First Dose of Moderna on 12/30/20 Lot #039k20a
Second Dose of Moderna on 01/27/21 Lot #013L20a
Oregon
40 yrs old
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
I was active and loved life. Just starting to enjoy the empty nester part of life. I was one term away from my master's degree in nursing when I got my second vaccine. A new grandmother to the most beautiful little girl EVER. I have a hobby farm that truly was my happy place and sharing it with my soul mate.
Q: Would you like to share your reasons for getting vaccinated?
I was informed by a nurse manager that they were going to be mandated very soon so I figured I'd get my appointment set up with employee health while they were still readily available.
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
After the first shot I just felt achy for a couple of days then I was fine. After my second shot at aprox 1pm on the 27, I started to feel really run down and sore by 4 pm. Felt like I was hardly able to move. I went to bed at 6:30pm as I just could not stay awake. I woke up at 4am and feeling even worse, only having extreme dizzy spells. The whole room would spin and almost fell. I shook it off and drove into work. As I started to walk up the sidewalk to work I really started spinning, blacked out, almost fell, extreme leg weakness and losing function. Co-workers were going to call an ambulance but i said NO (nurses are the worst patients). Had my spouse take me to ER. I was admitted for 4 days. Diagnosis: Possible reaction to covid vaccine and labrynthitis. I spent the next 2 months in my bed not able to move or control my bladder or bowels. Extremely light and sound sensitive my room had to be completely blacked out. After the 2 months I was slowly able to start getting up to the bathroom, (in a wheelchair) and on meclizine and promethazine every 6 hours around the clock, as well as prednisone. I was slowly able to get around more and using a walker for the next couple of months. May 2021 I felt like i was having a stroke and went to ER. I was admitted for 2 days and eventually stroke was ruled out. The Dr. literally said "I'll give my left nut if this is not the diagnosis" of Hemiplegic Migraine. The first neurologist I saw refused to acknowledge anything about the vaccine and said I had migraines and conversion disorder. Saw psych, ruled out conversion disorder. Saw a second neurologist that confirmed the shot "set this off" but it should be long out of your system by now (around 7 months later).
Q: What is your life like now, after getting the vaccine?
I've lived the last 14 months in the dark. I have days I literally can't even move. I spend most of the time in bed or on the couch (still in the dark). I had to get prescription sunglasses. If I remotely exert myself on a day I feel slightly better, I end up spending the next couple of days completely down. I still use a walker and a wheelchair to get around. I haven't driven a car or even able to hold my new granddaughter without sitting down first. I had to drop out of my nursing master's program.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
Medical care has been CRAP. The first neurologist I saw pretty much wrote me off with migraines & psych issues. My PCP is a NP and didn't believe that for a second. This has pretty much set the tone for all future neurology referrals, as every single one in my state has been denied. I can't get in to see a neurologist for anything. I see cardiology soon and hope they are able to see through this nonsense as I was healthy before the vaccine. I have also seen rheumatology for high ANA but because the specific markers are negative, he says it is not autoimmune despite consistent high ANA's.
Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?
It was reported to VAERS by my employee health department. There was no response to me. I was able to apply for work comp for my reaction and it was approved. Finding an MD that will write the magic words is a different story.
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
The only thing that seems to help has been steroids. I was on them initially for a few months. I am currently on them, which is going on 8 weeks. As soon as a taper or stop of prednisone I decline back to how I was at first
Q: Have you had Covid before?
No, I have never been diagnosed with Covid.
Q: What do you wish others knew?
PLEASE, do not give up. This is REAL. Keep on fighting and searching for providers that will believe you. They do exist.
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