Meeting the Door Bitch for injections

A side-story to dealing with cancer, is dealing with Covid. If I catch Covid, the treatment doesn't stop now that it has started. This means that as well as my boosters being up to date, I've had to take a new drug, Evusheld, that is best described as a "Covid condom". This is a very new drug and is only available to a very small number of patients, so I'm feeling super-exclusive. This drug prevents the Covid virus entering the body in the first place. So, this is great news! Until I find out its two mega-injections in the rear! 

There are two injections (different drugs) delivered at the same time; one in each cheek so I can feel pain evenly. St Vincent's had exhausted all their stocks of the drug but hunted around and found a chemist in Knox that had the drug and organised for me to have it on Thursday 29th December, in the evening.

After confirming that all the correct paperwork had been exchanged during the day, Claire and I went down to the pharmacy and met my nurse for the evening, Julia. What a hoot! This lady was hilarious. Talk about a health professional at the top of her game. I explained that I didn't like needles and she told me that was ok because I'd just stumbled upon the best needle practitioner in the state. She then told me that I'd be getting a helluva injection, as the recommended dose had doubled from 3ml to 6ml and that was a HUGE injection.

Julia took me to a private room and over the next 30 minutes discussed life, cancer, and many other things in between including her lack of IT skills, and her day job as a door bitch at one of Melbourne's major hospital emergency departments. I found it hilarious, as she did: She's a triage nurse at xxx hospital. I'm in awe of anyone who can work in an emergency department. She said the more gross the better!

So, after getting a double injection in each butt cheek, I had to sit for observation for 15 minutes. I gave permission for an adrenaline shot if required. She said, "Good answer! Death is the outcome if you say No".  As we discussed side-effects to look for, I said that Claire was wanting to drag me along for shopping tonight at Knox, and could she give me a leave pass? She said not only would it be good exercise for me, but I should also encourage Claire to buy whatever she wants. So, thanking for her help, not, she walked me back to Claire, wished me luck, and said goodbye. 

Later Claire asked what had been going on, as everyone in the chemist could hear us talking and laughing. What a joy to meet someone at the top of their game, loving what they do. A credit to the medical professional and nurses everywhere. Thank you, Julia. What a blast!

Anyway, so now I'm stuffed full of Evusheld, and my butt cheeks are fully protected.


For more info on the drug (TGA) - opens in new window  

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