B.L. – Alberta
Describe the symptoms and the timeline of the reaction.
"7/6/21
Prior to receiving the Pfizer vaccine on May 23, 2021, I was a healthy, very active 36-year old. I have no history of any prior medical conditions, do not drink or smoke, and take no prescription drugs.
Nine days later I woke up with full-body hives and large rash-like patches all over my body. These came and went and migrated for about 24 hours. Then I was hit out of nowhere with low blood pressure, elevated heart rate, dizziness, confusion, and a strange sensation of impending doom. This resulted in my first visit to the ER, where I was given a high-dose anti-histamine and sent home with a prescription for an EpiPen in case full anaphylaxis developed.
Since then, I have experienced continued low blood pressure (to the point that it felt like I would black out every time I stood up); intermittent elevated heart rate; intense nausea; migrating sensations of pain, tingling, and numbness in my hands, feet, face, and legs; extreme muscle weakness (at one point I could barely walk across a room or climb a short flight of stairs); uncontrollable muscle spasms in my feet and legs; blurry vision and a sense that my eyes cannot process visual information fast enough to track moving objects, leaving me unable to drive; an intolerance to heat (prior to this I loved hot weather and hot showers and now if feels as if I cannot bear the sensation of heat on my skin); and strange vascular symptoms (veins very visible and showing red through my skin).
I have now visited the ER on two other occasions and seen my family doctor twice. I have also been examined by a neurologist. Blood work is normal. My heart health and function is normal. I present as neurologically normal. But none of what I've experienced is normal.
Thankfully, doctors have believed me, but they have not been able to help me. All they've been able to do so far is to rule out other conditions and causes. When the symptoms were at their worst, I was terrified. I literally thought I might die. I was afraid to go to sleep because I wasn't sure I would ever wake up again. I was living moment to moment, terrified of what might happen next. I wondered if I'd had a stroke, if I had a brain tumor, if I had MS, if I would die of a blood clot, if I would become paralyzed. I still wonder if or when I will fully recover. The mental and emotional anguish has been just as bad as the physical symptoms.
-B.L - Alberta"
