Vaccine Injury Testimonial
Vaccine Injury of Jessica H Tweedy
What was your life like before you received the COVID-19 vaccine?
I was a highly successful Nurse Practitioner running a team of nearly 100 providers, nurses and operational staff who traveled nation-wide keeping patients healthy and in their homes for a top-tier healthcare organization. Happily married with four grown sons and grandchildren on the horizon. I was fiercely independent, at the top of my profession, and wildly successful both professionally and personally.
Describe the symptoms and the timeline of the reaction.
In March of 2020 my travel team was grounded and we briefly pivoted to telemedicine for ~ 3 weeks, however my company allowed about 1/2 of us to re-start travel during the lock downs due to our healthcare status as "essential." I got my first vaccine (due to mandates and travel) on 2/1/21 and had moderate symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue) for about 24 hours. I got my second vaccine on 3/4/21 and again had symptoms which were more severe (I really felt ill) for about 36 hours. Against my better judgement but at my husbands behest, I got a booster on 12/10/21 after which I was ill for about 48 hours. 1/29/22 I got COVID and was mildly ill for 5 total days, 3 of which I simply slept through. I woke up with a very high fever and very sore throat on day one, and days 2 through 4 had very intense chest/lung/thorax pain and extreme fatigue. I only home-tested, and was only positive on day 5 of my symptoms when I was starting to feel better. On 2/10/22 my husband and I were at the PHL airport for a connection and as we were late/running for our flight, my legs became so heavy and weak I didn't think I was going to make it... We did make the flight, but I was very concerned about my sudden neurological symptoms in my lower extremities. Over the next several months, my weakness, numbness & tingling parasthesias continued to move up my body until they hit the level of about T-3 (bra line) and included my torso and lower arms as well. Brain fog, memory loss, difficulty with word finding, anxiety and multiple bouts with suicidal ideation, tinnitus, nystagmus, fatigue, exercise intolerance, falls with multiple fractures (although I have lost pain sensation in my lower extremities so they weren't painful), loss of proprioception and vibratory sense, dysautonomia, & multiple GI issues (which lead to an upper GI bleed due to slow transit) also became part of my symptom profile along with loss of bowel, bladder and sexual sensation. I was unable to drive for over 3 years and now use a cane for stability. I had thousands of dollars of tests, saw neurologists locally and in multiple other states, and after over 1000 days of "work up" was able to get a diagnosis of CIDP/SFN which lead to 6 monthly sessions of IVIG. My symptoms are now stable-ish, and I have been able to work continuously (although not particularly comfortably), but due to a job (and health insurance) change I am not yet able to get back to getting IVIG infusions so I am noticing some back-sliding with my symptoms, unfortunately.
Describe the solutions that helped your symptoms
Give myself grace
4 to 5 or more liters of fluids/day plus electrolytes daily
Vitamin D, C, B-12 and other supplements (trial and error)
Atenolol for the inappropriate tachycardia
Low-Dose Naltrexone for the inflammation
Guanfacine & NAC for the brain fog/concentration issues
PT/Functional Manual Therapy
Vibration Plate "exercise" for low impact movement
Intermittent fasting
Keeping a sense of humor and perspective
Research, research and more research
My PCP who has always been on my side and believed me
My husband who has been my rock
Making and taking time for joy
Which solutions were not helpful?
"Just move more"
Mainstream media consumption
Doctors/providers/caregivers who don't see the whole picture
What would you like others to know?
This is real. The COvid vaccines hurt some people - not all - but too many. Going through this has put me in some very dark, and very terrifying places where I questioned my sanity, intelligence and profession. No one should have to experience this, MOST ESPECIALLY CHILDREN who make my heart ache. My professional colleagues who dismiss me and my experience cuts me to my core. We have a right to informed consent and to make personal health care choices, and those should always be respected. There is still hope, humor and joy in the world to be celebrated - even if I now experience them differently and with a changed physical body.
