John Rukavena

My health issues prior to Covid vaccination were intermittent dysphagia due to an anti gastrointestinal esophageal reflux implant and lower back pain which was later diagnosed as a torn hip labrum and femoral bone spur.

Prior to vaccination, I would run 6 miles every other day alternating with weight lifting.  I believe that I was above average in over-all health and athletic ability compared to those my age. 

I received my first Pfizer Covid vaccination on 12/29/20, the 2^nd vaccination was received on 1/19/21. Just prior to my 2^nd vaccination I developed insomnia and fatigue which I never linked to the vaccination received on 12/29/20. In early March of 2021 I became lightheaded upon standing which would resolve after a few seconds. On 3/27/21 I had my first ever syncope episode and collapsed to the floor after getting up from bed abruptly.

From 3/27/21 until November 2021 I continued to have insomnia, fatigue, lightheadedness upon standing and new onset heat intolerance during the summer of 2021.

On 10/11/2021 I received my 3^rd Pfizer Covid vaccination. I don’t remember anything happening until approximately 6 weeks later when I had a pre-syncope episode. I also developed severe lightheadedness with hot showers approximately 6-8 weeks after the 10/11/2021 vaccination.

I saw a nurse practitioner on 3/31/22 to address the insomnia, fatigue, lightheadedness and obtain blood work. She prescribed me Cyclobenzaprine for sleep and ongoing back pain along with Modafanil to keep me alert at work. The blood work was unremarkable.

Relative to my pre-covid vaccination health I would estimate that my level of functioning decreased by 25% by late March 2022. I was able to work but often had to leave 1-2 hours early. I had to take daily naps and could no longer run or exercise without enduring significant exhaustion for several days.

In mid October 2022 I once again got up abruptly from bed and had another syncope episode and collapsed to the floor. After the 2^nd syncope episode I requested a neurological referral from the nurse practitioner whom I saw on 3/31/22. I also developed severe neck pain from this fall which I still deal with today.

Due to my 2^nd syncope episode I had to miss work for several weeks. I was overdue to receive both Covid and Flu vaccinations. At that time it was my understanding that I was required to receive both Covid and Flu boosters to remain employed. Previous emails from my employer stated they were following CDC guidelines regarding Covid boosters and the CDC was recommending the fall booster.

I received the 4^th and final Covid vaccine on 10/27/22. The first 3 covid vaccinations were Pfizer. The 4^th covid vaccine was Moderna. Similar to the first 3 vaccinations I didn’t notice anything immediately other than some shoulder pain in the arm of Covid vaccination. Approximately 2 weeks after the 4^th dose I developed chest discomfort which I initially believed to be indigestion. On 11/15/22 the chest pain intensified, my baseline heart rate was elevated and I became increasingly more lightheaded. I went to the Emergency Department but all testing was unremarkable. I was referred to a cardiologist who diagnosed me with vaccine induced Pericarditis which was confirmed by echo-cardiogram.

Once I became aware of Covid vaccine injury it became clear to me that the symptoms of insomnia, fatigue, lightheadedness, pre-syncope, syncope and heat intolerance were all signs of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a form of Dysautonomia.

In July of 2023 I was officially diagnosed with POTS along with Mast Cell Activation which is also associated with Covid vaccination. After consultation with a representative from REACT-19 I was urged to obtain immediate blood work done to exclude the possibility that the POTS resulted from the SARS-COV-2 virus. On two occasions laboratory testing confirmed that I was never infected by the SARS-COV-2 virus.

In 2023 I had additional testing which validated my claim of vaccine injury. Blood sent to Celltrend revealed that I had auto-antibodies which were more likely to be found in those with Covid vaccine injury. I had a micro-clot test which revealed 3.5/4 clotting, also common in Covid vaccine injured patients, especially in those with a genetic predisposition to Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI1) dominance which I was also confirmed to have. I had a cytokine panel done through IncellDX which revealed elevated IL-6, VEGF and SCD40, additional markers common in Covid vaccine injured patients.

Summary of Vaccination and Symptoms

I developed insomnia and fatigue approximately 2.5 weeks after the dose received on 12/29/20 just a few days prior to the 2^nd dose on 1/19/21.

Lightheadedness upon standing started approximately 6 weeks after my 2^nd dose on 1/19/21.

1^st ever syncope episode occurred on 3/27/21.

New onset mild heat intolerance developed in the summer of 2021.

Pre-Syncope episode approximately 6 weeks after dose received on 10/11/21

Severe heat intolerance with hot showers developed approximately 4-6 weeks after dose on 10/11/21.

Worsening insomnia and fatigue from November 2021-October 2022.

2^nd syncope episode mid October 2022 resulting in chronic neck pain.

Shoulder pain in the arm of vaccination 1 day after dose on 10/27/22

Chest pain and tachycardia approximately 2-3 weeks after 10/27/22 dose.

Intermittent tinnitus, migraines, head pressure, blurry vision, body ache, internal zap sensations, muscle spasms vertigo and many other weird sensations approximately 4 weeks after dose on 10/27/22 (Some of these symptoms may be due to the 2^nd syncope episode approximately 2 weeks prior to dose on 10/27/22. I am still evaluating.)

Propranolol helped with HR and anxiety. Prednisone helped with loss of appetite and joint pain.

Colchicine did not improve my Pericarditis or sinus tachycardia and made diarrhea and G.I. issues significantly worse. I had a difficult time controlling my sinus tachycardia with Metoprolol Succinate possibly due to absorption issues resulting from GI issues and erratic nature of my tachycardia (worse in morning or after taking nap)

It's important to manage expectations, it seems like if I had a better day I would then proceed to push myself a little bit more the next day then reach an new low in how I felt the day after that. I would suggest waiting until you have 7-10 "better days" before you push yourself to do more.