I first saw a similar image to this one with the saying Life. Be in it at a recreation center when my son was little. Â At the time, it was “Duh, of course, I’m in it”.
The original image was a couple of males, a couple of females, and a dog walking/running. Â No folks in wheelchairs, no older folks, and certainly no zebras.
It would be nice to have everyone out there walking or running but that’s not real life, at least in the Cushie world. Â It’s been a long time since I’ve really been In My Life – maybe it’s time to get back.
A dear friend who has not one, but two forms of cancer was traveling throughout Europe for the first time after her husband’s death wrote:
Some final words before I turn in for the night. If there is a spark of desire within you to do something which is not contrary to God’s Holy Law, find a way to make it happen. All things are possible and blessings abound for those who love Him. Life is such an adventure. Don’t be a spectator – live every single moment for Him and with Him.
Somedays, it’s hard even getting up in the morning but I’m trying. Pre-COVID I took Water Aerobics for People with Arthritis and I actually went to class three times a week. Now, I took the stuff I learned there and do it 3 times a week as part of “water walking” by myself or with my DH.  I got a “part-time” job several years ago and I’m teaching piano online. We had plans for a cruise to Norway which COVID made us reschedule for Alaska, which has to be rescheduled…again.
This is the one and only life I’ll ever have and I want to make the most of it!
COVID-19 Vaccine booster shots are available for the following Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients who completed their initial series at least 6 months ago and are:
Dr. Friedman is getting a lot of emails on booster shots versus third shots. Third shots are for immuno-compromised patients that the FDA is recommending for a small group of patients The FDA also has the intention to soon make booster doses widely available to all healthy individuals. I am writing to clarify the difference between booster shots and third doses.
Third Doses for Immuno-Compromised Patients
The purpose of a third dose of mRNA vaccine is to give immuno-compromised patients the same level of protection that two doses provide someone who has a normal immune system. It is recommended that the following people get a third dose
Been receiving cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
Been diagnosed with moderate or severe immunodeficiency conditions (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
An advanced or untreated HIV infection
Been under active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (> 20 mg of prednisone or 100 mg of hydrocortisone) or other drugs that may suppress immune response
Dr. Friedman thinks it is unlikely that any of his patients have these conditions. Patients with Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s, diabetes or thyroid disorders do not qualify.
In contrast, a Booster Dose is for Patients With Healthy Immune Systems
A booster dose—which is different from a third dose for immuno-compromised patients—is for healthy patients and is meant to enhance immunity and may protect against new variants of the virus.The Biden administration has announced that it intends to make booster doses available for people with healthy immune systems in September 2021, after they are authorized or approved by the FDA. This has not happened yet, but when it happens, Dr. Friedman would encourage his patients to get it.
Dr. Friedman is expecting a booster shot against the Delta variant to be released in the fall of 2021 and would recommend that for his patients.
Dr. Friedman wishes everyone to stay healthy.
Quick takeaway: I have adrenal insufficiency (one adrenal was removed with my kidney due to cancer, steroid-dependent (post-Cushing’s Disease), growth hormone insufficiency, panhypopituitary. I had some issues after my first COVID-19 injection (Moderna) but not too bad. My second injection will be March 15.
January 12, 2021 my Mom’s doctor called and offered her the vaccine but she didn’t want it. She said she didn’t go anywhere. True but my DH and I do – and she has a friend visit once a month. I joked to a friend that I could put on a wig and go as her since we have the same first name.
I have been doing the COVID-19 Patient Monitoring System through my doctor’s office since it was first offered. Just a few boxes of how I’m feeling, if I wore a mask and so on. I am a strong believer in helping to participate in medical trials, as I mention below. This one is very easy and takes about a minute out of my day. Easy-peasy.
I’ve been on the Fairfax Waiting List since January 19, 2021. As of right now, they are still scheduling people from January 18 – I read somewhere that 41,000-some people registered on the 18th, so it may be a while to get to my date. They have set up an interesting dashboard to track how things are going – https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus/vaccine/data
I kept the CVS link open and checked it every morning. Everything was full until Saturday, February 13. I was able to register at about 5 am. When I went back about 20 minutes later, everything was gone.
CVS sent out an informative email with directions, dates, ics file to easily add to calendar,
On the day of your appointment:
•Please arrive early enough to check in before your scheduled appointment. Arriving late for your appointment may result in an extended wait time.
•Bring your ID and insurance card, voucher or other coverage
•Don’t forget a face covering—wearing it throughout your visit is required
•When you arrive, please check in at the pharmacy area inside the store or follow the signs for the COVID-19 vaccine
CVS tips for vaccine shots:
•Wearing short sleeves makes getting a shot easier and faster
•If you must wear long sleeves, dress in layers with the short sleeves underneath
•The CDC has created a way for you to report how you feel after the COVID-19 vaccination through a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with you. Learn about v-safe and sign up today.
And a short survey, which I took – just add up to 5 stars and write a short paragraph.
Monday, February 15, 2021: When I got to CVS, I found that everything was very well run.
I got a text from CVS asking me to click a link when I arrived at 3:30 and it gave me directions on where to go.
I was met by someone at door who checked my name – I showed him my phone screen – he showed me where to walk following arrows on floor. Then I was met by so someone who checked my name and he asked if I had done the texting thing (yes!).
There were 4 people ahead of me that I could see. It went very fast. I was in the little room within less than 10 minutes.
The nurse asked if left arm was ok to use.
She told me to treat the little quarantine form like gold. Take a picture on my phone, just in case. Maybe laminate after second shot. Keep it with passport.
She said that old folks (like me!) didn’t have as many issues after second shot.
The shot was very fast – I never felt it.
The nurse said if I get a headache, take Tylenol only. I said that was all I could take anyway because I have only one kidney.
I sat in the waiting area for 15 minutes to be sure there were no problems There were about 10 or so people sitting around the store that I could see at various stages of their 15 minutes.
I was glad to see that it was Moderna (MRNA) although I would have taken either. I have a long-standing issue with the other drug company, unrelated to COVID vaccines.
I posted on FB that I had done my first injection and a friend told me about registering at vsafe.cdc.gov for them to keep track of me after the vaccination. I signed up for that right away – and I noticed that CVS had also given me that link.
About 12 hours later (3:30 am) I got up to go to the bathroom and noticed that my arm was a little sore. No biggie.
Tuesday, February 16, 2021: Â I just got my first dose of Moderna yesterday – sore arm, so far.
The nurse told me yesterday that older people like myself (I’m 72) had fewer side effects since we had been exposed to more things over the years. I’m not sure how accurate that is but I’ll hold on to that hope until I get my second dose on March 15!
Wednesday, February 17, 2021: I had weird dreams overnight but I got up about 4:00 am. I did some work and fell back asleep until 10:15.
We didn’t go to water exercise. I decided at the very last minute, walking out the door. Reaction to Monday shot? I had a little headache, dizzy, congested, very tired. I should have taken more cortisone at this time but didn’t remember until 8:30 pm.
I slept more until about 2 pm and had very weird dreams – I don’t know if the dreams are part of it or not but I reported them to the safe.cdc.gov questionnaire.
I cancelled piano lessons for the day. I wrote to my students:
I am so sorry but I need to cancel today’s lesson. I had the first COVID vaccination on Monday afternoon. I was feeling fine yesterday so I assumed that I wasn’t going to have any side effects but they caught up with me today. It’s just a headache , a bit of congestion and fatigue (I’ve been sleeping all day so far) but I don’t think I would be at my best during XXX’s lesson.
See you next week…
After cancelling lessons, I went back to sleep until time for Pender’s 7 pm Ash Wednesday service. I was felling cold but I don’t know if it was chills or really a cold. I started coughing a little.
At night, I remembered I should have up-dosed. I told my DH that night if he ever noticed me like this again, it was the perfect time to tell me to stress dose. It never occurred to me during the day.
At that point, I realized I hadn’t eaten all day. I had dinner (I was surprised that I could eat it) at 9:25 and did my growth hormone injection.
I went to bed at 11 p.
Thursday, February 18, 2021: I’m a little more tired than usual but ok. I spent time napping and working alternated through the day.
Friday, February 19, 2021: Just the normal tiredness. Hooray!
Moderna started Phase III clinical trials for its vaccine candidate in July. In earlier trials, nearly half of patients experienced common adverse effects like injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle soreness, nausea and fevers after the second injection. These effects generally subsided within two days. CNBC spoke to a few individuals, some participating in Moderna’s trial and some in Pfizer’s trial who said much the same thing: the side effects were intense and included a high fever, body aches, bad headaches and exhaustion, but were worth it for protection from Covid-19.
In the FDA report published in December, the most common side effects were pain at injection site (91.6% of patients), fatigue (68.5%), headache (63.0%), muscle pain (59.6%), joint pain (44.8%), and chills (43.4%). Three patients experienced Bell’s Palsy, a sudden, and usually temporary, weakening or paralysis of the facial muscles.
A few patients with facial fillers experienced swelling after receiving the vaccine. They were treated with antihistamines and steroids. In California, officials halted the use of one particular batch of Moderna vaccines (lot 41L20A) after a small cluster (fewer than 10) of patients at one particular site experienced allergic reactions that required medical attention.
Out of the first 7.5 million doses administered from Dec 14- Jan 18, 19 cases of anaphylaxis were reported to VAERS after the Moderna vaccine. No patients have died from anaphylaxis. Patients are now being monitored for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine to watch for signs of anaphylaxis.
Many patients are reporting injection site reactions that show up shortly after the injection or up to a week later. These reactions — which are characterized by swelling, redness, itching, rashes, heat and pain — are expected to last a day to a week. Physicians emphasize that while these effects can be scary, they are not dangerous and should not prevent someone from getting the second shot. So far, doctors do not report seeing these reactions after the second shot, however so few have been given so far that scientists are not sure how common it will be on round two.
The CDC reports that 11% of patients experienced swollen lymph nodes after the first shot. That raised to 16% after the second shot.
A study posted on Feb 1 showed that patients who received the vaccine after having been previously infected with COVID-19 showed greater immune response to the first shot and more intense side effects that are associated with strong immune responses like fever and muscle aches. The study included patients who received either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Some scientists believe these patients may only need a single shot to provide sufficient immunity, but more research is needed.
Moderna has announced that it will begin testing its vaccine in children and adolescents, who they believe may have stronger immune responses, leading to more intense side effects.
Meeting Number (Access Code): 177 542 2496 Your phone/computer will be muted on entry.
Slides will be available on the day of the talk here
There will be plenty of time for questions using the chat button. Meeting Password: pcos
For more information, email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com
I have not updated my patients on the COVID-19 pandemic since March. Since the last update and as of today’s date, 12.2 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and 256,000 Americans have died. Several of Dr. Friedman’s patients have been infected with COVID-19. Many businesses have closed and there have been major economic loses. The response to the pandemic has unfortunately been politicized and I say unfortunately because the virus doesn’t distinguish based on victim’s political party. Please see Dr. Friedman’s Letter in the Los Angeles Jewish Journal https://jewishjournal.com/letters_to_the_editor/316110/letters-lockdown-vs-no-lockdown/.
Dr. Friedman completely supports efforts to limit the spread of the virus, including wearing masks, social distancing, handwashing and staying at home. Listening to government officials including the CDC is crucial. Dr. Friedman agrees with data showing gatherings are much safer outside and encourages his patients to err on the side of safety and caution. Dr. Friedman is spearheading efforts at Charles R. Drew University to be a site for a vaccine study and after some delays, it looks like his University will be a site for the Sanofi vaccine in December 2020. Dr. Friedman is very excited about the promising results from the Moderna and Pfizer trials and thinks vaccines along with mask-wearing and social distancing will curtail the pandemic, hopefully in the latter half of 2021. He does think that COVID-19 will be with us for a long time. Dr. Friedman anticipates that changes due to COVID-19, including telemedicine and working from home will remain with us after the pandemic subsides.
As mentioned in the March update, patients with endocrine problems such as Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s Disease, hypopituitarism and diabetes have slightly impaired immune systems, making them potentially susceptible for a more severe infection by COVID-19. He would recommend those patients to be especially vigilant about mask-wearing/social distancing and to get a vaccine when it comes out.
He advises his patients the following:
Wear masks, social distancing, handwashing and staying at home as much as possible
Use delivery services for groceries, food and medications.
Wash hands frequently for 20 seconds and/or use hand sanitizer several times a day
Avoid air travel, public gatherings and other public places as guided by local officials
Quarantine if sick or exposed.
Labcorp and Quest both introduced testing for COVID-19 using nasal swabs. Several other laboratories are also performing tests. Dr. Friedman recommends PCR testing and not rapid antigen testing. For those with symptoms of Coronavirus, he recommends seeing your primary care doctor for testing. Dr. Friedman is unable to provide requisitions or swabs for this testing that should be done by their primary doctor.
While Dr. Friedman was initially enthusiastic about antibody testing, he is concerned about the quality of the tests and no longer recommends it.
Labcorp and Quest are both still open and Quest has a new Peace of Mind programfor lab services not related to COVID-19 and for patients who are 60 years of age or older, or have other conditions that put them at greater risk for COVID-19, in which patients can come to their nearby Quest location during the first hour of each day for VIP care.
Dr. Friedman encourages people to get their hormone testing done and make their followup appointments.
Many patients have requested extra supply of their medications. However, most insurances do not allow this and carefully monitor medication use. Dr. Friedman recommends patients to use a mail-order pharmacy and sign up for auto-refills so that they get a consistent supply of their medications.
Except for patients sick with COVID-19, patients should not up-dose hydrocortisone
Dr. Friedman has restarted in person visits on the last Tuesday of each month and continues to see patients via telemedicine on the other Tuesday nights. Please visit goodhormonehealth.com for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Friedman’s staff will still be doing in person growth hormone stimulation tests on Tuesday night in an isolated and sanitized clinic setting.
Dr. Friedman especially encourages patients to eat healthy and exercise (especially being outside) including walking, hiking, biking, aerobic videos yoga or pilates at home, during this stressful period.
Dr. Friedman encourages patients to get their flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine when available.
Jamie J. Van Gompel, M.D., B.S., Professor in Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology specializing in endoscopic/open skull base focusing on Pituitary tumors as well as Epilepsy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, USAand
Garret W. Choby, M.D., a fellowship-trained rhinologist and endoscopic skull base surgeon practicing at the Mayo Clinic.
Objectives:
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Understand the additional considerations that are key to performing endonasal surgery during the COVID pandemic
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Identify the practice changes that are allowing pituitary surgery to proceed safely
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Characterize the nasal cavity and nasopharynx as a reservoir for the coronavirus
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Identify the risk of undergoing pituitary surgery during the Covid -19 pandemic
Nelson M. Oyesiku, MD, PhD, FACS
Professor of Neurosurgery and Medicine
Vice-Chairman, Neurosurgery Residency Program Director
Emory University School of Medicine
I first saw a similar image to this one with the saying Life. Be in it at a recreation center when my son was little. Â At the time, it was “Duh, of course, I’m in it”.
The original image was a couple of males, a couple of females, and a dog walking/running. Â No folks in wheelchairs, no older folks, and certainly no zebras.
It would be nice to have everyone out there walking or running but that’s not real life, at least in the Cushie world. Â It’s been a long time since I’ve really been In My Life – maybe it’s time to get back.
A dear friend who has not one, but two forms of cancer was traveling throughout Europe for the first time after her husband’s death wrote:
Some final words before I turn in for the night. If there is a spark of desire within you to do something which is not contrary to God’s Holy Law, find a way to make it happen. All things are possible and blessings abound for those who love Him. Life is such an adventure. Don’t be a spectator – live every single moment for Him and with Him.
Somedays, it’s hard even getting up in the morning but I’m trying. Â I take Water Aerobics for People with Arthritis and I actually went to class three times a week until COVID-19, I got a “part-time” job several years ago, I’m now teaching piano online, my son and I play at Steinway Hall in NYC twice a year and we have plans for a cruise to Norway in August.
This is the one and only life I’ll ever have and I want to make the most of it!
