Today is vaccination day. I get my first Covid vaccine – Pfizer.

I’ve ask my oncologist about getting the vaccine in my arm. He says because it is IM (intramuscular) that the lack of a lymph node should not be an issue. Since I’ve had nodes out on both sides, I don’t have a ‘good’ arm per se. Since I’ve had lymphedema in my left arm, my right arm is the only option. That isn’t going to be fun.

I’m nervous but also am relieved to be getting the vaccine. If I were in the US, I’d already have it. I would be looking to whether I should be getting it in the glute rather than the arm – but really, if it causes muscle pain for a day or two, that might actually be worse.

I will probably go did out a compression sleeve and wear it for a day or two (if it doesn’t hurt or annoy me), just to help ensure that the lymph nodes don’t swell.

I do know that Pfizer can cause lymph nodes to swell a week or so after the vaccine, so I know not to panic if that happens. The timing won’t be ideal, as the swelling is apt to happen pretty darn close to the 7th anniversary of my diagnosis. How is that for a trigger event!

Feature image by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash.