Hello reader!

I know it’s been a while – we have been in lockdown since mid-July and I’ve been a little too depressed to write. Lockdown this year has been harder than last year as we have had to get through them without government support. They keep telling us that we are in their thoughts but thoughts and prayers never kept a roof over anyone’s head right?

Anyway, the Victorian Government has decided to change tack this time round – rather then chase the magical number of 0 local cases, they have pivoted to a vaccination target strategy, with easings for 70% first dose vaccination for over 16s, then 70% double dosed, 80% first dose and then the last stage at 80% double dosed. Our lockdown is poised to end (or have the least restrictions) as of November 5th, just in time for the Spring Racing carnival. Now I have joined the contingent of 1st dose of Victorians, eager to get back to normal life. I had my first dose of Pfizer two weeks ago and, as luck would have it, I ended up in the emergency department five days later with a small case of pericarditis. Fortunately it is only a mild case and did not require a stay in hospital, and I was discharged three hours later armed with my scripts for ibuprofen (9 a day, sigh) and an old-school gout medication; Colchicine which in a lower dosage over three months, is a recommended treatment for pericarditis. A week on from the little trip to hospital, how do I feel? To be completely truthful, 100% crap. I hate taking medications. My long-suffering partner can attest to it. It’s enough of a hassle getting me to take my daily Endep and Diane’s – one at 7:30pm and the other before bed – without adding on the three-times-a-day dose of ibuprofen (3 at a time); the twice daily gout meds and the once daily Nexium to protect my tummy. I haven’t figured out which med it is that my body hates, but it’s seriously on like Donkey Kong.

(3 weeks later)
Now that this term of university is done and dusted, I can finally finish this entry that I started 3 weeks ago. The current situation update is that: a) I’m no longer on the 9 ibuprofen tablets a day as my body went into meltdown and just refused to cooperate. To combat all this, doc put me on a circuit-breaker 3 day dose of Prednisolone (hello old friend) and has upped the Endep to 25mg to help get on top of things. I definitely do not feel any better at the moment – the chest pains and pressure are constant; I’m exhausted all the time and I am literally sitting around getting fat as my suspected myocarditis is accompanied by a ‘do not exert yourself’ order until things have been confirmed.

I also saw the cardiologist as suggested by the GP, who effectively told me ‘I’m not special’ (shocked Pikachu). and if I got the second shot and had an adverse reaction, then ‘at least you know where to go’. (insert angry Pikachu face) He also brushed off the concerns I had with significantly decreased physical ability (as in walking 50m at a brisk pace exhausts me); the ongoing chest pains I have and all-round ‘I feel like crap’, which I wasn’t prior to the vaccine. That being said, I still firmly believe in people getting vaccinated – it’s for your good, your family, loved ones and your community. I’m currently in no-man’s-land; unaware if a second dose will be safe but wary of being exposed to someone in the community who has actively chosen not to get vaccinated and is unwittingly spreading it. I’m still pro-vaccination even if it’s about a month since the first shot and my body has no idea if it’s winter or summer as it’s currently ‘doing a Melbourne’ – four seasons in a day. Shiver, sweat, freeze, overheat.

We are sitting about 2 weeks from a major easing of restrictions, and 3.5 weeks from a proper end of lockdown. First thing on my agenda once everything reopens? Get my 2022 diary… although I’m veering between whether I should be buying a physical diary or looking more towards integrating my devices together to stay on top of things. Also need to make a decision as to whether or not I go back to the Aston Rx way of life or if I find an alternative, because I’m pretty sure that there will some restrictions placed on me given the weakened state of my heart – the doc has suggested cardiac health rehabilitation once this vaccination business is done with.

In the meantime, I hope you’re all keeping well and staying safe. The last two years have been difficult and challenging both mentally and emotionally, and I’m glad to see the very faint light at the end of the tunnel. If you haven’t been vaccinated and you are eligible, please consider it. You’ll be doing someone like me a huge service. If you can’t get it safely, then hopefully there’s enough herd immunity and protection to keep you safe.