COVID Vaccines and Cherries

As soon as the new Covid vaccines became available last week I scheduled an appointment with CVS for both me and my husband for yesterday. We had to go to another CVS in Vienna as it always seems to be an issue trying the schedule one in our neighborhood. We weren’t looking forward to it because every time we get this vaccine we know it will knock you out and your arm will hurt. And that’s exactly what happened. Since we got the vaccine later in the afternoon we are feeling the results of it today. We are both very tired and our arms hurt a lot! This makes for the NINTH injection! But when you are in the at risk category you really don’t have much of a choice. The last dose was in March 2024 followed by an actual Covid infection within two weeks. Luckily it wasn’t horrible, but I lost my sense of taste and it was quite awful. My husband had two pretty bad days. But it could have been so much worse without having been vaccinated all along. After we got the shots we walked over to Giant to see if they had any cherries. We didn’t get any on Tuesday on our usual grocery day because our Giant store didn’t have them. We were happy to see that they had some so we got a bag and drove back home. I am hoping that we can eventually have a week where we don’t need to make any appointments for anything. Good luck with that. All I can say is that the process is so much easier than in was when we got the first vaccines. Everything is automated from scheduling to vaccination records.  We should be thankful for that.  

Crab Cakes and French Fries

We tested positive for Covid on our anniversary; felt lousy on Persian new year; and started to feel a bit better on my husband’s birthday. We were so disappointed to catch this awful virus after being so careful for four years. We just got the last booster vaccine eight days before. This has not been a good year for us, and an even worse March. My husband has been having too many doctor appointments since January and this was the icing on the cake. But for his birthday we decided it was time to make French fries. Not having any taste or smell it hardly mattered to me what we ate. Luckily I am getting some of that back but things still taste quite bland. But my husband loves French fries. So he cut the potatoes up in the French fry blade and I seasoned the potatoes in a bowl, then put them in the air fryer. Then we made frozen crab cakes and broccoli to finish up the birthday meal. It felt good to begin eating “normal” again. We were using the air fryers all of the time before Covid and I was really enjoying cooking. But I lost interest when we were down and out. After dinner I got out the usual snacks - lady fingers, cookies and candy - and added a single birthday candle. My husband was happy. In the end that’s all we can ask for. 

Happy Anniversary?

It hit us out of nowhere. After four years of being very careful and isolating ourselves to an extreme the inevitable happened. Both my husband and I tested positive for Covid - on our anniversary. We just got our booster shots eight days before. We were both feeling a bit under the weather starting Thursday afternoon with post nasal drip. Even the dinner tasted funny. Then the next morning we woke up with sniffles and coughs. What else was there to do but take out two of the Covid tests we have been collecting and never needed to use. Initially my husband tested positive and I was negative. We still had enough energy to go for a morning walk. But as the day went on we started to deteriorate. I took another test in the afternoon and it was positive. We contacted our doctors office to get paxlovid, but of course no one responded. But both of us are on medications that may disqualify us from taking it. Then we both got low grade temps and felt lousy. I was hoping we would have just a slight version, and so far we have even though it’s still very crappy. Luckily we have all sorts of over the counter drugs to help us get comfortable. It’s still worrying because it is the weekend and we are pretty much on our own. These are the times you wish family lived closer. And wouldn’t you know we were planning a weekend trip to central Virginia to visit and this happened. We also need to cancel a few appointments this week. It’s a good reminder that you can’t take your health for granted. So far this year has been awful for a variety of reasons. I hope this is the end of it. 

Another Covid Booster

Aren’t we lucky to be in the “over 65 category?” All told we have had about eight Covid vaccines and boosters. As far as we can tell, neither my husband nor I have ever had Covid - an unusual circumstance based on what we hear from our friends and neighbors. And many have contracted it in the last six months. So, wanting to continue our winning streak, we thought it would be a good idea to get another booster since our last vaccine was in September 2023. And since we will be venturing out to visit family later this month it’s always a good thing to be prepared - especially around a college aged grandson. So we picked up the required paperwork when we went grocery shopping on Tuesday and walked over to Giant yesterday. It wasn’t very busy at the pharmacy, but we needed to wait 45 minutes for them to get things prepared. We picked up a couple of groceries and then we took our morning walk in the neighborhood there. The time passed quickly and when we went back to the counter everything was ready. We know the process all too well by now. Obviously a lot of people don’t care any more about Covid, but the CDC recommendations came out recently. And being in health care all of our careers and also being in the “danger category” were reason enough to get it done. So now we have sore arms and are a bit fatigued. But it still beats the alternative based on the stories we hear. 

RSV and Covid Vaccines at CVS

How many vaccines can a poor arm take? Apparently quite a few - especially over the last four years. This week was quite unusual for health care things - dental appointments, replacement crown, second cataract surgery, post op visit, and finally yesterday we went for our Covid booster. The last one we had was in April 2023. Since the virus is circulating again and due to our age, we knew it was inevitable that we would get another vaccine. So the appointments were scheduled for yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately our neighborhood CVS just wasn’t taking appointments so we had to take a ride out to Arlington. I couldn’t schedule the RSV vaccine on line at the same time, but when we arrived we asked to also have that. So additional paperwork was completed and both my husband and I ended up with two shots in one arm. We knew it was going to be sore and it was. We also knew that we would feel extraordinarily tired and we were. Having had my second cataract surgery this week I also need to sleep at a 30-60 angle upright and not lay on the affected side. So I think I was up at a least fifteen times last night.  I was also freezing and just couldn’t get warm so got four another blanket. This morning both of us didn’t think we would be able to get out of bed, but we did. We were even able to take in our usual morning walk. But now after brunch we are both starting to fade. I may end up taking a nap at some point. The sad thing is is that we will need to go back for the flue shot in October. And then I have jury duty. All the more reason to get vaccinated. Let’s hope I don’t get called to a case. I’m just not up to it after all of this. 

CVS Moderna Covid Bivalent Booster

Because of our ages, we have been waiting for the CDC to make a recommendation for a second Covid bivalent booster shot. We had our first bivalent booster - and fifth Covid shot - last September. That’s seven months ago. And as far as we know neither my husband nor I have had Covid. Lately we have become more comfortable not wearing masks indoors except when we go in to town in crowded indoor settings like the National gallery of art. Being health care professionals and common sense people, we wanted to continue to do everything we can to stay healthy. So keeping up on boosters is one of those ways. So as soon as we heard about the CDC guidelines for 65 and older this week, I got on the CVS app and made appointments for us today. I didn’t think there was a great deal of interest, and the CVS app was very easy to navigate and allowed us to set up a time for this morning at 1100. We were immediately sent text messages and emails to confirm the date and time. So during our morning walk we got a reminder about the appointment and drove over to CVS. Before we entered the store we checked in via text and walked to the pharmacy where they were waiting for us. The last time we were there for the first bivalent booster it was very crowded. This time we were the only ones. So they took us ahead of schedule and we were out in short order. You no longer get a discount coupon for participating and you need to provide your insurance information. We have been through this six times now! Here’s to another few days of sore arms and whatever else side effects come up. But at least we don’t have to think about it again for a while and can feel better about trying to finally live normal lives again. 

Neverending Threat of Covid

Within the last week we have heard that three people we know had Covid. Two are friends that live here and the third is my cousin who lives in New England. All three of them said it lasted for two weeks and was simply dreadful. All three of them have been vaccinated.  All three of them have been quite careful - except for the one time they remember not having their mask on in a crowded place. One was in an elevator; the other was in a very crowded grocery store right before Christmas. One caught it from the other one who got it in the grocery store. My husband and I have been extraordinarily careful - especially since he will be 84 in a couple of months. A few months ago we were feeling a bit more confident about how things were. We went to central Virginia for thanksgiving to visit family and even went to the Waffle House for breakfast one day. We went to the condo Christmas party and another going away party for a staff member. We went to a restaurant with our daughter in law and grandson when they stopped to visit on the way home from Baltimore. We even went to a restaurant for a sibling lunch two times. But every time we went to these places we came home feeling like we may catch it. So far we haven’t. But with the news as it is this lousy virus just is not going away. We still have our masks hanging on the coat rack and wear it to the car and anytime we go in to a building and grocery store. We are both health care professionals and really believe health care has taken a big hit with this constant threat. No wonder there are so many incidents occurring in health care facilities. I suppose the elderly are bearing the brunt of this horrible thing. We are just plain getting tired of it. We haven’t gone anywhere outside of visiting family for over three years. But catching it just doesn’t sound like a very fun option. 

COVID Bivalent Vaccine

We checked at Giant to see if the Covid Bivalent vaccine was available on Labor Day. They said to check back again in a week or two. But we asked for  the paperwork to fill in so we wouldn’t have to take time to do it there and then we could bring it with us to save time. Then we went to CVS and were told the vaccines would be available starting on Tuesday, and to make an appointment. It all started pretty smoothly. When we got home I made appointments for both my husband and myself for today at 12:15. All of the required information was filled in on line. We got emails and texts confirming the time and place along with some pre visit materials to read. We got another reminder text today and another one that took us to a link to say we were in the store. Then went to the pharmacy desk to check in. So far to good. Then we got in the vaccine line - and waited for thirty minutes, and the line was getting longer and longer behind us. It was all very confusing and very slow. The person giving the vaccines was obviously retired and moved like a tortoise. He took temperatures on some and never changed gloves. We did not sign up for the flu shot too, but many people did making it all the more time consuming. He was walking back and forth - the screen that shielded the people fell over once. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. He also had to make new Covid cards for us because there was no space to add any additional information. My husband went first and then I followed. This is the first time I got Moderna and hopefully we will both be fine. Now I think we will use the Giant paperwork that we thought we would use for the Covid vaccine for the flu shots. The process at Giant works better for us. We drop off the paperwork, do our grocery shopping, then check to see when our number is up. If we are lucky enough we could get taken care of as soon as we register if there isn’t a crowd. This vaccine usually wipes my husband out. I don’t see why this one won’t do the same. As for me? The sore arm is the worst. I’m just glad we got it over with. Now that makes for FIVE vaccines that we have had since the first ones came out, but we will feel better visiting with our grandson at the University in a couple of weeks. We have kept very low profiles over the last three years. Maybe now we can start living our lives. 

CIDRAP and the Osterholm Weekly Podcast

Both my husband and I were in the health care field.  He was a general surgeon and I was a registered nurse. My experience was more in administration and operations; his was actually saving people’s lives. So when Covid came along we tried to be logical about life in general. One of the voices we appreciated hearing from was Dr. Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota. He was one of the few people who “told it like it is” and it usually wasn’t something you wanted to hear. Since we hadn’t heard from him for a while, I googled him and found the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy website. Since then we have been listening to his weekly podcasts. We find them interesting and they keep us up to date on the state of things. We also found out more about Dr. Osterholm. He looks quite stern on TV, but always had a sly smile on his face. At the end of each podcast, he talks about a pleasant place, and then selects lyrics from a song that represents how he is feeling. Finally he always reminds everyone to “be kind.” Usually my husband and I shed a tear at the conclusion - probably because life has changed for all of us and this is another reminder. But we are lucky to have a Dr. Osterholm out there to keep us in the know. It’s too bad not everyone takes the time to hear what he has to say. 

Covid Second Booster at Giant

We both feel like we have been hit by a truck - my husband worse than me. Yesterday we decided to get the second Covid booster vaccine. The reason is simple - we are both over 60, we got our first booster at the end of September, we still have Christmas presents to deliver to central Virginia, and having been in health care all of our careers it was an appropriate thing to do. My husband has received Moderna four times, and I have gotten Pfizer. The last two doses we got at Giant - the first two were at the Virginia Hospital Center for him and the Virginia Community Center for me. We didn’t know how busy the pharmacy would be at Giant, but the wait wasn’t bad because they already had our paperwork from the last time and we had grocery shopping to do anyway. We brought our vaccine cards in. There wasn’t any space left on the front so they had to document the dose on the back. The first thing we noticed was the sore arm. My husband then got the itches around the injection site. But last night was really uncomfortable for both of us. We couldn’t sleep. He had chills and a temp, muscle aches, a little nausea and a racing heart. I had a racing heart and just didn’t feel right. Our walk this morning was cut in half because we are a bit tired! I don’t remember having any of these symptoms the first three times. There must be something about the timing of these boosters. All we care is that they are effective. It would be dreadful to feel worse than this if it could be helped. Now let’s hope the infection rate stays low enough to finally deliver those Christmas presents. 

Pfizer Booster

It was such a harrowing time a year ago. The anticipation of getting COVID vaccines was paramount for both my husband and myself. Because of age, my husband got his first - through our doctor’s office. A month later I got mine at the Health department. We both needed to have appointments, and things were pretty organized given the state of things. Now it’s been over six months and it’s time to get a booster. Things are different now than then - people are tired of hearing about it, and for our part, we follow the guidelines. Being in health care gives us a different perspective. Seeing the exhausted workforce makes us feel sad. Last week we stopped at the Giant pharmacy to get our flu shots. While we were there we took home the paperwork to fill in the forms to get the covid vaccine. It would save time, and the person who gave us the shots said morning would be the best time. So this morning, rather than take our morning walk, we drove over to Giant with our paperwork and vaccine cards. There was one person in front of us. We were attended to, got a number, and did a bit of grocery shopping. When the number came up, we got back in line. The same person who gave us the flu shot last week gave us the covid vaccines today. It feels odd to become friends with the pharmacy staff. Anyway, it was an uneventful outing. And that’s how it should be. 

In America: Remember Flags on the National Mall

For a lot of reasons we weren’t able to take a ride to town until yesterday. Between doctor appointments and bad weather, Friday was a simply wonderful day to finally get out snd back in to our routine. So rather than park on the national mall, we thought stopping at the tidal basin would be better. We wanted to see the flag installation by the Washington monument. The “In America: Remember” art project was overwhelming. The over 660,000 white flags were impressive - and devastating at the same time. Luckily for us, none of our family have died from covid, but we know of several friends, etc who have had it. One is a high school classmate - in ICU, ventilated with a collapsed lung - who has been in the hospital for over a month. We are planning to get booster shots soon. Our lives have been affected by the pandemic like everyone else. My husband and I spent years in health care and can’t believe how it has been upended. How it will recover is yet to be seen. While we were there, several thousand more flags were being added. So as we walked through the grounds, it reminded us how lucky we have been, but know this is far from over. 

It’s Done - Fairfax County Health Department Second Covid Vaccine

I have to admit that I was anxious whenever I heard my Florida high school classmates and Wisconsin friends were all getting vaccinated for covid. My husband got his first vaccine in January. I registered with the Fairfax county health department on January 18 and received my first Pfizer vaccine on Valentine’s Day - two days after my husband received his second Moderna dose. So yesterday was the long awaited second dose day and we didn’t have to deal with an ice storm this time. The parking lot was full, but everything was in motion. As we pulled in to our spot I received the text message to let them know we were in the parking lot. Shortly thereafter we were asked to enter the building. As was with the first dose, the process was seamless - except this time we needed to wait in line for a very short time. It felt like being in the queue at Disneyworld that included that same excitement. The whole experience was very pleasant from start to finish. All of the staff make you feel most welcome and are extremely kind. Since we haven’t interacted with anyone for a year it does feel weird just being inside of a building. Everyone was so polite and warm. After waiting for the 15 minutes following the injection, we drove back home. The most difficult part this time was the unexpected traffic on a Sunday afternoon for a 4:45 appointment and the fact that my arm is sore at the injection site. I’m expecting side effects but so far so good. I am filling in the “v-safe” questionnaire every day. So in two weeks an immunity milestone will be met. I’m not sure how much it will change our behavior, but I am so relieved and thankful that my husband and I had this opportunity.