Last weekend felt a bit lost to me, and I'm blaming Pfizer, CVS, my immune system, and some aggravation on my part.
I made an appointment for my covid vaccine/booster (whatever we're calling it now) a few days after the FDA approved the newest vaccines. When I went to CVS, the pharmacist said that Medicare had not yet updated their systems and they were unable to process it for reimbursement. I could pay $200 out of pocket, but I chose not to and went home without a shot.
I made another appointment eight or ten days later, called that morning to ask if the Medicare reimbursement glitch had been worked out, and the tech said she thought so but wouldn't be able to tell for sure until she tried to process it. So I went in for appointment #2, and sadly, came home with the same results. No shot.
Surely the third time would be the charm, so I made an appointment at a different CVS and hoped for different results. For some reason, we have three different CVS stores in our small town, but this gave me three options. Originally I wanted to get my covid shot first and get my flu shot two to three weeks later. I've had mild to moderate reactions from them before and didn't want to multiply the fever, headache, and body aches by getting both shots at the same time. But since time had been ticking away waiting for Medicare to get their act together, I was aggravated and made an appointment to get both shots. The third time was (sort of) the charm, but only because the pharmacist may have been tired of seeing me and maybe felt a bit sorry for me. This time the Medicare computers were down, but the pharmacist took my information, said he would submit it later, and checked me in for the shots. I got both covid and the flu vaccine from a personable tech with lovely purple hair and went home to celebrate my success.
Friday night I woke up with a headache, fever, and shaking chills. I took some ibuprofen and went back to sleep. I slept until mid-day Saturday, waking up only to take more ibuprofen and get an ice pack for my headache before returning to sleep. I woke up at 8:30 pm, had some yogurt and more ibuprofen, and went back to sleep until Sunday morning. I woke up feeling almost normal and it was great to finally get up, get dressed, and get on with all the things I had neglected.
I am glad I was able to finally get both vaccines and am ultimately grateful for Pfizer and the fact that I had fairly good evidence that my immune system was responding as it should, even if it meant that I lost 36 hours of the weekend to sleeping and feeling crappy. I hope your weekend contained a bit more fun!
oh my!! I hope I do not have that reaction when I get those shots. Last time I got flu/covid I was okay which is unusual because every single covid shot prior I was down and out for 48 hours. what a pain that they cannot streamline the medicare billing stuff. they make it so complicated.
ReplyDeleteOh geeze! So sorry to hear this Bonny. I do hope you are feeling fine this morning. We got our flu shots several weeks ago - before the Booster was even available. Now we are scheduled for our booster shots this week - hopefully no bad reactions (we've never had any reaction to the shots at all...hoping it stays that way).
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you had such a bad reaction and that it caused you to miss most of the weekend, but I'm also glad you were able to get the immunizations -- I'm sure that, given the choice, you'd take a weekend of sleep over a week (or more) of sickness from either flu or COVID. My parents got their COVID boosters and had to pay out of pocket because they were told they the pharmacy was out of network for their insurance, which is ridiculous to me. I think no one is clear about what to do now that the government isn't covering the cost, but I certainly hope they figure it all out. Hope you're feeling like yourself this morning!
ReplyDeleteOh boy, Bonny. But yay for those T-Cells getting all re-energized! I had a pretty significant reaction as well, but only the day after my injections (I too got both Covid/Flu boosters!) I hope that you don't have too much to catch up on... XO
ReplyDeleteOh, Bonny. What a bummer! I had my flu/Covid shots about 10 days ago. I've never had a severe reaction to either . . . generally just a lack of energy and an overall feeling of malaise. This time I needed to take a long nap. But that was it. I'm so sorry you have such a nasty reaction to the shots! I hope you're feeling better this week -- and ready to take on the world (or something like that). XO
ReplyDeleteOh man. So sorry you lost a whole weekend. Happy that you're all set, though! I still need to get my booster... Rusty had the same song & dance at CVS but with regards to VA instead of Medicare. I'd really like him to get a boost before heading to Australia in a couple of weeks!
ReplyDeleteHa. Yeah. That's me.
DeleteDamn, girl, that's rough! I am glad you got it done, though. I won't be getting a Covid booster since I had Covid but I am getting my flu shot later this month when I go for my annual physical. I don't generally have a reaction to that and I'm hoping that will be the case again this time.
ReplyDeleteOh Bonny, I hope you are feeling better! I plan on getting both vaccines later this month, but will get them about a week apart and in different arms. I've never had more than a bit of headache and tiredness after the COVID vaccines, but I always get an incredibly red, hot, sore arm from the over 65 flu shot. Last year a friend warmed her cold hands over my arm when we were at an Oktoberfest!
ReplyDeleteMine worked out for the best, and I would much rather feel a bit under the weather for a short time than lose a whole week or more to covid. Now I need to think about RSV and shingles, too ... later. I hope your side effects are minimal!
DeleteI hope you're feeling 100% again ... soon!! I go for my physical this month and will get one shot ... and follow it up a few weeks later with the second (and ugh, I have to think about the shingles vaccine now too).
ReplyDeleteOh boy. I'm sorry you lost a weekend but now you are good to go for the winter viral season. I hope by now you are feeling much better.
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