I finally got my H1N1 shot on Monday--swine has already been making its sweet way around my school--so it was quite a relief. I did not have to line up either! Despite the horrible looking line-ups on the 6'o'clock news, I went to Guelph University and waltzed straight in. Now, I may have made a terrible decision at this point, they asked me if I wanted to get my seasonal flu shot at the same time... and I said yes (after they assured me several times that this wouldn't increase the likelihood of side-effects).

WELL, let me tell you, I do not know if it was this ill-fated decision, or the H1N1 shot, or pure coincidence, but three days later (yesterday) I woke up at 5 am to the most horrible alarm clock--chills. Three layers of warm winter blankets were not enough to fight off the cold, my heart was racing and I knew I was getting another fever. What's worse, everytime I shifted around my bed--trying to create warmth--I felt a hint of nausea. Really, I had no choice but to wimp out and stay perfectly still for the next two hours.

By 7 am I was restless, tired and bored--staying in one position for that long can do that to a person. So I took a deep breath, grabbed my giant sweater nearby... and then the nausea won and I ran to the bathroom. With a temp. of 102, which isn't even a high temperature, but enough to be annoying--I was convinced I had the flu. Like any sensible person, I drugged myself up with tylenol and gravol and slept until 2:30. When I woke up, every symptom was gone, leaving a nice little migraine in its wake.

Now that I've made everyone afraid of yet another shot, let me clarify--I still would have got the shot. When you have a compromised immune system it is much better to have a couple of days of discomfort versus major complications. 

After 24 hrs I was fine, just residual muscle pain that was very manageable. I was still able to go to my gala, which was pretty fun (hoping to get some pics up!). And I don't have much work this weekend...so I will have to find something to do with myself! 

When you take a look around at other people's blogs they show you pictures of awesome transplant incision scars, or never-before-seen reactions to drugs or a step-by-step of a picc line insertion. Sadly, I have none of that interesting stuff to share with you today.

BUT I got bored enough to actually take photo evidence of what the Twinrix shot has kindly left behind... a sore, red, hard--did I mentioned sore?--bump.

In light of my terrible experience with this shot, I phoned clinic and asked if I could delay my second HPV shot that I have scheduled for next week. Mainly because, quite frankly, I can't afford to spend three days in bed again.

In an effort to not allow these photos to uglify my blog. Here are some pretty photos of my garden (well, it became the family garden) that we built in Collingwood this summer. (More to come later!)




What was in our garden?
Zucchini, carrots, snow peas, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, various herbs and (perhaps) later some lettuce...

Charles the bunny not included.

Day two... still sore, woke up with huge headache (I think a migraine?), spent the day on the couch under piles of blankets watching Canada's Next Top Model re-runs.

P.S. Did I mention I have a giant thesis proposal due in 16 days?

Yes, I'm on my way to success.


But the remedy for a feverish day is a simple one:

1. Tylenol. Takes a while to work, but it eventually kicks in. When I have a stubborn fever I alternate between Advil and Tylenol, because you can only take Tylenol (or Advil) every four hours... when you alternate you don't have to wait as long.
2. Trashy TV. If you fall asleep during it (which you will) you won't feel disappointed that you missed something interesting. Also you don't really have to think while you watch it and, depending on the show, you may even feel better about yourself. 
3. Ginger Ale and Kraft Dinner. About the only things I can eat while I am burning from the inside.
4. Comfy couch and blankets--this combo actually feels like heaven.
5. A nice sweatsuit. Comfy and stylish. What more can you ask for?