First Dose of Pfizer on 08/18/21 Lot #FC3181
Second Dose of Pfizer on 09/08/21 Lot #FC3182
Alabama
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
Great, no health issues and I didn’t know a Cardiologist
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
With my first vaccine I had mild symptoms like heart flutters, but not severe at all. But I received my second shot on September 8th, and that day I will never forget. On September 10th I went to my primary doctor with heart issues. He ran an EKG and saw a little issue but something. By that night I was in the ER. They ran 3 EKG and thought I was having a heart attack. They did a heart calf, but said nothing was wrong with my arteries. The pain was so severe that I started having hot flashes and blacked out. They then put me in ICU and told me I had pericarditis. Went home!! 4 days later it was worse. They did another heart calf told me the arteries was fine again, and said I had myocarditis and inflammation of the lungs. I was doing breathing treatments in the hospital every 6 hours. It was like a night mare after leaving the hospital because I was confused, and no one had really seen it before with the vaccine - nor that severe. I still have problems today with reacting pain to my heart if I overdo anything. So now I have to take it easy.
Q: What was your life like after getting the vaccine?
It’s different for sure. I have to take it easy or my heart pains will start back. I was on a lot of medication for a month. I was on steroids, anti inflammatory medication and pain meds. Now I’m not on anything, but I still have flare ups. I continue to go back and forth to the doctor.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
Well at first I was angry because nobody would admit it came from the vaccine. It was like it was just happening to me. Then another doctor was like "you just can’t take pain because pericarditis isn’t that painful". But my doctor today has admitted it was vaccine related, and that my pain is normal. He is really patient with me and super understanding. He runs a lot of tests like Eco/ ultrasound and EKG’s to see why I’m still having flare ups.
Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?
Nowhere!!!
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
The symptoms improve, but they always come back. The steroids and the Colchicine really help but it was like a temporary fix because the pain in my chest continues to come back.
Q: What do you wish others knew?
I wish everyone knew there is a chance that you will get pericarditis or myocarditis if you take the vaccine. I will share that it’s really painful and it changed my life a lot. I’m afraid to overdo anything, I’m afraid of stressing myself out. It’s really a life changing event just to say I’m vaccinated.
