Heap of Jabs
Feb. 29th, 2024 05:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smokingbootDiptheria, Tetanus, Polio, Hep A, Typhoid, Rabies, a couple more to go. We're almost ready. My arms are so sore!
Interested to hear that they don't recommend malaria tablets for where we are going, and that cholera is best avoided by the old adage 'cook it, peel it or leave it.' It tickles me to think of the days when you had your quinine tempered by ice-enhanced gin; your malaria avoidant swerved directly into your cholera possibility. As to Dengue, the Dr recommended not worrying about it unless we get rapid onset flu symptoms out of nowhere on our return. Apparently, the people who come for Dengue vaccination are those who've had it once, cos it's the second time around that's the real problem.
Mum texted me to ask how I was, and perhaps because I have been low and not thinking, and I was excited about having got through these jabs, I told her. On some level I must have known I shouldn't do this, but I just had nothing in the tank, and I was proud of myself; this was a whole heap of jabs and I am severely trypanophobic. Facing it left me drained with no extra energy for manipulating the conversation into a different shape. I was pleased having done it, and of course my reward awaits, but it was extremely difficult for me. Lovely folk say I was brave in fighting off that attacker many years back, brave to face the cancer now, but these instances were purely reactive. Is it brave if you have no choice? We do what we must. Whereas this is more positive; if I want a wonderful thing, I have to go through this awful thing. So I do it, and that makes me feel stronger.
This time she hit the roof, furious that I had the jabs, demanding to know why I was going to Vietnam, putting all these things in my body, etc etc. Her ideal vision for me would entail my living in a very clean house watching videos about deadly diseases and miracle cures, only going out when I absolutely have to. She forgets that I regularly had tetanus jabs all my life, that in UK schools the BCG was not optional and that when we were in Singapore I was never out of the Doctor's surgery because, as the doctor told her then; 'You are a neurotic and you will make your little girl a neurotic.'
Only half right there, doc. But what a half!
She was so angry with me she curtailed the conversation. Now she is fine, but I think my head needs a rest. I will just avoid a conversation today. Of course if I do that I will find myself greeted by dozens of WhatsApp messages screaming 'ARE YOU THERE? ANSWER ME!!!'
Ugh, I don't know. Had a rough night, partly because her behaviour brings back bad memories but mostly due to sore arms, so I got up and put some bread on to bake just because it's lovely. And I have a cup of tea which I have let go cold.
I wish things were different for her and for our family. But I am going out out into the wide world again, and however tired and ill I feel right now, that idea lifts my wings.
Interested to hear that they don't recommend malaria tablets for where we are going, and that cholera is best avoided by the old adage 'cook it, peel it or leave it.' It tickles me to think of the days when you had your quinine tempered by ice-enhanced gin; your malaria avoidant swerved directly into your cholera possibility. As to Dengue, the Dr recommended not worrying about it unless we get rapid onset flu symptoms out of nowhere on our return. Apparently, the people who come for Dengue vaccination are those who've had it once, cos it's the second time around that's the real problem.
Mum texted me to ask how I was, and perhaps because I have been low and not thinking, and I was excited about having got through these jabs, I told her. On some level I must have known I shouldn't do this, but I just had nothing in the tank, and I was proud of myself; this was a whole heap of jabs and I am severely trypanophobic. Facing it left me drained with no extra energy for manipulating the conversation into a different shape. I was pleased having done it, and of course my reward awaits, but it was extremely difficult for me. Lovely folk say I was brave in fighting off that attacker many years back, brave to face the cancer now, but these instances were purely reactive. Is it brave if you have no choice? We do what we must. Whereas this is more positive; if I want a wonderful thing, I have to go through this awful thing. So I do it, and that makes me feel stronger.
This time she hit the roof, furious that I had the jabs, demanding to know why I was going to Vietnam, putting all these things in my body, etc etc. Her ideal vision for me would entail my living in a very clean house watching videos about deadly diseases and miracle cures, only going out when I absolutely have to. She forgets that I regularly had tetanus jabs all my life, that in UK schools the BCG was not optional and that when we were in Singapore I was never out of the Doctor's surgery because, as the doctor told her then; 'You are a neurotic and you will make your little girl a neurotic.'
Only half right there, doc. But what a half!
She was so angry with me she curtailed the conversation. Now she is fine, but I think my head needs a rest. I will just avoid a conversation today. Of course if I do that I will find myself greeted by dozens of WhatsApp messages screaming 'ARE YOU THERE? ANSWER ME!!!'
Ugh, I don't know. Had a rough night, partly because her behaviour brings back bad memories but mostly due to sore arms, so I got up and put some bread on to bake just because it's lovely. And I have a cup of tea which I have let go cold.
I wish things were different for her and for our family. But I am going out out into the wide world again, and however tired and ill I feel right now, that idea lifts my wings.
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no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 03:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-03-02 09:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 05:32 pm (UTC)Vietnam is worth all those jabs. Even the maternal hysteria oh dear.
Didn't know that about dengue- not that I'm likely to have a chance to apply the knowledge unless climate change brings it to Canada. But we have West Nile already, so who knows.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-02 09:06 am (UTC)Thansk for what you say about Vietnam, I am so looking forward to it!
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 07:46 pm (UTC)I think it's AWESOME that you got those all done in spite of your fears--you will have a fabulous time.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-02 09:11 am (UTC)It's an irony; her body is incredibly healthy, enough protein in her diet but by nature vegetarian, can't bear cigarettes, no alcohol, prefers walking to other forms of transport. In her 80s she is still very fit... but her mind has not been well for over 40 years.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-29 08:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-03-02 09:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-03-01 12:03 am (UTC)When are you leaving???? Please take lots of pix!!!!!
no subject
Date: 2024-03-02 09:13 am (UTC)