Monkeypox

[ Sneak Peak Episode 18 ]

This was a full-circle moment, having heard everything that was discussed earlier in the episode re-explained by the health professional giving me my shot. I was not surprised to hear how busy the clinic was, but I did think about how stressful the monkeypox outbreak is for everyone– especially when clinics are triple and quadruple booked for appointments. Also– all of this as we are still trying to handle COVID.

I am not a nervous person when it comes to medical procedures, a lot of anxiety is quelled when the doctor, or nurse has good bedside manner. But, I when I was told the shot would be given in my forearm, I wasn’t sure what that meant. I immediately envisioned Edith Piaf strung out in some Paris hotel and her manager trying to slap her out of a coma. I also began to think more about any potential side effects, since this was my second dose.

At this point the nurse was getting my dose prepared, but before I was vax-ed I asked her how many shots she thinks she’s given– she said too many to keep track of. I asked her how many shots does she think she might personally give in total– she said hundreds a week. And then she mentioned similarities with COVID. Basically the medical world doesn't know what to expect next. 

We moved areas in the exam room and she brought over the vax and syringe. I asked a few more questions to just make sure that I understood what was about to happen. I placed my arm palm-up on the exam table and was given the shot.

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[Photo: originally color, @builtbymath]