We splurged the other day and bought two baskets to put into the urns in front of our garage.  

In 1888, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche first stated, “Out of life’s school of war—what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.”

This is my feeling after what happened to me during the last two weeks.  At one point I was convinced I was on my way to the Pearly Gates, a journey I was not ready to take at this time.  Peter and I had our second Moderna vaccinations on June 17th at 3:50 PM.  After the vaccinations we waited the prescribed 15 minutes to make sure we were okay.  Shortly after arriving at home I mentioned to Peter that I was feeling rather dizzy and that I had a low grade headache.   When the dizziness and headache persisted I decided to go to bed shortly after 7:00 PM.  I drifted in and out of sleep until I awoke at 3:00 AM with a savage migraine.  Shortly after the migraine started I began to vomit.  I described the migraine as a migraine from hell.  I continued vomiting and suffering from horrendous pain until just before 7:00 AM at which time my husband took my blood pressure and heart rate.  My blood pressure was up at 198/110 and my heart rate was 133.  He decided it was time to call 911.  After listening to Peter describe my health issues they immediately sent an ambulance.  It arrived at 7:15 AM.  A few minutes after arriving in emergency my blood pressure was up to 228/119 and my heart rate stayed at around 133.  I have to admit that I was afraid, very afraid.  Obviously with a blood pressure that high that refuses to come down one is susceptible to a stroke.  It took twelve hours before the migraine was gone, the vomiting stopped and my blood pressure was lowered to a closer to normal number.  Cardiac enzyme studies measure the levels of enzymes and proteins that are linked with injury of the heart muscle. The test checks for the proteins troponin I (TnI) and troponin T (TnT).  The lab technicians kept coming up to emergency to take blood to check my Troponin 1 and Troponin T levels.  I was getting really worried but around 10:00 PM the numbers were finally normal.  I was given the all clear to go home.  I slept for the remainder of the weekend.  The intense fatigue continued for most of this past week.

The ambulance attendants and emergency medical staff reassured me that there were others who had experienced the same side effects after their second Moderna vaccination.  I want to be very clear.  I am thankful that I had the second vaccination even though I suffered for over 12 hours with the nasty side effects.  The emergency room doctor told me that if I had not had the vaccine and had contracted COVID 19 I would probably have had a very severe case.  The side effects I suffered after the vaccination were a good indication of that.  Please get your COVID 19 vaccinations.  Yes I suffered after my vaccination but my husband had the same dose and his only side effect was a sore arm for a few hours.  

In an earlier post I mentioned that I have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Lichen sclerosis.  Lichen sclerosis is a skin disorder that causes small areas of skin to become thin and discolored so that white patches develop.  The skin can crack and become sore, which can cause pain, itching, and discomfort. These feelings may be distressing.

During the last two months I had noticed a strange rash appearing on my ankles and the lower part of my right leg.  By the time I saw the nurse practitioner at my family doctor’s clinic the sores had become white scaly patches that were painful and itched.  The diagnosis is Lichen Planus.  The treatment included using the same steroid creme that I was using for another outbreak on my body.

It looks like we might get some much needed rain today.  What we really need is three to four days of a steady rain.  

At present I am reading two books.  If you are a committed reader you will know what I mean.  I am reading “The Breaker” by Minette Walters

The second book is “The Silence of the Sea” by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir.

Have a great week.