First Dose of AstraZeneca on 2/17/21
Second Dose of AstraZeneca on 5/5/21 Folkestone, Kent
Lot #PV46676
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
I am a mum to two adult sons, I have two dogs that I would walk for several hours a day and I ran my own business. I enjoyed live music, walking, reading and the gym.
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
Dose 1- Flu type symptoms for a few days followed by lingering fatigue and menstrual changes that I presumed were perimenopause Dose 2- Day ten I woke up with numb hands and feet, dizziness and an electrical feeling throughout my body Over the coming weeks and months this intensified and added to that I had bladder urgency and frequency problems, headpressure and pain, leg weaknesses, arm weaknesses, tremors, nausea, weight loss, exercise intolerance, muscle spasms and twitching, numb lips, blurred vision, vertigo and bleeding gums. I have blood pooling in my hands and feet when I stand due to my autonomic nervous system not working properly which makes me dizzy and tachycardic
Q: What was your life like after you got the vaccine?
I had to stop working as I can't stand in one spot too long due to blood pooling in my legs and hands which then makes me dizzy within about five to ten minutes. With this comes the nausea and pain I can no longer walk for more than 30 mins without these effects coming on and even then I have to wear compression socks and gloves. Most days I am in bed by 6pm due to the fatigue. I can't work out anymore as my tremors and other symptoms get worse if I do so instead I am doing gentle rehab I wake up several times a night ( bad nights can be more ) with adreanline dumps which make my heart pound and feel dizzy. I can't stand to make dinner and have to do everything in ten/fifteen minute stints. I barely leave the house and social activities are difficult as I don't know how I feel from one hour to the next.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
I have seen many doctors. So far all I have had is tests and no medication. I can accept that I had a reaction to a vaccine, all things come with a risk. What I refuse to accept is the lack of compassion, gaslighting and negligence that I have been subject to since I became ill. We should be being studied, helped, researched.
Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?
I reported it myself to the yellow card and to Astrazeneca. I had a generic email back from both. Astrazeneca told me twice that they can't get hold of my GP to verify
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
Antihistamines seem to help Pacing myself Electrolytes and suppliments My symptoms have stabilised. For the first few months I would've described my condition as acute. After that it turned into a relapsing remitting type chronic illness, I haven't yet had a day where I felt back to how I was before.
Q: What do you wish others knew?
I believe that others need to know there are risks to these vaccines and that if you do have a reaction, no one's going to be in a hurry to help you or even acknowledge you. Six months in pain, no pain relief offered yet.
