A Very Anaphylactic Day
This morning, I finally sent off my resume and a cover letter to the Unitarian Universalist Association. There are two really amazing job opportunities there, both are entry-level non-profit development positions. Entry-level development positions are really rare, which is strange when you consider how there is a constantly high demand for development and fundraising specialists. brigid was a tremendous help in giving me feedback and help with the whole process, I feel really confident about my chances.
So I was feeling pretty accomplished as I walked over to the Traveller's Clinic in Tuft's New England Medical Center. After waiting in one of the most unpleasantly crowded waiting rooms I've ever been to (I've been to inner-city free clinics, mind you). So I finally got called up and discussed with the Doctor about going to South Korea and we determined all the exciting shots I would need. I got four shots that day (two in each arm), including one for Japanese Encephalitis.
So any kind of immunization carries with it risks which they spelled out for me like I was an idiot. Because the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine tends to cause problems a bit more often then most they had me wait for a few minutes after my shots. I quietly read the Weekly Dig and after a few minutes started feeling funny. But I've been feeling weird for awhile now, so I paid it no mind. I started feeling weirder and weirder, and tried to swallow - but couldn't. It was then I realized I couldn't really breathe either! (Yes, the Weekly Dig is THAT good) I quietly got up and told the desk workers that I had a vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis and was finding breathing a bit difficult.
See, so far I am being calm - but then they all freak out. This makes breathing even harder as I started to get kinda nervous about all the hub-bub. I get rushed by the whole staff out of the waiting room and am practically dragged into a hospital room and I am quite literally laid out on a bed. A moment later the room is literally rushed with doctors and residents. Finally, I got my money's worth with my ludicrous $50 co-pay with all these doctors scurrying about - all for me.
By this point I pretty much can't breathe at all, and am not feeling all that great otherwise. I was flailing about but I was quietly kinda freaking out. But three shots later, including the sweet nectar known as epinephrine. I was feeling pretty darned good - maybe too good given this is the closest I've ever been to actually dying. Two shots later and two-and-a-half hours of being studiously watched over by some residents, I was released from the hospital to my wobbly and rather unfamiliar feeling legs.
Before I left the clinic, the Doctor caught me and after we exchanged some laughs and pleasantries she said "So, we'll see you again next week for the next dose of the immunization, right?"
Yikes, does Japanese Encephalitis really suck all that bad?
So I was feeling pretty accomplished as I walked over to the Traveller's Clinic in Tuft's New England Medical Center. After waiting in one of the most unpleasantly crowded waiting rooms I've ever been to (I've been to inner-city free clinics, mind you). So I finally got called up and discussed with the Doctor about going to South Korea and we determined all the exciting shots I would need. I got four shots that day (two in each arm), including one for Japanese Encephalitis.
So any kind of immunization carries with it risks which they spelled out for me like I was an idiot. Because the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine tends to cause problems a bit more often then most they had me wait for a few minutes after my shots. I quietly read the Weekly Dig and after a few minutes started feeling funny. But I've been feeling weird for awhile now, so I paid it no mind. I started feeling weirder and weirder, and tried to swallow - but couldn't. It was then I realized I couldn't really breathe either! (Yes, the Weekly Dig is THAT good) I quietly got up and told the desk workers that I had a vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis and was finding breathing a bit difficult.
See, so far I am being calm - but then they all freak out. This makes breathing even harder as I started to get kinda nervous about all the hub-bub. I get rushed by the whole staff out of the waiting room and am practically dragged into a hospital room and I am quite literally laid out on a bed. A moment later the room is literally rushed with doctors and residents. Finally, I got my money's worth with my ludicrous $50 co-pay with all these doctors scurrying about - all for me.
By this point I pretty much can't breathe at all, and am not feeling all that great otherwise. I was flailing about but I was quietly kinda freaking out. But three shots later, including the sweet nectar known as epinephrine. I was feeling pretty darned good - maybe too good given this is the closest I've ever been to actually dying. Two shots later and two-and-a-half hours of being studiously watched over by some residents, I was released from the hospital to my wobbly and rather unfamiliar feeling legs.
Before I left the clinic, the Doctor caught me and after we exchanged some laughs and pleasantries she said "So, we'll see you again next week for the next dose of the immunization, right?"
Yikes, does Japanese Encephalitis really suck all that bad?