Beth Long
What was your life like before you received the COVID-19 vaccine?
I was working as a full time Respiratory Therapist on the night shift, a 12 hour shift, at a hospital and educational center for developmentally disabled children and adults. I had been working for 45 years, a mother of one son, aged 27, and a widow since 2017 but with a new partner since 2018. I was in excellent health although I had a hip replacement in 2011 for osteoarthritis bone on bone which I recovered from perfectly and was active and happy.
Describe the symptoms and the timeline of the reaction.
The day I got the vaccine was in the morning around 8:00 after my shift ended in the facility where I worked. I had taken the upcoming night off expecting to not be feeling well. When I woke up in the afternoon the first thing I did was to go open the back door to let the dog out. I always go outside with him. to There are 2 steps to the patio. Decending the first step, upon landing on the second step I felt like I had no control of my right foot. When I looked at it, it appeared to be dangling at the ankle. When I tried to walk it was painful. I took additional time off from work and everyone at work knew I had gotten the vaccine but didn’t think it could possibly have been from the vaccine. I went back to work and worked with the pain and had to constantly get off my feet which is unacceptable in my profession. I made an appointment with an Orthopedic Podiatrist in April. I had ultrasound and MRI, X-rays and received a diagnosis of Posterior Tibial Tendinitis. The doctor said it couldn’t be from the vaccine and the only solution was to have my foot rebuilt in surgery.
Describe the solutions that helped your symptoms
I didn’t want to have the surgery because I had heard of Stem Cell Replacement Therapy and wanted to look into it. I was fitted with an Arizona custom brace for my foot but it doesn’t help. It makes no difference if I wear it or not and it is uncomfortable and can only be worn with my one pair of shoes. Nothing helps except to not stand up or walk or move.
Which solutions were not helpful?
I think I already said this in the section previously.
What would you like others to know?
I got denied disability but I got an attorney and appealed and on the third appeal I was granted disability benefits. I had to sell my house and it almost went into foreclosure. I have anxiety and depression but thankfully was able to retire and get social security benefits. The fact that I was pretty certain I had Covid in January 2021 and asked my primary doctor to give me a prescription for antibody testing but he said all the results in our area come back negative so I would have to go outside the area to get tested. The vaccine was mandatory at my hospital anyway but if I had the antibodies I might have refused it. I had treated Covid patients and been with them till they passed away and it was very difficult since these patients I had known for 6 years.
