A funny thing happened on my way down.........

A pretty funny thing (now it's funny) happened to me today. I went out to lunch with some co-workers and was walking with them out of the restaurant. I was going over to another state office building and getting a flu shot before my meeting. I was saying how great it was to get a flu shot, especially with two kids and one in kindergarten bringing home all manner of delightful viruses. I had a flu shot last year and didn't get too sick. I definitely didn't get the flu.

So we parted and I headed over to the state office tower. The flu shots were on the 18th floor. I filled out the paperwork, read the obligatory information sheet, and walked right up to the nurse. I rolled up my sleeve and she said "this will pinch a little....ok you are done."

At that very moment I looked over at my arm as she pulled out the needle. She watched my arm to see if I needed a bandaid and then she decided I did. I watched this and felt a little uncomfortable. I've had shots before, and blood drawn, and it hasn't bothered me too much. I usually just look away and I'm fine.

Right afterwards, I left. I made it to the elevator and the woman next to me was talking about how much her arm hurt after getting the shot. I felt fine. The doors to the elevator closed.

Wait a minute. I started to feel dizzy. I looked at the control panel for the elevator. I decided when we got to the lobby I'd find a seat and take a break before heading to my meeting on the 31st floor. But then I realized there were too many stops along the way; I wasn't sure I would make it --

And then I was having the most delightful dream.

And then I woke up on the floor of the elevator with people talking to me.

"Are you ok?"

"Let's get her to the lobby - call the nurse!"

I opened my eyes and realized I had fainted. People were scrambling to figure out who to call and what do to. I said, "I'm ok," but I was all sweaty and a little disoriented. The elevator doors opened to the first floor and I was able to walk, with someone holding onto me, over to a bench. A security guard came rushing over and starting taking down information. I was actually very coherent, but tired. Another security guard brought a wheelchair. I wondered where they were wheeling me to? I explained I had just gotten a flu shot. They asked if I had eaten, and I had, right before the flu shot (and actually several times that morning).

They took me to the basement to the state employee health services. It was basically a nurse's office, with three beds and a few nurses hanging around. They let me lie down and then took my blood pressure, my pulse and temperature. Everything was normal. They were really nice about the whole thing.

After about 20 minutes I thought I was fine. I left for a meeting. When I got to the elevator, I looked down for a moment and felt just the slightest bit dizzy. There was no way I was getting back on that elevator! I decided to skip the meeting and sit down for a while until the next meeting, which was about 30 minutes later. This one was on the first floor so I thought I would be ok.

I called my husband and let him know what happened. As I was talking to him, I felt a little fuzzy again. I hung up and headed back downstairs to the nurses' office and asked if I could lie down again. I stayed there about an hour, resting and reading my emails on my Blackberry. I wasn't sure what had happened. I explained to a nurse that I had to be healthy. I just ran 13.1 miles with no problem last week! At least no problem other than shin splints.

Nevertheless, I didn't want to overreact, but I just didn't feel back to normal. I was even worried about walking back to my office and driving home. One of my co-workers and friend offered to come get me, and she drove me home.

I called my family doctor's office to see if I had anything serious like an allergic reaction and shouldn't I come in for tests or something???? Anyway, a nurse called me back and said that fainting is a quite common response for a flu shot. She mentioned a vaso-vagal response. I've only fainted two other times, both when I had just given birth. Then, it was understandable. This time was weird.

There's even a whole phobia just for this situation: trypanophobia. I didn't really think I had this, but I do try to avoid looking at needles being stuck in me. The pain isn't the problem, it's just the needles. And it's not needles that bother me. It's needles stuck in me that bother me.

I also think I might be coming down with a sinus infection or a cold so maybe that contributed to the situation. In any case, I really am relieved I fainted in the elevator with some really great people who helped me, and that I was in a building that was well equipped with caring, understanding staff.

Don't worry Mom and Dad - I'm fine now, just drained. A good night sleep should fix everything.

But first, I had to leave my car downtown, so now I have to find out when the COTA bus stops near my house. I hope I don't faint at the bus stop!