First Dose of Johnson & Johnson on 5/18/21 Lot #205A21A
Arizona
STEPHEN'S REAL NOT RARE INTERVIEW:
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
Completely normal, I had no health issues, I worked 40-60 hours a week, we hiked, played Pickle ball 3 times a week.
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
My first symptom was heavy legs. We were in Sedona and I had to walk up a hill. My legs felt like they were cement. That was on May 25, 2021
Q: What was your life like after getting the vaccine?
I spent 98 days in the hospital, I was paralyzed from the waist down starting end of June, This eventually spread up my body until I was paralyzed from the neck down starting roughly end of July. I was paralyzed from neck down for almost 30 days. During this time I relied on the nurses to feed me, bath me, dress, help me use the toilet. I was 100% dependent on others for every aspect of my daily life. When I finally got released from hospital, I had lost a total of 65 lbs (25% of my body weight) I had lost all muscle in all my extremities. I had to start the rebuilding process from absolute zero.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
I was finally diagnosed with CIDP, a chronic version of Guillan Barre Syndrome. This diagnosis was finally confirmed with a biopsy of the Sural nerve which had been surgically removed from my right foot.
Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?
July 9 - I reported it to VAERS.
July 12 the CDC announced that the J&J vaccine had been linked to increased cases of Guillan Barre Syndrome. I have never heard anything from CDC.
I also reported to CICP, Countermeasure Injury Compensation Program, also no response.
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
At the time I had been given 12 doses of IVIG which did not help, I was then given Plasmapheresis treatments which also did not help in any way, I was then given Rituximab which is a type of chemotherapy drug, in addition to the Rituximab I was given high dose IV Steroids and a IVIG twice a week.
Q: What do you wish others knew?
While this has been a horrible experience for both myself and my wife, I believe that it ultimately has made me a better person, a more understanding and patient person. I no longer let things bother me, I have learned what is really important in my life.
