Age: 65.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: PPV
Symptoms: Abdominal pain upper, Angiogram abnormal, Atrial fibrillation, Blood pressure decreased, Blood test normal
Clinical narrative: On May 1, 2006 I went to the Hospital for my annual physical.  When the Doctor discovered that I had Atrial Fibrillation and kept in the hospital for my tests and started me on hear medication.  When I returned on May 12, 2006 for a recheck, Dr inquired if I had had a  recent flu or pneumonia shot.  She stated that she thought I should have a pneumonia shot right away as I had a heart disease and then have a flu shot in late fall when the vaccine was available.  She directed her nurse to get the pneumonia vaccine and give me a shot.  The nurse left the room and returned and stated that they did not have a certain vaccine for pneumonia, but did have another vaccine in stock.  Then Dr. said it would be alright to use what they had in stock.  My wife and I both heard this, but at the time it did not really mean too much.  So I was given some shot for pneumonia.  Sometime around 10:00 that same evening, I started having pain in my left arm.  That did not alarm me as I had been told I might have some redness and pain where I had the shot.  Then I started to feeling very nervous and jittery and had an upset stomach.  I was not able to go to sleep until sometime after 4:00 A.M. Saturday morning.  Saturday the 13th I did not feel good and slept off and on all day.  Then on Sunday, May 14th.  I started having a few minor pain that were in my chest and left arm.  On Monday, May 15, I decided to try to go to work.  When I arrived there I got to feeling much worse and the pains in my left arm and chest were getting stronger.  I decided to go to the hospital emergency room.  At this point the pains were a 10 on the pain scale.  They thought I was having a heart attack.  But all tests indicated that it had nothing to do with my heart.  I told them that I had been feeling bad ever since I had the pneumonia shot that past Friday.  The Dr. said that a pneumonia shot would not cause type of reaction.  I spent 2 days in the hospital while they ran a battery of tests.  Nothing other than my A-Fib showed up.  By this time the pain had gotten into my left shoulder.  My physician had a scan of my left shoulder and arm done, but nothing unusual showed up.   The pain, tingling and numbness started to travel throughout my body.  On May 28, 2006, I was admitted to the Hospital emergency room as my blood pressure had dropped very low.  The cardiologist ordered an angiogram as they still suspected my heart.  But I had A-Fib and a very small amount of plaque build up and nothing else.  The pain, tingling and numbness was then in my stomach and left side of my body from my shoulder to my leg.  So then Dr. decided to send me to a neurologist.  He sent me to have a MRI's of my spine and brain.  They did show anything wrong.  He did an electronic test on me and concluded that whatever I had was affecting my nerves.  He then ordered a spinal tap and a battery of tests for various diseases.  Everything came back normal.  By this time the pain, tingling and numbness had reached my face and head.  I was having terrible headaches and the numbness was in my cheeks, jaws, mouth, tongue and sometimes in my throat.  My ability to chew and swallow my food at times was very difficult.  My vision, speech and hearing have all been affected by this.  Dr. said he had no answers as to what my problem might be.  I told him about the pneumonia shot that I had the day all this started and inquired about the possibility of have been given the wrong vaccine at the time I had the shot, as they did not have the pneumonia vaccine that the Dr first ordered and was given a shot of some substitute vaccine.  He said that there was only 1 type of pneumonia vaccine and the I was having were not consistent with a pneumonia shot reaction symptoms.  Every time I had to go to a different Dr. I always told them about the fact that Dr. had given me a substitute vaccine shot for pneumonia as my wife and I had both heard her and the nurse discuss the fact that they did not have the vaccine that Dr. first ordered.  Dr. sent me to Medical Facility to see Dr., as Dr thought perhaps I was having mini strokes.  Dr. tested me and reread the results from my MRI discs.  He concluded that I had not had any strokes of any kind and decided to run another battery of tests.  He had the lab take 6 vials of blood for testing.  The tests all came back normal.  I again mentioned about the pneumonia shot I had been given on the day this all started.  Again I was told there was only 1 vaccine for a pneumonia shot.  As of today I am still having problems and have not been able to work since May, 2006.  At first I would have a bad day then may be the next day would be better.  Now it seems as though everyday is a bad day and I still have the numbness, pain and tingling in parts of my body and my left side feels like I have a knot in my stomach just above my waistline.  Recently my wife and I were going over some literature she was given at the hospital when attending a diabetic class.  In this literature it states that there are two types of vaccine available.  One for use in children under 2 years of age and one for persons from 2-64 years of age with chronic illness and those 65 years of age or older.  My question is this- they did not have the vaccine that Dr. ordered for my pneumonia shot and they gave me a substitute.  Could it be possible that I was given the vaccine that was suppose to be given to children under 2 years years of age that it states is not recommended for adults.  According to the literature one is PCV is given to children under the age of 2 in 4 doses and the PPV is given to adults and children over 2.  If this has happened, what can be done at this point?  Is there anything that be given to counteract this?  I have been sick for 6 months and am desperate for some solution to my problem, so I can go back to feeling normal again.  I have a November 24th appointment at clinic.  As you will note there are quite a few years form the date I first filled out the vaccine Adverse Event Reporting Formand now.  The reason for this is the fact I have never been able to get the information form the center regarding Manufacturer, Lot # and Route/Site for the pneumoccal vaccine that I received on May 12, 2006.  I still don't have this information.  I still have the same problems that I was having in 2006.  They are in my system daily, but sometimes they affect me alot more than others.  But I have never been entirely free of them since May 12, 2006.  When they decide to attack I am never sure just how bad they are going to get.  Sometimes they are so bad I have to sit down and rest for a while and other times I can continue to do what I am doing.  I deal with this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  In November, 2006 I spent 5 days at clinic undergoing a battery of tests.  I have also had a spinal tap, plus several other medical tests.  The only thing that has resulted in the tests is I have severe sleep apnea, which I use a C-Pap machine nightly for this.  I take medication daily for the artrial fibrillation.  My heart doctor said it is only a mild A-Fib.  He shocked it back into rythm, but it did not stay because of all the other problems I have form the pneumonia vaccine.  The only times I have felt normal was when large amounts of blood were taken for testing.  Then I was symptom free for 12-24 hours depending on how much blood was taken.  Every doctor that I have talked to is completely baffled about my situation and says as the symptoms started that evening after I had the shot, it had to have something to do with the vaccine I was given.  I did not have any redness at the injection site, never any swelling or pain.  I am really at my wits end as to what to do.  I decided to just go ahead and file this report and if you have any knowledge as to what caused this reaction and how long with it last I sure would gladly welcome any information you could give me.  I have been on the internet trying to find what ingredients were in the pneumonia shot, but was never able to find a list as I don't have any information as to the manufacturer.  I discuss this problem with any new doctor I see regarding my ongoing problems since May, 2006.  They are intrigued with this information, but have never had any patients that had suffered with a reaction that I have. 2/13/09-records received for 9/1/06 for C/O atrial fibrillation and idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. C/O numbness and tingling and difficulties with smell and taste and dental numbness. Symptoms fluctuate. Etiology of sensory complaints is unclear as neurolgoic exam largely nonfocal except for some loss of vibration in lower extremities. Rapid onset and spread of symptomatoloy doubt related to post vaccination type of syndrome.  May 27 and 28 2006 hospitalized for symptoms of cold sweats. June C/O swelling of tongue, face and eyelids and tinnitus. dizziness and loss of balance. Diagnosed with anxiety.  Follow-up: It is still affecting my nervous system. Some times it is mild and other times it really causes my nervous system the same problem I've had since day 1. I truly wish that someone somewhere could find something to alleviate the problems it has caused me; and is still continuing to do so 3 1/2 years later. Is there anyone in the medical profession that there could be of help? If so I would sure like to talk to them.