I’m in the home stretch, y’all! In two weeks I’ll officially be fully vaccinated for COVID-19- having received my second shot of Pfizer this past weekend and giving myself the mandatory 14-day period for it to kick in. To say I’m excited and elated is an understatement for sure- I could do backflips right now- and it was worth the 24-48 hours of rough side effects I encountered after getting poked.
I had been warned- by plenty of people- that the second COVID-19 vaccination makes the first one look like a picnic in the park by comparison in terms of side effects. Muscle aches, fever/chills, constant flu-like symptoms- with the severity and duration ranging anywhere from a few hours to a few days. I’d also (thankfully!) been given a ton of tips and recommendations on how to keep the more serious stuff- like fatigue and dehydration under control. I made sure to grab plenty of Gatorade and some Ibuprofen for any fevers/pain and cleared a comfy spot on a pull-out couch where I planned to spend most of my weekend resting and recovering.
The shot itself, just like the first round- was quick and painless- and shortly after I’d left the facility where they were administering vaccines, my arm began to feel a little sore and tight. I started feeling run-down by Saturday evening- but continued chugging Gatorade before I eventually fell asleep and remained completely passed out throughout the entire night.
On Sunday morning, my arm felt a lot more stiff/tight and I didn’t have a whole lot of energy. I’d also developed a low fever- but other than that- I was feeling okay. Within a couple of hours after taking some Ibuprofen, having a good breakfast and drinking a lot of water- the fever was gone, my arm pain was gradually fading- and I could even muster up enough energy to run a couple of quick errands before I forced myself back on the couch to rehydrate and do a whole lot of nothing.
By Monday, I was completely back to normal- and now begins the countdown for the vaccine to kick in so I can rejoin the world again. I’ve got an impromptu trip out West planned within a couple of weeks that I’m looking forward to- and there’s quite a few restaurants and bars I’ve been missing that I can’t wait to get back to!
But of course, I’ll keep wearing my mask, keeping my distance as much as possible and doing my part to protect those who haven’t been vaccinated yet. Just because I’m safe doesn’t mean everyone is yet- and this is still very much a group effort. It requires all hands on deck!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 