Age: 27.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: TTOX
Symptoms: Headache, Infection, Laboratory test abnormal, Muscle rigidity, Muscle spasms
Clinical narrative: Symptom List  Shot was administered on September 3, 1998 Initial Reaction:  Tetanus Infection-like symptoms began about 3 or four days after the shot and included:  1. Extreme tightening of  a. Jaw/facial muscles b. Head muscles c. Neck muscles d. Shoulder muscles e. Hand muscles (clinching in sleep where nails nearly cut skin open) f. Upper back muscles 2. Severe knotting of upper back muscles-approximately half-dollar size (previously never experienced muscle knotting of any kind)  3. Fever for several days immediately after shot 4. At the site of the shot for several days:  a. Swelling of entire arm that received shot b. Area was hot and red c. Arm was very painful (could not sleep on it for at least a week) Unexplained Symptoms that have developed over the last four and a half years and am still currently experiencing:  1. Swelling and soreness under arms 2. Swelling of gland at base beneath chin  3. Exertion Headaches 4. Tension Headaches (have subsided) 5. Rapid Vision Degradation  o March 2000 First time vision correction (-1.25L/-2.00R) o May 2001 Second time vision correction o July 2001 Third time vision correction o January-March 2001 Forth time vision correction o Currently in need of new prescription 6. Muscular: d. Jaw/facial muscles still tight e. Head muscles still tight and knotted from time to time f. Neck muscles still tight and knotted g. Shoulder muscles still tight h. Hand muscles still tight i. Upper back muscles still tight and knotted j. Carpal Tunnel-severe k. During high intensity workouts:  i. No muscle burn at all ii. Very little muscle fatigue l. "Charlie Horses" both day and in sleep in places I've never had them before i. Neck ii. Calves iii. Thighs 7. Steady weight gain (to date I have gained about 70 pounds. The gain began after the incident. Prior to the incident I had never had any problems remaining fit and was at 17% body fat over a period of several years) September of 1998-October 2001: self regulated training similar to training described below. October 2001: Hired a personal trainer once a week. My workouts consist of a minimum of three hours per week strength training (lots of reps and low weight) and a minimum of four 45-minute cardio sessionswith target heart being at least an average of 80%. I am currently training in this manner and have had no significant breaks in my training since beginning. February 2002 Hired nutritionist. She recommended I get checked for diabetes. She also suggested the possibility of the tetanus toxin clogging my system and creating many of my health problems (possibly liver issues) especially the inexplicable weight gain. (I wrote down all food and rink intake for approximately nine months, which my nutritionist reviewed. And I should be losing weight, not, gaining weight.) Eye doctor also recommended I get checked for diabetes. I do not have diabetes. Thyroid stimulating hormone is normal to high. Metabolism cheecked via breathing machine. Have not lost any weight to date. Through gaining 70 pounds, my body fat percentage has remained at a steady 25%. Appearance is puffy time to time (it is like an unnatural swelling, not normal bloating). My hands will swell up to nearly 50% bigger when I walk outside. Digestion: food and alcohol cannot be processed at the same time. If I have a glas of wine with dinner, I black out and get really sick. Always thirsty. Blood pressure elevated to borderline high. Shingles on face. Treatment: Initial treatment: muscle relaxers subsequent treatment: Baclofen prescribed and used for two years. Currently am not medicated. No treatment.  Annual follow up on 03/05/04: "Pt has not recovered from adverse events. Same symptoms."