No hiking for me today.
The last 24 hours have been rough. Vaccines are supposed to stimulate an immune response, albeit one that would be milder than the actual illness. And sure, compared to how most people feel after contracting COVID, I’m sure I got off lightly. That’s not to say it was fun, and it certainly is saying that it would have been wildly irresponsible for me to have left the house, let alone hit the trail.
All that said, I’ve heard from colleagues that their responses have run the gamut. Some have been sick as a dog, some have experienced fairly mild reactions. Last time, I couldn’t raise my arm above the level of my shoulder for most of a day. I’m pleased to report that I didn’t have that problem this time. Acting on the advice of a colleague, I massaged my shoulder before the jab, and then every couple hours throughout the afternoon and evening — at least until it really hurt to do so. (I had an increase of point tenderness as the day wore on, which is in-line with what happened last time.) And recovery has been swift: around mid-afternoon, things took a turn for the better, and now, I have just residual effects. Just feeling a little under the weather, but that’s clearing up by the hour.
So what do I recommend for you, my reader? When offered, roll up your sleeve! Yes, I felt like crap all night long, and no, I didn’t sleep much. However, the vaccines being offered in the US are both greater than 90% effective. In many other parts of the world, not far from that. What else in life offers 90% effectiveness? I lost a day to being sick in bed. But as I mentioned, it’s clearing up very quickly, so I’ll have only lost a single day.
What do I get for my troubles?
The peace of mind has been tangible. Wow, that’s been the biggest, most lasting effect. I haven’t felt paranoid going to the grocery store, for example. Yes, when I’m out and about, I’m still doing the usual — wear a mask and so on. I still wear my N95 at work with religious fervor. But I’m thinking of COVID a lot less now. The extra mental room is quite apparent and I’m noticing I’m a bit more relaxed.
So unfortunately, I have overtime scheduled all the way through to next week. I won’t be hitting the trail at all until then. So, until then, perhaps consider reading a post on hiker safety. If for nothing else, it seems fitting. And yep, if you can get a spot in line for the vaccine, I wholeheartedly recommend it, and sooner rather than later. (I recommend budgeting a zero day after, in case you, like me, need to spend it in bed, recovering.) By denying the virus a host, you can help save lives, at the sole cost of feeling crummy for perhaps a day or so. He who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the world. A day in bed, in exchanging for saving lives. Not a bad trade, in my humble opinion.
As always, stay safe out there.
5 thoughts on “COVID Vaccine Update”
Congratulations! I just read both of your reports. Had not been keeping up with stuff, due to exhaustion because while I took the virus seriously I kind of let hypothyroidism unattended for a short while and am reaping my rewards (brain fog, exhaustion, etc, but have an appointment on Monday to get back to normal again).
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Prema has had the vaccine. She works in the activities department at our local nursing home and has the most remarkable immunity ever (had pneumonia 12 years ago, still not sure how she got it, and ear infections at age 3, that’s it… and she is 35 now). Walgreen’s came and gave the whole place the Pfizer in the staff dining room. Worst problem for her was a stiff arm the day after both doses. The most common problem for the home was the majority of residents experienced sleepiness and the whole place took a nap, even the ones who usually don’t. That’s it, folks, no horror stories, nobody died, etc.
I am 63. I will need to wait, but not for very long. The powers that be have realized the USPS is more essential than they realized, so we have been moved up a tier. Not sure when that will be, but I will be rolling up my sleeve and doing my part. Too many elderly people coming in to get waited on, cousin with diabetes living in my house, I can’t let these folks down.
And when the Levothyroxine takes effect again, I’ll be back on the Massachusetts trails again (well, maybe I will go over the state line on the Wapack, not too many people for me to interact with there in the quiet months) because we’ve been trying to do the right thing. Looking forward to hearing more from you on this. Keep up your spirits and thanks for your service with your patients.
Take care of yourself. (And that includes taking your levothyroxine!) I remember when I did a short stint with the USPS at 030PM, I worked with some of the most motivated people I’ve ever met. When you get the jab, I’d say just try to schedule it for the weekend, so if you get hit hard, you can just sleep the day away and not worry about it. And massage that arm until it gets too painful.
Thanks! Just four doses and I am starting to feel normal again. Actually thinking of where I am going to go in another month or so, besides back to bed!
Had my first Moderna on Good Friday, second dose will be May Day (sure know how to schedule ’em!) Just a little stiffness and a whole lot of sleepiness. The first of May falls on a Saturday, so I’ll have some time to recover, if need be. We went to Willard on Sunday, and looked at the two nearby falls afterward. Nice to be back in the Whites! Hope you’re fine.
Nice you got round one. For me, it was the peace of mind, more than anything, although I was sick as a dog for a day each time. Glad you’re back in the Whites. This summer is going to be interesting, as things (hopefully!) start returning to some kind of normal.