top of page

Santo Garofalo

First Dose of Pfizer-BionTech on 03/14/21 Lot #ER1742

Ontario, Canada

51 yrs old


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

Busy family man with a wife and two teenaged children. I was working full time, exercised 3 to 4 times a week, and took my dog for walks every day. I enjoyed spending time with my family, enjoyed fixing things around the house, driving my kids to events, and shopping with my wife. I was very happy with my life.


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

Three days after my vaccination I developed double vision, ptosis of my right upper eyelid and slight droopiness on right side of my face. I had extreme pain in my eyes, sinuses, head and neck.


The following symptoms started within two weeks of vaccination: dizziness 24/7, extreme fatigue, extreme muscle weakness, eyes not tracking together, photophobia, blurred vision, loss of spatial perception, extremely dry eyes, unsteady gait, ocular motor disfunction, oscillopsia, extreme anxiety, vibrations in my sinuses when talking that go up to my head and cause dizziness, brain fog, trouble concentrating.


I did not feel like myself at all for months and still feeling off, my brain felt very foggy and dull. I spent many weeks on the sofa because of dizziness and extreme fatigue. Walking from room to room in my house was almost impossible without being winded as if I just ran a marathon. Also, just moving my head side to side made me extremely dizzy. Looking at any electronic devices and bright lights made my eyes hurt with excruciating pain. My eyes felt like I was looking through someone else's prescription glasses especially in large spaces such as department stores (weeks after I was able to leave my house), where I would also see the product shelves move as I walked, it was overwhelming.


I lost 22 lbs in four weeks and felt like I was POISONED!


Q: What is your life like now, after getting the vaccine?

Not normal at all.


Prior to getting the vaccine I was very independent and didn't ask for much help from others . Now I feel I have lost my independence. My symptoms have limited me from doing many tasks that previous to my injury I would not think twice to undertake.


I have to keep driving to a minimum because of my vision. I have visual disturbances that cause images to jitter when I walk or chew.


I have dizziness most of the time when moving around and fatigued sets in very quickly.


I can feel my body fighting everyday struggling to heal. I'm trusting that my body will fully recover with time. No more vaccines for me as my body does not react well with this substance.


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

I went to the emergency department when my symptoms developed, had a CT scan of my head and blood work which came back normal.


The attending physician referred me to internal medicine, and as I was being discharged I asked if my symptoms are related to the vaccine. He did acknowledge that it was related and that symptoms will go away.


I had several MRI's, more blood work, was referred to an Ophthalmologist, Neurologist, Rheumatologist and seen by my ENT. I had a doppler ultrasound of my carotid arteries and temporal arteries which revealed inflammation of the temporal arteries.


Doctors were thinking it may be Giant Cell Arteritis, so I had a biopsy, results were negative for Giant Cell Arteritis; however, inflammation was present.


I was seen by a Neuro-Opthlmologist, he diagnosed my double vision as likely to be 4th nerve palsy, microvascular ischemic in origin and should resolve in three months.


My double vision eventually did resolve; however, my other symptoms still persist. I visit my general practitioner on a monthly basis and awaiting an appointment to see another Neurologist.


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

VAERS: received a report confirmation email.


Pfizer: received report submitted notice.


vaxxtracker.com: received submission confirmed notice.


Basically, no response. I'm very doubtful that anything will come of these reports, but it was worth a try.


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

Vision therapy has helped very much and I continue with it. I'm taking pain medication, prescription eye drops for dry eyes.


I'm also seeing a Naturopathic doctor, Osteopath and receiving massage therapy. I take the following supplements: Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Quercetin, Omega 3 and eat a healthy balanced diet with whole natural foods.


Ten months have passed and my symptoms are improving at a snails pace; however, still debilitating. I am struggling to keep anxiety and depression from getting the best of me.


Q: What do you wish others knew?

I was extremely hesitant to take the vaccine. The vaccine is approved for emergency use and there should be transparency with clinical trial data. All the potential side effects should be known so people can make an informed decision on the benefits vs risks in their particular case and health status.


Vaccination should be a personal choice.


The vaccine is NOT suitable for everyone and when injured by vaccines, it will be a HUGE mountain to climb to claim back your HEALTH. News media should be reporting on vaccine injuries. There are way too many people who have been injured and sadly there will be many more vaccine injuries as people line up to get vaccinated.



REAL NOT RARE DISCLAIMER:

Real Not Rare does not diagnose medical conditions, offer treatment advice, treat illnesses, or prescribe medicine or drugs. Anything contained on this website or conveyed in the blog stories or groups, is not substitute for adequate medical care, diagnosis, and/or treatment from a medical doctor. It is strongly recommended that prior to acting upon any information gleaned via Real Not Rare or their representatives, you at all times first consult a physician. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individual being interviewed in each story, and do not necessarily reflect the position of Real, Not Rare as a whole.

4,959 views