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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2021 19:01:47 GMT
I want to preface by saying I don’t want to say my reasoning was or is correct. But I’m sharing my thoughts for anyone else who might be thinking similarly.
I have a number of health conditions, including some autoimmune issues that have never been given a name. Whatever the main one is started with a virus but is in remission. I was hesitant to get the vaccine because I was afraid that messing with my system would bring whatever it is to life again and I was terrified of that reality. In my head, getting the shot was messing with my system on purpose, while I might not get COVID, so it was a choice of actively messing with my system or passively allowing that my system *might* get messed with. Also since we don’t know what I have there wasn’t really a way to know in advance if the shot would interact with it or not.
I also like many others had concerns about its newness and about how it would or wouldn’t pivot with variants.
I strongly object to government mandates, so there was a tiny part of me that felt like getting the shot would contribute to what I believe is a threat to our future freedoms.
I also though have been willing to pay the price of not having a vaccine. I mask, I social distance, and I go very few places. I go to church and the grocery store and almost nowhere else indoors. I also never once evangelized my position as I believe the shot was the right call for many many people.
I was also not persuaded the vaccine worked. Without exaggeration I can say that almost everyone I know who has had Covid, even bad Covid, also had the vaccine. DH said, “then don’t think of it as a vaccine. Don’t think it will prevent you from getting it. Think of it as a disaster mitigation strategy or a medicine to help lessen the effects.” That made a lot of sense to me.
I finally made the decision to get the shot. I decided that even if we all grow a third leg in 40 years, what does it matter if I don’t live until those 40 years arrive? Neither of my sons will be able to get the vaccine (allergy and heart condition) so I have to be their first line of defense.
Then the night I was to get my shot (and DH too), DH had to leave to take care of a medical emergency with his parents so I couldn’t go. He took them to the ER.
3 days later he had Covid. And he got it strong. He ended up on oxygen and got the antibodies therapy. We’re somewhere around day 45 and he’s still not free of all the problems with Covid.
Thankfully the kids and I and his parents all remained Covid free.
When DH was sickest, the thing that kept going through my mind was the knowledge that there was more I could have done and hadn’t. The guilt was terrible.
I finally decided that the best I can do is go with the information we know right now and not on what might or might not happen in the future. All we know right now is that it seems to be safe and that it won’t have lasting effects in the future. All we know right now is Delta is here and the shot seems to lessen the chance of hospitalization or death. I know my health is stable right now and can stand a chance of processing the vaccine without igniting something. I know right now that I have a physical, trauma response to finding I’ve been around anyone who is sick with any ailment and that this will make me panic less. I know I never want to feel that guilt again that I felt when Todd got so sick.
Almost as soon as I got out of quarantine with DH, I got the first shot and now I’m sitting in the pharmacy during my observation period after just getting the second shot. After the first I needed a nap but had no other effects. Today my neck hurts so they’re watching me a bit longer but so far, so good.
I believe in people being able to make their own decisions so long as they accept all the accompanying responsibilities and consequences. So please don’t hear this as me pressuring anyone. You know your situation. But if you had any of these thoughts, maybe hearing my process may help you see a different side. Someone else posted her story here and her fears and overcoming them and it really helped me.
Thanks for reading.
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Post by Ryann on Sept 23, 2021 19:13:49 GMT
Thank you for getting vaccinated.  |
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Post by papersilly on Sept 23, 2021 19:17:55 GMT
I finally made the decision to get the shot. that's my greatest takeaway from your story. |
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Post by papersilly on Sept 23, 2021 19:18:46 GMT
DH said, “then don’t think of it as a vaccine. Don’t think it will prevent you from getting it. Think of it as a disaster mitigation strategy or a medicine to help lessen the effects.” . oh and this too. |
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Deleted
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May 18, 2024 7:45:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2021 19:21:32 GMT
I finally made the decision to get the shot. that's my greatest takeaway from your story. I don’t know if this is snarky or not but someone else posting their story here after struggling is what really pushed me to reevaluate. |
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Deleted
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May 18, 2024 7:45:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2021 19:25:15 GMT
I want to preface by saying I don’t want to say my reasoning was or is correct. But I’m sharing my thoughts for anyone else who might be thinking similarly. I have a number of health conditions, including some autoimmune issues that have never been given a name. Whatever the main one is started with a virus but is in remission. I was hesitant to get the vaccine because I was afraid that messing with my system would bring whatever it is to life again and I was terrified of that reality. In my head, getting the shot was messing with my system on purpose, while I might not get COVID, so it was a choice of actively messing with my system or passively allowing that my system *might* get messed with. Also since we don’t know what I have there wasn’t really a way to know in advance if the shot would interact with it or not. I also like many others had concerns about its newness and about how it would or wouldn’t pivot with variants. I strongly object to government mandates, so there was a tiny part of me that felt like getting the shot would contribute to what I believe is a threat to our future freedoms. I also though have been willing to pay the price of not having a vaccine. I mask, I social distance, and I go very few places. I go to church and the grocery store and almost nowhere else indoors. I also never once evangelized my position as I believe the shot was the right call for many many people. I was also not persuaded the vaccine worked. Without exaggeration I can say that almost everyone I know who has had Covid, even bad Covid, also had the vaccine. DH said, “then don’t think of it as a vaccine. Don’t think it will prevent you from getting it. Think of it as a disaster mitigation strategy or a medicine to help lessen the effects.” That made a lot of sense to me. I finally made the decision to get the shot. I decided that even if we all grow a third leg in 40 years, what does it matter if I don’t live until those 40 years arrive? Neither of my sons will be able to get the vaccine (allergy and heart condition) so I have to be their first line of defense. Then the night I was to get my shot (and DH too), DH had to leave to take care of a medical emergency with his parents so I couldn’t go. He took them to the ER. 3 days later he had Covid. And he got it strong. He ended up on oxygen and got the antibodies therapy. We’re somewhere around day 45 and he’s still not free of all the problems with Covid. Thankfully the kids and I and his parents all remained Covid free. When DH was sickest, the thing that kept going through my mind was the knowledge that there was more I could have done and hadn’t. The guilt was terrible. I finally decided that the best I can do is go with the information we know right now. All we know right now is that it seems to be safe and that it won’t have lasting effects in the future. All we know right now is Delta is here and the shot seems to lessen the chance of hospitalization or death. I know my health is stable right now and can stand a chance of processing the vaccine without igniting something. I know right now that I have a physical, trauma response to finding I’ve been around anyone who is sick with any ailment and that this will make me panic less. I know I never want to feel that guilt again that I felt when Todd got so sick. Almost as soon as I got out of quarantine with DH, I got the first shot and now I’m sitting in the pharmacy during my observation period after just getting the second shot. After the first I needed a nap but had no other effects. Today my neck hurts so they’re watching me a bit longer but so far, so good. I believe in people being able to make their own decisions so long as they accept all the accompanying responsibilities and consequences. So please don’t hear this as me pressuring anyone. You know your situation. But if you had any of these thoughts, maybe hearing my process may help you see a different side. Thanks for reading. I find it interesting that there are so many different medical opinions on who should or should not get the vaccine due to medical conditions. And I think that is adding to the hesitancy of it all. Dd has CVID, EDS, POTS, Dysautonomia +, and a slew of anaphylaxis allergies (foods,insects, and meds) and was told to get it asap. I was born with an CHD, still have it even after surgery at age 3, anaphylaxis allergies to foods, insects and medicines and was advised to get it asap. Ds has a history or Pulmonary hypertension, severe anaphylaxis allergies, and rare medical conditions and was told to get it asap. I can't understand why doctors either say get it or not. There is enough evidence to show one way or the other. Be on the same page. It will help. |
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Post by papersilly on Sept 23, 2021 19:30:13 GMT
that's my greatest takeaway from your story. I don’t know if this is snarky or not but someone else posting their story here after struggling is what really pushed me to reevaluate. my point was that i'm glad you were able to make a decision that that was right for you. clearly you had lots of issues to consider but you came to a conclusion that worked for you. |
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Deleted
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May 18, 2024 7:45:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2021 19:31:25 GMT
I want to preface by saying I don’t want to say my reasoning was or is correct. But I’m sharing my thoughts for anyone else who might be thinking similarly. I have a number of health conditions, including some autoimmune issues that have never been given a name. Whatever the main one is started with a virus but is in remission. I was hesitant to get the vaccine because I was afraid that messing with my system would bring whatever it is to life again and I was terrified of that reality. In my head, getting the shot was messing with my system on purpose, while I might not get COVID, so it was a choice of actively messing with my system or passively allowing that my system *might* get messed with. Also since we don’t know what I have there wasn’t really a way to know in advance if the shot would interact with it or not. I also like many others had concerns about its newness and about how it would or wouldn’t pivot with variants. I strongly object to government mandates, so there was a tiny part of me that felt like getting the shot would contribute to what I believe is a threat to our future freedoms. I also though have been willing to pay the price of not having a vaccine. I mask, I social distance, and I go very few places. I go to church and the grocery store and almost nowhere else indoors. I also never once evangelized my position as I believe the shot was the right call for many many people. I was also not persuaded the vaccine worked. Without exaggeration I can say that almost everyone I know who has had Covid, even bad Covid, also had the vaccine. DH said, “then don’t think of it as a vaccine. Don’t think it will prevent you from getting it. Think of it as a disaster mitigation strategy or a medicine to help lessen the effects.” That made a lot of sense to me. I finally made the decision to get the shot. I decided that even if we all grow a third leg in 40 years, what does it matter if I don’t live until those 40 years arrive? Neither of my sons will be able to get the vaccine (allergy and heart condition) so I have to be their first line of defense. Then the night I was to get my shot (and DH too), DH had to leave to take care of a medical emergency with his parents so I couldn’t go. He took them to the ER. 3 days later he had Covid. And he got it strong. He ended up on oxygen and got the antibodies therapy. We’re somewhere around day 45 and he’s still not free of all the problems with Covid. Thankfully the kids and I and his parents all remained Covid free. When DH was sickest, the thing that kept going through my mind was the knowledge that there was more I could have done and hadn’t. The guilt was terrible. I finally decided that the best I can do is go with the information we know right now. All we know right now is that it seems to be safe and that it won’t have lasting effects in the future. All we know right now is Delta is here and the shot seems to lessen the chance of hospitalization or death. I know my health is stable right now and can stand a chance of processing the vaccine without igniting something. I know right now that I have a physical, trauma response to finding I’ve been around anyone who is sick with any ailment and that this will make me panic less. I know I never want to feel that guilt again that I felt when Todd got so sick. Almost as soon as I got out of quarantine with DH, I got the first shot and now I’m sitting in the pharmacy during my observation period after just getting the second shot. After the first I needed a nap but had no other effects. Today my neck hurts so they’re watching me a bit longer but so far, so good. I believe in people being able to make their own decisions so long as they accept all the accompanying responsibilities and consequences. So please don’t hear this as me pressuring anyone. You know your situation. But if you had any of these thoughts, maybe hearing my process may help you see a different side. Thanks for reading. I find it interesting that there are so many different medical opinions on who should or should not get the vaccine due to medical conditions. And I think that is adding to the hesitancy of it all. Dd has CVID, EDS, POTS, Dysautonomia +, and a slew of anaphylaxis allergies (foods,insects, and meds) and was told to get it asap. I was born with an CHD, still have it even after surgery at age 3, anaphylaxis allergies to foods, insects and medicines and was advised to get it asap. Ds has a history or Pulmonary hypertension, severe anaphylaxis allergies, and rare medical conditions and was told to get it asap. I can't understand why doctors either say get it or not. There is enough evidence to show one way or the other. Be on the same page. It will help. My sons are preschool and elementary school-that may be the difference. Right now they’re seeing/studying a link in adolescent boys and heart problems my ds already has and my younger son is allergic to vaccine components. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 23, 2021 19:33:51 GMT
Thank you for taking care of you and all of us too. As time passes check again with you sons' doctors.
Wishing you all the very best.
Hopefully getting #3 in November.
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
Posts: 4,423 
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Post by tanya2 on Sept 23, 2021 19:34:26 GMT
Thank you for sharing that. I'm glad you ended up getting it.
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Post by mollycoddle on Sept 23, 2021 19:35:36 GMT
I’m glad that you got the shot.  |
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Post by MichyM on Sept 23, 2021 19:36:45 GMT
Sounds like you needed to unburden yourself. For your health, and those around you, I'm glad you decided to get the vaccine.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,732
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Post by purplebee on Sept 23, 2021 19:42:48 GMT
Thank you for getting vaccinated, hoping it will protect you and your boys from the virus.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,731
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Sept 23, 2021 19:51:14 GMT
Please be reassured that there are NO side effects that show up years later from vaccines. That's not how they work. If you haven't had an issue within a week or two, you never will. That's from more than 75 years of studying vaccine effects. And the current COVID vaccines work in the same way -- the actual vaccine components are gone from your body in a relatively short time.
I'm glad you are protecting yourself and those around you.
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Post by nightnurse on Sept 23, 2021 19:55:56 GMT
As a healthcare provider, I really appreciate hearing the reasons people are vaccinate hesitant. It helps to understand where people are coming from. Some of my patients are expecting an argument and so are defensive and shit down the conversation with “I don’t want it.” Thanks for sharing your story.
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 23, 2021 20:11:19 GMT
So please don’t hear this as me pressuring anyone. The pressure is making people resist getting vaccinated, so I think just telling your own story like you have is a good idea. There have been side-effects to the shot, so I understand why you felt like you needed to weigh the possible risks before you made your decision. We did the same, but our conditions were more clearly understood than yours and the decision was easier to come to. ETA - Sorry, meant to lead with this. I hope your husband recovers fully. |
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Post by bianca42 on Sept 23, 2021 20:13:28 GMT
Thank you for sharing your thought process and your struggle to make a decision. I love reframing it as disaster mitigation.
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 23, 2021 20:14:22 GMT
I love reframing it as disaster mitigation. I like it too. |
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Post by Baseballmom23 on Sept 23, 2021 20:15:04 GMT
Thank you for sharing your story & for getting the vaccine.
I hope your DH fully recovers without any long lasting issues.
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Post by Zee on Sept 23, 2021 20:25:42 GMT
I had similar reservations about it at first and resented the idea that healthcare workers were going to be guinea pigs.
But in the end I decided to take one for Team Science
Nothing bad has happened and in fact the Rona flares I kept getting (as we call them, periodic episodes where I felt my body was fighting it off) stopped for the most part.
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Post by peasapie on Sept 23, 2021 20:34:29 GMT
I'm sorry to read that your husband had such a difficult time with covid. It truly is disaster mitigation, as your husband says, and dying from Covid is not a pretty picture. The worst thing for me would be to unknowingly give it to my family, so I would rather risk my own future health than theirs.
I hope your post helps others who may feel undecided and who can relate to your feelings.
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desertgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,646
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Post by desertgirl on Sept 23, 2021 20:34:37 GMT
I finally decided that the best I can do is go with the information we know right now and not on what might or might not happen in the future. Wise words for any situation, @missjen . Prayers for your husband. Thank you for getting the vaccine. |
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Post by CarolinaGirl71 on Sept 23, 2021 21:00:16 GMT
Thank you for getting vaccinated! We all need to do whatever we can to slow down/stop this Covid mess.
I had no reaction after the first vaccine, but after the 2nd I felt really bad and had headaches and low grade fever. The 2nd day I realized I wasn't very well hydrated. so I drank one bottle of Gatorade Zero and then increased my fluid intake. I felt better about an hour after I drank the Gatorade. So, if you don't think you are well hydrated, start drinking! Hope you don't have any symptoms!
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,792
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Sept 23, 2021 21:17:09 GMT
This is a great story and I am glad you told it.
The one thing that was extremely important in my role in deciding to get vaccinated was that I did not want to be the one to give it to someone else I cared about. I still hope that!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 7:45:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2021 21:17:14 GMT
Thank you for getting vaccinated! We all need to do whatever we can to slow down/stop this Covid mess. I had no reaction after the first vaccine, but after the 2nd I felt really bad and had headaches and low grade fever. The 2nd day I realized I wasn't very well hydrated. so I drank one bottle of Gatorade Zero and then increased my fluid intake. I felt better about an hour after I drank the Gatorade. So, if you don't think you are well hydrated, start drinking! Hope you don't have any symptoms! Thanks. Someone gave similar advice yesterday here to someone else so I’ve been drinking a lot and you reminded me to drink again. |
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Post by piebaker on Sept 23, 2021 22:04:36 GMT
Thank you for choosing to be vaccinated.
I hope your husband improves soon.
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Post by pierogi on Sept 23, 2021 23:07:40 GMT
I'm deeply relieved you're getting the shot. The stakes of not doing so are just too high for you and your family. Your son needs you. Your husband needs you. I have doctors and nurses in my family and the stories from them about their unvaccinated patients are harrowing.
The pattern has a certain uniform predictability. Get covid. Feel bad. Go to doc, get meds. Feel worse, with trouble breathing. Wind up in hospital on oxygen/bipap. More trouble breathing as Covid attacks the lungs, filling them with fluid and melting the cells into a pink goo. Patients are unable to sit up, unable to walk. Then there's that last day where the patient seems to rebound and "get better." It rarely lasts and onto the vent they go. Once you're on a vent, survival is precarious. Then family is notified on the patient's condition as oxygen slowly drops each day as the lungs shut down. Kidneys began to fail around this time as well, and as covid attacks the heart, heart attacks and strokes are common. If a patient is lucky, the hospital will send them home for hospice care so they can die with their family around them. But more often, the patient is gone after a week or so on the vent. The swelling right before death due to kidney malfunction is horrific, and the patient's skin turns very yellow as all the organs go. It's incredibly traumatic for the families to see them like that.
Vaccinated patients can die of covid, but the probability of that happening is a tiny fraction of what would happen to an unvaccinated person. Especially if they've been boostered for Delta.
Please protect yourself.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 7:45:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2021 23:48:47 GMT
I’ve had both shots 😎
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Post by smasonnc on Sept 24, 2021 0:05:42 GMT
Thanks for finally getting the shot. It works and your kids will get some protection. This is statistically unlikely. Breakthrough infections make up about 5-10% of total COVID cases and about 7% of hospitalizations. My daughter works in an ER and is seeing the same rate. She's also seeing younger, sicker people and kids requiring ventilators.
I just got a breakthrough case and it was awful. I slept for a week and now, two weeks later I'm still tired, congested, and can't concentrate. My husband didn't get it, nor did anyone I spent time with before I had symptoms.
It amazes me how people who don't want to get vaccinated soak up every bit of information confirming their fears. I went out to lunch with neighbors yesterday. My very nice, very smart next-door neighbor was asking about my symptoms and spouting whatever bullsh*t he heard on right-wing media. His wife has asthma and some other vague condition that prevents her from getting vaccinated. He reportedly had a bad reaction to the first shot.
"So, what was it like, a cold?"
"No. It was way worse than that."
"Like what, a bad flu?"
"No, like being hit by a train."
"You know, there have been (don't remember the number) miscarriages because of the vaccine.
"I'm not having any more kids, so I'm good." (Besides, that's not true, again looking at statistics.)
"You know, they're administering hydroxychloroquine at the border and we can't get it here." Again, not true. End of conversation.
As long as guys like him regurgitate this kind of stuff without fact-checking or cite anecdotal evidence rather than looking at statistics, people will continue to be fearful and not get the vaccine. And the story that starts with, "My girlfriend is a nurse and she says it doesn't make any difference..." is crap, too. I've heard it from 4-5 people told exactly the same way and, again, the statistics don't bear it out.
No wonder you were afraid to get the vaccine. There's just too much misinformation.
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 6,975
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Sept 24, 2021 0:07:24 GMT
Thank you for posting your story @missjen. Hoping it will inspire more people. Sending positive thoughts for your DH to recover completely and soon.
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