Amy Heffner, Runner

First Dose of Pfizer on 09/09/21

Second Dose of Pfizer on 09/30/21

Texas

Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?

I was a very healthy 44 year old single mom. I was a runner, 4-5 miles per day and I loved working out, hanging out with my son, doing outdoor activities, enjoying time with my family and friends. I was hardly ever sick and had no health issues.

Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?

After my first dose I developed a rash and hives on my arm, stomach and leg. I wasn’t sure it was from the vaccine as I hadn’t heard of this happening to anyone but now looking back I know that it was. My dr prescribed Prednisone and it went away after about 10 days. After my 2nd dose I felt fine for about a day. The next day I was walking at work and felt a sharp pain in my left leg and then immediately felt dizzy, nauseous and very shaky, almost like a low blood sugar attack. This lasted about an hour but subsided. That night I had a slight fever and was tired so I took ibuprofen and went to bed. The next couple of days I kept having sharp pains in my legs and was worried about blood clots. The third day after the shot I had another episode of sharp leg pain coupled with dizziness, nausea and uncontrollable shaking. I went to the ER where they did an ultrasound for blood clots, EKG, chest x ray, and blood work. All was clear. Felt better and went home. That evening my BP got very high, I started shaking again with nausea, dizziness and fast heart rate, went to the ER again, all tests were normal, sent me home. I continued having these episodes for the next week, along with chest pain and pressure. Went to the ER 2 more times and they still found nothing.

Q; What is your life like after you got the vaccine?

I feel like a completely different person. I’m afraid to be alone. I am not able to exercise, I can barely do anything requiring physical activity without getting very tired and winded, I dread taking a shower because I’m exhausted afterward. I am still having chest pain, pressure, strange pains mostly on my left side of my body, arm pain, leg pain, tightness in my neck and throat, I am miserable and depressed because I can’t do any of the things I could 8 weeks ago.

Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:

I’ve had bloodwork, EKG’s, chest X-rays, and CT scan of my head in the ER. My PCP has also done bloodwork and prescribed me Xanax for anxiety. I have seen a cardiologist for my chest pain. He prescribed a beta blocker for my high BP and I go back this week for a stress test and echocardiogram.

Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?

I tried VAERS but got an error message and I haven’t tried again yet.

Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?

The Xanax does help if I’m feeling anxious. The beta blocker seems to be helping keep my BP down. I am still having chest pain and pressure, pain in different places mostly on the left side of my body, very tired, still lightheaded at times. Thankfully I am able to work most days and I can function but I have to take things very slow because I get exhausted easily.

Q: What do you wish others knew?

I am very angry that these type of side effects are not being disclosed by the companies making the vaccines. Everyone should have the complete facts before they make the decision. I’m so sad to read all of these stories of the injured.

#WeWantToBeHeard #RealNotRare