Can you possibly get a medical exemption for the second shot?

This sounds like a great gift for my dd! Which one did you get?

Not really a glamorous gift, but one thing I've given my driving kids is a portable air compressor (Kobalt from Lowe's, I think) that they can have in the trunk of their car if their air pressure gets low. Plus, it can be used for inflating balls, etc. I'm also thinking about getting them a portable charger in case someone needs a jump start. I haven't looked into this heavily yet.

Would a fitness ball work for you? I sit on a 65 cm ball at my desk -- that way I am active because I either bounce on it or sort of roll on it (while seated). They come in different sizes -- 55 cm, 65 cm, 75 cm

@BeachGal I tried to private message you about this, but it said you couldn't accept messages. Could you private message me? Thanks

That sounds awful. I'll pray for a quick recovery for you!

I don't know what Baygon is, but we have been able to put baby powder (with talc) at the entry point and they won't cross it. You have to vacuum it up later, though. I would think washing her clothes would kill the ants and they would float away in the waste water.

I'm sorry you are going through this. I have no advice, just prayers.

Yikes! Can she consult a different doctor? A TSH of 5.9 would definitely make me feel fatigued! Also, a TSH doesn't show the whole story. Could she have a whole thyroid panel done? Free T3 and Free T4, and maybe check to see if she has Hashimotos with an antibody test? Here is a list of tests and why: https://www.restartmed.com/hashimotos-blood-test/ Has she had her Vitamin D levels checked? My endocrinologist suggested selenium for thyroid support. And, I know you said no diet stuff, but many people feel better with removing wheat and/or dairy. But, YES, she needs medication (I take Synthroid, but others prefer more natural thyroid medication, which I am not completely up on). Good luck to her.

Maybe Eosinophilic Esophagitis? https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eosinophilic-esophagitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372197

It is a play on Avogadro's number (6.02 X 10^23)

I don't know if this has been posted, but this kind of data fascinates me (about a prison outbreak in TX): https://www.macon.com/news/coronavirus/article254435113.html?ac_cid=DM535667&ac_bid=1839955727

Really? I thought that provision was removed for the federal workers? ETA: I see this was mentioned upthread...

Okay, but what about the federal workers who are not taking care of patients? My DS, a federal worker, who could telecommute if allowed, is being mandated to get the vaccination while, of course, Congress managed to excuse themselves from this mandate just like they excused themselves from Obamacare! And it is unlikely that my DS could easily find a place to work with under 100 employees, so he is being coerced to take the vaccine.

I think my risk assessment is different than yours on this matter. To me, taking the vaccine is 100% chance that something COULD go wrong, whereas there is still the possibility that I might not ever get COVID or have a bad case of it (although I am feeling more fatalistic that I will eventually get COVID and wish I had already had a round of it to protect me a little bit). I do recognize the risk is there for long-COVID and/or death, but I don't think it is as great as the media has played it up to be.

Honest question -- how effective do you (general "you") think PPE is at preventing the spread of COVID? My main concern is the removal of the natural immunity card. It looks to me like more studies are coming out saying that natural immunity (from previous infection) is as good/better than the vaccine. I understand the difficulty of proving antibody levels -- much easier to just give everyone the jab -- but I don't feel natural immunity should be discounted, especially since there are breakthrough cases from the vaccine so it doesn't totally protect those around them (and yes, I do believe the vaccines confer milder cases to those who have had them). Another unpopular opinion here, but I will have to admit that I am concerned about autoimmune diseases and prion diseases as a result of these vaccines, maybe 3 years or more down the road. Please don't call me a conspiracy theorist. I have always been a late adopter of new technologies (let them get all the kinks out first, lol). I desparately hope I am wrong because many people dear to me have had the vaccine.

I hesitate to throw this out here because I know you all don't agree with me, but... Presumably, these nurses managed to work through the early stages of the pandemic unvaccinated; therefore, they are either being careful and haven't contracted COVID, or they have already contracted COVID and, in my opinion, have the same or better immunity than conferred by the vaccine. It doesn't seem fair to throw them under the bus at this stage in the pandemic.

I don't have anything, but I love seeing these kinds of things -- so please share away!

Yikes! You would think after the second round that they would lock themselves down. I assume they are unvaccinated?

I also eat tons of chia seeds with no ill effects. Sorry for your discomfort!

PCR.