Age: 45.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: FLU3
Symptoms: Neck pain, Paraesthesia, Shoulder pain, Syncope
Clinical narrative: Tingling, numbness in feet and hands. Weakness in arms and legs and walking unsteady. Had a greater difficulty with breathing. First 4 months the worst. Asked to have physical therapy; used inhaler. 11/5/02 ongoing. I had a TIA on 9/27/02 (it was my second one; the other had been in August of 1997). I had 4 different sessions of physical therapy (told therapist of the reaction to the flu shot and also an orthopedic doctor. Physical therapy March 2003 into January 2004. On 11/2/02, the doctor I was seeing knew of the 9/27 TIA because I told him of it then. But I was fine in October of 2002 except for my knee buckling more often, but I was able to walk everywhere. Walking is my main mode to transportation. I had to ask my family and friends to take me to town a lot after getting that shot. Most times, the first 4 months, I was down in bed unable to walk to the bathroom from the bedroom without holding on to the walls, doorways and the stove etc. Preparing meals was very hard to do, my hands didn't have the strength. I wish I had known about this report form back in November 2002 and that a patient or family member could fill this report out. Also, I didn't know a person could report an adverse reaction to the health department. On 9/24/03, I saw a doctor and was diagnosed with back pain and leg weakness and these remain, but not as bad as when it first started. It took 14 months to recover. I should have been properly diagnoses and treated in November of 2002. Doctors do not want to report. And doctors also want to point to the fibromyalgia when its not even the case of another medical condition. 11/4/02 Influenza vaccine in upper left shoulder (near bone). On 11/5/02, I woke up with severe pain in my upper arm (left) shoulder and neck and into the back of my head. I couldn't turn my head to the left and I had extreme fatigue and I couldn't get out of bed until about noon. That morning, while still in bed, I had numbness and tingling in both hands and feet, and then into my arms and legs. I was unsteady on my feet; felt like I'd collapse to the floor, but I didn't. My symptoms got worse when I was out in the cold and breathing became more difficult. I believe I called the doctor's office on the 6th and they set up an appointment for the 20th. He sent me for some blood work. It was more than 3 months later that he'd even began to take my medical condition seriously if at all. I believe he did so only because of the county assistance office and social security sending him forms to fill out. Because of his lack of properly diagnosing my condition and treating me, I discharged him as my doctor by September 2004. I did have MRI's and EEGs though, and still don't know what was wrong. With fibromyalgia to contend with and ongoing episodes of syncope of which I now believe may be episodes of narcolepsy, this has been since 1997 for syncope. I had a head injury and had gotten an electrical shock during that summer and have been passing out ever since. So if the fibromyalgia, TIA and/or narcolepsy has contributed to me getting an adverse reaction to the flu shot I do not know. I did not get the flu shot this past winter and I will not ever again. And the thing is, I had gotten a flu shot every year prior to November 2002 for 14 years, without any medical problems occurring. I also have seasonal allergies, endometriosis, and also anxiety. Had reactions to Vibramycin, Duricef, Cipro, Doxycycline. Also orthopedic doctor said I have bursitis in my left hip and my primary doctor has said I have osteoarthritis in my knees. Diagnosed after November 2002 in 2003.