The Eye of the Needle
Yesterday I marched myself into Group Health to get not one - but TWO - shots.
I decided I wanted a flu shot this year because I don't want to get sick before, during, or after our big trip to Italy. I had a flu shot about 15 years ago, and it made me sick. I haven't had one since. Turns out they don't make you sick anymore, they inject you with inactivated cells. So, I'll probably get a flu shot every year from now on! If you haven't gotten one yet this year, there are 3 different strains in the injection so you have less chance of contracting a strain that actually makes you sick.
The other shot was for tetanus and diptheria. Did you know you need these vaccinations every ten years? Neither my doctor or my nurse could believe I had never heard of this and not had any shots since some time as a kid. I've had health insurance most of the time and not a single doctor I have ever been to in the last 15 years has bothered to mention that adults need vaccinations, too. I thought you only needed to get a tetanus shot after you got yourself caught on some rusty barbwire or something. Since the likelihood that I was going to step on some was slim to none, I never thought about it otherwise.
Shortly after this conversation with my doctor in September there was an article about the need for adult vaccinations in the Seattle Times. You can read it for yourself at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002524716&slug=healthadultshots28&date=20050928 It's very enlightening.
You may have noticed it still took me two months to stop making excuses and get myself into the clinic to actually have the vaccinations done. It's not that I am scared of needles - not really. Altho I don't donate blood. My reason? Selfish, I know, but I had so many accidents as a kid, and was hospitalized for all sorts of things from dog bites to horse crashes, that voluntarily sticking a needle into my flesh was not on my list of things to do in my life. I've had lots of surgery, and also stitches, from these escapades, I felt I was exempt from voluntary needle torture.
That's until I started pursuing my own health. It requires frequent blood tests for all sorts of things. I actually have a scar on the inside of my right elbow from where they stick the needle to draw blood. There's only one place on my body they can actually find a vein to get blood out of - otherwise they would probably move the punctures around and I wouldn't have the scar. The most vials of blood taken at one time? Nine. The intern from a local medical college was overwhelmed, it was the most blood she had taken from one person at one time. I bet she is still telling stories about it.
I also started receiving acupuncture in 2004 for my health problems and pain issues. I credit acupuncture, and also massage, for making it possible for me to hold down a job and maintain the quality of life I do. I have a lot less pain, and even got rid of minor annoyances such as night sweats and always being hot. Acupuncture can do a lot for you, too. You can learn more about it by reading at http://www.prevention.com/category/0,5775,s1-1-52-0-0-0,00.html
If you live in the Seattle area and would like to talk to a Licensed Acupuncturist, I can highly recommend my licensed acupuncturist, Kathy Nordgren. Her phone number is 206.933.6087 ext. 19 or email kenordgren@yahoo.com. Her practice is located at Arbor Vitae Natural Medicine. I am sure you will also notice she looks a lot like Helen Hunt!
I'll leave you with this parting thought and bit of advice - don't look at the needle! Whether it's drawing blood, getting an injection, or a long beautiful acupuncture needle meant to make you well...looking at it protruding from your body might well make you cry, or feel sick. Look away and tell yourself how brave you are, and how it's good for you. You can get through this.
I decided I wanted a flu shot this year because I don't want to get sick before, during, or after our big trip to Italy. I had a flu shot about 15 years ago, and it made me sick. I haven't had one since. Turns out they don't make you sick anymore, they inject you with inactivated cells. So, I'll probably get a flu shot every year from now on! If you haven't gotten one yet this year, there are 3 different strains in the injection so you have less chance of contracting a strain that actually makes you sick.
The other shot was for tetanus and diptheria. Did you know you need these vaccinations every ten years? Neither my doctor or my nurse could believe I had never heard of this and not had any shots since some time as a kid. I've had health insurance most of the time and not a single doctor I have ever been to in the last 15 years has bothered to mention that adults need vaccinations, too. I thought you only needed to get a tetanus shot after you got yourself caught on some rusty barbwire or something. Since the likelihood that I was going to step on some was slim to none, I never thought about it otherwise.
Shortly after this conversation with my doctor in September there was an article about the need for adult vaccinations in the Seattle Times. You can read it for yourself at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002524716&slug=healthadultshots28&date=20050928 It's very enlightening.
You may have noticed it still took me two months to stop making excuses and get myself into the clinic to actually have the vaccinations done. It's not that I am scared of needles - not really. Altho I don't donate blood. My reason? Selfish, I know, but I had so many accidents as a kid, and was hospitalized for all sorts of things from dog bites to horse crashes, that voluntarily sticking a needle into my flesh was not on my list of things to do in my life. I've had lots of surgery, and also stitches, from these escapades, I felt I was exempt from voluntary needle torture.
That's until I started pursuing my own health. It requires frequent blood tests for all sorts of things. I actually have a scar on the inside of my right elbow from where they stick the needle to draw blood. There's only one place on my body they can actually find a vein to get blood out of - otherwise they would probably move the punctures around and I wouldn't have the scar. The most vials of blood taken at one time? Nine. The intern from a local medical college was overwhelmed, it was the most blood she had taken from one person at one time. I bet she is still telling stories about it.
I also started receiving acupuncture in 2004 for my health problems and pain issues. I credit acupuncture, and also massage, for making it possible for me to hold down a job and maintain the quality of life I do. I have a lot less pain, and even got rid of minor annoyances such as night sweats and always being hot. Acupuncture can do a lot for you, too. You can learn more about it by reading at http://www.prevention.com/category/0,5775,s1-1-52-0-0-0,00.html
If you live in the Seattle area and would like to talk to a Licensed Acupuncturist, I can highly recommend my licensed acupuncturist, Kathy Nordgren. Her phone number is 206.933.6087 ext. 19 or email kenordgren@yahoo.com. Her practice is located at Arbor Vitae Natural Medicine. I am sure you will also notice she looks a lot like Helen Hunt!
I'll leave you with this parting thought and bit of advice - don't look at the needle! Whether it's drawing blood, getting an injection, or a long beautiful acupuncture needle meant to make you well...looking at it protruding from your body might well make you cry, or feel sick. Look away and tell yourself how brave you are, and how it's good for you. You can get through this.
posted by Wendy Hughes-Jelen @ 11:33 AM
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