I had been forewarned that there could be side
effects after the Covid-19 vaccination but that would generally go away in a
few days. As a layperson, I believed side effects were signs that our body was
mounting a defense against the virus. Furthermore, I found myself in a
difficult situation due to the Government's ruling that individuals without a
COVID-19 vaccine certificate were prohibited from traveling, visiting malls,
restaurants, or any other places of interest. I had no choice but to comply and
get vaccinated, obediently following the law as a responsible citizen.
On April 26, 2021, I received my first dose of the
Comirnaty Vaccine at KMP at 9:30 am. I experienced no side effects and felt
perfectly fine. I continued with my regular activities without any issues.
A month later, on May 20,
2021, I received my second dose. Initially, I felt normal and carried on with
my daily routine. However, the following afternoon, I suddenly experienced a
sensation all over my body and a slight numbness in my left leg. I took a short
rest and started feeling feverish and fatigued. Although I had some discomfort
at the injection site, I chose not to take any medication and tried to get some
sleep. Surprisingly, I felt better in the evening.
Two days later, when I woke
up in the morning, I noticed that my back was aching and I started feeling a
tingling or pricking sensation on my thigh. The next day, my left leg felt cold
and the pricking sensation persisted. I took 2 Panadol tablets but was unable
to walk or stand properly. My energy levels decreased, and I even lost interest
in checking my phone for messages. I took 2 more Panadol tablets and the
following day, the pain lessened, allowing me to resume my daily activities
such as gardening.
Unfortunately,
my relief was short-lived as I began experiencing pulling and pricking pain in
my leg and shoulder after two days. On May 25, 2021, I sought medical advice
from Dr. Darren, a physician at Pantai Hospital who recommended physiotherapy.
CONSULTED
DR ONG TOO
In
August, I sought the expertise of Dr. Ong Too for the treatment of my
neuropathic pain. He explained to me that he targeted specific areas known as
'trigger points' within the muscle through a technique called intramuscular
stimulation. These points are areas of tension in the muscles that, when
addressed, help to alleviate muscle pain and spasms. Although my muscles did
relax, I experienced soreness in the areas where the needles were inserted.
I
noticed a significant change in my body. My bones would crack, and the muscle
pain in my right arm returned. I could feel a noticeable transformation in the
mass of my body, with wrinkles appearing on my arms and hands. It seemed as
though the structure of my bones was becoming less dense, causing discomfort
when lying down. My neck also became stiff, and my sleep was disrupted, lasting
only two hours. Despite the pain in my shoulder, I continued with my morning
exercises, including foot reflexology and tai chi. Occasionally, I would
experience twinges of pain in my shoulder.
As
September arrived, I still experienced muscle pain in my right shoulder and
upper arm. Occasionally, I would feel a pulling sensation at night. Sleeping in
the same position would leave my neck tired and in pain. I attributed this
discomfort to worn joints or compressed nerves. The quality of my sleep
deteriorated, and I found myself feeling sleepy as early as 9 pm, losing
interest even in my favorite TV shows.
Realizing the extent of the pain in my arm, I
decided to stop exercising it. I also noticed that the skin on both of my hands
had become more elastic and fragile, revealing the prominence of my bones. To
combat this, I applied aloe vera gel to my arms and hands. It seemed that the
natural oils in my skin had diminished, causing dryness and an increase in
wrinkles. Additionally, the fat in the deeper layers of my skin had decreased,
resulting in loose and saggy skin.
Furthermore, I had lost weight, which was evident
to my friends who commented on my physical appearance. My collarbones were now
exposed, and I felt physically drained. I closely observed the changes in my
body and noticed that I appeared smaller in size. Although my weight remained
within the normal range, I estimated a slight decrease of around 2 pounds. Both
of my legs appeared thinner, with the skin covering the muscle and bone.
During my sleep, I once again experienced a
tingling sensation in my right arm. I tossed and turned multiple times
throughout the night, constantly changing positions to alleviate the discomfort
that would worsen if I stayed in one position for too long. Additionally, I
struggled with belching at night.
Due to my fear of my heart condition and the
possibility of being alone during an episode, I have reduced the duration of my
morning walks. This decision has been influenced by negative emotions that I
have been experiencing. To help calm myself, I have started practicing
relaxation exercises, which have proven to be quite beneficial.
I gained back my strength to walk and two months later, in mid-June, I
was back to normal.
On December 7, 2021, I had the booster dose. It was a breeze. I had a little
arm pain and I kept waiting for my side effects but they never did. As what
result, as days passed by, I saw dark spots on the skin of both my arm and
hand. Could it be the result of the booster shot? Perhaps, it was just old age
spots found in the elderly. These dark spots would be with me always,
inextricably bound to memory.
Fast forward six months to 3/2/2022, the third day
of the Chinese New Year. I suddenly developed an extreme sensitivity to touch
on my left thigh. The pain felt like pinching and occasionally a sharp stab.
Although I have experienced similar sensations before while brushing my hair or
wearing a cotton t-shirt, this time the pain was more intense. I tried walking
around and sitting for a while, hoping the discomfort would subside. Drinking
two cups of hot water provided some relief. I went to bed at 10pm and woke up
feeling better the next day.
Taking an afternoon nap has become a habit of mine.
Usually, I nap for a maximum of 10 to 20 minutes. However, most of the time,
simply closing my eyes for a brief period refreshes me for the remainder of the
day.
Similarly, I start feeling sleepy around 9:30pm and typically fall asleep by
10:30pm. My sleep pattern involves waking up twice during the night to urinate.
The first call to prayer at 5:30am wakes me up, and I can hear the sound of
passing vehicles. During odd weeks, the garbage truck collects rubbish along
the road.
My morning exercise routine is performed in bed and consists of warm-up
movements, and leg and body stretches. I find the one-hour exercise session to
be beneficial. I continue to faithfully clap my hands and arms, roll my
eyeballs, and press my palms against my scalp. I also continue with the
stepping stone exercise.
I maintain a positive mindset, believing that my health is improving every day
and that the pain in my shoulder is gradually diminishing. I have increased my
water intake, although it has been a challenging task. I have noticed that
my eyesight is becoming strained, possibly due to excessive use of my cell
phone. My blood sugar level remains consistently at 6.2 without the need
for medication.
No comments:
Post a Comment