You’re never perfectly safe. No human being on Earth ever is or ever was. To live is to risk your life, your heart, everything.
Rick Yancey
Hey, Lovelies.
So, yesterday I did something important for myself.
I got my first dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
I made the choice to get vaccinated in consultation with my medical team. I am immuno-compromised. If I became infected with COVID-19 it is likely I would die.
I have elderly parents, and family members who are also unwell and immuno-suppressed. If I infect them, things would likely not go well for them either.
Although Australia has enjoyed a relatively low risk of infection since 2020, that has recently changed, and there is now active infection in the community. Some of those cases have been close to where I live. People who are infectious often show no symptoms and by the time they do they have already been able to infect others. You can’t tell who is infected just by looking at them. Mask wearing, good hygiene and social distancing help a lot, but still infections can happen.
I feel comfortable with the science behind these new vaccines. I spoke with doctors, scientists and epidemiologists. I have lots of contacts in this area, from my previous corporate life, and from within my community and client base – where there are people directly involved with research, treatment and management of COVID in several countries.
I chose to be vaccinated for myself, and to protect the wellbeing of my friends and loved ones – some of whom cannot be vaccinated for their own medical reasons.
I accepted that there was a degree of risk, but there is risk with everything.
In preparation for this injection I made sure I had three clear days in my diary, so that if I experienced side effects I could rest or seek medical attention.
How did I find the first injection?
I had some mild heart palpitations shortly after my dose. I was monitored at the hospital where I received my vaccination until it settled down an hour or so later. I am now at home, monitoring myself. If anything changes, I will seek medical assistance.
My arm (where I was injected) is heavy.
I am greatly fatigued, and slept most of yesterday. I felt unable to work, and rested.
Late yesterday afternoon I spiked a fever. Today I am achy and exhausted, I have a headache, and will likely spend most of today in bed.
I was prepared for this. I have pain relief, a soft bed in a quiet room, and an empty calendar.
I have often had far worse side effects from previous medications and treatments – some of which were life-saving. I have endured unspeakable agonies in order to give myself a shot at better health. And I would do it again. I have seen how some of those ‘terrible’ treatments I endured gave me back function and capabilities I had thought lost forever. So, I am speaking from experience here. I know what it is to be at the edge of death and hoping for a miracle. I know what it is to live with the results imposed by the side effects of life-changing and life-limiting illnesses.
A little discomfort is nothing, compared to the greater threat if I were to contract COVID.
Please, if you’re going to tell me I can keep myself safe from COVID because all I need is a great diet, supplements, alternative treatments and therapies, a positive attitude or your latest network marketing product, know that I have spent 30 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on all of those things already. Some of these things have been, and continue to be useful tools for managing and improving my health, but none of them ever helped me as much as modern medicine has when my back was truly to the wall.
If you think COVID is a scamdemic, unfriend or unfollow me now. I have lost too many friends, too many clients, too many good people to COVID. I have seen too many of my international community survive COVID but never fully recover, and some of them have life-changing impairments now. I already live that kind of life. I wouldn’t wish long COVID or the damage that COVID can do to a body on anyone.
I feel grateful that my immune system is responding to this vaccine.
It makes me feel empowered, even as I lie here in bed.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
Much love, Nicole xx
