Tim Davey - A pain in the arm
The Saturday morning call from the doctor's surgery was one I could have done without.
I was eligible for a swine flu jab, apparently.
When would I like to come?
If I had been absolutely honest with both myself and the receptionist on the end of the telephone, I would have said: "Never!"
Not wanting to rock the boat, though, I responded with some trivial pleasantries and a date and time were fixed for a weekday afternoon.
I put the phone down (don't ask me where, we can never locate them again until someone else rings) and the cold reality of what I had agreed to sank in.
You see, I hate needles. Specifically, ones used for vaccinations. I don't mind my dentist jabbing and numbing my gums with a hypodermic syringe on the grounds you can see precious little of it.
But the "roll up your sleeve and bare your arm" jabs are something else.
Let's say I'm a little squeamish with it. Yet here I was, having, rather glibly, succumbed to the well-intentioned suggestion of the surgery.
So for most of this past week until my appointed hour at the surgery, I have been in a "Will I, won't I?" mood, checking out websites for details of possible side effects and enduring imaginary visions of someone doing a bit of needlepoint on my upper arm.
All too soon the day and time arrived and, for once, not even the appalling traffic heading out of town through Brislington could delay arrival to the extent a cancellation would have been justified.
I looked around the waiting room to see if anyone else was as edgy as me. No. I was the only wimpish person there.
The practice nurse (never a great job description I feel, as it suggests someone is using you for training purposes) was moving through her list.
It wasn't long before my name came up and, resigned to my fate, I trudged in, albeit slowly, behind her.
Moments later it was done. I didn't even have time to think about it.
Back at home, my wife, who, in truth, had been a bit huffy about my name coming up on the Lucky Swine Flu Jab Lotto, was none too sympathetic when I murmured something about possible side effects.
Did I have any, she enquired, from an adjoining room?
"Well, now you mention it, I'm having a bit of a pain in the arm," I replied.
There was obviously some misunderstanding at this point, doubtless caused by the intervening walls and half-closed doors.
For she responded again by saying, "I've always known you are, but have you got any side effects?"
5 Comments
by hannah, bristol
Monday, November 23 2009, 7:45PM
“You make some good points there alex, but what about the relatively young and healthy people who go into hospital for routine surgery, they are still at risk from medical staff having not had the jab. lets not forget hospitals are a breeding ground for germs and things like air conditioning and high temperatures(heating) make it worse.”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Monday, November 23 2009, 9:23AM
“Hannah ¿ yes, they would like to take the vaccine but at the end of the day it has not been adequately tested. Unless you were likely to die if you caught swine flu, would you take the risk of having something injected into your body that could make you extremely ill? Luckily my partner (a nurse) works in an area where all patients are in the ¿at risk¿ category anyway (the same will apply to any ward dealing with elderly patients or those with heart conditions etc), so they will receive the vaccine ¿ therefore if one of the nurses did have flu the patients would be safe from it being passed on. It is certainly a dilemma and one I am glad I do not have to consider.
However, to force staff to take the vaccine is highly unfair. Although nurses need to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B to work, I imagine that the NHS and the government (in not forcing staff to have the vaccine) are admitting that the doubts around its testing are not without foundation.”
by hannah, bristol
Sunday, November 22 2009, 2:41PM
“Well done to you, it just goes to show that when we are at wits end worrying about something, it turns out we were being plain silly, but someone mentioned that some have been ill after having the jab, thats probably because its a live vaccine and therefore it gives you a small dose of the virus so your body knows how to deal with it.
although im a bit disappointed to hear that some medicakl staff refuse to have the jab, i thought it would be compulsory seeing as they are the ones most at risk of catching it and passing it on.”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Sunday, November 22 2009, 2:21PM
“Luckily, being 28, I am not in one of the 'at risk' groups so I have no intention of ever having the swine flu jab. It's just flu. A lot of people who I know have had it have felt very ill afterwards. The drug has not been adequately tested, take up among pregnant women is only 1 in 20 and only half of doctors and nurses are having it due to the same lack of faith in the way the drug was rushed through. Steer clear if you can.”
by Matthew, Bristol
Saturday, November 21 2009, 9:30AM
“You just described exactly how i feel/felt about needles. I break into a cold sweat when i am told to roll my sleeve up. I too have had the Dentist Jabs, even had a sedation jab in my hand. Still not keen on the vaccination. Well done to you.Its just mind over matter! I have heard your arm does hurt for a couple of days after the Swine flu one.”