The Bad Good News and the Good Bad News

First the good news - Janos got an appointment for his Covid-19 vaccination! After so much waiting and feeling so discouraged that we have heard absolutely nothing, he received an e-mail informing him that he could come on the following day at 2 p.m. and that he will be vaccinated with the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. His follow up shot will be two weeks later. Couldn't be better.

The bad good news - At the Vaccine Center he was told that the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine hadn't been delivered but he could be vaccinated with AstraZeneca. Furthermore his second shot was scheduled for June, that's in three months. AstraZeneca has been making the headlines and has a bad image: Severe side effects, less effectiveness. Without much time to think about it, Janos decided rather AstraZeneca than no vaccine. But his first shot left us both with a feeling of dissatisfaction, not the relief we had expected. (But no side effects by the way)

I accompany Janos wearing the prescribed FFP2 mask that we must wear in all stores, public transportation and doctors' offices.

The vaccination center is all set up to handle large numbers of people - but there is hardly anyone here, no waiting lines...

We are left wondering why Germany has been so exceptionally incompetent and slow in procuring, distributing and implementing the vaccine which could save so many lives.

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Now for the bad news - For a long time I have been wondering why I struggle so to catch my breath when I hike, or even just take a walk. It has made walking unpleasant while at the same time I realized I needed the exercise in addition to riding my bike, where I don't get noticeably out of breath.  At long last I made an appointment with a pulmonologist. After extensive testing the diagnosis was exercise-induced asthma, a constriction of the airways in the lungs triggered by exercise. I don't wheeze, I don't cough and I don't get asthma attacks, I just don't get enough oxygen. No wonder walking has been such an effort.

The good bad news is it was a great relief to have a name for the condition and better yet a treatment. Asthma inhalers are effective. Already on the first day using the inhaler I noticed a huge difference and the full effectiveness of the medication should develop over three or four weeks.

Evening walk with Janos - walking easily and feeling incredibly happy