COVID Anxiety

[Jemima]

Oh, thank you for your sweet thoughts. Recently, I'm planning to be vaccinated. Which do you think is better, astra or pfizer? Do you think its the right thing to do to lessen my worries?

Getting vaccinated has definitely given me peace of mind. Knowing that the virus is less likely to make me sick is very comforting. Here on the European continent they are mostly giving Pfizer, which is what I had. My partner and I didn't react at all while both of our teens had a tiny bit of injection site redness, felt a little run down for a day or two, and then fine - their immune systems being a little less jaded then ours! Astra zeneca was connected with some very rare blog clots in younger people, so a lot of countries are only using it for 50 or 60+. That's the only factor I'd consider. I hope that helps!

 

[Jemima]

Jemima I’m very happy, out of hospital I’m still not on my way to the cancer and hope It never gets to that stage not afraid of dying , afraid of cancer though ( go figure???? ) hope your having a nice day it’s super sunny where we are ,I’m gonna have little sleep now , my fatigue is haunting me

Thanks for letting me know I think fear trends to creep in easy when we're in pain all the time, but it still doesn't define us. I'm really glad you're ok! It's raining here, which I love because it's been a long hot summer. Rest well, fab one

 

[sunkacola]

It's very important for people to get vaccinated. Historically it is the only way that human beings have been able to contain, and in some cases, eradicate a virus that was causing death or disability. At this point millions of people world wide have received the vaccination, but still not enough.

For me, getting the vaccine changed the whole way I relate to the world. I am still taking proper precautions, of course, and not hanging out with unvaccinated people if I can help it, wearing a mask in public and so on, but I no longer have anxiety about covid, or anxiety attacks about leaving the house and going into town .

By the way, Auriel, being afraid of cancer but not of dying makes perfect sense to me. Dying is only dying. But cancer usually means a long period of time of feeling terrible, with the knowledge that you might get better or might not. To me, that's worse.

 

[Auriel]

Oh that’s good , i thought I might have sounded a bit odd making that statement!

 

[Rainbow]

Given that the government is pushing vaccines for children below 1 7years old, are you willing to take the risk for your grandchildren to be vaccinated?

Good question but as I'm only a grandparent it will be the parents decision as I have little or no say in such matters
& anyway the English government seems to be back-tracking now on under 17 vaccinations.

My eldest granddaughter is in her early 20's & decided for herself to have the vaccine & is waiting for her second
& as she went camping with the 3 younger children who were all infected at the time, it seems to have stood her in good stead,
because as I write she has not tested Covid positive.

I didn't go camping but they all stayed with me (I am double vaccinated) before they set off & I am still testing negative,
so the 'proof of the pudding is in the eating' as they say & IF it were my decision I was advise the grandson now at
secondary school to have it, the others are, as yet, too young.

 

[Rainbow]

Relieved to say that son now fully recovered from what turned out to be a 'mild' Covid infection.

So mild, that instead of praising the vaccinations he had &/or the herbal immune booster I swear by,
he said he's had worse colds & as a result of that, now thinks it's a huge fuss about very little
but that's males for you!

Both my eldest granddaughter & myself have both avoided getting it, which is little short of a miracle,
bearing in mind with both shared small spaces with the infected children but am hugely aware I shouldn't
tempt fate by thinking I won't get it at some point.

In fact, imo everyone has had it without knowing, has got it, or will get it sooner or later & with our affliction, which if you're like me, entails feeling like your coming down with something every single day, it's not a given that we'd actually know it was Covid.

Speaking of flu, I had my Flu Vaccination a couple of days ago & have been feeling rotten since.
In short, I feel exactly like I've got Flu!

 

[Rainbow]

Whilst I'm here can I ask if anyone else has issues with night-time heart palpitations?

I know it's listed in the symptoms of 'ME' but I would just like to know if anyone else experiences this,
as it's scary & seems to be getting worse.

It doesn't seem to be a daytime thing but becomes apparent when I go to bed.
I have loud 'wooshing' in both ears, heart 'flutters', irregular pulse & if I lie on my left side it's worse
& the more I have physically exerted myself during the day, the worse it seems to be.

I'm already on blood pressure tablets ie Indapamide & Amlodipine so am thinking of have a phone consultation with my doctor
(it's extremely difficult to get a face-to-face appointment here in England) but am wary of being sent to hospital for 'tests',
which in themselves entail potential exposure to Covid & increase my anxiety & stress.

It would help me to know if others have experienced/or are experiencing, the same thing
& what , if anything they have done about it that has helped?

 

[sunkacola]

I get anxiety attacks with rapid heartbeat, and sometimes at night, but don't know if that is the same thing as what you are asking about.

 

[Rainbow]

Thank you for responding Sunkacola & I understand, as I recall having those back in the day but this specifically comes on when I lie down at night & it seems to be directly connected to how much physical exertion I've had during the day.

Am just hoping that someone else on here with FMS/ME/CFS has shared the same experience & has perhaps, had it confirmed that it's symptomatic of our illness.

 

[Jemima]

Thank you for responding Sunkacola & I understand, as I recall having those back in the day but this specifically comes on when I lie down at night & it seems to be directly connected to how much physical exertion I've had during the day.

Am just hoping that someone else on here with FMS/ME/CFS has shared the same experience & has perhaps, had it confirmed that it's symptomatic of our illness.

Hi Rainbow,
I only had heart palpitations as a medication side effect - now that I only take supplements, I don't get them any more. Not sure about others though! I'm only FM diagnosed, so perhaps it could be more of an ME symptom, or perhaps consulting on your prescription is a good idea. Have you tried looking online for discussions about side effects of what you're taking? I just googled both briefly, and apparently a pounding heart beat can be a side effect of amlodipine, so researching that might shed a little more light. Wish I could be of more help!

 

[Rainbow]

Thank you for your reply Jemima, I think you're really brave to stop all your meds but am not that brave.

When I do feel brave enough maybe I will check my prescription Meds on google, though I suspect once I have read all the potential side effects I will stop taking them all & then end up worse than I was, which would be just my luck!

Thing is, I have all these symptoms hours before I take my night-time meds, so I can't see how there is a connection time-wise.

As for Amlodipine ...
on my last G.P. phone consultation months ago, my G.P. prescribed it for high blood pressure & heart palpitations (?!)
but being reluctant to take more meds, I only started on it recently when my symptoms seemed to be getting worse,
so again, there doesn't seem to be a direct connection.

Would still like to hear from any fellow-sufferers who may have the same night-time issues,
otherwise am going to have to re-ring my doctor & end up having endless tests
& be sent to the hospital Heart clinic, just to potentially catch Covid & fall off the running machine again!

 

[sunkacola]

Thank you for your reply Jemima, I think you're really brave to stop all your meds but am not that brave.

When I do feel brave enough maybe I will check my prescription Meds on google, though I suspect once I have read all the potential side effects I will stop taking them all & then end up worse than I was, which would be just my luck!

Thing is, I have all these symptoms hours before I take my night-time meds, so I can't see how there is a connection time-wise.

As for Amlodipine ...
on my last G.P. phone consultation months ago, my G.P. prescribed it for high blood pressure & heart palpitations (?!)
but being reluctant to take more meds, I only started on it recently when my symptoms seemed to be getting worse,
so again, there doesn't seem to be a direct connection.

Would still like to hear from any fellow-sufferers who may have the same night-time issues,
otherwise am going to have to re-ring my doctor & end up having endless tests
& be sent to the hospital Heart clinic, just to potentially catch Covid & fall off the running machine again!

You don't need to stop all your meds at once. Just pick one and start cutting down on it (unless of course it is a medication you need for your health....I am talking only about meds for pain). I think it's very important to know the potential side effects of a medication. Read about them! Don't let it frighten you because just your knowing what they are doesn't change anything....you are already taking them! And remember, most of the side effects listed will not be experienced by everyone - they have to list them all but that doesn't mean that it will happen to you. Knowledge is always power, so inform yourself.

I hope you can find what is causing this issue for you, and please let us know what you learn.

 

[Auriel]

Hi rainbow ( I like rainbows) hi jem’s x , I had some, some quite bad ones before when I was put on ametryptaline and co codamol same time and a bit before I was put me on thyroxine but they were the only times .

 

[Rainbow]

Hi rainbow ( I like rainbows) hi jem’s x , I had some, some quite bad ones before when I was put on ametryptaline and co codamol same time and a bit before I was put me on thyroxine but they were the only times .

Thank you for your reply Auriel.

Of those 3, I am only on Amitriptyline, 2 low dose (10mg) at night, they were prescribed to help with nighttime muscle cramps/pain & I have to say they've really worked for me on that level & they help me sleep too but I'm going to try & reduce that to one tablet & see what happens.

I've recently started to take 1 Amlodipine early evening which was prescribed for high bloopd pressure & to quote 'widen arteries',
& 1 Gabapentin (high dose 300mg) which are also for pain but they too help me sleep & as I went 3 years without any quality sleep
& trying everything herbal etc without success & nearly had a breakdown due to lack of sleep, I finally asked for sleep meds,
only to be told I could have very limited access to them ie half a dozen tablets once or twice a year in exceptional circumstances as they are addictive - as if that matters at my age (?!)

I realise I've become 'a nice little Earner' for the big Pharmas but my chemist has assured me these med combinations are appropriate for my
needs ie pain control & high blood pressure control, with the bonus of sleep assistance, which for me is absolutely crucial, as without sleep
all my symptoms become unbearable & I cease to function.

Being a full-time Carer, as well as having my 4 grandchildren most weekends, being functional is essential!

 

[Auriel]

Wow now you’ve told me all that, now I get why you need all them things haha, I’m not allowed to take sleeping tablets, they just won’t let me ? ? ? I take 1,200 gabapentin a day but sometimes I leave some day ones to collect together to help me sleep better but my sleeps still broken, my dreams are weird ( well weirder than usual) Oh well life is such we’ve always got rainbows init? ️