I posted before I received two different vaccines. My initial vaccine was the AstraZeneca which landed me on my ass and the second was Pfizer which didn’t do anything.
I was told by my doctors that because of the extreme reaction to the vaccine that I would have a higher immunity rate than someone who did not.
My COVID Vaccines
The AstroZeneca is a viral vector-based vaccine. As I understand it, when it is delivered to the body through a virus such as a common cold virus the body fights the virus but also the vector in the virus creating your immune response and the antibodies against covid-19. The Pfizer is a messenger RNA vaccine. This means mRNA created in a laboratory when injected, teaches our cells how to make the protein that triggers an immune response producing antibodies
2 months later when I got my second shot, Pfizer, I was told, again by my doctors that because they are two different vaccines that work and approach the problem differently that I likely have a higher immunity.. CDC says the infection rate of those fully vaccinated is 0.0002%.. So apparently, my chances of getting covid are even lower.
A few weeks back, I was talking to my mom about my health and we were discussing one of my previous trips to the emergency room. The visit in question was due to mental health not physical but it’s still triggered a thought in my head.
I used to be a fairly regular patient when I lived in East Toronto.. At my worst I was in the ER at either Centenary or Scarborough General 2-3 times a month for quite a while.
With this conversation, I came to the realization that I haven’t been to the ER or the hospital since covid started, and the world shut down March 2020.
This means that I had not had to go to the ER for my pain at all for almost a year & a half! Personally, I think that’s pretty good!
Before anyone tells me that a trip to the ER is pointless & they will just accuse me of wanting drugs and won’t take me seriously. I believe I’ve actually addressed this issue previously.
When I go to the ER, I’m not looking for narcotics. What I want is big shot of toradol and some sort of stronger muscle relaxant. What this does is it calms down my osteoarthritis which makes the rest of the issues significantly more manageable.
There is even one doctor there at Oshawa General who also used to be at Centenary where I used to go when I lived in Toronto. Because of being a frequent flyer when I was in Toronto, this physician knows me on sight, knows my likely issue, and will turn around and say “Toradol shot?” And he writes the order for me. I can be gone in minutes once I’m in the back when he’s there.
Earlier this week, I was having a big craving for Greek food but I did not want to pay an arm or a leg for it either. That means Jimmy the Greek..
So I had to go into the food court at the local mall.. This is the first time I’ve been since before covid. So I wasn’t sure what to expect but fortunately the food court is off an entrance.
So when I walk in the first thing I noticed is the number of people. It looked to be at normal pre-covid occupancy.. mind you the West plastic up everywhere, barriers in place so you can’t just cut through the seating section and tape and arrows and direction on the ground. I thought that this was a good sign except that I noticed people were not necessarily following the mall’s guidelines.
Fortunately, Jimmy the Greek is the third fast food retailer in the food court so I didn’t have to go around a lot of people. That still doesn’t stop stupidity.
As I’m walking through I am trying significantly hard to try to social distance from other people. Yes I was wearing my mask, but still…
When I get to the restaurant there are two people at the counter getting their food and three people in line waiting to place their orders. They are actually physically in line like they would have been 2 years ago, one right behind the other – maybe 2 feet apart.. They should be in line on the lineup tape/signs that was taped on the ground so that nobody was within two meters (6ft) of each other to ensure safety. Now each retailer has this. But apparently I’m the only one who knows how to use it.
So when it was clear and the girl called me up.. As I’m stepping forward this guy with his kids come barreling through, not only does he come close to me but also almost runs into me! What the Hell?!?!
So, I went up and place my order. There were still people ahead of me but the closest was 2 meters and the other was 4 m away from me. All good. Except the lady behind me beside me was waiting longer for her meal and then added to her meal. So she was taking significantly longer and I went around her to go pay for my meal which was being put at the cash.
And what does the psycho do but go back to the end of the countertop where the cashier is even though she doesn’t have her food yet. So I have to come scrambling back to get out of her way cuz she just came right at me.
The only reason why this chick got out of the way is because of the staff told her to so that I can pay.. Oh. My. God. How can you beat that oblivious??
So I pay for my meal. I turn around and look down at the floor trying to find direction on which way to go. There are, at that point, no visible signs that I could see telling me which direction to go. So I head back the way I came and just as I’m getting to the end of the restaurants I finally see a sign telling me which way to go and I find out I’m going the wrong bloody way.. *sigh*
Needless to say, I’m not likely to be going to the mall again anytime soon.
BTW, does anyone else wear their mask while going through the drive-thru or getting curbside pickup that gets handed to you?
Recently, i posted about my hairdresser & how my appointments with her are relaxing.
Well, on the Saturday prior, my bff got her hair done (same stylist). Apparently, the tension could be cut with a knife.
Monique had commented away from work that she does not agree with anti-maskers or anti-vaxers. Her co-workers did not appreciate it considering that all the rest of the staff in the salon were unvaccinated and had no plans to get vaccinated. They also we’re not wearing masks in this place of business. So this led to a very uncomfortable silence with her co-workers.
I am Against anti-maskers & anti-vaxers. They are putting us *all* at risk.
Fortunately between that appointment and mine she was able to find a new hairdressing home. Her new salon that she is at is much more bright, much more open, much more space for social distancing and each stylist had two chairs so that they could alternate so that they always had a clean chair available.
So while I still support Monique, I no longer support Heads Up Hair Salon in Oshawa. My business has switched to Bounce Salon and Spa in Courtice
i am glad my stylist is more concerned about her clients & their safety over a paycheck.
Yesterday, I got my second stab for COVID immunization. Last time I had the AZ inoculation and, while not an allergic reaction, my body reacted badly. This time I received the Pfizer vaccine. We will see how that works!
Pics after getting my 2nd Vaccine – 14 days, Baby!!!!
As you’ve seen by some of my other recent posts, I was recently in the emergency department due to pain. The pain in this case was not due to fibromyalgia or endometriosis or any of my other chronic conditions. Or at least I didn’t think so. I was concerned about a blood clot due to the AshraZeneca vaccine I had received the week prior.
Summary of that ER visit, I don’t have a blood clot. I’m fine.
At the ER, due to possible AZ issues, *not* Fibromyalgia, and *not* OsteoArthritis.. So it’s still been over a year since me last FM/OA pain crisis.
But the point of this post is that I have not been to the emergency room since before COVID started. 10, 12, even 14 years ago I was a frequent flyer at Centenary Hospital in Scarborough. I was there about once a month and it was not unusual to be there multiple times in one month. It actually got to the point where I knew the department head by name, and he knew me, by name. In the grand scheme of things, that not generally a good thing.
Even after I had moved back from Scarborough to Oshawa I was still going to the emergency room every 2 to 3 months due to my fibromyalgia & OA pain.
Butt as things have gotten more manageable, as my weight has decreased, my fitness level has increased, my diet has improved, my medications have been cut back and altered in a positive way, I have become healthier and healthier. I have, with the help of my doctor’s, been able to better manage many of my symptoms of Fibromyalgia & OA.
The other day I was actually thinking about when my last visit to the emergency room was. I realized that it’s been over a year because my last visit was prior to COVID shutting down the world last March. I think I may have been in the ER after Cub camp on the family day weekend in 2020.
But think about it. I used to be going for regular ER visits to help control my pain. Now, it’s been over a year since I’ve been in a the RR, and still not for FM/OA related pain.
In case you missed the prior post, I had the AstraZeneca shot last Thursday and had an immuno reaction to the vaccine. I was laid out for several days, but was eventually feeling better.
AZ Vaccine
As you probably heard on the news with the AstraZeneca vaccine, there is a very rare but potentially fatal fatal side effect of blood clots. The biggest indicator of a blood clot is sudden increase in pain, including a headache. A second possible indicator is a shortness of breath.
On Wednesday afternoon, while I am dealing with my fibro flare that was stimulated by the vaccine response, I suddenly get a very sharp and dramatic pain in my right calf. To me, this did not feel like the normal pain I would have from fibromyalgia in that it was stronger in that single place and that it had a sudden onset.
Off the the ER I go.
Out for fresh air while waiting for test results outside OFH LHO Emergency Department
I was a little surprised that it didn’t take me right in, but I was triaged and registered within 20 minutes and took until near 10:00 at night to see a doctor. He ordered blood work.
an hour later I was back into the emergency rooms internal waiting room and set for another hour waiting for the physician to come around and give me the results. He reviewed everything and I was told that everything was normal except for the reading that says that no I don’t have a blood clot. I needed to get an ultrasound.
Of course ultrasound is closed at that our so I was given an appointment for later that morning at 10:00 a.m. at the hospital.
I’ve never had an ultrasound on my leg done before but not as uncomfortable as I was expecting it to be. The whole test took about a half an hour because she checked my blood flow all the way from my hip down past where the pain was in my calf. I was told the test results would be back in the ER by the time I got there.
So I had to go back to the ER, re-triaged, re-registered. After an hour of sitting in the emerge I was finally taken back to get my results. And I waited for another half an hour before a physician popped his head in. He asked me if I had a history of blood clots and when I said no he asked me what I thought why I had one and explained that it had pain and that I’d had a easy vaccine the week prior. The doctor just simply looked at me at that point and said “You’re all good. No Blood Clot.”
Big sigh of relief, for me & my friends that I was talking to online as well as family.
Recently, I received an email from Sobey’s Grocery stores in response to my request to be waitlisted for the vaccine.. They said, I was eligible for the COVID vaccine, for the AstraZeneca vaccine. Finally!!
AZ Vacvine
I went & signed up. It turns out the closest location for the shot was in the city a Gerrard & Vic Park. I’m sure there’s not a lot of you familiar with the geography of Toronto but from my home it is approximately 50 km or just over 30 miles ( just under an hour away) to that specific grocery store for my shot. But I was going to be going into Scarborough (East Toronto) anyways because of Lilly’s surgery. I figured I’d would kill two birds with one stone.
My Shot, Thursday
So my appointment was on Thursday, at 11:30am. It was super quick. By the time my brain registered the sensation of the needle, she was already putting it syringe into the sharps bin.So, even if you don’t like needles, it’s not that bad. I stayed the required 15 minutes. No reaction initially other than some moderate nausea.
Waiting n the cubical for the pharmacist to give me my shot
The nausea stayed with me for the day. I was a little tired afterwards & had a short nap which helped me feel a little better. Even went for walk with my sister in the evening.
My Reactions – That Night
By 2:00am the nausea was worse, so much so that I had an empty bucket beside my bed, just in case.
Shortly after that I noticed I was cold. I was eventually shivering despite pj’s and warm bedding. My temperature at this time was 38 & change in Celcius .
My arm was sore, but most people have that reaction. My fibro was triggered and my pain was climbing everywhere. At worst I’d say 5/10.
By 5:00 this morning my body had switched from shivering to sweating. I was also having a headache kick in. I took some Tylenol with codeine and was finally able to get back to sleep.
My Reactions – Next Day, Friday
I was abruptly woken up by my Mom at 10:30am for a temperature check. It was 36.8, completely normal. After checking Lilly & giving her meds (see her surgical post if you are interested), I went back to bed. Fortunately in the morning, the body wide pain had taken a step back and no more shivering or sweating. I did still have the headache, and the nausea but it was not as bad.
As the day wore on I’d flip from chills to overheating, but no temperature. The nausea kept up and I did rush to the bathroom with dry heaves. The body-wide aches went back up by bedtime.
My Reactions – Day 2 Post Vaccine, Saturday
Still has ongoing flipping between chills & hot flashes. Left arm still sore.. Ongoing body aches all during the day.. Still nauseous, but not actually vomiting..sent alot of my time resting.
My Reactions – Day 3 Vaccine, Sunday.
Chills & hot flashes completely abated by the evening and the nausea aswell. Still had body-wide aches & pains.
My Reactions – Day 4 & 5, Monday & Tuesday.
I think by this point I was completely finished reacting to the actual vaccine, whoever my fibromyalgia decided to react to the vaccine reaction. Oh so fun. So by the time I woke up on Monday I was in a lovely little fibro flare that has lasted several days. Only thing I accomplished was the opening & closing of my Tuesday Night Cub meeting.
So, by this point my actual immunoreaction to the medication in the vaccine was done, but not the end of this saga of my vaccine.. Read here for more on this story.
So currently in Ontario, where I live, there is a three tier plan, which itself is made up of stages.
Phase 1 is for High-risk populations including
Congregate living for seniors
Health care workers
Adults in First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations
Adult chronic home care recipients
Adults ages 80 and older
Adults with the highest-risk health conditions:
From this group, my Brother-in-law, my 2 nieces & my Dad were all quickly eligible for the first phase.
Phase II is described as Mass deliveries of vaccines. This is our current phasewhere we currently stand in the process. This phase includes:
Adults aged 60 to 79, in 5-year increments
High-risk congregate settings (such as shelters, community living)
Individuals with high-risk chronic conditions and their caregivers
Those who cannot work from home
At-risk populations
So, with that description,you’d think I would be eligible in Phase 2 for either Endo, Fobro, CFS/ME, etc.. but no.. here are the lists of conditions that apply:
Highest-Risk Health Conditions, eligible at phase I:
Organ transplant recipients
Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g., motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis)
Haematological malignancy diagnosed <1 year
Kidney disease eGFR< 30
Of these conditions, I have none. .
High-Risk Health Conditions currently eligible
Obesity (BMI > 40)
Other treatments causing immunosuppression (e.g., chemotherapy, immunity- weakening medications)
Intellectual or developmental disabilities (e.g., Down Syndrome)
Of these conditions, I have none. It’s interesting that someone who is so far they are morbidly obese has priority over someone with a heart condition..
I no longer has a BMI over 40.. At my worst, my BMI was over 50 ( I just looked that up & I’m like “Damn, Girl!”) My BMI is now approximately 33.. so, I’m not eligible for that either.
At-Risk Health Conditions:
Immune deficiencies/autoimmune disorders
Stroke/cerebrovascular disease
Dementia
Diabetes
Liver disease
All other cancers
Respiratory diseases
Spleen problems (e.g., asplenia)
Heart disease
Hypertension with end organ damage
Diagnosis of mental disorder
Substance use disorders
Sickle Cell Disease
Thalassemia
Pregnancy
Immunocompromising health conditions
Other disabilities requiring direct support care in the community
Again no Fibro, No Endo, No CFS/ME.. Whil those last 2 are considered to possibly be autoimmune, they are not classified as such. So instead I qualify due to:
Respiratory diseases – I have asthma. It is currently controlled & I would only need th ventolin for strenuous activity
Diagnosis of mental disorder – I have chronic depression, have since I was 16
Substance use disorders – I have an addiction to fentanyl – controlled & my last use was about 3 years ago.
I’m not sure what the “other disabilities ‘ entails.. But I doubt it covers the other conditions, but it’s so vague.
So, cuz I am depressed, cuz I used to need a puffer & cuz I like fentanyl a little too much, I am eligible for phase not cuz of the Endo, Fibro, CFS/ME. Apparently people with these condition are otherwise only eligible in stage 3 with the rest of Canada. That is unless their family doctor gets vaccines.
Fibromyalgia 
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