what a wild ride

Wow, that second moderna shot is a doozy. It laid me right out – I was really hurting! The muscle aches and joint paint was something else. The headache was very similar to the one I had with viral meningitis. I had a full on fever too.

The first shot, I had terrible arm pain within an hour of injection and a sore throat that didn’t last too long. I got my second shot late Tuesday afternoon, with no arm pain this time. That night I was a getting a little sore around the shot site but nothing like the first time. My hands and fingers were feeling tight and arthritic. Waking up the next day, I tried to tell myself I was okay, I just didn’t feel “right.” As the morning progressed though, I got hit hard and started really feeling the aches and pains in the muscles and joints. Pain everywhere! Knuckles, toe joints, arm pits. I felt battered and bruised, like I took a tumble around in the clothes dryer.

I often use meditation to control pain. I try to visual the pain and release the energy, but I had so much pain that wasn’t working so instead I tried to focus on a part of my body that didn’t actually hurt (my ankle for some reason) to get some relief but as soon as I started to feel relaxed at that location, my visualization lit up like a fireworks festival. I can only describe it as sparks going off all over my body. I liken it to little men with swords clashing in battle all over my body, throwing up sparks with their swords collided. In odd places too, like muscles layered underneath muscles I didn’t know I had. I felt every individual membrane and tendon, not unlike peeling back an onion. Late afternoon, I got the headache and the fever.

I tried to sleep it off but I was so uncomfortable. I also tried to avoid taking anything but THC/CBD edibles as I’ve heard that motrin, etc. (NSAIDs) can cause the vaccine to be less effective; being unsure, I didn’t want to risk it but I eventually broke down and took tylenol when my fever got to 100.9. The fever lasted until this morning. Now, I just have a headache and mostly feel better, but what a wild ride!

My 84 year old mother didn’t have much of a reaction to the second shot, and nothing with the first. So not everyone will experience what I did. If you do, though, know it’s over in 48 hours. And don’t let my story stop you from getting a vaccine if you are on the fence about it. A little bit of discomfort is more desirable than the long haul symptoms if you actually catch Covid and survive. I have friends experiencing major issues a year after they were first diagnosed with Covid. I don’t think you want that.

Today, I rejoice in a new me. I’m so looking forward to getting back to a normal life and hugging my friends and kissing my Baby!

Stay safe out there, ya’all!