I got my first Pfizer vaccine on 24th November. Initially I had zero symptoms and felt fine. Thursday 9th December at 10pm, I woke up with stabbing chest pains and felt off. I called an ambulance and they rushed me straight to emergency, as they were not sure if I was having a heart attack.
Once I was in the ED the first thing they asked me was if I had had the Pfizer vaccine and I said, “Yes.” They then ran a blood test and ECG. The first round of bloods showed my troponin levels at 15 (normal is 11). Troponin is a chemical, which is released into the body, when there has been damage to the heart.
They ran another blood test and my levels had spiked to 30. I then had an ultrasound of my heart and was admitted to the cardio ICU. There I waited to see the cardiologist. The cardiologist confirmed I had both pericarditis (inflammation of the sac around the heart) and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). Both of these conditions were side effects following my Pfizer jab. I was in the cardiac ICU wing for four days, hooked up 24/7 on an ECG machine. My troponin levels continued to spike up to 375.
I was allowed to go home once my levels had down trended and was given advice to take three months of strong anti-inflammatory medications. I was also advised to do no exercise for four weeks, to keep my heart rate below 100. I started a strict low-fat diet, including no caffeine or alcohol. I have to see my cardiologist in four weeks time. They said that as my case was ‘mild’, I should make a full recovery in three months as long as I rested and took the recommended medications.
They have said that I am eligible for a temporary exemption of three to six months, but said they recommend I get the AstraZeneca for my next one. I am 31 years old and have a healthy weight. I am fit and had previously been doing F45 sessions five days a week. I am a non smoker and non drinker. Now I can’t even walk to the front door without my heart rate spiking above 100.
I never expected this to happen in a million years. Even more scary is that my cardiologist said I was his tenth patient in their thirties with the same issue in the last four weeks!! I’m getting married in March so I’m hoping to have a full recovery by then.