1 out of 11

Almost 72 hours from my first vaccine injections and so far so good. My biggest issue is trying to stop thinking about is this the actual injection or is it the placebo? The morning after the injection I was elated that there were slight pink eggs where all the injections were done. I called my mother to tell her the good news. Now, given my history with vaccines (I had an allergic reaction as an infant to the whooping cough and had so much swelling after the 3rd HPV shot that it looked like a baseball under my sleeve) she was not sure why I would be so happy about a reaction. I told her because I thought this meant it was the real deal. She wanted to make sure that it wasn't too swollen or painful. Moms...

Later on in the first 24 hours after while filling out the study supplied symptom diary I noted that I did not have two of the symptoms the were checking for. No pain, and no induration (hardening and thickening of the skin). I left my Mother a dejected voicemail that this must be the placebo and that I'll probably go back and forth for at least the next 3 years as to which I am getting. Should be a lot of fun for the next 10 injections. Just adding one more item to the lock box. I'll probably never know what I got and it's just one more thing to come to terms with.

More Study Protocol
Despite having bloodwork and a physical two days before for the skin test, the study requires I have a physical and bloodwork on the day of the injections. Everyone apologizes, but I understand the purpose to remove any bias from the study and I continue to be impressed with the study protocol. After it is determined that in 48 hours nothing has changed I am able to get the injections.

As I am the first person to get the injections it takes the research pharmacist about 30 minutes to get the syringes prepped and up to the research nurse. He apologizes and let's me know that it will get more efficient the more they make the injections.

Next up the the research nurse picks out her four spots on my right thigh and get's ready to do the four transdermal injections. I sit on my hands, because I am afraid that more than two voluntary bee stings I may reflexively try to swing at her. However, I would say the first two injections (which were higher up on my thigh) did not hurt. So I relaxed a little and the last two stung the dickens for about 30 seconds. The research nurse then had to observe me for an hour. I figured this meant she would leave me in my chair for an hour and I could maybe get a little nap in. But, because I didn't bring any reading material or work with me the nurse felt obligated to keep my occupied with stories for the next hour. It was very nice of her, but I would have taken the quiet time.

My fear was that immune stimulators = nuelasta shot reaction. Despite some achy legs the night of the injection I am happy to report no rip van winkle/flu like side effects. Yay!