First dose of Pfizer 3/17/2021
Second dose of Pfizer 4/7/2021
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
Prior to the vaccine I was a healthy, active, happy, 34 year old woman . In my spare time you could find me fly fishing, river rafting, exploring the wilderness, traveling, rehabbing injured animals or rock hounding. I am lucky enough to work from home so when the pandemic hit, not much changed for me except I stopped gathering with others out of an abundance of caution. I was very excited to get vaccinated so I could safely see friends and family again. I have never had covid and that has been confirmed with nucleocapsid testing.
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
I never had any of the typical symptoms (fever, aches, fatigue). I thought I was one tough cookie to "get away with no symptoms". Two weeks after my first shot I developed abdominal bloating that persisted for days. I decided to go to urgent care to get it checked out. They sent me to the hospital where it was confirmed I had appendicitis. I had my appendix removed immediately. Two weeks after my second shot I woke up with an intense burning sensation in my mouth and strawberry tongue (google it) and this lasted for 3 days. The next day, while working in my home office, my right arm went limp and I couldn't move it, the left side of my face went numb and I got extremely dizzy. I called my parents to ask them to take me to the hospital and that's when I learned I had lost the ability to speak. All that came out was a slurred, garbled mess but they understood "hospital" and rushed over. Doctors initially tried to diagnose me with "anxiety". Turns out I had a TIA (ministroke). I've since been diagnosed with vasculitis, paresthesia and encephalopathy through multiple specialist visits after my emergency visit to the hospital.
Q: What was your life like after you got the vaccine?
I can no longer participate in my hobbies. My heart rate skyrockets with the simplest effort. I have memory issues, brain fog, inability to concentrate, double vision in my left eye that's also blurry and up until recently, heart palpitations. Luckily I have a great support system. My family and friends believe me when I say the vaccine did this to me and recently I have found doctors that are advocating for me and not gaslighting patients.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
All doctors I went to for the first four months of my suffering dismissed my theory that the vaccine caused my issues. They stated I had anxiety (I've never had anxiety and am a very laid back person. Even to this day, despite what I've been through, I do not have anxiety)
Diagnoses: Appendicitis, TIA, vasculitis, paresthesia, encephalopathy, vision went from 10/20 to 20/40 overnight, cornea damage.
Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?
I reported the reaction myself to VAERS (no doctor would). VAERS called me once to see if I recovered. They emailed me multiple times for my medical records which I provided each time but they kept misplacing.
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
With the help of my specialists that believe me, I have been able to improve my heart issues, regain use of my arm, eliminate my paresthesia, and I can speak again. My vision issues sadly are permanent.
Q: What do you wish others knew?
Don't be afraid to get a second opinion or advocate for your health. Know that doctors tend to default to "anxiety" as a diagnosis when they don't know what else to do. I am pro vaccine (crazy huh?!) and I do believe vaccines have their place in ending the pandemic along with preventative treatments and therapies. Some people don't respond well to vaccines and I'm asking that the CDC, FDA and NIH investigate WHY and stop censoring our cries for help. We need help and support. If they don't acknowledge our issues, no doctor will. Everywhere the vaccine injured turn is just another shut door. We have an opportunity to come together and solve this puzzle but we need all parties to do their part.
