That was a shot in the arm- Oh, in the literal sense.

[mizarchivist]

The skinny: Round 1 of 3 for the HPV vaccine is now done. I don't have to go back for another 2 months.
Instead of $200, it was 150.50. But still out of pocket. Still, it was a relatively nice surprise to have not quite so much to fork out.
Effect so far, sore and stingy arm. Possible effect later: fatigue. I may well forget the fatigue after the arm stops hurting.
Edit: Oh look. Light-headed! This is not fun.

The commentary: The stupidity of having an age limit on this vaccination. Ok, you've already heard this all before. Just assume I continue on about the stupid a bit more. I am pessimistic enough to believe that some number of months after I'm done with my shot-getting, they'll change the rules and allow we, the old ladies, to get covered by our HMO-death services.

The meta: I debated on putting this F-Locked, but decided against on the principle of speaking out over an important issue that is often hushed up over fear of trolls.

Comments

[drwex]

I'm glad you were able to get it and I'm sorry you had to pay OOP for it.

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

My intuition is that HPV vaccine coverage is cheaper than cervical cancer coverage across the same population, but I'd be surprised if the amortization studies were done yet.

I'd bet that even HMOs will eventually cover them, but they need the numbers rubbed in their faces first.

Doesn't matter to me (except monetarily); my daughters will be getting the vaccine.

[library-sexy.livejournal.com]

I feel for you and your sore & stingy arm. I had round 2 last Saturday....also had to fork out the $$ being past the age limit.

I too hope that others will go get this even if the HMOs won't pay....and maybe some day they will, but I was not willing to wait.

[mizarchivist]

was not willing to wait.
Exactly. Very unkeen on the waiting. I wish I could have started this last summer.

[quem98.livejournal.com]

I got the shot today too!

Full of painful...

Do you know what happens if you're exposed to any of the HPV strains before the you undergo the full vaccine dosage?

The doctor had no good answer for me.

*grumps*

Also, yes... HMOs are eeeevil. Eeevil I tell you!

[mizarchivist]

Do you know what happens if you're exposed to any of the HPV strains before the you undergo the full vaccine dosage?

My instinct is that you're SOL. I worry about that, too.
Congrats! Do you have the head-spinny thing going on yet?

[quem98.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a little bit. Arm still a bit numb too.

:/

[mizarchivist]

Of course I have a lot to do and don't have the luxury of automatically going home.

[srl.livejournal.com]

There's an article on Alternet today about how lots of college health insurance doesn't cover the HPV vaccine either (http://www.alternet.org/story/49146/).

[cloeigrrl.livejournal.com]

What is the age limit? I had assumed I was over the age limit to get that but I think we're around the same age so hell if I can I will!

And *waves* hi hi ;)

[srl.livejournal.com]

The FDA hasn't approved Gardasil for women over 26.

[mizarchivist]

Yep. What srl says. I'm 31- almost 32. My doctor had no problem signing me up if I could swing the full cost of it. Grah.

[cloeigrrl.livejournal.com]

well that's just stupid but oh well - you would think insurance would cover it???

i may look into getting it then i mean tech. i'm in one of those 'mono' relationships now but i'm still working on him *laughs*

i keep telling him i'll take him to a bar and hook him up with chicks but he's just so shy

ok wow i went off topic but anywho thanks for the info

[sunspiral.livejournal.com]

Talia's had her first of the three shots. I've found that a good anti-troll strategy is to just disable anonymous comments.

[mizarchivist]

I've found that a good anti-troll strategy is to just disable anonymous comments
Oh hells yes. It's not so much the comment trolls, but the lurkers who stir shit for you, say at work. A friend of mine who's a librarian in CT has recently come across a shit-stirrer and had a full month of bad come from it. Hopefully that's over now.
Congrats to Talia! I'm very glad that she's on top of that and that she's not having to deal with the age issue.

[omly.livejournal.com]

arg Lj just ate my comment

Well to briefly reiterate, I got my shot yesterday, and it was good to hear your experience. I had a lot of achiness, fatigue and local skin reaction, but I hadn't really heard about anyone else having these.

[mizarchivist]

Thanks for sharing. There seems to have been a bit of a convergence on shot-getting this week. I feel like hell. Next time I won't go to work at all after. Bleh.

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

My understanding is it is still only for women - since men can carry it, I'd happily get the shots too.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

Go you for getting the shots. I need to ask my GP if they're available here yet. Somehow, I doubt it, but admittedly I haven't asked. Yet.

A Few Tidbits...

[kebbykate.livejournal.com]

BTW, did your doc offer you the HPV test with your pap? I went two weeks ago for my annual and it was offered to me as an option. I opted for it, and explained to my doc about my riotous youth. Her response was interesting. The HPV test is an actual search for the DNA sequence of HPV in all its permutations (not just the four prevented by the vaccine). It's recommended only for women over thirty because, my doc said, they simply assume that most women under thirty have HPV and get this--most strains of HPV are eventually cleared by your immune system. But some hang around, sometimes leading to problems. The vaccine does not treat HPV, just prevents four strains.

And good for all of you for pursuing the vaccine!

Re: A Few Tidbits...

[mizarchivist]

I actually had heard that most strains go away eventually. This is reassuring not just for my riotous present, but for everyone else out there who have been infected.
Today wasn't an annual, just the shot. I'm scheduled for the yearly poke-and-grope in July. I always request the full array of tests, and this year will be no exception.

[dreams-of-wings.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I got my HPV vaccination round #1 in the leg and it hardly hurt at all. More muscle to spread the stuff out in, you see.

Lots of other people who got it in the arm have complained about it to me. Try the leg for round #2, maybe?

Leg Shots vs. Arm Shots

[kebbykate.livejournal.com]

Several years ago I wondered why my pediatrician stopped giving shots in the thigh and did it in the kids' arms instead. He explained that once children are walking if there is any muscle pain or stiffness due to the shot they wouldn't walk normally for a while and that would raise my anxiety level about getting shots, while if there is stiffness in the arm it doesn't matter so much. So, if you're having some muscle pain side effects in the arm, it might be worse in the leg--definitely worth discussing with your doc beforehand. (I myself like a shot in the thigh.)