First Dose of Pfizer on 01/15/21
Second Dose of Pfizer on 02/06/21
South Carolina
76 yrs old
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
I was very healthy with osteoarthritis that was controlled with Naproxen (prescription strength Aleve). I exercised daily either swimming a mile or more or cycling and weights.
Q: Would you like to share your reasons for getting vaccinated?
Because of my age, I was told I was vulnerable.
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
No reaction to 1st shot and mild overnight flu-like symptoms immediately after 2nd shot. Then about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks after 2nd shot, I awoke one morning and couldn’t move my shoulders or arms (couldn’t push up to get out of bed). The pain was awful but lessened as day went on. The stiffness, immobility and pain quickly progressed to my neck, hips, legs, wrists, hands and fingers. By end of June, I literally couldn’t move by body in the morning. My husband had to lift me out of bed and help me get dressed.
Q: What is your life like now, after getting the vaccine?
I’m doing ok now because I am on prednisone for a minimum of one year.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
I googled my symptoms and they were textbook for Polymyalgia Rheumatica. My family dr. and my rheumatologist both emphatically insisted that I did not have this because my blood tests were normal (despite data that shows 5% patients have normal blood tests). I was prescribed a short 6 day regimen of prednisone at 2 different times and the pain and stiffness were immediately alleviated. As soon as I finished the doses, my pain and immobility returned with a vengeance. The local doctors had no clue. Finally, I made an appointment with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MI. My husband and I went for 10 days in August. They were wonderful and after 8 days of many varied tests, they diagnosed me with Polymyalgia Rheumatica! The treatment for this is prednisone for at least one year. I started on 15mg per day and am reducing by 1 mg a month. I am currently on 6mg per day still with no pain. The rheumatologist at Mayo said if pain returned after I finish the prednisone, he will give me hydroxychloroquine. No doctor would admit that my condition was related to the COVID vaccine. One doctor did say that vaccines have been known to cause this condition. I googled injections and Polymyalgia Rheumatica and it said that the flu shot and the COVID vaccine have caused this condition.
Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?
Local family dr., 2 local rheumatologists, local emergency room and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
Yes, prednisone helped immediately.
Q: What do you wish others knew?
Do your own research concerning your health.
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