Pain insists upon being attended to.
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains.
It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
C.S. Lewis
Hey, Lovelies.
I’m still in the mop up from my first Pfizer Vaccine. Slowly, most of my symptoms are abating.
I’m fatigued, but a little better each day. The most lingering side effect is chest pain. It had pretty much settled down until Sunday night. But then it flared again.
Once, during the worst of my Lyme disease, I endured chest pain daily. My heart always hurt. Sometimes so badly that I found it hard to lie down at night, and impossible to sleep on my side. I had dilated cardiomyopathy, and an inflamed pericardium. Antibiotics helped resolve most of that issue, but it took time, and pain was a constant companion.
Now, post-vaccine, my pericardium is irritated again.
And, stupidly, some of that is my fault. On Sunday I had a coffee (decaf, but still…), two cups of tea, a healthy dose of chili sauce on my breakfast avocado toast, and again on my evening dumplings, and a couple of squares of chocolate too.
All of these things (caffeine, chocolate, chili) are known to bring on chest pain in people like me, if they already have inflammation of the heart. But it has been so long since I’ve had to think about this that I’d forgotten.
I woke with chest pain at 11pm. It was so bad I considered waking Ben to take me to hospital. But then I remembered the years I had endured the same pain.
I rolled onto my back, and propped myself up slightly. I slowed my breathing. And when I was calm I got up and put the kettle on, took some magnesium, and started drinking warm water. The pain had abated by 3am and I managed another few hours sleep. Then, I called my cardiologist as soon as his rooms opened on Monday morning.
We got a plan together. Which includes resting, avoiding foods and substances that give me flares, and knowing when to seek further help. I’ll get an ultrasound in a few days if it hasn’t started to settle.
So, that’s my latest update.
Do I regret getting the vaccine? Not at all! As COVID numbers slowly spread and new cases spring up outside the capital cities I am grateful that I am partially vaccinated, and will be relieved when I am able to say that I have had my second dose.
Meanwhile, I see a week of plain food, and lots of naps!
Love, hugs, soft pillows and deep calming breaths, Nicole xx
In Jin Shin Jyutsu the little finger is the heart-finger. You can maybe help yourself by simply holding the little finger with your other hand. If it does not help it will certainly do you no harm and you can do it wherever you are and as long as it feels good. With both hands. Maybe it is worth a try?
All my best whishes to you!
Sleep Well
Sleep weel, my bairnie, sleep.
The lang, lang shadows creep,
The fairies play on the munelicht brae
An’ the stars are on the deep.
The auld wife sits her lane
Ayont the cauld hearth-stane,
An’ the win’ comes doon wi’ an eerie croon
To hush my bonny wean.
The bogie man’s awa’,
The dancers rise an fa’
An’ the howlet’s cry frae the bour-tree high
Comes through the mossy shaw.
Sleep weel, my bairnie, sleep.
The lang, lang shadows creep,
The fairies play on the munelicht brae
An’ the stars are on the deep.
Scottish poem by Murdoch Maclean
Sending you all the love xoxoxo
May you feel well soon!
Take care Sweetheart, rest up & be assured that I will from now on happily eat your share of chocolate XO
I am asking the unknown angels to sit beside you every night and whisper “sleep deeply, sleep peacefully my dear”
Take good care of yourself Nicole. Sending love and warm sunshine filled corners to curl up in and rest. 💛