Weird situations where you have to wait...

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:42 pm

I just got a smallpox vacc. last weekend AND IT SUCKS!!1!!11!!!! It itches like crap, and if I scratch it, the blister that is on my arm from the shot will break and spread smallpox all over my body, and that would suck.

Is anyone else in a cruddy situation where all that you can do about it is wait for it to go away?

TamaraSegunda · Post by **TamaraSegunda** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:31 pm

Of course, Celes, we've all been there. How about:
A four-year military enlistment
Teenage acne
Tax audit
Disastrous hair coloring experiment
Too-tight panties
The Bush administration
.......Tamara Segunda (running and ducking)

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:29 pm

Hi Celes.

The good news is that if you are having that strong a reaction, then you were lacking the antibodies against smallpox. Now you will have immunity, and will not likely have that kind of reaction in the future. The bad news is that you need to prevent infection more than preventing the spread. Depending on what you are doing, make sure it is kept clean and covered.

As far as your question about waiting, Yep. Been there, done that, about 39 years ago last month. Only then it was 'Nam, and I was lucky to be doing my training and deployment on a naval vessel. The rounds of innoculations were the same.

Then, there was the wait while my Aunt was dying after refusing treatment or food rather than live with half a heart and half a body, not even able to wipe herself.

They could keep her alive for years, but she considered that was not living, and chose to die. First time I realized suicide could be a rational choice. She was a tough old gal, with the strength it took to do that. Took her nine days, and it was hell to be unable to do anything to make it better other than be there for her.

Now I'm waiting for January so I can start my hormones under a new insurance policy that will actually cover them, and the tests needed to keep me healthy. And I am waiting for my mother to recover sufficiently from her heart attack to go home, or not and face the nursing home alternative.

Life, unfortunately, is about waiting.

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 10:04 pm

I can remember in flight training at Pensacola. We lined up and six corps men with those pistol style air guns and we "ran" the gauntlet. One in each arm at the same time - twice then one in each hip. I remember asking what they were for and being told - "Just move on flyboy!" Ah! military life! Don't ya just love it!?"
Virginia

Post by **DonnaT** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 10:35 pm

Those guns were a holy terror for some. When they tensed up or the gun wasn't properly aime, rrrriiipppp went skin.

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:41 pm

Yeah, but the guns beat getting needled most of the time!!!