I’m a 30 year old relatively healthy female and mother to a four year old boy. I am an Enrolled Nurse and about to start my bachelor’s degree. I’ve suffered migraines and some weight gain for a few years, but never anything serious. I’ve also had an appendectomy and some female reproductive issues, but again, nothing major.
I got my first Pfizer on the 12th of March 2021. I had just worked my first shift (nurse) administering vaccines to hospital staff for 10 hours and there was a spare dose. I was all for it. I had it and didn’t feel a thing. I already had a headache from working, and my mum was a patient in the same hospital, so of course I was also tired. I had no arm pain and briefly wondered if it was saline, but pushed that aside with a laugh.
On the 9th of April, I went in for my second Pfizer. Again, no sore arm or any other issues. It was only a few days later that I started getting heart palpitations which I’ve had before, and put it down to anxiety.
I spent the next few months working and still administering Pfizer and AstraZeneca to everyone who could have it. I was all for it, and I had no issues with it because I believed the side effects were so minimal for most people.
Most people whom I gave second vaccines to said they were fine, and some felt pretty average for a week or so. But I hadn’t heard of any rare reactions after administering over 2000 vaccines!
My friend (GP clinic nurse) had a spare vaccine (18th of December) and I knew I’d have to have it, but was trying to push it out so I could take it closer to winter for extra protection. I ended up having it (3rd Pfizer) and was initially fine.
I woke up the next morning to a horrible pain in my left arm, except it wasn’t where I’d had the vaccine. The pain was in my armpit. My lymph nodes had swelled right up. My upper chest was in so much pain, and I couldn’t lift my arm. It was a Sunday and I struggled through the day, trying to be there for my son but I felt like crap. Monday came and I went to see my GP. She wasn’t on and so I saw another female doctor. She gave me some anti-inflammatory medications and we kept an eye on my lymph nodes for a few days.
Over those few days, my chest pain became unbelievably painful, abdominal pain on my right side and issues going to the toilet. I decided to go to the hospital. Even with chest pain, I had to wait over six hours to be seen. My ECG was clear so I decided to head home. The pain continued but I went to the hospital again about a week later.
I was in hospital for over eight hours and given pain relief, chest X-ray and plenty of blood tests. Everything was clear. Technically, this was a good sign because I didn’t want there to be any issues with my heart, but I wanted answers.
My GP had me on Endone daily, and I was scheduled for a gastroscopy and colonoscopy. During all of this, I established an abscess in my groin and needed a 2 day hospital admission for surgery. COVID-19 procedures were all taken into consideration including a COVID-19 test before theatre.
An abscess in my groin got more attention in hospital than my constant chest pain!
Since that particular surgery at the beginning of January 2022, I have had non stop chest pains – all day, every day. I have tried limiting the Endone intake because I know the side effects.
I ended up in hospital again last week. Each trip is usually by ambulance, and I’m given morphine or fentanyl to help settle the pain. This time, nearly every test was done. I have been told it’s reflux and given medication to relieve any possible pain. The medication never helps the pain in my stomach or throat. Nexium and other drugs in that category give me no relief whatsoever.
A gastroenterologist told me I have intestinal colic. It’s been recommended I see a psychologist for my mental health, and then see another psychologist who works with the stomach. I’ve had three sessions this week! They don’t believe it has anything to do with vaccine.
At one particular hospital, I felt like I was being treated like a drug addict and made to feel like I was completely crazy! I have chosen to no longer get care from that facility because I don’t want to deal with the judgement they direct at me. I was laughed at and snickered at right in front of me, and told there is no way the vaccine could possibly have resulted in these symptoms.
It’s now the 30th of January and I still have major chest pains every single day. My pain levels are a 7/10 in general, and increases during flares up. I didn’t think the pain could have been related to the vaccine until another nurse suggested it to me. Now, it’s all I think about. I have resigned from my GP clinic, and will start my study in less than a month.
This chest pain is with me every single day. Not once has it been suggested I see a cardiologist. I read the stories on here and I nearly cry. I hate that I pushed so hard for people to be vaccinated for my own freedom. I hate that I even gave the vaccine to so many people. The stories are opening my eyes and my fellow nursing friends’ eyes. But we have no pull in our community. We are seen as baby nurses who know nothing.
I am so sorry to everyone who has gone through so much since this whole saga began, and I wish I could have seen the future to prevent this, or even just not take jobs that entail this.