Flu Shot

Ron gets his flu shot

Bill and I got our annual flu shots this morning. 

Normally we get our flu shots at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Georgetown. However, this year when we were there yesterday (for my semi-annual labs), we were informed that they were out of flu vaccine. We were informed that we could get our flu shots at Walgreens, free of charge.  All we had to do was show our VA ID card.  Thus this morning we presented ourselves at the 9 am opening of the pharmacy section of Walgreens. The procedure was a little more laborious with all the forms and identification we had to complete but we got our flu shots. Maybe next year, if we get our flu shots at the same place, we won't have to go through all the paperwork that we had to go through this morning.

When it came time to get our flu shots, that went well.  "Jessica" administered the flu shot needles to both me.  We didn't feel a thing.  Thanks Jessica!

Now, I know some of you reading this blog don't believe in flu shots. Well, I can tell you this, since I've been getting flu shots I haven't had the flu.  I've had the flu in the past and believe you me, I don't want to go through that experience again.  In fact the last time I got the flu I thought I was going to die.  For the first time in my life I actually went to a doctor for a cold. I think I had the flu, maybe I just had a bad cold.  What I did know was that I was afraid to go to sleep because I thought I wouldn't wake up.  My lungs were filling up.  The doctor told me it was a good thing I went to her, because my one lung was about half full.  Come to think of it, that's not the flu is it?  

So how do I feel now, fourteen hours after I had my flu shot?  Well, I feel wiped out.  Hope this isn't the flu.

Bill Gets His Flu Shot

Bill and "friend" at the Georgetown VA Outpatient Clinic

Last Friday Bill and I made our annual trek to the Georgetown VA (Veterans' Administration) Outpatient Clinic in Georgetown to get our flu shot.

Vets waiting for flu shots at the Georgetown VA Outpatient Clinic

We got there early so as to be one of the first to get our flu shots.  I have to admit I question the efficacy of getting flu shots because it seems every year I get a bad cold. I don't know whether it's the flu or just a cold, I just know that I seem to get sick anyway.  But then I wonder what would happen if I didn't get a flu shot.  

Bill gets ready for his flu shot

Last year, while Pat and I were frolicking around in Los Angeles in January, Bill said he was bedridden with one of the worst cases of the flu he's ever had. 

And last year I heard that the flu shots were only 22% effective anyway.  But still . . . . we were down there this past Friday queuing up for our flu shot.

While we were waiting, Bill struck up a friendship with a toothless, emaciated, hoarse voiced Navy veteran.  Bill loves getting out and mingling among his vet friends.  He always enjoys his rides on the American Legion Post 28 van to the Wilmington VA.  And when he gets back home he loves to tell me about the new friends he's made.

But this last Friday maybe he went too far.  After joking around with his new friend, Bill went in for his flu shot.  His new friend was with him.  Bill joked that he "could faint" if he got his shot.  His new friend grabbed him around his waist to hold him up to steady him for that flu shot needle puncturing his arm.  I had rolled my sleeve up to get my shot.

Bill and his new friend were yuking it up.  I got my shot and "OW!"  It hurt.  Bill's didn't.  

As they were leaving I said "Let me get a picture of the two of you!"  And that's when Bill's New Friend puckered up to kiss him! Thus, the Slice of Life Spontaneous Moment picture at the top of this blog.

Then we said our "goodbyes" and I shook the vet's hand.  Getting in the car I told Bill my arm felt like someone punched me.  Bill said "Mine doesn't hurt at all."  I joked with him that I was going to post his "Kissy Picture" on my Facebook account (which I did, of course - a few "Likes" but a loud silence from ALL of my very conservative relatives who are still freaked out about me being openly gay and oh my, what a GAY picture I've posted to Facebook). 

All weekend my arm was sore.  Bill became concerned that during all the commotion that they didn't give him his flu shot. Actually, they did (I saw it).  But he was convinced they didn't.  So that's where he is this morning, back down at the Georgetown VA Outpatient Clinic.  I just hope he behaves himself this time.  

That's my Bill, just a Big Kid.

Bill and one of his many admirers - his neighbor Barbara

What Good Are Flu Shots?

Me before flu shots - April 1977 - no bad colds

This is Week Two of my cold.  After a telephone conversation with a guest who was making a hotel reservation tonight at the hotel, I have determined that I have the flu.  She also has the flu.  Has had it for the past two weeks and just wants to get away from her New Jersey home to the sunshine to our sunny little town of Lewes on the East coast of Delaware.

She said this is a new strain of flu that LASTS THREE WEEKS!  She described all the symptoms:

• Begins with a sore throat
• Moves to the sinuses
• Then a dry cough
• Achy body
• Exhaustion
• Shortness of breath
• Lethargy

Those symptoms are the same symptoms I have!

My whole past history of getting colds is that they last two to three days.  I never get colds in my sinuses.  I almost always get chest congestion.  I know how my colds work.  This one is different.  I've never had a "cold" like this before.

Up until a few years ago I never got a flu shot.  Last year I got a flu shot.  I had the WORST COLD in my lifetime last year.  I thought I was dying.  For the first time in my life I had to go to a doctor because I feared that I would not recover.  I was afraid to go to sleep because I couldn't breath.  It was a good thing I went to the doctor because she said one of my lungs was full and the other was filling up.  I was a few days away from Walking Pneumonia.  Even though I felt like dying, that's how miserable I was, I survived after taking the antibiotics that my doctor prescribed.

So this year comes along and all the bombarding notices come out about "GET YOUR FLU SHOT!"  So I got my flu shot at the VA Outpatient Clinic.  A month goes by.  Last week at this time I wake up with a slight sore throat.  Uh oh.  "Cold coming on Ron!"  

I thoroughly expected this to be another typical "Ron Cold."  I was wrong.  Oh boy was I ever wrong.

I struggled through work at the hotel on Wednesday and Thursday with my cold.  I looked forward to the weekend so I could recover.  Lots of rest and sleep which I did.  Then I get a call from my manager at the hotel.  "Could I come into work this week on Monday and Tuesday in addition to my regular Wednesday and Thursday shift?"  Of course I couldn't say "No."  I got through last night and I'll get through tonight, tomorrow night and Thursday night.  Hopefully by then my "cold" will be gone.  

My question is, what good is it for me to get a flu shot?  For the past two years, in spite of my flu shot, I've had the worst "colds" in my lifetime.  Either this is a new strain of flu or else I'm getting the flu by the flu shot.  

Next year I'm going to bypass the flu shot.  I bet I don't get a cold.  In the meantime I'm hitting the sack again until I have to go into work this afternoon.