As far as I know the govt hasnt handed out free tests since early 2024.

Double jab today for me. Fingers crossed there's no reaction.

I had the COVID shot last Friday. On to the flu and the pneumonia shot my doctor recommended this Friday.

There was a Dr. Payne in my hometown, LOL! Locally, there is a podiatrist, Dr. Feit. It isn't pronounced like "feet," but still, just looking at it, one wonders.

I drive by this place frequently. It used to amuse me.

I think the sign used to make it more clear that you would be seeing Dr Bone, but healthgrades.com confirms it.

I got an annual flu vaccine and a Moderna Covid this morning, I made several calls before I found someone with Moderna (or any at all) and Safeway took me as a 'walk-in', no appointment.

All of our Covid vaccinations have been Moderna and I saw no reason to change. The pharmacist said it didn't look like I'd had the Prevnar 20 (we've had 23 and 13) and he was right, I have had not had that third pneumonia vaccine,

I declined three same day and said I'd be back in a few weeks.

I've often had two shots same arm but the last couple of years I've had a rash although nothing long lived or serious. This year I opted for shots in opposite arms - we'll see if it makes a difference.

I saw this a week or more ago and forgot to share it here. In an article that said Steve Martin hadn't been feeling well in recent days. He had someone get him an illness test device at a pharmacy.

He posted a photo of the test result with a comment something like:

"Hey, great news. I don't have the flu!"

(This was the kind of device I saw for sale at the pharmacy when I was there for an updated jab last week).

You have to love Martin, or at least I do. I think he's long been one of the most sincerely funny people alive.

(Click to enlarge image)

I looked up Dr Bone's chiropractic center. It's on Big Bend Blvd.

Test kits around here are between $18-$25 (or more) apiece. That stops many people from buying them, and a big reason testing has fallen off, I'm sure.

I ordered the last round of free ones, which was a pack of 4 per household, so we still have a few left.

This site has them for as low as $13...

When I returned from my daily hike yesterday, both arms were a little sore, so I took an ibuprofen and felt fine. Zero reaction to both shots, and the only time it hurt a little was when I took off the bandage. I always wonder why it's necessary to bandage a shot I didn't even feel going in.

I rec'd the annual flu in left arm, Moderna Covid in right arm mid day yesterday. By the time I should have been beginning to make some dinner, I had two sore arms and a headache.

A neighbor dropped off beef stew (seasoned perfectly) and I slept a couple of hours after eating some of it with DH. Two tylenol. I've been fine ever since and am fine today.

And just to add, many years ago (I was 19) I was in a car accident on a date with the cutest coast guardsman you could imagine. He was uninjured (chipped a tooth) and I had a couple of compressed vertebrae. The orthopedist who treated me was named Dr. Rickets....an unfortunate last name for a bone doctor.

“Test kits around here are between $18-$25 (or more) apiece.”

Carol are you sure that’s not for 2-packs? What I’m seeing on my CVS app even in expensive areas like Boca Grande is in the $20 range give or take, same as here.

Those tests seem awfully expensive. We no longer get free ones here either but you can get them in supermarkets for around $3.50 each.

You're supposed to use 2 tests, according to directions. Don't they mostly come in packages of 2?

Exactly 24 hours to the minute, and I have had zero effects. The pharmacist asked my dominant arm and put the COVID in the other one. Husband only had the COVID one and says his arm hurts like heck.

I've just checked the NHS advice on COVID tests and it doesn't say anything about needing two. You can buy them singly or in multiples. They are free to vulnerable people.

Floral, I think most of us understand that you have a different health care system and practices in the UK. You're obviously happy with it and that's great, there's no need to beat a drum. Your country levies taxes as does ours and chooses to spend the money in different ways. Your health services aren't free, they're paid for indirectly through taxation of various kinds.

Lily, for the first time ever, I had a fair amount of blood on one of the bandaids (Covid and flu) so I was glad to have that on. I didn't feel either shot so not sure what happened. No after effects except for a little soreness for a few hours after getting the shot.

Elmer, your comment is both snide and irrelevant. I was talking about the price of COVID tests and whether or not you need two.

There was nothing snide about my comments. I was referring to your touting the lower cost of tests in stores and availability to lower income folks in your system. Not being a vulnerable soul, I have no idea what is or isn't covered here - such people do receive medical services .

I think we each are best suited to talk about the health services WE receive personally and what we think of them.

I'm very satisfied with ours as you are with yours. I doubt you'd want to participate in a system as I have and in return, you can be sure I have the same disinterest in having NIH services. We have close friends who have the same kind of coverage you have and my reaction to many unfortunate experiences they've told us about is this - No, thank you.

floral, I found your comment most interesting. Thank you for your input. I like hearing from everyone, no matter where they live.

Here in Canada, each province is handling Covid shots and the testing kits differently. LOL, I happen to live in the ”wild west” province, but even so, (I had to research) Covid test kits are no longer free in Alberta. But they are available at pharmacies, though, at a pretty inexpensive cost.

Our (IMO) crazy provincial premier, has made covid shots available but one has to pre-book them. There is no more just going to the local pharmacy and getting it done. I believe it is different for each province.

My husband and I are booked next week for both a flu shot and Covid shot at the local health centre. They aren’t too busy, we could have made a same day appt. but it was our first free day. So far, we’ve both avoided having Covid and the flu. I want to keep our good luck going. 🤠

eta The flu shot is available at pharmacies, as most of our shots.

Our premier is just trying to make the Covid shot as inconvenient as possible. 🤷‍♀️

I won't assume what getting such injections is like for others or elsewhere but where I am, most people get them at retail pharmacies. They're all well-supplied. You do have to reserve a time slot in advance, which I assume is simply as a way to manage the pharmacists' workloads and so that a bus-load of people don't walk in at once. Same day appointments are almost always immediately available, usually 60-90 minutes in advance.

There are signs at most pharmacies touting "Get your Free Flu shot here". Both it and the Covid injection that I've received in the last 2 weeks were free of charge.

Our Kroger pharmacy offers all the seasonal injections every year. None of them have cost me money but I am on Medicare now, so that may be the reason. They have one pharmacist who is my “shot guy” because they never hurt when he does it. Sometimes there is a slight annoying feeling (closer to a muscle ache) for one day after the Covid shot.

“I've just checked the NHS advice on COVID tests and it doesn't say anything about needing two.”

The problem with the rapid tests is that they require a higher viral load, so they often don’t show positive for a few days after symptom onset. Testing negstive on day 3 (or earlier) doesn’t necessarily clear you. So it’s better to have a couple available.

Plus, food, remember that Paxlovid is only effective if taken within the first 5 days of onset of symptoms. If an illness onset takes a day or two to be recognized (if symptoms aren't severe), and if some time passes before Paxlovid is obtained, time can run out.

I wonder if the NHS provides Paxlovid to ill individuals?

You probably need two tests so that you take a second test when you think you are over it, to see if you still test positive.

The directions on all the kits I've had instruct you to take a second test after 48 hours if you test negative.

Elmer, the whole window of opportunity thing is difficult not just for paxlovid, but for isolating in general. I’d have to look up what the current thinking is, but last I looked they were saying you are most contageous from something like -2 to +5 from symtom onset, so most of that time you could be clueless.

I suspect if you’re high risk, keep up with vaccinations and seek PCR’s when sick so you can get paxlovid if needed.

Protect yourself as you see fit, knowing that even the best intentioned people can get you sick. Although limiting public outtings and masking is polite when sick, no matter what you’re sick with.

What us PCR?

Elmer asks "I wonder if the NHS provides Paxlovid to ill individuals?"

I had never heard of Paxlovid so had to look it up and yes! it is available with a prescription from the NHS, but it is only given to 'highest risk groups' although other antivirals are available.

Elmer might be 'disinterested' in the service provide by the NHS and there are certainly many faults with the system but here in the UK we are very glad to get treatment without being presented with a bill via an insurance company or being over-prescribed for Giant Pharma to make millions of $$$.

“What us PCR?”

The tests that go to the lab. Slower results but earlier, more accurate detection. Net gain if tested early. I’ve personally had instances where I didn’t test positive with antigen tests until I’d be ineligible for paxlovid.

The good news with PCR is it's highly sensitive to detecting Cvd; the bad news it can test you positive for a few months after you've had it and are no longer contagious. That's why they say 10 days after onset of symptoms, not until you no longer test positive.

roxsol, I am in your boat. I have not gotten Covid or the flu since this whole mess began. I once had the flu about 20 years ago, but nothing since and that lasted maybe 3 days.

murraysmom, cross your fingers! We are very fortunate. 🤠

Neither my husband nor I have been very sick for years.

Now if I can only rein in my reckless husband and make him realise he’s not a spring chicken any longer.

He’s up to 24 stitches already this year. Eight in his hand in Cancun in January. And sixteen in the back of his head this past weekend. He spent the night in hospital for CT scans and observation. 🤷‍♀️ He had a nice ambulance ride to go along with that.

He’s fine now. Thank goodness for his thick skull. My Chinese egg pot did not fare as well. ☹️

Wow if that scars maybe turn it into a yin yang.

Reminds me of my father, he always had some injury going on atop his head. I probably do, too, but still have a bit more hair than he had, to hide it!

Ouch Rox! I think you need to invest in some bubble wrap for the old man! Get him a toy train hobby or something else to keep him safely occupied.

FOAS, it kind of looks like a peace symbol.☮️ to me.

Lonejack, they popped some kind of beanie on his head while he was being treated. He looked like one of those fancy pears or apples that come individually wrapped to protect them from bruising.

Asian pear LOL!!!!

roxsol, just a cautionary tale. A gal I know was on vacation in Europe and fell on some stone steps and caused herself a lot of injury including hitting her head. They put her through the whole concussion protocol and she was fine. She finished her vacay and was home for about 2 weeks when she started not feeling well...dizzy, out of sorts. She went to her doctor who sent her immediately to the ER. She had bilateral subdural hematomas from the fall. The good news was they were able to go up her arm -- on each side -- to implant coils in the bleeding arteries to stop the bleeding. She's much better now, and was so thankful that they no longer need to drill holes in one's head to fix it! So if he starts not feeling well, he may need a follow up.

Annie, thankyou.

He is doing follow up.

He has an appt. with our family doctor on Tuesday.

He also has had a call from Ambulatory Care twice this week.

I’m doing all the driving for a while now.

He also goes to get his stitches out on Wednesday. They’ll assess him again at that time.

eta And I’m definitely keeping an eye on him.

" I suspect if you’re high risk, keep up with vaccinations "

Food, no higher risk factors than age.

I do keep up with all vaccinations, as everyone should. Listen to your medical doctor's advice.

My one bout was unfortunately anticipated as the possible outcome of a plane flight next to a guy hacking for hours who declined my offer of a new, sealed in a package N-95. It hit me some days later like a speeding freight train. Positive home test, immediate Paxlovid from a familial prescriber and the worst was over in 24 hours. I stayed isolated some number of days following the advice I got. How long it was I don't remember.

Curious minds want to know what the Spring Chicken wannabee did to get himself 16 stitches? Glad he is OK.

Oh dear, roxsol - head injuries are no joke!

A young woman we knew fell in the shower while on vacation and died - and there was that sad case with Bob Saget 🙁

And Hubby and I both managed to avoid the C-plague until January of this year. He's the one who brought it home to me

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6506886/what-s-a-good-thing-that-happened-to-you-today#n=138

lucille,

I don’t want to hijack Annie’s thread. I was busy driving the Old Rooster around this morning so he could run some errands. I’ll post on the above thread.

roxsol, wow, that looks like a lot of damage. I hope it all turns out well and maybe that beanie comes in bubble wrap? Wishing a speedy recovery to him.

Bumping this back up. I got my covid shot (Moderna) on Friday and was sick all day Saturday. I didnt expect that. However, I was not nearly as sick as when I had a fairly mild case of covid last spring. I just felt yucky all day yesterday but all better today. Ill go back for my flu shot in a couple weeks. I want to be sure its effective through flu season

Also, my arm hurts. I dont take ibuprofen but Tylenol will help..

As I said, I had zero reaction, including no arm pain, so now I'm wondering if this is normal. I got Moderna as I have the last gazillion times, but it's good I mentioned because I think she was going to give me Pfizer. My flu shot didn't hurt either, and I thought I should have some reaction getting them both at once. This was done at our local supersized grocery store with a pharmacy since all the Rite Aids are closed now.

I think sometimes, technique and location for a shot affects pain @ the injection site.

In the olden days, when I and most of you were growing up, needles had larger bores and were reused. They got dull but weren't immediately replaced - it took a greater force to puncture the skin. These days, needles have much smaller diameters and are used once. So, always sharp, smaller entrance wounds and less force used.

When the medicine being injected has a tendency to irritate or it's desired they be absorbed more slowly, injections are done higher up the arm rather than on the bicep as was often the case in the past. Or, in the tush, as also was more the case in the past. I'd love for one of the docs who pass by here sometimes to add/subtract and correct these comments as needed.

As far as a burning sensation at the time the needle goes in is concerned, you can partially blame the alcohol on your arm that wasn't given enough time to evaporate.

My OP apparently is missing. I don't recall what all I said in it.

Long story between Walgreens, CVS, my MD, and the local HEB grocery pharmacy.

Shortened details. CVS would do it but they're not in my insurance network so would be $225 out-of-pocket. My scheduled MD appt isn't until mid January, three months away, which is too long to wait. He requires an appt for a prescription so that'd be another appt. HEB doesn't require, or take a prescription AT ALL for vaccines. They accept the walk-in "patient's" word regards to qualifying conditions, and are in my ins network ... so I got jabbed there twice today by the cheerful pharmacist, COVID and flu.