Age: 70.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: VARZOS, VARZOS
Symptoms: Headache, Limb discomfort, Pyrexia
Clinical narrative: On Monday, April 19, 2021, I had a Shingrix Vaccination about 3:30 p.m. at pharmacy.   The injection in my left shoulder did not hurt too much, but slowly the injection site turned painful, hot with swelling up to 6? long and about 4? wide.  (As of 4/23/21, it is still swollen and hot.)  I took my 3 mg Prednisone, Tylenol and went to bed because I had a low grade fever and a headache.  Tuesday morning, April 20, 2021, the pain started about 5 a.m. I had chills, a headache, and fever.  I stayed in bed; and I took Tylenol as directed, and as the day continued, I needed help to the toilet.  I tried to drink a lot of fluids and ate about 4 pieces of canned peaches.  I continued to get worse and my temperature rose to 103 degrees.  (My normal temperature is 97.4.)  At one point, I felt nauseous, and had dry heaves.    In hindsight, the first true indication there was anything really wrong was I could not get back in bed.  I also had very little balance and almost fell.  That may have been 10 or 11 p.m.  When I went to bed, I was out cold.  I think I was almost comatose and slept through wetting the bed.  Tuesday is a blur.  Wednesday, April 21, 2021 was a bad day.  I woke up at 5 am needing to use the toilet.  I got out of bed and collapsed and hit my had on the nightstand.  At that point, I could not move my legs to get up.  They were buckled under me, and my husband could not get me up, so he called 911.  I was taken by ambulance to hospital.  In the ER, my neurological issues were apparent.  I was able to give some information, though, much would not come to my mind.  I remembered I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica but did not remember for several hours that I had a maintenance chemo treatment for bladder cancer later this week, for which there is no evidence of disease. When asked to move an arm for any reason, I could not move them; the staff did.  When they let go, my arms just fell with gravity.  Sitting up without help was impossible. I said the only medicine I had taken was Tylenol and was very surprised to see I had actually taken my Prednisone the night before.  I was given 800 mg of Motrin, but I do not know how often.  I had some chills, fever and pain throughout my body most of the day.  I slept most of the time in the ER.  When I was brought lunch, I ate a few small squares of pears using a fork.  It was hard, I could not find my mouth with the fork.  The doctor said all of my many tests and vital signs were good.  When she asked me to lift my legs, I could not.  Thus, I was transferred to a bed in the hospital.  The only thing I ate there was a small bowl of applesauce again with difficulty.  I slept most of the time again.  My legs started to gain strength about 4 p.m., and I was released at 6:30 p.m.  I could have stayed the evening, but I wanted to go home.  Thursday, April 22, 2021 was a better day.  I started taking Bayer Back and Body Aspirin for my pain.  I was in less pain and more alert so I could isolate what hurt.  My left arm was still red, very hot and painful.  My right upper arm hurt too.  My headache was the worst, it even makes my ears hurt.  I got dressed and went outside for a half an hour.  I came in and put my pjs back on and went to bed.  I was still unsteady walking around. I had absolutely no energy and am unsteady while walking.   Friday, April 23, 2021.  I woke up hungry at six.  Ate two scrambled eggs, took a very fast shower because I could not stand very long, and went back to bed and slept for 5 hours.  I am still unsteady on my feet and only have a minor headache.  My arm is still hot to touch, but less swollen and painful.  I am still unsteady, but my mind is working a lot better.