To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That is the question.

I received a call directly from my post transplant cardiologist at the VA advising me to get a corona virus vaccine. I have been waiting for this advice and will get the vaccine as soon as it can be scheduled.

Rosemary, I'll let you know how it goes.

At the moment, I'm fighting a serious infection, not vaccine related, that's in my blood. Had 2 IV antibiotic treatments at a Crucial Care Center in my neighborhood. Just got a booster today from ny PCP and taking oral as well. Lots of rest, fluids, and antibiodics. My PCP was unhappy I wasn't sent to the hospital considering my bloodwork results. Well, I couldn't reach his office after 4 calls and on hold forever. I sent him a portal message....NOT Mayo. Then, I went to the crucial care center. I knew I was ill, felt like junk, low grade fever & other symptoms....none were related at all to the vaccine! All from infection.

Apparently, sepsis is rather serious. I knew this, but haven't ever had an experience with sepsis. If not treated will lead to death. Well, I guess I'm still learning. Glad I got to the Crucial Care Center. .

I'm off to bed and rest and drinking water! Blessings to all. Elizabeth

Hello, jolinda. I'm a Mayo Florida patient. My only non-Mayo doc is my PCP.

I received a message on the Mayo Patient Portal from the Mayo covid team doctor in charge of the distribution. Staff, etc., at Mayo have received the vaccine, so now they requested the providers to go through the patient files and determine who should get the vacccine and in what order. I have no idea why I was one of the early patients. In this regard, I wish I weren't as that means I have medical issues so serious I need to be an early receiver! But, I'm thrilled and grateful.

I scheduled as soon as I rec'd the message on the portal, actually they gave me time choices. This was apparently the first day, they were working through their system to be sure to get it organized, etc. I guess I was a guina pig patient! I was so impressed with the set-up.

Check the covid-19 connect message site and you can see what I wrote about the process.
So, stay in touch with the portal and you'll get a message when your vaccine is available.

My friend, with lung transplant, has been contacted and is scheduled now for vaccine. This is good!

Let us know how it goes. I'll keep in touch as well and let you know how it goes. Blessings, Elizabeth.

Ginger, sounds like you're following the right paths to get the vaccine. I bet you the oncologist is the key. I should think he has some clout to get you the shots fairly quickly. Praying for you, for the vaccine issue and for your upcoming chemo. Bless you. Elizabeth

@ess77 Thank you, Elizabeth. I hope this post finds you feeling better with that nasty infection. On the bi-weekly fb video, the county public health network spokesperson addressed my question. Unfortunately he said he knows of nothing I or he can do at this point to jump ahead in the line to get vaccinated. He also said there seems to be new and different information coming out several times a week. I have messaged my oncologist this morning, and hope he will be able to get me some guidance.
Ginger

@ess77- WHat a run-around. This is terrible patient care. Is it possible to have your doctor paged?

As a caregiver of a heart transplant patient just celebrating his new heart’s three month anniversary I suggest we follow the doctors advice. He is the one who saved our loved one and we need to continue to follow their instructions. Our doctor at Mayo in JAX recommended we wait until after his 4 month biopsy and we plan on following his advice.

Hello, Merry. No, he can't be paged nor emailed other than through the patient portal. On the portal the office gets the message. I do know he reads them himself, don't know how soon. The phone situation is ridiculous! It's been an increasing problem w/covid, but it has to be corrected. He must be able to receive information from patients. And I, as one who depends on getting timely info and guidance, must be able to get to his people before I have a serious after hours issues, as just happened. I'm very concerned.

The only option left was the Crucial Care not too far away, which closes at 7:00 p.m. and has regular hours during the week. Closed holidays. So, if I had been strong enough on Thursday night, I would have gone to the Mayo hospital. But, I wasn't and wasn't going to call 911.

I didn't understand how sick I was! I suppose it's telling the PCP was disturbed I hadn't been hospitalized.....

I honestly don't know what to do in this case. Mayo closes their phones at 5:00. I don't have a specialist in this field, so no one to contact via secure message. Troubling situation. I bet I'm not the only one to experience these issues. But, 911 next time. I hate it!! I hate going to hospital and hate calling rescue. But, guess I have to figure out something......

Thanks for your input. If you think of any solution, I'm all ears!

Blessings, Merry. Elizabeth

@ess77- Oh, I think that you made the right decision. I also think that you need to have a long sit down with your doctor and tell him how difficult getting ahold of him is and what might he suggest. There might not be a better solution than what you did.

Merry, after I'm over this nonsense, I will. I have an appt in 4 weeks and to call him if not better. I think, if not better, I'll go to Mayo hospital for ck. I don't want to play with this and need to be sure I'm ok. Do need to figure out who to see at Mayo for this, tho.
Thanks for your input. Be safe and many blessings. Elizabeth