Thanks To (Real Not Rare) Giving The Vaccinated Injury People A Voice!
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
I was relatively active. I enjoyed a lot of hiking, gardening, playing with my dogs, and music. I was healthy and in good shape.
Q: Would you like to share your reasons for getting vaccinated?
I was retraining as a social worker, so I was in school and it was required. Also to travel (fly) between provinces.
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
After my first Pfizer vaccine, I developed flu like symptoms for 4 or 5 days. Returned more or less to normal.
Within 12 hours of my second shot, I began feeling very unwell and fell into a fitful fever-like sleep. Later that night I began to experience palpitations and tachycardia. I experienced 3 tachycardia bouts within the 24 hours after my shot, with the 3rd one resulting in me passing out and an ambulance ride to the hospital. Within the next two weeks, I experienced many bouts of tachycardia everyday combined with severe chest pain, massive pressure in my head and chest, felt like my heart was coming out my throat, cold sweats, and pain. There was also memory loss, brain fog, and fatigue. Symptoms only started to get better once I went on very high doses of ASA, but continued to have significant symptoms for months. During this time, I also experienced swelling of my hands and feet, which often resulted in discomfort and discoloration. 9 months later, I am still experiencing some tachycardia, brain fog, and swelling of the feet.
Q: What is your life like now, after getting the vaccine?
I am still experiencing severe exercise intolerance and fatigue. I find it hard to get through most days, but things have been improving. I haven't been able to go for a hike, more than a 5 min walk, or enjoy playing with my dogs, since I got my second shot.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
When the paramedics were called and I explained that I thought I was having a reaction to the vaccine, they lectured me on the importance of getting vaccinated and that I was likely just stressed. When I got to the hospital I was told that it definitely was NOT the vaccine and must be an underlying condition. They released me as all the beds were full without doing the proper bloodwork, but they did order an emergency holter that I got 1 week later. In that one week, I was taken back to the ER with the same symptoms. This time the ER doctor told me not to come back, unless I lost consciousness or the tachycardia was sustained. 3 weeks later, I finally saw a cardiologist who gave me a diagnosis of suspected pericarditis, but he could not confirm this, as I had already started taking ASA to treat myself. I was given a pericarditis treatment including colchisine with my ASA. There have been follow ups but not further treatments or diagnostics.
Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?
I immediately reported to my local public health unit by self-reporting via an AEFI form. Given that the hospital said it wasn't the vaccine, I had to report it myself. The public health unit disregarded it as I only had a suspected pericarditis diagnosis, so they recommended me to continue on with vaccination. I believe this to be malpractice, as recommending me to continue with vaccination could lead to me being further injured or death.
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
My symptoms have been improving slowly. The main treatment is ASA, which provides the most relief. I have also found drinking White Pine Tea to be helpful, even if it's just for my peace of mind.
Q: Have you had Covid before?
No, I haven't knowingly had Covid.
Q: What do you wish others knew?
If I had been treated with respect and care, I wouldn't be as angry as I am now. I could accept being injured, if my data was being used to make a safer vaccine or help develop treatments for those of us injured. But instead I've been silenced, mocked, ignored, and called a liar or mental health case.
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