Hello Everyone. Tuesdays are usually my blog day, but I am filling in for Tina 
I hope everyone had a beautiful holiday for those of you who celebrated it. And for those who didn’t I hope you still had a wonderful weekend! Hopefully everyone’s blood sugars behaved and everyone enjoyed all the food they stuffed in their mouths.
Boy I wish my pump would just come already. I am sure it would have helped a great deal on the day before, of and after Thanksgiving.
So I did a lot of cooking this year…
Although I was paranoid about the food and desserts making my glucose levels insane, I think the stress of cooking and all the tedious work of hosting that came during the Thanksgiving holiday did the deed.
But it was 100% totally worth it. I was with family and friends that I love. I spent time with those I haven’t spent the holidays with for years. I even had new friends who shared a table. It almost seemed like a whole new life for me.
There were some people I missed this year. But life moves on with or without them.
I now move away from the holidays to bring to you my story about the H1N1/Swine Flu/Oink Oink vaccine.
Having taken the H1N1 vaccine last Sunday, I cant believe I am still feeling the side effects from it. Two days before getting the vaccine I read what seems to have been every possible article, report and statistic currently available on the vaccine. I also interviewed diabetics and non-diabetics who took it. I even spoke to those who didn’t take it and asked “Why not?”
Fair to say I was scared out of my mind. There are so many reports from the nerve damaging illness GBS (Guillain- Barre Sybdrome) to still being able to catch H1N1 within the two weeks of getting the vaccine. Pair this up with the thoughts of
“Well if I don’t get the vaccine but get swine, I can just tough it out and hope I don’t end up on a ventilator” and you get a very confused person.
So I went for it.
But I didn’t just go for it. Oh no! Not Venus! I went out with a bang- A whole 30minutes of sitting down with my paper work debating to do it or not. Questioned every nurse and doctor present. And then I went for it!
First day wasn’t too bad. However, every day after that I felt my muscles ache accompanied with a sore throat. Till this day my back is still killing me.
So is it worth it? I think everyone has their own opinion and everyone has to weigh out the risks for themselves. It is a scary thing either way you look at it.
But I think it is good for us diabetics to talk about it with each other. I know sitting in the last ACT1 support group we had and hearing everyone’s opinions and worries helped a great deal.
So I ask you? Have you taken the H1N1 vaccine? Will you? Why? Why not?
Please comment!
Lol, I was one of the people Venus asked for their opinion. I told her and still stand by my opinion of I will get it. I really feel the risk of side effect is worth protecting myself against the actual H1N1 Virus. Besides, the side effects are worst case scenario, not common. I am not saying it’s not a big deal, because it is. I am just to afraid not to get it.
Venus and I had a suicide pact that we would both get the shot together. Although she now blames me (I wouldn’t have it any other way
)I would like to point out that it was the nurse in the recovery room at the school who persuaded her!
I talked to one of my brothers who runs an ICU and was told I was insane to even think about not getting it. His parting comment was that they thought they probably had enough ventilators to cope when it hits.
Although GBS is a risk if you get any flu the risk is eight times higher than from the shot.
Yeah, I work for a medical center and they have the vaccine for all employees. They even called me to say that since I am T1 that I am on the priority list. But I still haven’t gone to get it. I got the regular flu vaccine a few weeks back and it got really sick after-wards. I missed 3 days of work and probably should have stayed home longer. So, I have mixed feelings about getting the H1N1. My doctor says I should get it, so we’ll see. I still have the option if I want to. Let us know what you decide!!!
Well I should have received my vaccine week before last but ironically I got ill! I am now waiting for them to receive the shots at my office but if they don’t come through before 12/12, I will be visiting an elementary school in my neighborhood for the city provided vaccinations. I can’t say that I don’t have any hesitations about it but being that my endo told me that I’m getting it one way or the other, I think that sits well in my mind as a valid reason for getting it.
the risk of an adverse effect is higher than the risk of death with the flu.
I think I’m going to go for it. I just have to figure out when and where!