Category: 2021

My Pneumonia and Zach’s MCT

Published on by Harpreet ChhachhiaLeave a comment

I have just been dealing with the third CT report of my chest, that indicates no improvement as such in my lungs. Because the CT score is still 12/25. Karan says that I still have pneumonia. My blood work came back regular, with the Sedimentation Rate high. But that just indicates an inflammation which we know I still have in my lungs. Karan says that there is no fibrosis. I trust his opinion.

I booked a consult with Dr Bubna, and she called and basically said that she needed a comparative report with my CTs. She didn’t mention that last time, I just got it done for an additional 500 bucks – So anyhow she wanted it so she didn’t do the consult. So, Anand and I decided to go and speak to the CT lab directly and pay them the money. So we went, and I forgot to take my second dose of pirfenex. Sigh.

We also went to Posh Pets and Roman, hunting for oral hygiene tooth pastes and gum gels and gum wipes for the kiddos. They have both developed gingival hyperplasia. Zach has got it really bad. And when we visited the vet, we also had the growth on his stomach checked. Dr Priyanka did an FNAC.

We just got the report at 2am. It is a mast cell tumour.

Now I am freaking out, wondering if it is related to the oral break out that Zach has. I am actually feeling anxious and want to burst into tears.

These months aren’t being very kind, are they?

I have already lost someone very close to me… and I just don’t want to go through loss or trauma again – it’s just too much right about now.

The Fourth Stage

Published on by Harpreet ChhachhiaLeave a comment

I guess this is the fourth stage of grief. I cannot stop thinking about death. Especially because it surrounds me – encapsulating my entire life. There is death everywhere. Some people are oblivious of it. They don’t want to acknowledge it, much less talk about it. But you open Twitter, or Facebook, or any social media and you’ll find mention of it. Friends have stories about how they are losing loved ones. Someone I know lost his dad yesterday and he couldn’t stop crying on a voice call.

I couldn’t stop crying either. Today, I woke up with a heavy head. A hardened jaw and a blocked ear. My legs have become swollen stumps so I cannot really walk around. These are side effects of maybe Wysolone or maybe Equilis. Who knows? Right about now, I cannot even take the time to be bothered about that.

My internal pain suddenly is overwhelming for me to notice anything on the outside. I don’t know why I have been cursed with this aspect to overthink and over feel. I am sitting on the bed, and I am thinking of how Pua would come in the room, with keys in her hand, and ask me how I am doing. We would sit together and talk. She and I got along. She understood what I was saying and I understood what she had to say. We would talk of family.

No one talks of family now. Everyone talks of tests and doctors and appointments and mess ups and medicines and chemists and mucormycosis. Strange fears, stranger lives. It’s like we are trapped in some alternate reality that never belonged to us. A black hole of the second wave of COVID-19, that seems to engulf us whole.

Goodie and Munni Pua

And no one thinks of you. Or you. I sit in this room, and miss talking. I want to talk of Munni Pua. I want to know how you would look at her house, that I can see right now and miss her. Like I miss you too. Incredibly. Yep, I have reached the fourth stage where I cannot abide by anyone who talks to me – I have no strength to answer back. I am not interested in fungal infections from steroids, I am not interested in getting better right about now. Just. Not. Interested.

Yes, I also know it is a stage. Apart from the attack of COVID and the tragedy of how death overtook the family, and the constant fear of who can die next, I miss you. I wonder what you would say, Goodie Pua, if you were here. I know what Munni Pua would say, I don’t want to suffer and die, if death comes, it should come quick. Thankfully, for her, it did. I am glad for that at least.

Vaccinate

Published on by Harpreet ChhachhiaLeave a comment

I wanted to make sense of the Vaccines, because to me, it was a confusing arena. Especially since my brain is caught up with the heavy stupor or steriods and blood anti-coagulants and antibiotics. So here is what I have drafted, from sources online. If I have made any mistakes, please feel to let me know, in the comments section.

The Table has EIGHT columns.

The Table has TEN rows.

VaccineCovishield (Vaxzevria) (BBV152)Atrazeneca (AZD1222)CovaxinSputnik VPfizer (tozinameran)ModernA (mRNA-1273)Johnson and Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S,)
Main:Serum Institute of India  Oxford University and AstraZeneca,  Bharat Biotech LimitedGamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.  BioNTech  ModernaJanssen Pharmaceuticals  
Tool:Viral Vector VaccineViral Vector VaccineInactivated VirusViral 2 Vector VaccinemRNA vaccine  mRNA vaccine  Viral vector vaccine
Contains:Chimpanzee RNA. Inactivated adenovirus with segments of Coronavirus, Aluminium Hydroxide Gel, L-Histidine, L-Histidine Hydrochloride Monohydrate, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate, Polysorbate 80, Ethanol, Sucrose, Sodium Chloride, and Disodium Edetate Dihydrate.Chimpanzee RNA.
Inactivated adenovirus with segments of Coronavirus, Aluminium Hydroxide Gel, L-Histidine, L-Histidine Hydrochloride Monohydrate, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate, Polysorbate 80, Ethanol, Sucrose, Sodium Chloride, and Disodium Edetate Dihydrate. 		Human RNA Inactivated  Coronavirus, Inactivated polio vaccine. Aluminum Hydroxide Gel, TLR 7/8 Agonist, 2-Phenoxyethanol and Phosphate Buffered Saline [NKA1].    Human RNA, 2 human adeno viruses – common cold virussynthetic messenger RNA no live virussynthetic messenger RNA no live virusHuman RNA Inactivated adenovirus with segments of Coronavirus,
Infections:Viral vectors cannot cause infection with COVID-19 or with the virus used as the vaccine vector.  Viral vectors cannot cause infection with COVID-19 or with the virus used as the vaccine vector.  Not harmfulViral vectors cannot cause infection with COVID-19 or with the virus used as the vaccine vector.     
Time interval:The time interval between two doses – 4 to 8 weeks.  Two doses given intramuscularly (0.5ml each) with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks. The second dose of Covaxin can be taken 4 to 6 weeks after the first.     Single dose  
EfficacyAffects 6 weeks, after first dose around 63% – 2 dose should be delayed to 12 weeks and efficacy improves to 81.3%Affects 6 weeks, after first dose around 63% – 2 dose should be delayed to 12 weeks and efficacy improves to 81.3%Vaccine affects after 6 weeks, after one dose 71% and vaccine efficacy is 81%  After two doses – 85%After 7 days of the second dose – 91.3%After 14 days of the second dose – 94.1%One dose efficacy rate at 66% The vaccine is around 85% effective at preventing severe disease from COVID-19  
Side effects– blood clots – avoid this if you’re younger than 50 years.   side effects are more after the first dose – fever headacheblood clots – avoid this if you’re younger than 50 years.   side effects are more after the first dose – fever headacheheadache, fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia, chills and arthralgia, nausea  Headache and sorenessside effects are more after second shot – allergic reactions most common  side effects are more after second shot – fatigue, muscle pain, and headache.    – blood clots – avoid this if you’re younger than 50 years. headache, fever, chills, nausea, pain anaphylaxis is rare
If infected post first dose:Wait for 8-12 weeks before second dose Wait for 4 weeks before second dose    
India:Available?Available?NoNo 
  1. Even if you have comorbidities – vaccinate!
  2. If after first dose you have anaphylactic problems. Don’t take the second dose
  3. If you are on Steroids, don’t take.
  4. Pregnant lactating woman should be vaccinated with Pfizer, moderna, no side effects.
  5. Vaccines working against all strains. But with two doses.
  6. If you get infected after the first dose – infection will be mild
  7. WHO states you can wait for 6 months between first and second dose of vaccination.
  8. 80% efficacy after first dose, for that duration, if shortage in vaccination. Do not panic.
  9. If you have been infected by COVID the combination of antibodies (Natural immunity) and vaccine is the best protection – and you may just need one dose of vaccination.
  10. Vaccines don’t work instantly.
  11. Astra is best in efficacy long term
  12. Even if u do vaccinate you may get COVID- it’s 94-95 % effective.
  13. If you have been infected with COVID-19, wait for 6 months to get vaccinated.
  14. Ask the Government to bring in mRNA vaccines!