vaccination #1…

Guess what I did?

If you have read my previous post about the COVID vaccine, you know I wasn’t super excited about getting the vaccine. I’m not an anti-vaxxer – I trust the science and believe we have had the smartest minds in the world working on this for the past year. But I also think we can’t know the long-term side effects after such a short trial period. I intended to wait a few more months before getting the vaccine.

However, my husband was anxious to get it. My father-in-law (who lives with us) has been fully vaccinated, but if my husband and I got COVID, there’s no one to take care of my FIL while we were sick. He could probably survive on his own without us, but we do the cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, etc. My father-in-law is becoming increasingly more forgetful, and he doesn’t drive much. Here in California, family caregivers who take care of a loved one were allowed to get the vaccine after healthcare workers and professional caregivers, as long as they had a note from the loved one’s doctor.

California is also now vaccinating people with preexisting medical conditions that could make a COVID infection particularly difficult. I don’t consider myself to be very high risk and had no intention of asking my doctor for a note that would allow me to get the vaccine. However, because my medical chart lists my diagnoses as asthma, POTS, mast cell, and neuropathy, my medical provider automatically sent me a letter.

I haven’t been feeling amazing for the past couple of months and seem to be in a bit of a flare. Fortunately it’s not a major flare, but I initially wanted to wait to get the vaccine until I was feeling a little better. I’d like to start from a higher baseline in case the vaccine knocks me back a little. However, if I’m going to get side effects from the vaccine, I’d rather get them when I’m already feeling like shit. I’d hate to finally start feeling better, get the jab, and be right back where I am now. Better to pile shit on top of shit.

So as I was looking for vaccine appointments for my husband, I realized that I’d rather get it now with someone than have to go alone in a few months. I expected long lines and lots of standing while waiting for my turn, and thought I might need a little extra help. I booked appointments for both of us. Our first date in over a year. Super romantic.

Our appointments were at a local university. Husband and I showed up about 30 minutes early for our appointments. After parking and walking to the vaccination site, we waited in a very short and socially-distanced line. Once we were called inside, they confirmed our appointment time and directed us to the vaccination room, which looked to be some kind of sports court with about a dozen separate vaccination stations.  Husband and I were directed to separate tables. My lab technician, Rachel, asked me a couple of questions and administered the jab. The needle puncture itself was excellent – I barely felt it go in my arm. It did sting a little when she pushed the contents in my arm, but it was minor.

Immediately after the jab, we were given a card with the vaccine information on it, which we must keep for our next appointment. I received the Pfizer vaccine. We were asked to sit in the waiting area, which had about 40 chairs spaced apart. Husband and I pulled two chairs together and started talking about what restaurants we would visit (eating outdoors on the patio) as soon as we were fully vaccinated. After our 15 minutes were up, we could leave. There was an area off to the side set up as a medical facility in the event someone needed immediate medical attention. No one had a reaction while I was there, and there were about 38 people in the waiting area with us, with another dozen or so coming or going.

I was very impressed with the vaccination process. The entire appointment – from the time we arrived at the building to the time the shot was in my arm – was 10 minutes. And when you add the 15 minute waiting time, we still finished at 2:28 – our appointments were for 2:30.  I feel it’s important to note that no one ever asked to see our letters of proof that I have preexisting medical conditions or that husband is a caregiver. If you feel you’re at high risk for COVID but are unable to get a letter from your doctor for whatever reason, it may be worth a try to schedule an appointment and see what happens.

I felt a little tired for the rest of the day. The next morning, I had a mildly sore arm and the nerve pain in my feet was elevated. The arm soreness was gone by the 2nd day, but the fatigue and nerve pain have persisted. I have also had some mild dehydration and am drinking everything in sight. As I mentioned above, I have been in a bit of a POTS flare for a little bit, so I’m not certain the fatigue and pain aren’t just from that.

Overall, I feel fortunate that the side effects from my first shot were fairly mild, but I know that isn’t the case for everyone. For another perspective (especially if you’re in the UK), you may want to read Caz’s post. Interestingly, this article states (and from talking to my elder friends it seems to be true) that seniors experience less side effects than younger people because their immune systems are not as robust. The side effects are your immune system kicking into high gear.

Because the effects can vary so greatly from person to person, I have a couple of tips based on discussions with friends, if you haven’t yet received your shot:

• If you can, wash your hair on the day you get the shot (and do anything else that requires two arms). I have a friend who couldn’t lift her arm for 2 days after receiving her first jab.
• Make sure you have your pain reliever/fever reducer of choice on hand, in case you do experience some body aches or fever after. A couple friends had high fevers, headaches/migraines, and moderate body aches after their shot.
• Stock up on electrolytes, juice, tea, or whatever else you like to drink when sick. I felt very dehydrated for the couple days after.
• Do not make any plans for the next day or two. One of my POTS friends spent 2 days in bed after her first jab. You may wish to request the day or two after off from work. If you’re in California, we have a new law that employers have to provide extra sick leave (if they have 25+ employees) for COVID-related illness, including vaccine side effects.
• Be prepared for an increase in your chronic illness symptoms and extra meds if necessary (and if approved by your doctor, of course). A couple of POTS friends have had extra tachycardia (high heart rates). I have been the opposite and experienced bradycardia (low HR).
• If you live in the U.S., please consider reporting your side effects to your doctor (even if they’re not severe) so they can get recorded with the the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). We need accurate data about the COVID vaccine effects.

If you’re interested, I will post again after my 2nd shot.

Have you received your COVID-19 vaccine? Did you experience any side effects?

Maybe peace comes when we learn that joy and pain can coexist. – Unknown

Smell ya later.
Linds