You're sticking that where?

The other day I had to get a tetanus shot.

Husband and I are building a chicken coop because a friend is giving us two chickens. I was cutting a piece of chicken wire and scraped two of my fingers with it. I didn't think it was a big deal until a couple minutes later when I noticed my knuckle was bleeding. After I finished freaking out at the sight of blood, I ran in the house and washed it off with antibacterial soap and put some neosporin and a band aid on it. The thought that maybe I should get a tetanus shot crossed my mind, but I didn't worry about it too much. I just kept thinking about it though. The chicken wire had been outside on the ground for a while. Probably not the cleanest chicken wire in the world.

I decided to call my mom and ask her. I told her what happened. She said that she didn't think I'd had a tetanus shot since I was a baby. She said I should call the doctor's office and tell them what happened and see what they had to say. My mom had to get one a few years ago when a friend's parrot bit her on the hand. I thought you just got tetanus from metal. Birds beaks aren't metal. Anyway, she said it was just like getting a flu shot. No big deal, I thought. I can do that. I'm not really that bothered by shots anymore. I got allergy shots for several years when I was younger. But I was really worried about side effects with this one because the last time I got a booster shot for something, I got really sick. I think it was for measles. My mom said she didn't have anything weird happen, just that it made her arm a little more sore than a flu shot did. OK. I can deal with that.

I called the doctor and talked to the nurse. She said I needed to come in because I hadn't had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years. OK. A minor inconvenience, but worth it if the alternative is dying from some horrific disease.

We went to the doctor's office. When they called me in, I went into the room with the nurse who was going to do the deed. She proceeded to explain that she was going to give me the shot in "my glute." WHAT???? WHERE??? My mom said it was just like getting a flu shot! Every flu shot I've ever had has been in my arm. The nurse said it's less painful in the posterior and it works better. OK. I pulled down the top of my pants and let her stick me. It didn't hurt too bad....until now.

This was on Monday. It is now early Thursday morning. My "glute" still hurts! I can barely sit. I can't lay on that side. It is torture! I've tried taking aspirin, etc for the pain and it barely works. I'm sick of this! I don't handle pain well. The cuts on my fingers don't even hurt anymore! And they probably won't even leave a scar to remember them by. This is ridiculous!!!

I think I'm going to go and poke myself with random rusty metal objects just to make this whole experience worthwhile.