Anxiety over personal benefit/risk (vaccine)

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Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 5:53 am

I’ve been holding off on the COVID vaccine at the advice of my doctor. She told me that because of my rare platelet condition, she estimated my risk of serious vaccine side effects at 40%. It seemed clear cut when we last discussed it: I should hold off until there’s more data on how the vaccine affects clotting factors. My personal vaccine risks outweighed my personal benefit.

BUT…

She told me her advice would be different in the case of known exposure to the Delta variant. In THAT case, she said she would urge me to get the vaccine, but only Pfizer, which she deemed safest in my case.

Now that the Delta variant is in the US and spreading, I’m scared. I’m planning to call her office today to verify if I should, in fact, risk it on getting the Pfizer vaccine. The risks are mounting on both ends: Any small impact on platelets from the vaccine (which would likely go unnoticed by the vast majority of those vaccinated) could cause serious lifelong, potentially fatal health battles for me. But according to my doctor, the Delta variant could cause similar damage. The main difference as I see it, is that I would receive the normal treatments for COVID, whereas I’m at serious risk if I ever need a platelet or blood transfusion. There just aren’t enough compatible donors in the world.

I met somebody through a network for people with the same issue as me who has the complication I’m worried about (she didn’t get it from the vaccine, she had it earlier than that). Her life is a series of hospital visits and regularly suffering internal bleeding for days until they locate a suitable donor. I’ve already been through so much medically. The idea that by getting the vaccine I’m risking such a thing is unfathomable to me. Still, if my doctor, who knows my personal risks, advised me to get it anyway, I’ll do it.

IY”H it’ll be okay. She did say my risk is lower with Pfizer, vs. she told me to absolutely NOT get J&J (due to my specific risk factors). The fact that she was so adamant to avoid J&J and told me that with Pfizer I’ll probably be okay, or at least that it’s less risky than the contracting the Delta variant, makes the decision a little easier. Right now I’m in a geographical area where COVID is virtually obliterated, but with the Delta variant already starting to spread through the US, anything can change.

The whole thing terrifies me.

amother

Steel

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 6:51 am

Have you got any antibodies from covid itself?

I'm holding off the vaccine for now as I'm pregnant but I do have a tiny bit of antibodies left from having covid. My doctor also said I should only get the Pfizer, if I decide to have it at all.

I'm in the uk and the delta variant has been around for a good few weeks now and bh I don't know of anyone in our community who's sick with it. It's such a low chance of catching covid at the moment, especially with everyone around us who are vaccinated and protecting us. I personally wouldn't get it if I were you, but I suppose it's all in your hands what risk you want to take. For me, the vaccine is a definite thing going on me, another covid infection is very unlikely that's how I decided. I also consulted with my doctor and Rav. Both thought I should probably wait until after birth.

Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 7:54 am

amother [ Steel ] wrote:

To my knowledge, I never had COVID. So no antibodies. I’m probably going to get the vaccine, but only if my doctor gives the okay.

PinkFridge

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 8:27 am

I assume your doctor is a specialist. Has she consulted with infectious disease specialists? (Or is this her field?) Big hugs and hatzlacha and menucha with your decision.

Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 1:54 pm

Alright… UPDATE: I got the first vaccine (Pfizer) as my doctor recommended. I don’t claim to know anything more now than I did last week, but I trust her. Yes she’s a specialist. She’s actually THE specialist who treated me during the discovery of my platelet condition. I trust her medical opinion in my case over anyone else’s. She told me that the vaccine is risky for me, and until the new strain popped up, she deemed the vaccine my bigger risk. At the same appointment she told me my personal tipping point with risk vs. benefit would be potential exposure to the Delta variant. So here we are, Delta hit the US.

So, for ME (and this can’t necessarily be extrapolated to other people’s situations), the risks are assumed to be like she said.

And in any case, I got the first dose and re-questioning it will only drive me crazy. I’m doing what I hope is the right hishtadlus. I also made note of my specific platelet condition on the paperwork, so they’ll have it on file in case chas vshalom they need to draw any links and help others in the future (or deem it safe, b”H).

Now I hope and pray for the best.

amother

DarkGreen

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:05 pm

Do you need to get a second dose or is the first dose enough protection?

Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:32 pm

amother [ DarkGreen ] wrote:

Do you need to get a second dose or is the first dose enough protection?

I need both.

amother

Steel

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:47 pm

Good for you, I hope everything goes smoothly.

I know someone who's very sick, for her while life. She's been on immunpsuppresents for a few years now after a transplant (I think lung)
She's had both vaccines and still no antibodies Sad

bc of her weakened immune system it doesn't seem to be working but she bh didn't get sick from the vaccines so iyh you'll be ok and hopefully have immunity!
Refuah sheleima Hug

thunderstorm

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:48 pm

My sister was one of the first to be vaccinated since she worked in healthcare and she has a platelet issue. She ended up in the hospital for over a week and was in a very bad state . Baruch HaShem she did not have internal bleeding. She had to be tested every day to check. It was a harrowing experience and she was told she may not get the second dose.
My mother has the same platelet issue and at first the hematologist told her not to take it. But she got a second opinion and was told to go ahead. She needed to be under observation though to make sure there were no issues. She Baruch HaShem was ok.
My brother who has the same platelet issue took his before either of them and he didn’t have any adverse reaction.
I think the doctors need to have a plan in place with all the resources that you will need in case of a reaction.

amother

Azure

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:49 pm

Kiwi13 wrote:

Hoping and praying with you.

I cannot fathom how difficult this is for you, and send my bracha that there be no issues, and that you be and remain healthy.

amother

Apple

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:50 pm

Kiwi13 wrote:

To my knowledge, I never had COVID. So no antibodies. I’m probably going to get the vaccine, but only if my doctor gives the okay.

I did not have covid I was tested recently and I have enough antibodies for someone who had the virus plus the vaccine this is as per my doctor please go test before

thunderstorm

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:51 pm

Kiwi13 wrote:

Only saw this post now. Hatzlacha! May it go well.

keym

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:52 pm

Kiwi13 wrote:

I need both.

I'm no doctor or expert at all. But I wonder about testing your antibody levels 2 weeks after the first vaccine and then discussing maybe holding off on the 2nd vaccine for a bit?

Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:52 pm

amother [ Steel ] wrote:

bc of her weakened immune system it doesn't seem to be working but she bh didn't get sick from the vaccines so iyh you'll be ok and hopefully have immunity!
Refuah sheleima Hug

Thanks. Refuah shelayma to your friend!!
As far as anyone knows, once I make it 90 days past the second vaccine without any platelet issues, I should be fine. I’m going to just try not to think about it too much. Just daven, I guess. Nothing else to do, really.

Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:54 pm

keym wrote:

I'm no doctor or expert at all. But I wonder about testing your antibody levels 2 weeks after the first vaccine and then discussing maybe holding off on the 2nd vaccine for a bit?

I could ask my doctor. Not sure what the benefit of that would be though. Sounds like the worst of both worlds.

Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:56 pm

thunderstorm wrote:

okay, so that’s terrifying. I’m gonna pretend I didn’t just read this!!!
(Trying hard to DE-stress)

(Refuah shelayma to all of them!!!)

Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:56 pm

thunderstorm wrote:

Only saw this post now. Hatzlacha! May it go well.

amen!

Kiwi13

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 2:58 pm

amother [ Azure ] wrote:

Hoping and praying with you.

I cannot fathom how difficult this is for you, and send my bracha that there be no issues, and that you be and remain healthy.

Amen! Thank you.

I appreciate all of you being with me on this ride and being supportive. Really, thank you 💕

PinkFridge

Mon, Jun 21 2021, 7:15 pm

My very uneducated gut was thinking that you should get the shot, but I wasn't going to say anything because there are far too many variables I know nothing about.
You made a reasonable and informed decision. (Of course, that could be said either way but still.) It's all exactly where it's been all along: bidei Shamayim. Davening for you.

Kiwi13

Tue, Jun 22 2021, 6:46 pm

And wouldn’t you know it, today news came out of Israel linking the Pfizer vaccine with TTP. That and ITP are my biggest risks from this thing. Deciding to just stay calm about it. What’s done is done. Just daven. Ohmmm… No more stressing. Not about the vaccine or COVID or Delta or the crazy state of the world. I’m letting go and checking out of the stress. Hashem’s world, Hashem can fix it.

Please Hashem, Moshiach NOW. Like, NOW!!

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