Yesterday afternoon I went in for my last and most potent vaccination - the yellow fever vaccine. I'm not typically one to read up on what I am getting myself into. In fact, my friends know more about the Peace Corps than I do. The yellow fever vaccine was no exception to the things I know little about.
So I received all my other vaccines about 3 weeks ago and this one was missing due to the fact that most clinics do not carry it. I had to search for travel clinics that could provide and stumbled upon Northwestern's travel clinic. I chose to go with that one for the name since I figured they know pretty well what they'e doing with every other medical department so why would it be any different for the immunizations dept.
I stepped in and waited about 15 min for the nice RN, Tim, to call me. He had me read up on the vaccine while he walked to the back to bring in the vaccine. This is where I found out that 1 in about 200,000 have reactions that can lead them to the ER. Even if you don't end up in the ER, it's likely to result in a fever and flu symptoms. In my head, I chose not to freak out. I'd already come this far and wasn't about to back out even if I happened to be that unfortunate sucker who got injected with a bad batch of the yellow fever shot.
The shot stung a 2 out of 10 on that pain scale. Not the scary monster that the article made it sound like it would be. I went out to for a walk to meet my friend for some shopping then Jamba Juice. The article said I should expect symptoms within a few hours but I went all day and night without any. What a load of crap! I was expecting something to whine about and get babied on. I guess my immune system just wasn't going to allow it.
Or so I thought...
It's Saturday and I cannot stop sneezing. My eyes look like they've been through a break up and my nose is a snotty mess. No one is around to pamper me. I'm missing a party tonight. And yeah, I cleaned the whole house hoping the activity would clear my sinuses. No success.
If anyone cares to visit me while I'm out in Uganda, be aware that you have to encounter the same.
Now to get full medical clearance. Vaccines: Check. Physical: Check. Lab work: Check. Dental: Check.
Missing: Optometrist visit, Pap smear (lost the results), misc. immunizations.
Stay tuned for the results and my shopping days at the hiking store.
