Age: 48.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: COVID19
Symptoms: Facial paralysis, Flushing, Hypoaesthesia, Injected limb mobility decreased, Myalgia
Clinical narrative: Before I start, I've really tried documenting this to you earlier and it kept timing out on me. Hopefully the third time is a charm! On Saturday, April 17th at approximately 11:55 am, (45 mins after my shot) I started experiencing partial paralysis to the left side of my face. My cheek bone started to go numb, within the hour, after a weird tingling sensation, it went from my cheek bone down towards my jaw (all becoming numb). This lasted all weekend. I used cold compresses for a little bit at a time just to make the heat coming off of that side feel a little better as my face was flushed. On Monday, April 19th, my lower cheek started to not be so numb. The tingling sensation would come and go from my eye brawl, then the side of my mouth/lip area. I developed a headache that Monday evening. Tuesday morning, my headache was gone. This tingling sensation and partial numbing would last through Wednesday, April 21st. That day, I called my doctor's office and told them about my reaction and to see if they could do some blood work or something. They said that I needed to go to the ER at a hospital for help and to get it documented. Out of all weeks for me to have a side effect, this busy mom had too much going on to schedule an ER visit. My daughter is going into high school and she had auditions and clinics where I had made the choice to figure out I will try to go there on another day. By Thursday, April 22nd, my cheek bone started to become un-numb. The affected side started to feel like the other side of my face. During this entire time, I didn't take any medicine. By Friday, April 23rd, I felt much better. I have more control of my face muscles and I feel like this might be something that was just temporary, but I told myself that if it comes back in any way, I will go to the ER regardless of what is going on in my life. It was a scary thing and now as I look at my card, it reads that the second shot is May 8th at 11:15. I am really scared to get that because who knows what will come from it and I wouldn't want to get anything permanent. I know with traveling, some countries are making it mandatory to be vaccinated. So does this mean that I will not be able to travel if I don't get that second shot. I have no idea what to do with this appointment. Any advice would be great! As of today, April 26th, I feel 95% better on my left side of my face but if I sleep on it for too long, it tends to feel heated at my cheek bone. Aside from that I'm much better. Now onto the second side effect, my left arm muscle was in excruciating pain and I could not lift my arm for two days. It effected my elbow to my shoulder. After Monday, April 19th, my arm started to get better every day. This was the arm that I got my shot in. Today, April 26th, is the first day it seems back to normal. I know you can have a sore arm with this shot, but this was much more than a sore arm. My left side of my face, my left arm, and a headache were the only abnormal events that took place after my first Covid shot. I am thankful to be feeling much better, but will continue to monitor the situation of my face as that is what is most concerning about this vaccination.