Getting somewhere at last - and not just the booster...

Well, it's been nearly a week since I started taking the Amitriptyline tablets.  These were originally designed to be an anti-depressant, but as so often happens, they (the pharmaceutical companies) found that it was not very good for the original issue, but it is really good for treating pain.  Specifically neuralgia (nerve pain) as well as migraine.

Now comes the "fun" part.  Like all prescription medication, there are side effects...  And the most common ones are some crackers...  Things like...

Feeling sleepy

Headache

Dry mouth

Nausea

And guess what - I got the lot.  The sleepy part isn't an issue (now) - but for the first few days, all it took was for me to get too comfortable in the bean bag, and bang.  Out cold.  I also found that I was waking up with a headache / dry mouth in the morning, but a bottle of water on my bedside table soon sorted that out.

The worst one was the nausea.  I felt like I'd eaten something (or someone) I didn't agree with, and it was quite unpleasant.  Luckily for me, it was only the one day (and that was the day after my COVID-19 booster - more on that later) but it did knock me for six.

So, at the moment, I won't say I am pain free - far from it.  This dratted medication can take upto 6 weeks to take effect - as my GP said - "don't expect this to work instantly".  I'm not that daft, but have to admit that things are getting slightly easier...  Especially when I use my Smokin' Joints Warming Shea Butter Skin Balm.  

This little miracle pot has really helped me, and I know when I haven't used it.  My back hurts (ok - more than it does normally with the slipped disc) and it seems to help with the pain in my leg.  I don't know if it was because I gave the leg a damned good massage rubbing this stuff in (my thigh muscles were twitching like they were wired to the mains) but it seemed to help and allowed me to get some sleep.

Now onto the booster.  I had already got this booked for January 6th at Walsgrave Hospital...  Ok, not an issue.  Then my GP practise sends me a text message to say that I can get jabbed closer to home - and a lot sooner.  Like a month earlier.  

Needless to say that was a no brainer - of course I was going to take the jab.  This new COVID-19 variant is scary, and blazing a trail through the population.  

So, Mum kindly took me to what I jokingly referred to as "jab central" on Saturday afternoon for my appointment with the needle.  Now my appointment was 15:40 - I was jabbed and escaped by then.

How did I manage?  Simple.  I got to the clinic early, and was pulled in early.  Medical history checked ("Are you allergic to anything?  Yes - work and injections")  Being serious though, I showed the team my medic alert and clarified that I knew what I was allergic to as I carried the epi-pen.  

I was then given the Pfizer jab as my first two jabs were the Astra-Zenica.  20 minutes later, and I am escaping for home, with a slightly sore arm.

As I write (ok type this) my arm still feels sore / slight lump where I had the jab, but to be honest, I am glad I had this done early, as it will hopefully reduce the severity of any infection...

Ah well, my kindle is calling me - I want to see what happens to Edwin Winthrop in Kim Newman's book  - The Bloody Red Baron 

Back when I get chance...

Karen

The future was planned and now we must crawl

Let justice be damned, they've taken it all

Now things that you read, you've seen it before

Like brothers we stand, they've fooled us once more