First Dose of Pfizer on 07/22/21
Melbourne, Australia
Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?
Normal. I was a fit 30 year old. I had just had my 30th birthday 4 days before. I am a Project Architect who leads a team of architects. I played outdoor soccer, did kickboxing and was also a kickboxing instructor.
Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?
Two days after the vaccine i started to feel sharp chest pain and palpitations. The pain became worse and also started to feel pins and needles on my left side and an ache in my left shoulder blade. I went to Emergency that night. Doctors didn't have much to say and sent me home. I ended up in hospital 3 more times that week. The second week i had really bad dizziness and brain fog and was in bed 24/7. I was extremely fatigue. I had a lot of trouble sleeping and would wake up sweating with a burning sensation around my chest. I also developed a dry cough and shortness of breath. My doctor dismissed it for anxiety and prescribed me anxiety medication because all my results were normal including blood tests, echocardiogram, chest x ray and ECGs. Symptoms have persisted to this day and i am still struggling with chest pain, mostly on the left side but middle and right occasionally, left shoulder blade pain, dizzy spells and shortness of breath.
Q: What is your life like now, after getting the vaccine?
It has been a real struggle to understand and deal with these symptoms. Never in a million years did i think something like this could happen. I am anxious and scared of what this has done to be physically and what it has already done emotionally. I haven't been the same since and don't know if i ever will be.
Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:
One cardiologist suggested i had pericarditis but none of the tests could show it. I have not had any official diagnosis. Many of the doctors have been dismissive or don't know how to treat it.
Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?
I reported it to Safevax in Victoria. I had a follow up phone call from an infectious disease physician 2 months ago but did not recommend any treatments apart from getting the second dose.
Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?
I don't know if one specific thing has helped, but my symptoms have improved a lot from when they first started. However I feel like they have plateaued in the last month or so.
Q: What do you wish others knew?
I wish others knew that this is a real issue and that we need treatment. We cannot be dismissed for anxiety and depression. People need to understand that we all are pro-vax and that is why we got the vaccine in the first place. We are now struggling with ongoing health issues. We listened and trusted the government, now it's time for them to listen and trust us.
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