I have been really hesitant to share my story or even speak to anyone about how debilitating and scary this whole situation has been. I’m not great at opening up when times get tough. However, I want others to know they are not alone, and I feel it’s important to bring awareness to these very real injuries.
Straight up, I was hesitant to get the vaccine as I was already being treated for a heart arrhythmia (sporadic episodes of a fast heart rate). I told my GP that I was concerned and scared of potential side effects on my heart, but I also wanted to see my family, keep my job and live a normal life again.
He advised me to get it done now and said there were no risks with arrhythmias. He said it was far better than catching COVID-19.
My GP administered the vaccine on the spot. He didn’t even make me wait the 15 minutes in case of a potential reaction, which I thought was wrong. I felt okay after the first vaccine. I had slight chest pain for a couple days after. When I had it checked, I was told it was costochondritis and that vaccine side effects usually happen after the second vaccine, but they are ‘rare’.
The pain went away and I got my second vaccine on the 10th of November. I trusted the ‘specialists’ who told me side effects were ‘rare’. Immediately, I felt a warmth over my chest as the vaccine was administered – this was very weird. I was tired for the rest of the day.
A couple days later, I started to have chest pain again. I was very short of breath and dizzy when I walked around.
About a week later, I was shopping with my partner when I couldn’t take a full breath in. My chest was tight, my heart started racing, my body went weak and I nearly passed out. When the ambulance was called, I had ALL THE TESTS, but was told everything was fine.
I was bedridden for the next two weeks – super fatigued, heart palpitations when walking, exercise intolerance, dizziness and my resting heart rate went from 60 or 70 to 90 to 110bpm and 120 plus when standing up and walking around.
I had multiple trips to emergency with similar episodes. Every doctor said the same things to me. “Have you had the vaccine recently?”, “We’ve seen many people coming in with the same issues.” and “We can’t see anything wrong.”
No one had any answers about why this was happening and I was told there was nothing they could do for me. At that point, I was mentally and physically exhausted.
After probably my eighth trip to the Emergency Department, there were abnormal changes on my ECG and I was in sinus tachycardia (regular cardiac rhythm where the heart beats faster than normal and is of concern if occurring at rest). The doctor believed it was pericarditis from the vaccine.
He did a bedside echo which came back clear and then referred me for a proper echocardiogram a week later, which also came back clear. I was told because they waited so long to do the testing, they could have potentially missed it! I was also told to get in touch with my cardiologist and start taking colchicine and Ivermectin.
For two weeks I tried to get an appointment with the cardiologist without luck. My GP has referred me to a different cardiologist for further tests in January.
I’m still experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, heart palpitations, numbness in my feet at night, random adrenaline rushes, and dizziness whilst walking. I still have absolutely no answers or direction as to why this is happening or how to treat it.
Prior to the vaccine, I was going to the gym five days a week. Now, I can’t even walk 200 metres without my heart going nuts and being short of breath. I can honestly say this is one of the hardest things I have ever endured, but I’m trying to remain positive and pray I have some answers soon.
I encourage anyone who believes there is something wrong to push for tests and answers because you know your body better than anyone else!