cardiac episode to record an ECG . . . If you don’t mind that kind of thing. Probably a last resort!
Glad your stress test went well, glad you got your first shot, and glad the covid test was negative…. sorry the admin half of it was a pain in the butt. Take care of yourself!
Gosh, wish you were up here in SW MO. The shot process for me was easy. Booked my appt with no issue, and got in line, checked in, screened, and shot in about 10 minutes. Had to have a Covid test pre-surgery, and I just made my appt, drove up, they swabbed, and the results were posted before I made it home.
Good luck on your test. I had to have a stress test done, but there was no treadmill. I was in with symptoms that could either be gallbladder or heart issues, as in women they are pretty much the same. That stress test was awful, but it was nice to know it was my gallbladder and not my heart.
I sincerely hope everything is fine. I do like your picture – the mask is adorable, and you have nice eyes.
I feel you on the stress test. I’ve had 3 (2 just treadmill and one where they shoot something in you where you suddenly become the human torch). I hope yours comes back with a positive diagnosis (meaning whatever is going on heartwise is something that a medication or diet change will “fix” it). ????
Hope you receive a clean bill of health! Glad the stress test went well. Hope you have no ill effects from the vaccine! No worries about writing; make sure your health is good!! Thanks for all your hard work!
I’m so happy you both got the vaccine. Sorry for the run-around. Reminds me of my nightmare-ish experience with the DC DMV when I first moved there. Good luck with your tests! Thanks for sharing what you are dealing with. I hope all is well!
Congratulations on getting your first shots. I got my second Pfizer last Sunday. Great news on the stress test.
Hooray! Glad you were able to get a shot and have your appointment. I got my second shot today. I got the Moderna shot and last time I had some mild reactions, so I am expecting some this time. With my health insurance they notified me and I used their app to get an appointment, it was pretty easy except there was nothing near me. I ended up going to Santa Cruz about 25 miles south of me in San Jose.
I had to laugh about the COVID test, our son works for an arena and every time he goes to work they do a rapid test on him.
I had that test at Bethesda Naval Hospital (back when it was open). I get the shot, drop like a rock a few minutes later and come to with several 90+, WWII veterans (fellow test-ees) hovering over me, telling me the tech has been sent for some hot tea and that I was gonna be fine. I was in my 40s at the time and as the youngest person there to be tested, completely mortified.
All of that to say, they were right to be careful, because some people react poorly. And you never know which one it will be!
So happy you are fine and managing to get vaccinations in spite of ridiculous obstacles!
Very happy that you and Gordon got your vaccination! Very intrigued by the shiny new thing, I love having something to look forward to ☺️
I live in Western Australia and had to get COVID test 2 days ago. Only one other person being tested besides myself. Negative result SMS message received in 9 hours.
In Tarrant County (Fort Worth, Texas) you just sign up online. And then you wait till it’s your turn. They call you with anywhere from 2 days forewarning, to 12 hours that you have an appointment at such time. Basically they don’t assign the appointment, until they have secured, and know they have the shots. They operate under the you take the time we give you, or you have to go back in the queue. It may not be super convenient, but in terms of just managing sheer volume of people it lets them get more shots distributed. Most businesses in the area are understanding, and are working with employees when they finally get their assigned appointment times.
No having to fight for an appointment, you just wait. I have friends elsewhere who have been trying to get appointments from so many different places, and it just sounds exhausting, having to check at specific times, refreshing constantly… like how many hours of their life have they wasted under high anxiety just trying to get an appointment?
Tarrant is not the greatest with keeping you informed, because when you don’t hear anything for a few weeks, some people start panicking. Even just a weekly “we have now vaccinated X number of people, We are currently vaccinating persons from groups , and have Y number of people waiting for their shot. Please be patient, you are in the queue.” Would do a lot to calm some of the nerves of people on the waiting list.
I, and the rest of my household are now all fully vaccinated. (yay!) I was definitely one of the ones who got whammied by the second shot. About 7 hours later I started getting a headache. About 3 hours after that I was chilling. I was so cold I couldn’t get warm (and I’m always the person hot in a room). I put on winter clothes in layers, and was buried in blankets just shivering. Went to bed early, woke up feeling like a baseball team used me for hit practice. So lethargic, and exhausted. The lethargy lingered for days. Unfortunately my shot was right before a photo trip to Big Bend. So when I wanted to be in bed napping, I had to go take care of the pre-trip errands and to-dos.
Any time I do a road trip somewhere, I try to find a fun or silly spot for a photo just of me, for the memories. This time I took a true pandemic selfie. I went to the ghost town of Shafter, Texas, which was the filming location for the initial outbreak of the pandemic in the original movie adaptation of Andromeda Strain. I couldn’t resist staging myself as a passed out victim on the church’s steps, as an ode to the 1971 Robert Wise directed film.
BTW, isn’t Gordon former US military? The VA has been doing shots so he probably could have received one that route. Dad got his through the VA weeks before he’d have been able to get it through the county. (And even if not, just reminding your readers that if they qualify they should check the VA, I feel that the VA hasn’t been mentioned much in the news, and so it gets overlooked and many don’t realize you can get the shots there. )
And as to writing, taking care of your health, and doing important things like vaccinations trumps that. And it was nice of Cage to play chauffeur. 🙂
How goes the black magic stove top for Kid’s new place? Or am I the only member of the BDH who wants an update?
My appointment to get my first shot got cancelled because of a snowstorm…lol Got a second appointment, got my shot and got the second at the end of last month. Hope everything goes well for you and Gordon, getting this vaccine shouldn’t be so difficult.
For those of you waiting for your Covid shots ((1st or 2nd) be aware that a possible side effect is swollen lymph glands under the arm. If you need a mammogram do NOT schedule it for at least a month after the shots. My doctor (Duke University) told me that the swelling, if any, plays havoc with the images. Also be sure to tell the radiology staff that you have been vaccinated if they don’t ask.
Ilona and Gordon, so glad you were able to get your shots scheduled and that you had your stress test. Sounds like the cardio staff was wonderful.
Wishing you the best of health!
Oh thanks! I have been putting off some appointments and was thinking of scheduling for annual check up in the fall which is also around flu shot time and potential 6 month COVID booster #3. Doctor asked a few years ago if I’d like to start getting mammograms so that is good to know.
I got the Pfizer vaccine, both shots, and had no reactions at all. I hope you have the same results!
I am so glad yall got first shots. It is not quite as much trouble as that up here in Okla. I am sending good vibes for your test results. I wonder do people recognize you out in public? I would totally fangirl if I ever saw yall. Lol.
I know these same problems. I’m waiting to hear when I will get a stress test, even though my echocardiogram was good. I have had breathing tests and ultra sound tests on my legs. Then breast cancer and just when I thought I was over the million appointments my doctors want to test RNA of the cancer they took out at a lab in San Francisco. I live in Massachusetts. So now, I’m waiting another two weeks to find out how bad things are this time. Luckily, I’ve had bot of my Covid vaccinations. Good luck on your journey. This has been the strangest year ever.
I swear, medical care in the US is a nightmare. My mom had some kidney stuff pop up and trying to get appointments and tests done, and getting the test results delivered blah blah has just taken months. Every new appointment is scheduled a month out. They also don’t talk to each other AT ALL and you have to stay so up to date on what you need to do for each test, getting test results to your doctor etc.
It’s a bummer because my grandma died earlier this year and my mom wanted to go visit (since my grandparents are in a different country), but she didn’t have her covid vaccine so couldn’t travel. Then she got it, but now has to do all these tests for health stuff before she can leave. And oh on top of that now the country is having a covid spike so it’s very dangerous to travel and my mom is worried about going traveling, catching covid and then spreading it to my grandpa. Sigh. Now we just have to pray that my grandpa doesn’t catch covid and die all alone … .
Anyway… hopefully all your medical stuff goes smoothly, writing updates are fun, but staying healthy is what’s important
*doesn’t catch covid
Pretty big typo there..
Fixed it for you, hope all will be well *hug*.
I got my first Pfizering on April 1st at the Delta Flight museum in Hapeville. Big parking lot, many drive thru stations that are large tents. Must’ve been a hundred or so cars. Like you, I didn’t feel a thing when they jabbed me.
No side effects and nothing but a sore arm at the injection site for about 24 hours (I got a flu shot LAST OCTOBER, and I can still feel that mofo).
I get Pfizered again tomorrow morning.
WOOT WOOT!
Glad you were negative! Congrats on both of you getting your first vaccination. Crossing fingers and toes that your stress test comes out fine.
Getting the vaccine is a great stressor. We had given up hope until a lovely young lady at church helped us. So glad when they were finished. I have been dialoging with my Dr and believe me that is stressful. I begin to think the medical profession is in a no win situation. I hope that all is well with your health. Good luck with your writing project. By the way were you able to buy back the 3rd book and I can’t remember the name, Ruby something. I am embarassed, I want to read and can’t remember the name. Oh the shame
Honestly I read your blog more for your thoughts on life and the happenings of some of my favorite people than for writing updates.
I wouldn’t stress about keeping us updated, we are like junkies. Update us once an hour and we’d still want more.
Glad you are well, aside for some lingering muscle soreness in my shoulder, my first shot was uneventful.
Yay, very glad for you that you got your shots and that the stress test eliminated one worry.
I had to get a tetanus shot in February and that made my vaccine shots in March/April a breeze. Really, the pain from that made the other two feel like nothing.
I had Moderna and was told drinking tons of water/electrolytes would minimize reactions. It seems to have helped. I had a slight fever and chills and enlarged lymphnodes (not at the same time) and that’s about it.
I’m not in the US, got the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, currently waiting for the second one.
I had to have the chemical stress test for a potential heart issue.
After getting me all hooked up, the doctor said, “Don’t worry. This will feel something like a panic attack, but you will be fine.”
Me, “Cool. I’ve never had a panic attack. This should be interesting.”
Confused faces.
A few minutes later, “I’m feeling a little flushed. Is this the panic attack part? I’m disappointed.”
More confused faces. “Did we give you the wrong dose? Let me check. No I can see it on the monitor. How are you feeling now?”
“Still a little flushed. Still disappointed.”
So glad to hear you guys could get your shots! Wish my mom and stepdad were as enthusiastic about it as you guys. They’re both over 70 and “waiting for more information” on the vaccine’s safety. . . . ???? All their children have gotten or are getting the vaccines, though. Not sure how they reconcile those ideas.
Anyway, also glad your cardio test results were good! Hopefully finishing your current project and getting your vaccines will alleviate some stress. ????????
We had a covid scare at my kids school and everyone was asked to come in for testing as a precautionary measure, so we did. 5hrs of waiting myself and 4 kids get tested, 3 days later we all get negative results but the school is required to undergo a second round of testing just to be sure. This time we are given appointment blocks and ours was first. 3 days later and everyone else has their results but not my lot. So I ring, and asked why the other families had received theirs and was told “maybe because the other families didn’t have 4 children”. To say I was pissed off is an understatement. At least we all came back negative.
Does not compute, if they were tested first surely the results should have come through earlier, regardless of the number of kids in the family. The rude response was totally unnecessary.
Wow. That’s outrageous.
The rude response = misdirection. Someone screwed up the paperwork. They should not have taken that attitude with a concerned parent. Glad all of your tests came back negative!
Whew! All’s well that end well, but I’m sorry there was so much stress. Fingers crossed that the news on May 11 is reassuring.
I was lucky in Perth WA , my GP practice was vaccinating pt on week-end. Went in Sunday and the Dr who owns the practice was injecting everyone. Had same Exercise Theliam Scan. It ruled out AMI. I was born with Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome. It effects your electrical conduction in your heart. 80 is OK for your pulse, most women have that pulse rate. Wished I had you BP. You looked lovely in your photo, loved the mask.
I like how you make wide eyes everytime you take a selfie ????
Good Morning,
Your selfie looks like my selfie when I took one (rare) to promote Gen X in Alberta getting our shots when they made the vaccine eligible to our age group LOL.
I hope you are well. Take time, enjoy your weekend and you’ll be done the writing when you’re done the writing.
in the meantime, here is my friend, cute Snake. I love snakes.
Congrats on you and Gordon getting your first shots! My husband and I have recently gotten our first shots as well. Despite my sore arm, I am so happy.
Health care can feel so fraught. I’m just amazed at the compassion, dignity, good humour and care I’ve received sinceI broke my wrist in February. I’ve had:
– 8 dr appointments
– 16 x rays
– 2 casts
– 1 MRI
– 4 physio appointments
You can see and feel the tension now that the situation is getting out of control here in Ontario.
So, yes, got the AstraZeneca the moment I was eligible to protect me and everyone who is taking care of me. 13 days and still fine.
Take care of yourself and take your time. We’ll be here when you come back.
Wow what an ordeal! I’m glad you’re on the other side of it now. ????
In the spirit of giving a heads up to those who haven’t gotten their vaccine yet or are in between shots:
I found out the hard way that doctors don’t want to give you any kind of steroid injections (I have lower back issues) until you are at full immunity (considered to be 2 weeks after the 2nd shot).
I was miserable for 4 weeks longer than I would have been under normal circumstances but don’t regret getting my vaccines when I did in the least.
Sending you cyber wishes for super reassuring results from your cardiology tests and a definitive diagnosis for the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. It’s wonderful to hear the staff was so excellent.
Congratulations on you and Gordon receiving your first vaccine doses, but sorry that it was such a hassle to schedule them. I hope your daughters and their boyfriends have also been able to get appointments.
I finally received my J&J dose last week. I told everyone I got carpal tunnel *and* trigger finger from frantically refreshing my state and local vaccination sites to get slots for my super elderly grandmother, my elderly mother, and myself. Similar to your experience, a slot would open up and then literally disappear in less than 1 second. Very frustrating and hypertension-inducing.
It appears that the majority of those who receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines generally have mild symptoms after the second dose (which really kicks the immune system in gear), such as fatigue for a few days, but that the final Moderna can really wipe people out (feeling like they have the flu). For myself, after the J&J jab, I had a mild, tolerable sore arm, headache, and nausea for about a week; my mom and grandmother were totally fine. Given more recent issues that have arisen with the J&J vaccine, I won’t be more optimistic we’re in the clear until another few weeks have passed.
The vaccine chase can be a bit crazy!
This guy summed up our recent experiences. Stay well and take care!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ep_iiNJBU4
Wish I could just give you a big hug, pat you on the back and say, “there, there”!
So glad you got everything done! I’m sure your stress test was more stressful due to all the stress in getting your shot and the COVID test! 🙂 Hope all is well with your heart!
Love the mask. Hair game on point! My hair looks like heck in combination with my masks.
Vaccines against covid are a nightmare because people actually think they stop you from getting it. They don’t. They stop it from killing you if you get it. Big difference.
Nightmare time for me came when Pfizer and Moderna both made them with PEG in them and I have a known reaction to PEG in anything, which includes makeup, soaps, shampoos, lotions, and the list goes on. Makeup? My entire face swells up and turns bright red and it’s hard to open my eyes with so much swelling, then the headache and so forth from the allergic reaction. Haven’t been able to use even the “hypo-allergenic” stuff for over 40 years. Which is bad, because I’m not pretty! LOL! So when J&J came in with a vaccine that’s old school, I called the local hospital, where I go for treating terminal cancer, and told them that when they get J&J, I wanted in. Everybody at all the vaccinations clinics around me told me that if I wanted a vaccine, I’d take what they had when my turn came, and I said no, I wouldn’t. But the hospital actually wrote down my preference without promising me anything.
A local woman was one of — at the time — 17 people in this country who reacted to the PEG in the Moderna vaccine. She spent 5 days in the hospital, they had to debride the rotting skin off most of her body, and they called the CDC to see what the hell was going on with this 80+ year old woman who got vaccinated. Our hospital SAW the results of PEG allergy up close and personal. Two days after J&J appeared in our county, I got a call to get in and get it, so four days after it was sent to this county in Ohio, my husband and I got the J&J vaccine because nobody wanted to see another PEG reaction. What was really odd was that nobody around here wanted the “one and done” vaccine because it’s wasn’t the most modern and newest type of vaccine. The easiest to get all at once vaccine wasn’t proven to be as effective in providing immunity in their minds, which could not get a grip on the fact that there isn’t any immunity in any of the vaccines and all any of them do is stop the virus from killing the patient, so appointments were plentiful. We walked in, sat and filled out forms, got the shots, sat for 20 minutes because we were talking, and left. The clinic was a ghost town, because the people here wanted the “new stuff”.
I got a fever, for which I took some ibuprofen, because when you already have terminal cancer, a fever isn’t something you get excited about and fear. My husband had a sore arm because the pharmacist who gave us our shots didn’t do the whole “squeeze the area to stop blood, inject, release to make blood flow again” thing and even though I told him to RUB that spot, he didn’t do it and the vaccine sat there and made him sore. He also got pretty sleepy that day, slept a lot, and the next day, two vaccinated people were fine.
Our son got Pfizer twice already, our daughter and her husband don’t trust it and won’t get it. I haven’t seen any of them, including our granddaughter, in over a year, and if they don’t get vaccinated, I won’t see them before the cancer wins. I have high hopes that our son will come to see us after his two weeks of waiting for the second dose of vaccine to take effect have passed.
I have found that knowing my life span is short from this point has calmed me in many ways. I will have cataracts removed next month, and I hope to see clearly again by June. I keep praying, because that’s my style and belief system, and I had one miracle already with the original tumor being killed, which neither of the doctors working to kill it believed would happen and they tried anyway for me, so I keep hoping and praying for another one and that the current chemo treatments will keep the new tumor too small to do a lot of damage and I can maybe have a bit longer to live and get to read Ruby Fever! I keep moving forward because there’s no going back, and if I can see clearly to watch the flowers bloom and the summer pass and the gorgeous colors of autumn and the quiet of the snows of winter again, that’ll be my “win”. I keep hoping that the cure for pancreatic cancer will be found and perhaps make it possible for me to live a normal lifespan. I’m doing what I can to stay alive, and that includes the vaccination against covid so it won’t kill me when the people around me refuse to wear masks in stores and never get tossed out. Meanwhile, as we all should, I live every day as if it were my last, because one of them will be.
Ilona, I pray you’ll be found to have no issues with your heart. You are such a good person that the world would be far darker without you in it. I wish I knew enough about how things work to give advice to you about staying healthy, but all I can do is say to anyone that prayer does work, and keep praying. I am living proof that it works. Meanwhile, whatever project you are working on and how it’s going isn’t an issue, because we all know it’ll be good and it will sell and we’ll be happy to have it in our hands. It’s not all doom and gloom, and attitude is everything, so keep a positive attitude and don’t dwell on the negatives. I’m glad you’re finally getting vaccinated so this virus won’t kill you both.
Prayed for you… would like your first name so I can say your name when praying. Told God that I would call you Normal… due to your initials nrml.
I am hoping and praying for more miracles for you! I have actually thought about wanting to be around to be able to read certain books/series and that they would all have very satisfying endings… perfectly all right if it takes many years as long as I am able to read and enjoy them!
You’re in my prayers.????
I thank you for your prayers, and yes, everyone actually does call me “NormaL”. Those letters are actually on my birth certificate, in that order. LOL! One family member, however, used to call me “Abby”, because I am actually an abnormal person. I am NormaL in name only.
You are in my prayers as well!
I live in Texas too and access to the vaccine is odd. Living near Houston has been a benefit as they were getting that sucker out far and wide. I actually drove to Jasper where they had a surplus and were giving it out to anyone willing to drive with no category restrictions and got it earlier than I’d hoped. Then, once my kids were eligible my daughter was fairly easy as she is attending college northeast of Dallas. My son, in Kerrville, however was another story. I didn’t think he’d ever get it. He finally was able to make an appointment but that was when were realized that the areas around San Antonio just don’t have as easy an access to it as other regions. Glad y’all were able to finally receive it.
I am watching the first episode of Shadow and Bone, and I thought about your post on made up names. I wonder how many people, outside of the fantasy genre, will be overwhelmed by the new names for geography, races and politics. How many will stop watching in the first half hour, hopelessly lost in the wordage.
Joe
This is one time working in big corporate has been a plus– they set up a Covid shot clinic on site at the office. Was away from my desk for a whopping 20 minutes for Moderna shot #1. Same thing will happen in the first of May for shot #2. Of course, we never really got to work from home much (bank operations).
Sending love and hoping all is truly well with you.
On a side note: your state’s COVID response makes me appreciate my state’s COVID response. Which is amazing. Until I read this I was a little crabby about it. No more! Good reminder that I should spend more time being grateful & a lot less time being critical.
Wow. Texas is beautiful, and I love to visit, but the people in charge are about as sharp as a bag of wet mush. I am skeptical a group of chimpanzees could do a worse job.
Glad you are getting vaccinations and clean bills of health! Which is completely selfish since I am addicted to your books.
Take care of yourself first. Everything else can wait. I have been administering the Pfizer vaccine to patients for months. If I may give you a little advice before your second shot. Please get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, take a Tylenol or something before you go, and go home and rest afterwards.
No, DO NOT take a Tylenol, or any other pain medication BEFORE you get the shot. Doing so might make your body’s immune response not be as robust as it should be. You can take some after the shot if needed for temp over 101 or 102 or severe discomfort but better if you can tough it out if possible.
Anne in Virginia
Sending you hugs. Happy your cardio test had a positive result, but the related stress is awful!
Don’t worry about the writing update – we will wait 🙂
Woo hoo!!! Negative test + your 1st vaccination. You have my empathy. I had the COVID-19 test I January for a screening procedure, a full week prior to the test. Results were not available until 5:30, the evening before my procedure. I’d been taken off the schedule but then was politely added back. Jump forward to now – 1st vaccination last Tuesday. This Wednesday morning was an appointment I’d waited five months for. Fasting labs the day before meant 5 attempts to draw blood. Nope, ain’t happening. Finally a vein was successfully tapped and a tiny of vial of blood procured. Hallelujah! Appointment today with neurosurgeon for a future spinal cord stimulator. It really sucks, sometimes, doesn’t it? I pray you are feeling much better!
I live in NYC and still haven’t been able to score an appointment.
2 weeks ago I was having some stomach issues. It lasted over a week. I was living on ginger and electrolytes. Went to doctor, everything was normal, got COVID test. that was normal. They think I had some sort of food poisoning.
Next week I have people coming in to work on apartment.
They are tested before they come. We will all be wearing masks and sanitizing as they work.
I will try to get vaccine in first week of May.
I think you look great. Love your hair and mask. I lost my hair and miss it.
They are now giving vaccines at the Museum of Natural History.
I will pray for Nrml .
My mom and I both had cancer the same year.Sloan Kettering took a look at my scans and they were thrilled to treat me. I had stage 4 squamous cell cancer. It was a massive tumor15 cm on top of my head.it had spread to my lymph node. I think that tumor was 6cms.
It was very aggressive.
My mom had stage 3 salivary cancer slow growing.Plus she had dementia.
I was terminal. I feel that the only reason I survived was that I had to live to help my mom.Plus, I was under 50, never smoked or drank and was healthy . So I talked to God, visualized my lymph nodes holding the cancer from spreading.I was the happiest cancer patient, denial was my friend.My doctor at Sloan loved me and my mom. He said I had an
incredible immune system.
I survived with lots of nasty side effects. I took cate of my mom for 4 years till the combo of cancer and dementia wore her out. I cried every day, for years. It’s been over 10 years still Cancer free.
You attitude changes when you experience a deadly disease. I still get nervous, but I am more zen.
I am glad you had your tests. I think everything will work out.
I will patiently wait for a new book, new pictures of Artha, or whatever you deem is worthy of theBDH.
Thank you.
UGH! So sorry for all the stress (even before the stress test!). We have also had the “signed up for a rapid test but got there an no such thing exists” issue before a really necessary medical procedure – crazy times. Glad it is working out, you both got vaccinated and here’s hoping the cardiac issues are OK. Stay safe and well!
On Tuesday, April 20, I went to Wal-Mart (live in IL) to pick up my husband’s prescription and I saw signs about the covid vaccine and asked which were they doing… Pfizer… and a man overheard and told me he was able to get a shot due to a cancellation so I asked the pharmacy about it and was told that they often had shots available due to cancellations, people not showing up or an opened vial with doses they do not want to waste. Their last shots were 4:20… I was there after 4… and was told I could have my husband, daughter and myself if we could be there before 5. I went home to get them and they got their first dose along with the sheets to fill out again for the second dose. I declined because I had signed up for a vaccine at work scheduled two days later. I did not know which one, at the time, but really wanted Pfizer, plus I had Friday and Saturday off so if there were any side effects, I could be at home.
The next day I found out that Moderna was the vaccine and talked to HR about the possibility of getting the shot elsewhere… after reading about the vaccines, I felt more comfortable having the Pfizer vaccine which is also the one my whole family got. So after work I went back to that Wal-Mart and was told there was nothing available yet… they put me on a waiting list which they said they have used. I was told, though, that all shots were accounted for so I left. I actually drove a couple of blocks away when my cell rang… I pulled over thinking it might be Wal-Mart and it was! I called them back and said I would be right back!
I did get the shot and went to work the next day… my arm really hurt and I was very tired when I got home. So happy I am off till Sunday, but already feel less sore. I had covid at Christmas (from my job) and my husband and daughter caught it from me. I hope we never go through that again! We all had the coughing and extreme fatigue, but my husband did not want to eat or get up… he lost two months of his memory due to covid and underlying conditions. My daughter lost her sense of smell for a couple of weeks. I had chest pressure and tired easily even weeks later.
I actually was told to go to the hospital around the end of February where they did a CT scan of my chest, had a monitor and a stress test without the chemicals… they found I had high blood pressure and I was given a prescription. I passed the stress test with flying colors and the scan looked good which was a relief. One nurse said covid affected her father’s blood pressure so I am hoping it will clear up so medication won’t be needed… that is still ongoing.
Not every Wal-Mart does the same vaccine… one was doing Moderna so if you have a preference, find that out, but maybe others can get their vaccine this way if this is how Wal-Mart is doing it. I set up an account and tried to get an appointment online and was only told no vaccine available and could not set anything out so this was a real blessing getting it done in person.
AAAaaaaaiiiiiiieeeeee!!!!!!!! Pfui, even.
Blessed be; may it all work out well.
Glad you are both vaccinated and it looks like your test went well
We have to self administer a covid test twice a week at my work. I go through twice as many tests as everyone else as when I do the throat part I throw up a little on the stick……sigh. am beyond ready for covid to be OVER!!
Well this is strange, cause I just had the SAME set of tests a few days ago. Luckily I’d already had both COVID shots (HURRAH!! I can hug my only grandbaby.)
I think all that we’ve gone through with COVID quarantine, the elections, George Floyd, marches and riots, etc. etc. has put stress on everyone. I had a month-long wait to see a cardiologist so I’m guessing that a lot of us have had our hearts stressed lately.
If you’re heart work ups show up clean, and they say it’s all good, I highly suggest you look into getting and seeing a electrophysiologist. The way you were describing how you felt and your feet is how my mom was. It was the electrical bits of her heart that were the problem and if it is an electrical problem don’t take the drugs. Get a heart ablation.
I mean I don’t know enough about your symptoms and stuff, but hopes this helps if they give you the all clear. My mom went through heart stuff since 2008 and her doctor kept saying it was anxiety since the physical stuff all check out and her stress tests. Yeah. It was the electrical stuff and it runs in the family.
Anywho, love your crazy mask face!
Probability is good there’s nothing wrong and you’ve been responding badly to stress, which frankly does extremely weird things to the body. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it! Good luck all around!
I love reading your work. I mean I LOVE it. But you MUST put your health first. I read every one of your blogs even when you talk about yarn. I don’t knit so most of the time I’m a little lost, but I read it anyway. And I like it. LOL
You’re so brave.
I just had a full work-up, too, after years of resistance. My family history of heart disease is dismal, and my GP put her foot down. I had a pharmacological stress test, which made me very happy, and an echocardiogram. They aren’t doing treadmills in my neck of the woods during covid. Anyhow, everything was great, and I dodged the family bullet.
Good luck with the test results (fingers AND toes crossed for you!)I’m glad you’re getting it checked out…better to be safe!
I had the Pfizer shots. Yes, it was a pain to get them scheduled, but it’s a small price to pay to knock out this stupid virus so I’m all for it.And the more people that get vaccinated, the less likely it is that this stupid thing mutates into something deadlier.
FYI (in case this happens to you): my hubby and MIL had no reactions to the vaccine at all. However, while my FIL and I both had no side effects at all from the 1st shot, after the 2nd shot we both had chills, body aches and pains, headache, etc (like a mild case of the flu).
I’m told that’s normal (just the immune system reacting. Some people get symptoms and some don’t.)The good news is it wasn’t bad at all, only lasted one day, and now we’re protected! And even if we catch this nasty bug it will only be a mild case! Sounds like a great trade-off to me! ????
I hope all of your tests come back with good news!
I also live in Texas, but in the Dallas area. It is so different here trying to get the shot. I was able to get mine without too much trouble. Tuesday we went to Costco and the pharmacist was standing at the front door with a sign that read, “COVID shots available today”. Practically begging people to head over for their shot! Crazy how inconsistent the distribution is.
Take care!!
Best wishes on all your results! I’ve had both Pfizers now. Easiest shot ever for me; it’s so tiny. Only real side effect both times was suddenly *needing* an hour’s nap. First time it was that same evening, second it was the following afternoon. Took nap, woke up fine.
I am 2 weeks past my second shot today. Still wearing mask. I may go out to lunch with coworkers with same status. There are a few places nearby that are a paranoid as we are. My Hubby, last I heard, still has not made an appt. He waited to be contacted by his provider. Still no shot yet. Sigh. I used Walgreens and was lucky to get a relatively local store. My child in Austin got her second on Monday. She drove down to Houston because a Dr she was still on record for contacted her and she jumped on it. Now they say no appt needed at some locations.
I’ve put on some weight since I can’t go out like I used to, and I thought maybe I should get back into shape. So I got a rowing machine (waterrower if anyone cares, expensive but so sturdy) and one of those Polar heart rate monitors so I can make sure I don’t stay long over my ideal aerobic rate. I was surprised it wasn’t that hard to get my heart beating fast even though I don’t feel like I’m doing much at all when I’m rowing away. I just pop on an audio book and row for 20 minutes a couple times a day. And it stands up out of the way when I’m not using it. Way better than a treadmill if you ask me. No knee pain either.
Hope your heart tests come back in good condition. I know those kinds of things are scary, but better to know than not. And congrats on getting the shot, my husband got his first one today; I’m still waiting for a spot to open up. He was one of the last appointments, and the place was still busy.
So sorry getting a vaccine has been such a horrid experience in Texas.
Was I worried I would ever get a vaccine? Yes. I figured I would be lucky if I got one in October or November of 2021. I had registered with my county, with the state of Virginia and at work. I figured I would get it at work before a vaccine appointment was available elsewhere. I also got a notice from the overall health organization my doctor belongs to that when vaccines will be available I would get one.
I registered January 5th and just started to wait, then registered at the county level, and then at work and just continued to wait. There have been two pop-up vaccine clinics at my community center. I am not getting up at 2am to wait in line for a voucher. Let those who are more desperate have it.
All of a sudden Virginia gets its supply chain organized and POW everyone I know is getting notifications to get a vaccine. All my relatives, and co-workers are either getting their first or second shots. I just had my second shot on Tuesday and all I did was drive to the mall, park, go inside to the vaccine center, show id to a checker to make sure I had an appointment, walked down the aisle to the first open station, again confirmed who I was, got my shot, went to wait 15 minutes and then went home. The state of Virginia and Prince William County are rocking the vaccine shots.
Hope you get the all clear.
I’m re-reading the KD series and just saw this article and immediately thought of Cuddles.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-04-23/giant-ass-called-moonwatcher-imported-into-australia/100087366?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf245217047&utm_campaign=fb_abc_news&utm_source=m.facebook.com&sf245217047=1&fbclid=IwAR3OnbKR2CbDNlUHR7GvflZ75roMK_LxfenDHUs7cpIvveMXuNEmGEoMeCg
Please check out “Forks Over Knives” I thought there was a good chance it was all exaggeration so I gave it two weeks. My dads eyesight improved dramatically in just a few weeks and my mom was showing some signs of early heart failure. Those went away. So we have stuck with it for almost four years now.
I’ve bookewd my shot here in BC via the government site on last Sunday as erll sd tthrough my local pharmacy. I’ve been advised it can take about two weeks to get an eamil to book your appointment. Unfortunately the Pharmacies here which only offer the Astro Zeneca vaccine are running low So now appointment yet from them either. Meanwhile my province is under lockdown so no extra travel for me. Part of Canada’s problem is that a prior Federal goverment decided to sell the facillities capable of making vaccine to the highest bidder who promplty moved everything to the USA
That was quite a story, and I am glad it worked out with the shots and all. Keeping fingers crossed for good results from the stress test.
Will continue to puzzle over the clues to your new project until you are ready to unveil it. That is a nice distraction from our newest lockdown iteration here in Germany.
Wow me I was out babysitting for friends. I had tea cooked for me the 11 year old did most of everything for her 2 1/2 sister we watched Mulan and now I’m home.
Wow, your healthcare stories are a great example of most people’s healthcare experiences. It’s a comedy of errors that makes grown — adults feel like insecure 12 year olds who cannot advocate for themselves.
If you ever want to write blood curdling horror lit, you don’t have to write a slasher tale, just write about trying to navigate insurance. That’ll keep ’em up at night.
I’m happy that you’re getting the care you need. Best wishes and congratulations on your vaccines.
It sounds like you had a some stressful days! That stinks! But I hope your results next month give you useful information!
Just be careful with shot #2! A lot of people I know felt really wiped out and flu-like for about a day after their shot. Some took 2-3 days to really recover.
Just got my second Moderna this morning. Definitely a lot off my mind, will feel better about traveling to see my mom who is high risk for Mother’s Day.
Like others mostly tired and sore arm first round. Hoping second round is about the same.
Hope all of your tests and shots go well!
So glad you and Gordon were able to get your vaccine. Hope everything goes well with the results from your other tests.
This is my first time checking out your website. I have all of your books and have read and reread several times. I’ve read the short stories today. So looking forward to your next book. I’m a middle school math teacher and have had both Moderna shots. I got lucky with few side effects. My husband contracted Covid and was very sick for a while. I hope both you and your hubby can get vaccinated. Thank you so much for your stories. They have kept me sane.
I also had stress test, but mine was about 8 minutes of so on the treadmill. Mine turned out fine, no covid test needed. Just a temp check, and questions. I will not take Pfizer or merdna. Its the J&J shot for me, why? The other two are using a untried process of tricking the virus with mRNA, if anyone remember their HS biology, RNA is where life happens, they aint messing up my body at that level. J&J used the tried and true method of dead virus, in this case a closely related COVID virus based on the common cold. Of approximately 8 million does of the J&J vaccine, 15 reactions, all woman, all under the age of 60. I am male, I am over 60, I will hold out till the cows come home for the J&J shot.
Whew, just reading all of that stresses me. Glad first shot went so well. 2nd sometimes gives you a sore arm. AFTER THAT, YOU CAN FINALLY GET BACK TO YOUR 2019 SELF.
I whish everybody gets soon the vaccine.
Hi there Ilona,
You two are by far my favorite authors ever. I am an herbalist in NYC. If you have a diagnosis and don’t want pharmaceutical meds talk to me. You have my email. Also my sister lives very close to you as well. I’ve never visited her in Tx but maybe someday. Be well ok. Stay healthy. We will all be back to normal soon. Have a beautiful day.
KerrieAnne
Good luck with those second shots… several people I know report they knocked them on their arse for 2-4 days.
The shots are funny, aren’t they? Smallest. Needle. Ever.
But Beware : I’ve had zero symptoms thru everything COVID, including my husband having it last summer, as well as my first vaccine shot. My arm wasn’t even sore.
I received my 2nd vaccine shot at 1:30 pm this past Friday. By 10 pm I was feeling flu-ish and my arm/shoulder were sore.
By Saturday morning I was miserable. I felt sunburned all over my skin was so sensitive and all my joints ached abominably. I felt better Sunday morning tho, just fatigued.
Ilona, I hope your health improves. I’m currently in a situation where the doctors don’t know what’s wrong with my blood. I’ve been to three different doctors, and I’ve had multiple blood tests. I also have an MRI scheduled for the problem. I know just how you feel about the hurry up and wait system that we’re put through.
Hang in there girl. Maybe you should try meditation. LOL.
Zen hugs. 6 minutes pleasant distraction via TYWKIWDBI and courtesy of Michael Moschen and PBS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjHoedoSUXY
Congratulations ????
I had chest pains a few years ago… Spent the night in the hospital. I had a stress test, an ultrasound and a 3d CT scan. I weirded out the tech when I tried to get him to give me the data from the CT scan so I could see if I could get a friend with a 3D printer to print one. He was even weirded out when I told him my husband is writing a new operating system for his scanner (hubby works for GE Medical). But everything was good and chest pain turns out to be a “locked rib cage and pulled, swollen shoulder muscles” and did 5 months of PT which I’ll take over a heart attack any day.
So good luck, hope the tests turn out well and that the something weird is not anything major. I still would like a 3d sculpture of my heart… That would be so geeky cool.
You should be able to receive the digital files for that CT scan. Johns Hopkins does it. And patient data is yours.
You might enjoy the Gokhale method. I know many of her students come in with weird rib cage things.
So glad you got your shot! It’s such a relief to be two weeks past the second one. Several years ago I had heart symptoms and went in for test after test. Ultrasounds. Stress test (the chemical one as well–what a horrible feeling). Cardiac MRI. Turns out I’ve had a wonky valve since birth and it didn’t get to be a problem until I got older. So I am on a statin drug, blood pressure drug (even though my BP is fine) and keep a close check on everything. Hope your issue is easily diagnosed and treated and you have days when you forget all about it!
When my husband gets the shot for the stress test his heart actually slows down sometimes, so it is hit or miss when he does it that way. When I get on the treadmill they look at me as though I’m going to have a heart attack, because my heart speeds way up. Not fun, but not as bad as working out… We both got our 2nd vaccine shot and my son got his first. My second shot I should have got on the other arm, maybe. All my joints were sore and my armpit (probably lymph nodes) were swollen. Felt like someone took a broken piece of wood and was poking from the inside out. It’s three days later and I am feeling better – still sore, but much better. Glad you got your shot and I hope your heart issue works out. I had to get blood pressure meds, so hopefully it is just that simple for you as well.