Vaccine Injury Testimonial
Vaccine Injury of Cyndi Perkins
What was your life like before you received the COVID-19 vaccine?
Prior to getting the Moderna vaccine I enjoyed an active lifestyle. My husband and I liked to hike, canoe and stay active building furniture and renovating our mountain cabin. Since taking the Moderna vaccine, I have trouble standing, walking and driving a car. I am unable to do normal everyday activities to extreme fatigue, muscle pain and dizziness. I have an internal of dizziness and having difficulty knowing where I am in space. Before the Moderna vaccine, I did not have all the medical issues and symptoms I have listed in my story. I am grieving the loss of being active. The doctors are doing the best they can to support and treat my symptoms, but they do not know how long this will continue.
Describe the symptoms and the timeline of the reaction.
On August 26, 2021, I got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine. (#004F21A). On August 28, I had calf muscle pain in my legs. My legs and feet felt like they were on fire. On August 30 I wrote in my journal “leg muscles still extremely sore, heavy feeling, cramping in legs feet and hands.” These feelings continued and I started having pins and needle feelings in my feet and moving to my hands and arms.
On September 26, 2021, I got the second dose of the Moderna vaccine (batch 047C21A) and my body went haywire. Thus, the start of the doctor visits, lab tests, CT scans and PT and OT. I also had a lumbar puncture ordered by my neurologist to rule out MS. I had oligoclonal bands, in my spinal fluid and bloodwork, which ruled out MS. But it did indicate I have inflammation throughout my body. The one good thing about all of this is my neurologist, pain management, and hematologist believe this is from the vaccine. They told me “We are seeing this”.
My question is, why isn’t anyone saying anything about this? I have been diagnosed by my neurologist with myopathy, muscle pain in arms and legs, peripheral neuropathy and cerebellar ataxia, which affects my balance, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and short-term memory. I am on B12 injections to try to help with neuropathy. My neurologist has said there is no treatment for ataxia. I feel like I am continually walking on a boat. Another symptom, associated with the cerebellum, is a cough. I developed a cough in July 2022. It seems to occur when I am tired and can become severe and last for hours. I do not have cold, flu or any of the common symptoms you generally associate with a cough. It is a dry, hacking cough. August 3, 2022, it became so severe that it led to bruising of several ribs. This symptom continues to return occasionally.
I developed double vision in May of 2022. I was referred to an Ophthalmologist/neurologist to see if what treatment was available. I was not able to drive and reading became difficult. My physical therapist said they are seeing the issues I am experiencing in other patients who also received the Moderna vaccine. I had Occupational therapy to help my brain, body and eyes work together. I have prism lenses in my glasses which help to correct the double vision
ON August 12, 2022, I sent my documentation into CICP. I received an email saying that they received my documentation. I have heard nothing since then.
In the Fall of 2022 I contacted a doctor in California who is a Naturopath. She started me on supplements and made changes in my diet. She put me on a gluten free diet which helped with gut problems, bloating and bowel issues. These symptoms have improved but still raise their ugly heads occasionally. I am thankful for this doctor’s care, concern, support and research that she continues to do for my injury treatment.
In September 2023 I woke up in the middle of the night having convulsions (rigors) caused by sepsis. My gall bladder had ruptured and started disintegrating as the sepsis infection spread throughout my bloodstream. My gall bladder was removed in pieces. I was in the hospital for three days. After the sepsis my vaccine injury symptoms increased dramatically. I started having blepharitis scabbing, flaking and draining my eyes and eyelids.
December 2023, I went in for my annual urology checkup. I have kidney stones and have annual CT scans and visit with my urologist. He has seen me for the past 12 years since I lived in Florida. He looked at the CT scan and said in his 30 years of treating patients he had never seen what was growing in my bladder. I was referred to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and the doctor did a cystoscopy and biopsy of the tumor. I have squamous cell metaplasia. The tumor is too large and is growing into my bladder lining so it cannot be removed. I now have cystoscopy and checkups every 6 months to keep an eye on it. This tumor could turn into cancer. The doctor says he has 2 other patients with this rare diagnosis.
When they did the CT scan of my kidney and bladder they noticed a lung nodule. No treatment was necessary, and they would keep an eye on it.
I had no bladder tumor or lung nodule at my checkup a year earlier.
December 2024 my primary care doctor ordered bloodwork, and my liver enzymes were elevated. I had a liver ultrasound and was diagnosed with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Liver injuries are documented as vaccine injuries in The Journal of Hepatology.
Describe the solutions that helped your symptoms
B12 injections monthly and oral B12 have helped with neuropathy. A gluten-free diet has helped with gut issues. Numerous supplements have helped me to manage my symptoms. PT and OT have given me exercises to help me with cognitive, balance and vision problems. Prayer, music and daily meditation has helped to calm my fears and anxieties. Painting and my artwork is my outlet and therapy. for many years, I have journaled everyday. It is an excellent way for me to get my thoughts and feelings out.
Which solutions were not helpful?
Gabapentin was tried for neuropathy and did not help. What does not help is letting myself go into the pit of despair. I quit going to doctors who said this is all in my head and also the doctors who say there's nothing more we can do. Really no supplements or therapies have helped with my dizziness and balance.
What would you like others to know?
My name is Cyndi. I am 65 years old and a retired registered nurse. Let me say, I am not an anti-vaxxer. During the delta wave I lost several friends. This is what led me to get the vaccine. People with autoimmune disorders were not included in the trials as they would skew the outcomes. Since I have autoimmune disorders I asked my doctor, friends who are doctors and friends who are ARNP’s if the vaccine would be safe for me. They all assured me that the vaccine would be safe for me.
My journey now is going on for 4 years and has been depressing, exhausting and so frustrating. Hearing over and over from medical professionals we don’t know what else to do to help you. Normally the spike protein leaves the body after the covid shot. The spike protein never left my body. In fact, my body is now making spike protein. My immune system is going haywire trying to fight the spike protein my body is making. At the same time, I am trying to detox my body from the spike protein. No doctor can tell me when or if these medical issues will end.
