Age: 44.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: FLU3
Symptoms: Asthenia, Blepharospasm, Blood test normal, Disorientation, Disturbance in attention
Clinical narrative: I am writing to describe the adverse effects I believe may have been associated with the administration of the FLUVIRIN (Lot # 1412201) (Novartis) vaccine to me on 10/07/14. Beginning on the day that I received the flu shot and for many weeks thereafter, I felt like I had numbness in my lower left leg and sometimes my left arm. Occasionally I would feel it in my lower left back. I was also having trouble sleeping and concentrating. The numbness seems to move around and I am also quite hot in general and am having more frequent bowel movements. My eyes were occasionally twitching uncontrollable and I was definitely irritable. Over the next couple days I began to feel disoriented, weak, and tired. This was often accompanied throughout the day with sensations of numbness or a flushed sensation on my left side. Oddly I would have days where I felt that I didn't have any symptoms and felt very relieved and then the next day it would come back again. Sometimes it all felt like there was nothing going on and other times not? Feel "cotton mouthed" sometimes (although it is drier out now). On 10/25 I went for a walk and my left felt very heavy, a burden to move them and I would sometimes feel disoriented (very mildly) while hiking, but I also played Frisbee and I felt fine? Despite this I have been very active and sleeping very well. 10/30/14 - today, 3 weeks after my flu shot while at a dermatology appointment, I noticed for the first time that I have a deep, deep bruise (yellow and blue) where I got the shot??? The hematoma is quite large although it never caused me any direct pain or discomfort. I went to doctor and explained my symptoms. After a thorough physical mainly for coordination, and checking the bruise on my arm, she ordered a number of blood tests. (All results were normal.) 11/03/14 - symptoms have been slowly clearing up. On Sunday, I felt a bit of numbness in my left leg again (after quite a bit of walking on Saturday). Otherwise, it seems to be dissipating. The one new thing remaining is sort of an inability to control the left side of my face as if it is flaccid - and also feels a bit numb. However, the affected area keeps getting smaller and smaller? 11/07/14 I decided to contact the company that administered the flu shot on 11/07 and they put me in touch with VAERS who report all such cases (AND list all such cases) to the CDC. They were very helpful in describing the best route forward describing that I suggest a VAERS report that would be sent to both Novartis and the CDC. I was assigned a case # 8088. 11/09-11/11 - the past days I have generally felt fine except that I notice that I get go through spells where my head is throbbing which distracts me quite a bi5t from concentrating on anything, be it work or at home. It seems to come and go though. I also feel a bit of weakness in my muscles, which also seems odd? For example I was swimming while out at a conference and I felt that my legs were cramping up a bit as thought I had reduced strength. The next month was a series of good and bad days with the head pressure coming and going accompanied by the facial numbness. Leading up to a trip out of the country in December, this did not bode well. 12/12/14 - Headed out of the country and during the first few days I felt a bit off - combination of symptoms I have been feeling plus being in a new place. However, the symptoms soon dissipated and I was feeling very good again. 01/05/14 - Upon returning, the heaviness and partial numbness in the left symptoms appear to have returned somewhat, although I have not felt this in my skull or face. Anecdote: At one point around 10/24 I started wondering if any of this was related to me moving to new SYNTRHOID pills recently at 137 mcg per day every day. So - BOTH Saturday 10/25 and Sunday 10/26 I took half a pill only. I then resumed full pills, but plan to do half pills on Mondays. 10/16 requested lab order from Dr for blood work to check TSH, and free T4. After going through 6.5 pills over the next two week I plan to do blood work again. 11/03 Got my blood work back today - all seems ok according to the doctors again. I hope this list of various symptoms that followed from the administration of this vaccine serve to illustrate my possible reaction to the vaccine. However, I have received this vaccine in the past without significant consequences. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience.