Karla Keaney, MD

Thank you to everyone who reached out yesterday and today. Your kindness has filled my heart. I am eagerly ready to be there to support YOU when you get your vaccines and hopefully have a much easier time! I’m closer to being back to normal..only a mild headache and body aches. I’ll be ready for Monday! Have a great rest of your Sunday.

As always, I’m here for the honesty. So an update on how I’m doing 36 hrs post my 2nd Covid vaccine and some info below on new developments. 12 hrs post: fever up to 102.2F, headache, nausea, body aches and chills 24 hrs post: fever to 100.5, nausea gone, headache better, no chills, body aches better... 36 hrs post: more energy but still a temp to 100.5 and some body aches Am I worried about this? Not at all. In fact, I’m glad my body is working hard to strengthen my immune system. Will you experience the same? Not necessarily. I read that the majority don’t have high fever (if fever at all) and many have mild symptoms. Please do NOT let a short duration of inconvenient and uncomfortable symptoms derail you from getting the vaccine. There is definite protection (95% 1 week after the 2nd dose) against a lethal virus from this vaccine. Preliminary data does suggest that the currently approved Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work against 2 of the new mutant strains (UK and SA variants). More data on 2 other mutations is pending. Why not just rely on natural immunity? Well it’s inconsistent across people with regards to strength and duration. Also, this can be a deadly illness. And if it doesn’t kill you, it may affect you chronically. There’s concern that those with loss of taste and smell may be at risk for earlier neurologic illness such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s (posting on this later this week). There are post psychiatric effects as well chronic headaches and fatigue to name a few. Please keep up the hard work. Please wear your mask. Please social distance. Please limit activities to ensure the safety of the community. Nationally we’re at an all time high death rate post holidays. We can get in control of this. It’s tough but we got this! Together.

Goodbye 2020. And hello 2021! As we embark on a new year I wanted to take a moment to thank a few people who made 2020 the best it could be: My family who sacrificed so much when a global pandemic hit and I ramped up in work. I pose a daily risk to my family as I see and swab Covid patients, and they have supported and encouraged me to do this work. They’ve significantly limited their exposures, been on lock down more than most and followed every guideline with such dedicat...ion that I can never truly thank them for being there for our community and me. My colleagues and staff who are my home away from home family. Together we took on a challenge like we had never seen nor anticipated before. We found a way to keep our patients and each other safe. We’ve provided care and comfort to those with Covid-19, even when they were turned away from other places. From carside visits to curbside flu shot clinics to telehealth and in office visits...we’ve done it all. You impress me daily and there’s no way this year would’ve been successful without your dedication and passion to our patients. My patients and all of you, who despite the craziness that 2020 brought with uncertainty, confusion and continuous change, you gave me a reason to persevere and stay true to my calling. You’ve weathered the storm and have been in this fight side by side with me. The scientists, frontline workers, and essential workers who sacrificed everything to help move us forward, in some cases with their very lives. We know how to care for infected patients because of their experience and have a vaccine because of their rigorous work. I and those in my community were able to work because our teachers (and my nanny who helped with baby) sacrificed for the community at large. I would be very remiss to not take a moment to think of all the lives lost and the families who will never be the same because of this deadly virus. You have been and will continue to be in my prayers. I work daily to honor your loved ones by trying to prevent another death. I hope that you & your families have better days as we move forward into a new year together. May you all find peace, health, & joy!

I'm proud to share this video from one of my partners who is just as passionate as I am about getting our staff protected against Covid-19. This isn't just about our office in our city but affects all independent providers and many front line staff across the country.

I would venture to say that you, like me, make countless decisions every day that impact your children. What’s best for them? What do they need? What did I forget? Why are they being so stubborn? (That last one is probably because they can be very much like me! Oops ). The idea of the unknown in regards to our kids is scary. Especially for those who are pregnant or trying to conceive, there is a lot of preparation, excitement but definitely some worries of what’s to come/wh...at to expect/how this will all work out (Spoiler alert: it works out in ways we can’t even contemplate before kids!) Confession Time: the Covid-19 vaccine was something that I, as a mom first and foremost, gave me some reservations. I have 3 amazing kids and truly blessed that they’re all healthy (something NOT to be taken for granted) but what if, and it’s just an if, I wanted more? Would this shot somehow prevent that? Could it affect fertility? And what about my pregnant friends and mommas? They’re higher risk and I want to keep them safe? Is this shot for them? As a mom, those were some of my initial thoughts. As a physician, I dug into the research and am happy to report that I felt safe to take the immunization. We’ve talked before about the way mRNA vaccine worksit enters the body with a how to instruction manual for spike proteins so the body develops specific antibodies to Covid and not other things (aka NOT to the placenta as so many have falsely stated). Pretty soon after, the mRNA degradesaka nothing is left from the vaccine. THIS and the notion of a specific antibody development were what reassured me that the placenta isn’t affected, that fertility shouldn’t be impacted, that this was a better/safer option than getting Covid during pregnancy. The pics/information above was so generously provided by the Wash U OB department. Since the vaccine has not yet been studied in pregnant women there are considerations to make if it’s OK to receive the shot during pregnancy. As always, please talk with your physician first. #wewantyouwell #covid19vaccine #pregnancy #fertility #vaccine #drkeaneysorders

Merry Christmas from this funny crazy silly crew! I’m so grateful to be off on both the 24th and 25th and have a moment to recharge with B and these kids who fill my heart with joy. In medicine having both days off is nothing short of a miracle! While it was an unconventional day at home without the extended family and frigid 10 degree temps made for very brief outdoor gift exchanges, my kids repeatedly called it the best Christmas ever! I wondered if they were just be...ing nice about this tough year (or liked their gifts) and while those may be true, I think they genuinely enjoyed relaxing, not rushing around exhausted, and having each of us truly present. Christmas is not about presents and what you receive, but about joy, peace and being physically/mentally/spiritually present. A 2020 Christmas gave me the gift of being present. I hope you all were able to enjoy the season as much as we did. One final thought: I am taking a moment thinking of all those who may be sick, alone, or isolated this holiday season, as well as those experiencing their first holiday season after the loss of a loved one. Know that you aren’t alone. Wishing you all peace and joy.