D.R. – Iowa
Describe the symptoms and the timeline of the reaction.
Entry Date: 6/19/21
On April 13, 2021 I received the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine on my left shoulder. A day later my upper shoulder hurt, like I pulled a muscle, then the next day it was gone. Followed by a pulsing sound in my left ear that went along with my heartbeat. A ENT said I had a ton of ear wax build up in that ear, which they removed. However, the pulsing sound still remained. The ENT put me on a anti-inflammatory steroid and water pill. 5 weeks later I had enough of it and went back for further eval because it wasn’t doing the trick. He told me to try Excedrin migraine. Since migraines are actually just "compressed blood vessels." The pulsing sound stopped 6 hours later. 2-3 days later my ear started hurting on the left side, accompanied by drainage in the ear into my throat. I began to have terrible headaches that made me nauseous, followed by on and off ear pain. It’s been getting worse as the weeks go on. I am now being referred to neurology. In the mean time I touched base back with my primary, who stated that she had one of her nurses have a muscular reaction to her first dose and was put on a steroid that apparently helped her and made it go away. She went on to get her second dose and is completely fine. However, I have not seen much difference.
It is now June 16, 2021 and I still have terrible headaches, ear pain that comes and goes, along with pressure in my head. I feel so defeated and not sure what to do at this point. You would think that the steroid had made some dent by now since its states that its fast acting to get ahold of the problem. I’m scared this is going to affect my life for years to come. I’m scared that I am only a small percentage of those who have had an issue and they are going to shake it off and say, “its rare and only .01% had long term issues.” I’m beating myself up for this. I still have to be a mom, wife and a full-time worker. I don’t know what to do from here and am desperate for answers for how much pain I am in. I have stayed up multiple nights crying my eyes out because I just don't know what to do. Someone please help me.
D.R. - Iowa"
