Reaction to flu shot this year?

Tux watching Garfield

Well, apparently I still can't upload new pictures.  This is another old one taken a few years ago.  I'm surprised that if more people are having the problem, that blogger hasn't commented on it... either letting us know that they are working on it or possibly giving us the reason there's a glitch??

But on another note, I want to pass on something I heard the other day.  It has to do with this year's flu shot. In 1997 I had the 'real flu'... took me 4 - 6 weeks to get back on my feet and even then, it was a slow process.  So yes, I now get the flu shot each year.  This year I was late and didn't get in for it until the first week in December.  DH had his also but a few weeks earlier.  Both of us noted that the shot itself didn't hurt at all, but the arm it was given in became 'extremely sore' for the next few days. I also felt *bad*the next day.  But other than that... no prob.

Until about 2 weeks later, I noticed a rash on my back - right behind my right arm.  My first thought was "Oh no, Shingles!" They have been advertising on TV for the Shingles vaccine so much that they've about scared the life out of me.  Anyway, I did go see my doctor and she didn't think it was Shingles, and gave me a Rx for some steroid cream.

It's been about 5 weeks now and the rash is almost gone.  It didn't itch and it didn't hurt... looked a bit like poison ivy (but no itch).  However, I was talking to my daughter on the phone yesterday and when I mentioned the rash, she said, "Mom, you didn't get the flu shot, did you?" And I said yes, why? She had been talking to some friends who are nurses and they mentioned that quite a few people (adults and children) who got the flu vaccine this year have been coming down with Shingles or a rash or some sort.

Interesting, yes?  Now I'm curious to know if any others out there have had similar experiences...

Christmas Tree...



Christmas tree 2012

 I'm still playing with Picasa... thus, the blue tint.  As you can see, our tree decorations have been minimized over the years. Since the  kids have grown, we have eliminated the tinsel and garlands. Now we make due with the tiny white lights and ornaments that mean something (either the kids or grand kids made them or were given to them, some came from our parents' tree, etc.)... and of course we have the unbreakable ones at the bottom for the cats to play with. As we get older, we may also have to minimize the tree size... but so far we have always had one of the boys around to help us get it into the house.

I started this post yesterday, but had to get to Yoga class then over to the doctor's to get my flu shot.  Intended to finish it when I got back home, but ran out of time.  After picking up grandson at school and cooking supper (Chicken Tetrazinni), I was wiped out... and fell asleep on the sofa. When I got up to go to bed, my arm where I had gotten the shot was throbbing. During the night my arm really hurt as well as my head... so this morning I may have to ditch my original plans which was the pottery studio and another doctor visit this afternoon (we try to get them all in before the end of the year because of the insurance deductibles).  However, I just got up and had some coffee and a Tylenol, so we shall see.

The rest of my 'huge mugs' were out of the kiln on Monday. The ones that were in the oxidation kiln came out OK... not exactly what I hoped, but OK.  The last 2 are still bisque, but I'm glazing them in the same colors (Slate, Celadon, and either Butter or Tamaku - sp?).  But I will fire these in reduction.
Once done, I will post a picture.  The picture below is a ceramic rose I made... just for fun.




ceramic rose



And just FYI:   Our 'baby girl' (new grandbaby) is doing fine.  She's a week old today! Thanks again for all your congrats and good wishes...