Self Isolation

So this evening my phone pinged & there it was, the ominous message telling me I have to self isolate for 9 days!

I’ve been so careful. I’ve cleaned everything that’s come into the house and have basically done nothing for over a year. But on Saturday it was my neighbour’s birthday and she invited me to her birthday gathering in the garden. I was only there for an hour, hardly spoke to anyone & tried to keep my distance. It seems it didn’t work.

Sigh

I’m double jabbed. We were outside. I hardly mixed at all. But the Bluetooth app says otherwise.

So now I have to wait 9 days to confirm I’m ok. I’ll spend all that time worrying (I already am) particularly as my highly vulnerable father is still staying with me.

But should I worry? Isn’t the point of the vaccine that you won’t catch it or be ill? I really hope that’s true.

Roll on the 15th!

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PS. My neighbour has contacted everyone else who was there & no-one is ill or has reported a positive test. I’ve even done a lateral flow test myself which was negative. So I’m guessing it was a false alarm. I’ll keep isolating but I’m wondering just how accurate is the app?

Vaccine Dose 2

So today’s the day, again. I got my text invitation last week & I’m going for my 2nd Covid vaccine today, 3 weeks early!

I’m feeling much more apprehensive this time around, partly because of the negative media reports about blood clots and partly because I had such severe side effects last time.

It’s good news though. I’ll certainly feel safer once I’m fully vaccinated & I’m hoping that will give me the confidence to brace the outside world again.

Hopefully I’ll be side effect free this time too. Time will tell.

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Well it’s all done. I had to wait for about 1 minute so it wasn’t even worth taking a seat in the empty room. I was followed in by a man who said he’d waited 71 years for this! Clearly a big and important thing for him. (if he’s 71,I’m not sure why I’m having my jab the same day but I’m grateful all the same.

Still not been given a sticker, but immunity is far far better! 😁

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PS – no side effects this time around, yay!

Vaccine Day

Today is vaccine day.
I got my text from the doctors 2 days ago & today’s the day. At lunchtime I’ll be off to my GP vaccination centre with my arm at the ready.

How am I feeling? Excited. Apprehensive.

Apprehensive cos it’s an unknown but I’m not usually apprehensive about vaccines so I really shouldn’t be this time. Excited because a more normal future now seems a more immediate light on the horizon. After almost a year stuck at home, the opportunity to actually be able to go out & see people again, albeit in 3 months time, is such a welcome treat.

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So I was met outside the church door by a volunteer, a friendly guy who put me at ease. After a quick spray of the antibac I was directed to the side entrance (a one way system had been implemented, in the side door and out the front door.) Once inside my name was checked off on the computer & then I was given a ticket (944) to wait to be called. I joined 15 or so people sitting at two metres apart in the main church & took a seat as far away from everyone as possible, and waited.

I was reassured to see that whenever anyone was called, a volunteer quickly proceeded to clean the chair that had been vacated. Very efficient & smooth.

When 944 was called I followed the pointing & took my place at station 5 where I was introduced to the dr who was going to vaccinate me. Retired 3 years ago, he’d volunteered to help with the vaccine effort. After all the general questions & comments, the infamous “sharp scratch” and that was it. Vaccinated !

Because I was given the Oxford jab I was advised not to drive for the next 15 minutes so proceeded back to my car to wait in the car park. It gave me time to read the leaflet. It was also good to chat with an older couple arriving for their jab.

I was surprised to be called so soon for my jab & to see a number of younger people there. I didn’t seem to fit into the makeup of people in the current cohort. But I’m relieved. I’m grateful. I’m happy to have finally started on my road to the future.

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It’s been 9 hours since my jab & I’m beginning to feel a bit bit off. Just headachy & tired really so I’m heading to bed for an early night with a cup of tea & some pain killers. Hopefully I’ll sleep it off & will feel like ok in the morning. Fingers crossed x

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Well I managed about 3 hours sleep, if that before I was wide awake & beginning to feel worse. By the middle of of the night, 14 hours after the jab, I had a high temperature, shivers and aches. I’ve made tea & wrapped up in 3 blankets, in my bed, with a hot water bottle and taken more painkillers but am still shivering.

After an hour the shivers are easing but I’m still feeling rough. I guess at least my body is fighting & creating antibodies.

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So I spent the next 24 hours in bed. I felt worse than I’ve felt in years. My temperature kept spiking up to 38 degrees. My head was throbbing incessantly. I ached all over. I had no appetite and basically just spent the day sleeping & drinking fluids. Phew, what a day. The only comfort through it all is that I’ve had a vaccine, this is no where near as bad as the disease and it will wear off soon.

And wear off it did. 48 hours later I felt human again and able to function more normally. I was tired for the next week but that’s a small price to pay for protection. I just hope I don’t react after dose 2 in a few weeks time. Time will tell!