Dee Wastney

First Dose of Pfizer on 08/23/21

New Zealand

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

Beautiful. I was loving life. I have 2 young children, I work as an in home childcare educator, we were happy, healthy and living life doing the things we all love. Happy and healthy.

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

4 hours post jab I started to notice a trembling feeling in my chest. It grew stronger as the afternoon passed and by evening I was so tired. I figured I'd just sleep it off. Had 4 hours sleep then was woken by the trembling feeling, in what felt like a panic attack. I've never experienced anything like it before! My heart was thumping so hard, I was short of breath, the trembling was in my neck, chest and abdomen. I had an intense headache at the back and base of my head. I felt nauseous. Over the next 11 weeks I've suffered from insomnia and fatigue, dizzy spells where I had to sit or lie down for fear of falling, headaches that are either short and sharp like I'm being stabbed or intense dull aches for hours on end regardless of any medication I took to help it, heart thumping/pounding, blurred vision, a metallic taste in my mouth, stuttering and mumbling my words, little to no appetite, blood clots during menstruation, but the trembling is persistent!

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

I've had days where I couldn't get out of bed, days where I've just cried, days where I felt ok but mid afternoon it all starts to ramp up, nights where I can't sleep, days where I feel like I need to sleep but can't, feeling confused. I have missed special occasions, days where I felt unsafe driving due to the dizziness and trembling. In NZ a mandate was passed for those of us in education to be fully vaccinated by 31 Dec. Choosing not to get the 2nd vaccine means I will lose my job. No jab, no job. I'm under immense stress and worry because of it.

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

Initially I went to the emergency department where they ran an ecg, tested my vitals, took many blood tests - all of which were fine. 4 ED visits further ecg tests, more blood tests for everything from diabetes to cancer, numerous GP visits with different GP's. Diagnosed with anxiety and put on anti anxiety medication. Prescribed Zopliclone to help me sleep. Beta blockers. I've seen a naturopath who gave me a detox protocol. Referred to a neurologist (still waiting for the appointment), referred to a psychologist (haven't heard anything from them), Referred to a medical microbiologist and infectious disease specialist (still waiting for appointment). Referred for an ultrasound on my ovaries etc (denied).

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

A nurse in ED reported my experience to CARM. No response.

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

Around week 5 I started feeling slightly better, weeks 6-9 were horrible, weeks 10 to now I've started having good days with little mild bouts of trembling and only after a good sleep. If I don't take Zopliclone the nights are Terrible, the trembling increases, heart pounding, night sweats etc.

Q: What do you wish others knew?

I wish I had never taken this jab! I wish I never crumbled to the fear our government instills. I wish I had of listened to my gut instinct! This is REAL. The side effects are so real. I want people to know that they are more common than we are told.

#WeWantToBeHeard #RealNotRare