Gina Brown Gampfer, Teacher

First Dose of Pfizer on 3/08/21 Lot #EN6201

Florida

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

Before the V I was an outgoing, joke cracking, Disney going, fun Mimi. I worked 2 jobs, was working on my 2nd Master's and looked forward to the days that my kids and grandkids were all at my house or we were at Disney. We would even go to Disney after being at work and school all day. I was an outgoing teacher that was very involved with my students.

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

My reactions started the night of the V. I started clenching my teeth, facial muscles tensed up, pupils dilated, I couldn't think right. That night my arms were twitching. The next day and for the net 2 weeks straight, the muscles in my stomach and back tensed up but were not totally working with my brain. It felt like my muscles were very tense but wiggly and not communicating. On about the 6th day my brain started feeling like I could not think right and I had a lot of pressure. I cant explain how it felt other than it felt like my brain was twisting in my skull. It felt like my brain was turning one way, my skull was turning another way, and the earth was turning another way. At times, it felt like my brain was magnetic and there was a huge magnet that was pulling my brain toward my forehead. I pretty much had short term memory loss. I could not remember to do things minutes after being told. The muscles issues in my stomach and back would come and go. I had about 2 weeks in June that I was so weak that I could not eat, hardly drink, my muscles felt like they were ripping from my bones. I went to the ER and they told me that being that I was not resenting a problem in my bloodwork or EKG that they cant help me. I walked away from the ER sobbing. My parents had to drive me and pick me up and witness their daughter tell them she did not think she would make it. I believe the week of July 26th I had 2 days back to back that I felt better. It was so amazing. I actually thought I was getting better. That ended with the symptoms coming back. I had to hold my head to keep it from shaking. I had a few weeks where my shoulders could not release from being up beside my ears. I had to continuously move my head and neck but cant explain why. I could not go to the loft in my house because the roof is slanted and it made my head feel like it was going to pop. I had to get to the flat at the stop of the stairs and crawl into the entrance but I could not look around. I could not look up or down. I could not focus on things across the street or the trees in my backyard. I continued with those issues more a few months. I believe it was September I had 4 days that I was able to tolerate and do stuff around the house we just purchased in April. In November I started having nighttime twitching that felt like restless leg but all over my entire body. I had a few weeks of shortness of breath but my o2 was normal. I had thankfully let go of the brain twisting feeling about early October but about Mid November I felt the pressure in my forehead come back. The anxiety and depression that has been present off and on is indescribable. It was like a chemical issue. Very scary. My hair is falling out.

Q: What was your life like after getting the vaccine?

My life after the V has been so hard. I have developed MCAS. I have lost 30 lbs in a few months because I am petrified to eat and cause my reactions to come on. I miss seeing my daughter and grandkids because they do not want to come over and disrupt me. As much as I appreciate the kindness, it makes me so sad. My grandkids are like my own children. God put me on this plant to be a mom and a Mimi. I do not get to go visit my parents because I do not feel well enough to go out. We all live about 8-10 minutes from each other. I am petrified of food and medications now. I can not go on dinner dates with my husband anymore because of my food reactions. My husband is an amazing cook and I miss eating his food so much! My son is 13 and he should be spending time out having fun, but because I have been sick, he has been stuck in the house a lot. I spent the entire summer in bed except when we went to PA for medical treatment for a week. He was then stuck in a hotel for 8 days.

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

I have been to so many drs. I had 33 vials of blood drawn in one round of tests. I have been to a Functional Dr many times, PA a few times, 3 ENT, immunologist, 3 different Neurologist, reflexologist, Functional chiropractor, 2 different medical school (listed within the list). A CT, MRI, MRA, about t do another MRI. I have taken more than I can remember supplements, tried meds, and tried reflexology. There are more things I have tried but I cannot remember

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

I reported to CDC- that was a joke. The young man that answered read me a pamphlet basically. He had no idea how to handle it. I reported to Pfizer, was on the phone for 3 hours with them. They apologized. Vaers, they messaged me weekly and gave me a temporary case number. I am not sure if my drs have reported it.

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

I am assuming the supplements and time has helped. My family being supportive has helped. The support groups I am in helped a lot as well.

Q: What do you wish others knew?

I am not sure what I want others to know other than don't doubt anyone that tells you their experience. I am not against the vaccine, I am against the fact that they pushed for everyone to get the vaccine and they had nothing to help in the event of an adverse reaction.

#WeWantToBeHeard #RealNotRare