Thoughts on shots...

I woke up this morning, rolled over,opened my eyes, then sat up straight in bed. "Ugghh, today is needle day", I said to myself. I was scheduled for an appointment with a travel medicine specialist downtown at 9:30. Needless to say, I was slightly anxious. But, I had already had a few pinpricks to the bicep a couple weeks before at my doctors office. Not fun, but no big deal. These particular shots were a little different- for one thing they are very expensive(God provided the money for the first installment about ten minutes before we left, no joke) and the immunization center is downtown in the middle of a huge Veteran medical clinic.
When we arrived at the clinic, there were alot of old veterans with wrinkly tattoos on thier arms and hats with badges on them standing around all throughout the place. They stared at me and Mom like, what are you doing here?? We went up five floors on an elevator to a small office with a few chairs inside. Maps of the world blanketed the walls and while I waited I scanned them for my destination country absentmindedly. Soon, a colorful character emerged through a door and beckoned me into her office. There, she sat me and Mom down and first asked me about the trip and my age and the conditions in which I would be staying. After a few cracks on her part about my eating mainly rice and sleeping in tents, we got to the good stuff.

She told me I for sure needed a Typhoid shot. Then I asked her about the second shot I had written down called Japanese Encephalitis, carried by mosquitos. This was when she dropped an unexpected bomb. She told me all about the virus and how one in every four cases of the virus are fatal(people die basically) and how common it is when you are outdoors in a rural area overseas. I was like ok, whatever, stick me!!
However, the shot, is only given at high-risk to the patient because it causes an anafallactic shock commonly in the first thirty minutes after recieving it! Also, she informed me I am at higher risk for this sort of reaction because of a cell disorder I have had since I was little. The whole conversation was stressful and she said she would have to expedite the shots and give them to me closer together because I am leaving so soon. I would wait till the last minute!!Procrastinator!! This basically put me at even greater risk for this whole reaction bit. I almost finked out, but Mom was really awesome and brave about the whole thing and told me I would be fine and that it wouldn't be good if I didn't get the shot because what could happen and you know Mom stuff...so, I agreed to get poked.
The lady brings out a Epipen in case of the reaction before she gets out the shot and shows me how to use it(in case the reaction happens after we leave). I was terrified and began reconsidering this shot business. Typhoid came first and then right after she put in the odd one right below it. i breathed heavy and prayed(I think) nad waited for my lungs to close...they didn't. I was so nervous for the next thirty minutes while the lady drilled me about travel safety and kept asking me if I felt 'ok'. After the time passed she warned me that for the next month I would have to carry an Epipen becuase for ten to fouteen days after the shot you can get the reaction, theres just a smaller chance. So, for all my melodrama, it went fine.

But, the thought is that I have to go through the same process next week with the same chances and risks and then again two weeks after that. So, jokes aside, I am mildy nervous about that. God will take care of me, this I know( so don't put that your comment-just kidding!) I fully realize this fact. I am not doubting Him and I feel fairly confident for next week since I survived the first set with ease. I am actually just ready for the shot stuff to be done and for time to pass quicker so I can get on that plane!!!