Another Cup of Whine

[Dee]

On Tuesday I had a Tetanus booster shot during my annual physical checkup and I’ve been feeling like crap ever since – full body aches and pains (sort of like the flu without the puking), loss of appetite, overall weakness, and just generally feeling hit by a truck.

To top things off, I’ve done some research and discovered that a Tetanus shot can lower immunity and increase the volume of HIV in the body at the same time. Why in hell did they not prepare me for this? I feel angry about it and even more guarded about catching any new nasties while my defences are down this way.

/ end of whine

[david uk]

That is absolutely outrageous, Dee! :mad: :confused:

I hope that when you're better you make a formal complaint.

In the meantime stay home and take care of yourself.

[Dee]

I can't really lay blame on them, David, since they are just general practitioners and not HIV specialists. However, it didn't even occur to me that such a reaction would happen so I didn’t ask. Apparently it is a rather rare thing.

I’m taking Advil for the aches and pains and to keep the fever down, and napping a lot until it passes. Not much else I can do really.

[DaveM]

Definitely reason for caution, Dee...please take care of yourself. And inasmuch as you can, stick to your specialist(s).

[GodSistah]

Hope you are feeling better soon, bro!
I love you!

~Andrea~

[Dee]

Thanks you two!

Wouldn't it be easier just to pour the water in the toilet and bypass the middle step? Never been a fan of liquid diets but I haven't much appetite anyhow.

Dee (the planet's most impatient patient)

[lucille]

Dee, I hope you are improving and I hope you have called the GPs and told them. If not, perhaps you should. They need to know for future reference, and you need to know for sure that you are suffering from side effects. Anyway, get well and vibes from DU. :)

[Bat]

I guess a bout of feeling bad is preferable to getting tetanus...but not by much in your case! Sounds pretty dangerous to me, and I hope this will not set you back! Eat, drink, and stay home where the germs you know and love live...at least they're your own...you don't want anyone else's now.
Feel better...this, too, shall pass.
We love you and want you back to your ebullient self!
Hugs,
Bat

[Dee]

Thanks for your concern. Feeling quite a bit better this morning – no more deep aching agonies and no more fever! Never again will I allow them to jab a needle in me without thoroughly questioning them first.

[ponytail]

So glad to hear you're feeling better.

I've had a fear of immunizations ever since I got very sick for several weeks from a flu shot a few years ago. I haven't had a shot since. I did get the flu this year -- but from what I hear, the last crop of shots didn't work on that strain anyway.:rolleyes:

Please take care.

[Dee]

Thanks, Jack.

In the three days since I posted that I have managed to develop a deep cough and some other things I won't go into here. At least the violent reaction has passed now, and the fever hasn't returned.

I just keep reminding myself things could always be much worse!

Hope you're over the flu now.

[hoops]

Dee,
i'm sorry you had such a bad reaction, that's just terrible and you certainly don;t need your immune system compromised. I do hope you feel better soon.
peace
hoops

[Dee]

Thank your Noel,

I have an appointment at my HIV clinic on Monday, so I'll tell them what happened and I'm sure they'll want to do new blood counts. If they don't, I'll insist that they do.

[RedjackRyan]

Sorry you've had additional issues Dee. I really hope you get over that nasty cough and whatever else quickly.. I gotta talk to some people, you deserve a break for cryin out loud!

[Dee]

Thanks, Ben. After all these years, you just learn not to freak out about this kind of stuff. It only adds stress, and added stress for me is like poison. Besides, it fixes nothing.

[Eva]

That's all really bad news Dee. Yes, please insist on them doing a good check. I hope you will feel better soon.

Eva

[Bat]

All the best, Guy! hope the rough patch is over...feel better, and do whatever you have to do to get good treatment!

[Dougster]

You take good care of yourself and LAY LOW. Minimal exposure to the outside world is probably wise for a short time. I'm sure you will be feeling back to your ol' self soon.:cool:

Doug

[Dee]

Thanks, you guys.

Doing my best to avoid the nasties, Dougster. I just hope my defences are built up enough next week when I have three (count 'em) three medical appointments. Ugh. Not to mention I am overdue for a haircut. :p

Being cabin-bound does have some advantages. For instance, this morning I managed to install my hulk of a floor model air conditioner. That sounds nuts I know, but it looks like things are finally warming up, and with my top floor apartment it’s having the a/c or cooking to death on sunny days.

[Dee]

I think I’m starting to detest doctors.

Going early this morning for a BMD (Bone Mineral Density) test. There is some concern that I am experiencing bone loss from the toxic meds I take to keep my HIV in check. And at my checkup on Monday they sent me for more blood tests – twelve vials worth of blood tests! That should tell us if the Tetanus booster shot did anything nasty to my white blood cells or not.

[RedjackRyan]

Twelve vials?? You sure there aren't Vampires on staff at this place??

got my fingers crossed for a good checkup for ya bud.

[Dee]

Twelve vials?? You sure there aren't Vampires on staff at this place?

Thanks, Ben. Obscene isn’t it. Well, I guess this is what comes of telling a doctor the truth.

I got through my Bone Mineral Density scan with no problem. In fact the technician was a nice young woman who I had fun joking with. For those who’ve never had a BMD scan, they tell you to lie on a table and they put a block under your lower legs to keep them bent at a 90-degree angle. Then they scan back and forth across your pelvis. Apparently it’s the hip bones they are really looking at. They whole process took less than 10 minutes.

At one point I asked if her if "this thing" does photocopies as the scanning arm did its work back and forth above me. I felt like I was in a Science Fiction movie matter of fact. She said they should be sending the analysis to my doctor in about two weeks.

[hoops]

12 vials??? I couldn't bleed that much! dang Dee my friend! Well i guess if there is anything to find, 12 vials of blood will find it. my mom had to have a few BMD's they scanned her whole body tho. it's one of the "better" tests to have if you have to have tests, noninvasive, you don;t have to get pulled into some giant machine and the noise level is low. i hope yours comes out well Dee. and i hope your shot did not negatively effect you.
peace
hoops

[Dee]

Thanks, Hoops. I just take it as a sign they are being thorough about things after my wonderful Tetanus shot experience. Or maybe Redjack is right about them being vampires.

:eek:

[RedjackRyan]

Well if you need replenishing afterward, I'd be happy to Bleed Randy a little to top you off again :D

[lucille]

I don't know why I am thinking this - I must have a little vampire in me.

"Does the vessel with the pestle hold the brew that is true"?:)

[Dee]

Well if you need replenishing afterward, I'd be happy to Bleed Randy a little to top you off again :D

Uh, erm, ah . . . I think that would be unwise on a whole lot of levels, Ben. Most notably, it might make me vulnerable to Karen's world famous head thunkings. :p