COVID Vaccine: My Second Pfizer Shot

 Greetings,

I wrote a little while ago about having my first COVID-19 vaccine and having the Pfizer vaccine to be precise and what I went through as some information for those with fibromyalgia (FM), so they might be aware of some side-effects. I also wrote it because even through all that I knew that I was doing the right thing and that was the most important thing. Well, with the prescribed weeks later, I went and had my second shot of the Pfizer vaccine, knowing full well what the side-effects would be.

The advantage that I had was that I was prepared for these side-effects so the doctor and I were able to mitigate some of the effects by increasing some of my medications for the period of the side-effects. This helped a bit and reduced some of the effect. I am not going to go and detail the day-by-day side-effects that I experienced after this second shot, I don't think it will serve any purpose. The side-effects were much the same, only slightly reduced.

In about five months I will be eligible to have my booster shot, and I will be having that too. Yes, it will no doubt result in another week full of side-effects, but that is not the point. Yes, it will result in me being inconvenienced for another week, but that is not the point. I will decrease my chances of being infected by COVID-19; I will also decrease my chances of passing the same on to others; and that is the point.

Much like wearing a mask in public where we can't social distance or we are asked to by our government, or public health authorities. We do this not only for our own benefit, but for the benefit of those around us. This is something that has often been lost in our current era, we do not think of others very often, we do not take our heads out of our little worlds to think of how our actions affect others, or how our inactions affect others. 

If anything, I hope that this pandemic teaches us to be kind to our neighbours, to consider our actions and what effect they will have on our neighbours. I know they are high hopes, but you have to start somewhere.

Cheers, 

Henry.

The COVID Vaccine: My First Pfizer Shot

Greetings,

There are somethings that must be made clear before you begin reading the following entry. First, I apologise that it has been so long that I have made an entry on this blog, I just have not found anything which I thought was relevant to write. Second, this was my first Pfizer vaccine shot against the COVID-19 virus and I went in with open eyes. Third, I have multiple co-morbid conditions which likely added to the symptoms which you will read below. Fourth, this is intended to educate, not scare, any of my fellow fibro-fighters in regard to the Pfizer vaccine. Finally, and most importantly, I will be having the second and booster shots when they become available. One could almost term me as a pro-vaxxer, if I could afford it they could line up all the vaccinations and I would have them all.

These records come from my Facebook page, made so I could record them and post them here, no I can explain the situation...

"Pfizer vax No.1 done... about 12hrs ago, certainly not looking like I am going to be up to much this week if symptoms persist." 

In preparation for my vaccine, I cleared out my entire week because I did not know how my fibromyalgia (FM) was going to react with the Pfizer vaccine. I had heard varied reports from people with various chronic health conditions. By this time I was feeling a little uncomfortable, nothing new after being out all day really. I seemed to have missed the +24hr mark, obviously I was busy with other things, or just plain forgot. The reports continue...

"Pfizer +48hrs: general aches, FM not playing well at all, headache, joints not happy, costochondritis present; a little warm, but not feverish."

By this time the vaccine was truly in my system. I was beginning to feel the real symptoms of the side-effects. "Flu-like symptoms" is how they describe it, some "aches and pains" is a further comment. What it really means is it wakes all your FM symptoms and turns them all on. This was actually just the side-effects warming up.

"Pfizer shot+72hrs: fibro is still in "flare mode"; last night right leg froze up and made walking "interesting"; have a headache which is almost constant and has been so since 6hrs+; pick a joint it's probably either stiff, painful, or waiting it's turn; focus is varied, "fibro-fog" is having a party unless I focus hard, which exacerbates headache; pottering along, doing what I can, not expecting much.

Still going ahead with second, regardless."

By this time I was experiencing side-effects which I can only describe as what I experienced during some of my worst fibro-flares. You can see the physical and mental effects that it was having on me just by the description. I spent most of the time relaxing as much as possible, like I do when my FM is flaring. You will also note my usual stubbornness present in regard to having the second shot, even with these symptoms present. I would rather go through all of this all over again, than have the higher chance of getting COVID and the possible after-effects of that. Moving on with the story...

 

"Pfizer +96hrs (4 days): headache is still there; "fibro flare" is beginning to subside; walking is becoming less painful, joints less painful, but still present; overall some improvement, hoping to be "sociable" by tomorrow."

The worst part of it was over by now. There was still some pain, but I was certainly more mobile than I was before, even 12hrs before I made the report. I mean I know how stubborn I am, but this was actual improvement. I was still unstable, still had a bit of lingering "fibro-fog" but it was certainly improving by this stage, and looking back, I have certainly been sicker.

"Pfizer update +6 days: Almost back to "normal" (whatever the hell that means). I still have lymph glands which are up. I still have some muscle soreness and achy joints (but much less than it has been). I still have the headache, but it is background noise. Thank goodness "fibro-fog" has almost reduced down to normal levels, that has been the worst in my opinion. Screw the pain, screw the movement limitation, the "not being able to think properly" thing sucks the worst."

The last report that I posted appears above. I did not bother with another report a week later, which was yesterday actually. I am mostly back to "normal" I am now just living with the consequences of being inactive for a week. My body doesn't like moving too much my brain is back to its usual self, though I do have a niggling occasional headache, which could be explained by my messed up neck. I definitely believe that the fibro-fog was the worst. If I could've just sat and watched or wrote, or played games, that would've been alright, but the fog made it hard along with the headache.

In a nut-shell, I've had fibro-flares which were worse, some which were brought on by other medications, some which were brought on by completely external sources. I will be getting the second Pfizer shot, I know that there is the potential for a repeat, or worse, of these symptoms, but in the end it will be worth it. As Nietzsche said, "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger.” The Stoics, through the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who had his own chronic health issues, had a similar approach in that everything is fuel for the fire to make us greater.

Talk with your health professional, see which COVID vaccination is right for you. Prepare for the possible side-effects by reading about them, informing yourself as you would anything else, but ask your health professional about anything you are worried about. Do not fear the possible outcomes. Know that you are not only doing this for yourself, but your loved ones, and those who cannot have the vaccine. This is not just a question of being good to your loved ones, but everyone you meet, being a good human being. I will leave you with this comment from the aforementioned Marcus Aurelius to consider.

"Have I done something for the common good? Then I too have benefited. Have this thought always ready to hand: and no stopping." Marcus Aurelius - Meditations

I hope that what I have said will help you, not inspire you, but help you. I wish you a pain-free day.

Cheers,

Henry.

1/365 is Not Enough

 Greetings,

Last year I gave an update of my list of illnesses that were current (https://alifewithfibromyalgia.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-list-i-am-here.html) just to let people know exactly what is going on with me, should they really want to know. Well, this year has been no picnic I can tell you and the COVID-19 pandemic has been just the beginning of it. You throw in costochondritis on top, which has this habit of imitating a heart attack, and things have not been a hell of a lot of fun. (Yes, I have chest pain, and can't breathe properly. No, I don't want you to call an ambulance. I can't breathe properly because I have chest pain. No, it is not my lungs.) Not to mention the other parts of my body have been playing their usual merry hell. Oh, the COVID pandemic has been lots of fun too, especially when you are one of the "high risk" category. Crazy when the rules that you have been following and trying to get others to follow suddenly become policy...

... stay home when unwell.
... wash your hands.

... stay away from sick people, and distance from people in general.

So here we are on "R U OK?" Day again and social media is being flooded with memes and bits and pieces of people asking the simple question. Well, again I am going to say, "No, I am not OK, and I have damned good reasons not to be." That being said, this is my state of affairs. This is what I have to deal with.

I do not expect people to be checking in on me every day, or even today, aside from the fencing class that I have this afternoon. In fact if people did try to check on me every day I would find it truly irritating, but that is just who I am. I work through things myself, for the most part. When I need help, I will get around to asking. Yes, my wife, and my doctor both think this should be more often.

One day out of 365 is not enough, people need to be reaching out to one another all of the other 364 days of the year as well. It is even more so in the current situation with the pandemic going on. People are not "OK" at all. People are feeling isolated, people are feeling like their world is crashing down around them (in some cases it is), people are being confused by different messages which are being put out there, and all of this is creating stress on people. Even for people who aren't "at risk" i.e. those with mental health issues, this is rough.

Make time to talk to your friends and family. Use some of that endless phone credit you have. Use some of that endless internet time you have. Get in touch, make a connection, talk to someone. Make a real connection with them, see how they are really going. Make a habit of doing this. If people took it upon themselves to do this it could change things a lot.

Go find a friend or someone in your family to talk to. Not just today, but other days in the year. Make a change for the better. They are interested in what's going on in your life, just as you are actually interested in theirs. Just try it. The time you have in their company will be time you are happy you spent.

Cheers,

Henry.

Will the Lessons Be Learned?

Greetings,

The world as I write is in the grip of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There are very few countries which have not been impacted in some way by this virus, and the ones which have been impacted by the virus have been impacted heavily. Australia has been impacted quite heavily, "social distancing" measures have been introduced along with self-isolation and quarantining measures as well. We have already seen a panic-run on shops of some essentials, and as a result rationing put in place to prevent further occurrences of such panic-buying of these essentials.

Hygiene measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Sick people have been told to stay at home, hence the self-isolation. People have also been told to wash their hands, and keep their hands away from their faces. The interesting thing is that these measures should be "common sense" things that people should be doing anyway.

Flu season is also upon us soon. It is most interesting that the same people who are being paranoid about COVID-19 and posting on social media about it are the same people who do not get the flu vaccination, and also the same people who often continue to go out in public when they are sick. If the current pandemic has taught us anything is that everyone who is able should get vaccinated, if possible, and sick people should stay at home so they do not infect others. Why?

The 1918 pandemic which killed 50,000,000 people was not some random virus. It was a strain of the influenza virus, or flu, H1N1 to be precise, also known as "Spanish Flu". What is ridiculous is that every year we have a new strain of the flu turn up. Every year it spreads around the world during winter months when we are at our most vulnerable. Scientists have been warning us for years about an upcoming pandemic of the same proportions, if not worse than 1918. Watch the Netflix series "Pandemic" and reconsider how you think about the flu.

The problem is that people look at the flu and because it is common and lots of people survive it, they don't worry about it. It is not the people who get sick and shrug it off which is the concern, it is the immune-suppressed and immune-vulnerable which you get vaccinated for. You get vaccinated so you do not pass it along to your friend who may be under treatment or may have a chronic condition.

If anything gets learnt from this pandemic, it should be the importance of people a) getting vaccinated because it is available; b) not going out when they are sick; and c) people paying attention to simple hygiene such as covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, and washing your hands regularly.  Do it for your elderly parents. Do it for your immune-suppressed friend. Do it for your friend with a chronic health condition. Do it for me. Just do it for yourself.

Hopefully the lessons will be learned and remembered and the flu will not have as much of an impact. Learn the lessons from COVID-19, apply them during flu season too. This is a personal responsibility thing, everyone can do their part. It starts with you.

Cheers,

Henry.

#washyourhands, #getvaccinated, #getafluvax