Vaccine Day! (Second Dose)
If you’re here just for the links scroll all the way down!
Since The First Dose
I have thought a lot about what it means. When I first made my appointment back in January I cried. This pandemic is traumatizing on so many levels. One of my biggest fears would be contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to family, friends, patients. This is why the vaccine is so important to me. Getting the vaccination appointment felt unbelievable. The fact that I was going to get a new, emergency-use vaccine was unbelievable. After getting my first dose, I felt so relieved —hopeful, even.
Days later, I started to feel really angry at the fact that I got an experimental vaccine injected into my arm while there are still so many people acting irresponsibly. It’s infuriating to realize that the selfishness of others was a motivating factor in my vaccine decision.
I’m exhausted, but I know, the benefits outweigh the risks. We need to get our sh*t together to beat this virus and I am here for that. * I don’t advise anyone and everyone to just get this vaccine without deciding if it suits you, your lifestyle, your unique constitution and your living situation. This is not medical advice. Please see the links below for some information that can help you decide what’s best for you and speak to your doctor.
Second Dose, Play-By-Play
Day One
I got my second shot of the Moderna vaccine at approximately 6:30pm.
I am really trying to show you these hives but they are really just no big deal.
9 pm -Suddenly feeling really, really tired and weird. I am not sure how else to describe it.
10pm - I finished making a Tik Tok video and my wrist was itchy. As I was scratching it thinking about how dry my skin is I saw a tiny group of hives on my right wrist and one hive on my left wrist. Feeling really sleepy which is strange for me this early in the night. I usually go to sleep at 12 or 1am. My arm is starting to feel sore. If you have not read my previous vaccine posts —I get hives really easy from things like cold exposure, antibiotics and high stress. This has happened to me on and off since childhood. I have never been in life-threatening anaphylaxis. I carried a box of Benadryl in my purse to the appointment, just in case.
Day Two
I took the day off from work as I expected to have a fever this time around. The plan is to lay down a lot if I need to, stay really hydrated, eating nourishing warm foods, drink hot tea and binge old episodes of Nashville. Read about my vaccine preparation tips in my previous post.
8am Woke up feeling good. I slept pretty well, which I don’t always. Small group of wrist hives went away. Happy news for me on Lunar New Year —I found out my parents got their vaccine appointments and my Aunt also got her first shot yesterday! I went out to walk the dog shortly after.
10am I came down with intense chills. Bundling up under a hoodie, thick socks and heavy blanket and staying in bed helps. No temperature yet, but when I get sick it usually takes a bit for my fever to show up. I also started my period which always comes with cramps. Last vaccine I went without taking any OTC pain killers for this. I did some ear acupuncture for the cramps. I started hydrating more.
12pm I woke up from napping for about an hour and feeling better. I’m keeping a huge glass of water and a hot ginger tea beside me and I’ve just filled up my hot water bottle and going back to bed! I started having body aches and joint pain. Temperature was 100.4 F. I gave myself another treatment -acupuncture, topical liniments and cupping. The fever reduced to 99 F after sweating it out. Body aches also subsided to a mild level. I’ve been drinking so much water that I’m using the bathroom every half hour.
3pm My fever went back up to 100.7 F so I did another treatment and my temperature reduced to 99 again. I rested and slept the rest of the day.
7pm Ate some soup broth, dumplings and noodles — the only meal, all day! I felt much better after eating. Period cramps returned with a vengeance at this time.
10pm My fever and body aches felt minimal at this point but my period cramps were really bad so I caved and took Tylenol. My fever fully broke 30 minutes later, along with body aches and cramps. I wanted to refrain from taking anything as I really wanted my body to build up its immune response, but in all honesty, after all the aches subsided, I wondered if I should have done it sooner!
Please check out this YouTube video about reactogenicity. Here is another report of reactogenicity and side effects by the CDC.
Day Three
8am I slept really well. I woke up starving and my temperature was 98.1 F. Besides feeling weak from not eating much the day before I felt really good. My arm is still sore
1pm After eating a warm yummy meal, I’m feeling back to normal! Only the injection site is sore.
I felt so much more thirsty this time around!
If you’ve read my previous posts, I expected to have a fever and aches after my second dose, which was why I took the day off. These are not “side effects” of the vaccine, but it is considered reactogenicity —the body’s immune response to the vaccine. It’s a good thing! However, if you don’t experience reactogenicity it does not mean it “didn’t work” either. Everyone is different!
The Following Week
I noticed some random signs of inflammation that were all fairly mild. I had spotting at the end of my period for two more days that normal. I also noticed lower abdominal cramping that persisted throughout my period that is unusual for me. The tooth that I had a root canal in over the summer hurt for three days and I also had some sinus pressure and pain.
Looking Ahead
I am really looking forward to when 2 weeks have passed and the vaccine fully kicks in for me! The CDC has recently said "Fully vaccinated persons who meet criteria will no longer be required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with COVID-19” two weeks after the second dose, as long as they are not exhibiting any symptoms. This really gives me relief, however not everyone around me will be vaccinated and there is no information if those vaccinated can still be carriers yet. This means I will still be taking all of the same precautions as I did before with a little less anxiety in my heart!
And for those who get mammograms, like I do, please read over recommendations on mammograms post-COVID19 vaccination.
Post Vaccine Treatments
I am now offering post-vaccine acupuncture treatments for returning patients for the discounted price of $80. (new patients can receive the discounted price of $120). More info here. Payment is required at the time of booking.
A List of Vaccine Resources and Links (NYC)
Vaccine eligibility for New York has opened up significantly so please read about some of the ways you can prepare for getting vaccinated if you choose to do so!
NYC COVID-19 Vaccination Info FB group
Lennox Hill ER Greenwich Village
Columbia, NY Pres, Weil Cornell
Sign up to get notified about doses in your area
Not eligible yet but want it? Volunteer to work in a vaccine pod and also get vaccinated!
This is not medical advice. This is a telling of my own personal experiences. Please consult your doctor on your medical history if you need help deciding whether getting vaccinated is appropriate for you and your situation. You can read about my decision-making process in my previous post.
Reputable Sources of Information on COVID-19 Vaccines
In efforts to clear up any misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines, here are some helpful links to help you and your family decide if getting vaccinated is for you:
COVID19 vaccine myths debunked -Northwell
How The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Works
Effects of anti-pyretics analgesics on vaccine response
Allergic Reactions -Moderna CDC
The Latest On The South African Variant - LA Times
New England Journal of Medicine Vaccine FAQ’s
What WHO wants you to know about Moderna’s vaccine
Guidance on vaccination for pregnant and lactating people by ACOG
Pregnant and Breastfeeding and vaccination by Harvard Health
The vaccine and fertility concerns
Synthetic mRNA used in the vaccines
COVID19 vaccines and anaphylaxis
Dr. Emily Grace Siy, DACM
February 11, 2021