Got my Covid and Flu boosters this afternoon. Pfizer. Was hoping for Novavax but was told this was the only one they had. Was also supposed to have a blood test tomorrow morning (booked before vax appt) but put it off until next week, mostly in case I have a reaction overnight. But hopefully, like all the other times, I will just have sore arms.
I had also arranged for a telephone appt with my GP this morning but instead got some other doctor who didn’t know anything about me (apparently my GP is on holiday). I was hoping for some info re: the MRI and what the next steps would be. Turns out there are no next steps until I am in such pain that I can’t walk at all. And no treatment other than to down paracetamol when it hurts too much. No mention of physiotherapy, other than the suggestion to ride a stationary bike to build up muscle strength. I mentioned having to give up the recumbent bike about 8 years ago because KNEES but he insisted that if I took things poco á poco I would see improvement. 🙄
Starting to see how the whole pain-killer abuse thing happened… doctors not giving a shit. Also, I was the only one in the health centre today wearing a mask, other than one nurse wearing a baggy surgical mask UNDER HER NOSE.
casa azahar 
Hurray for getting a booster and fuckity-fuck about everything else (including the scarcity of Novavax). There has got to be some feckin home exercise you can do to offset the knee pain — I’m going to go on a Youtube quest this weekend. And I still think you should ask about Synovisc, or whatever it’s called in Spain (injected hyaluronic acid). And as someone whose occupation involves sharing wine with clients *please* be careful with the timing of the paracetamol — taking both on board at the same time can acutely fuck up your liver. (Advil and the like are not a problem.)
I got nothing about the idiots with the nose diapers. Half the people who still wear masks at all here are wearing them that way. It’s like that trend where guys would wear unbelted trousers half way down their asses.
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Here’s one I found right away. I am already a fan of this guy, who makes exercise acceptable. https://youtube.com/shorts/RzL-mqiQW8M?si=qwY6jbY790KD73lK The isometrics and the movements that don’t actually involve putting a lot of resistance on the knees themselves could be helpful (I’m here to testify about conditioning the calves to help the knees).
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I’m also going back to my chair yoga/pilates vids to see which ones mention strengthening specific leg muscles to help with knee pain. AND YES I KNOW I need to look again at the leg pressure point stuff you sent me. It just seemed a bit confusing at the time.
Don’t worry, I don’t take paracetamol. Well, except after major operations, and I’m aware of the liver damage issue. Also can’t take Ibuprofen due to high blood pressure, not that I would anyhow. I have a real personal aversion to pain killers and I don’t know why. Of course in extreme situations they sure do come in handy and, since I use them so seldom, they REALLY WORK when I really need them.
So yes, I was thinking that there would be something available, like injections or physio or… something. But NOPE. At least not so far.
I’m almost grateful even for nose diapers these days. Like, at least they’re sorta kinda trying? Because even cutting out 10-20% of aerosols is better than nothing. It’s not an all or nothing scenario. Of course high quality respirators are ideal, but pretty much anything you put over your face is going to somewhat help, which I think is still better than nothing.
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Exactly so, even in my respirator with the protection it offers I have a greater sense of security around someone in a surgical than someone honking their breath in all directions far and wide.
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I found this while doing some vaccine research for my mom. It says Novavax is slightly less effective. So, perhaps you will be a bit better protected: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-19-vaccine-comparison
Take care.
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I started off with AstraZeneca (two vaccinations 12 weeks apart), then have had Pfizer (3 boosters) and at this point I just think WHATEVER.
I mean, it didn’t occur to me to ask which company was providing the usual Flu vaccine.
Today I ran into a guy who, when I told him I was off to get my covid booster, said he’d only had the two initial vaccinations, no boosters. Which, at this point, is the same as not having been vaccinated. I immediately stepped back 6 feet 😉
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We are planning to get our jabs in the next week or so….working around International Sherry Week of course. Like you we got COVID just before our last jabs were due. We have always had Pfizer and no problems, but if it has to be another type I won’t be too worried.
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