Age: 50.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: FLU3, FLU3
Symptoms: Dizziness, Immediate post-injection reaction, Laboratory test, Nausea, Tremor
Clinical narrative: October 06, 2009 following within 15-20 minutes of a flu shot Eyes blurry not able to focus, & brain fog, after approximately another 15 minutes I became nauseated. Within approximately 20 -30 minutes paresthesia, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, chills, sitting on a chair & unable to stand, lowered myself to the floor, ambulance was called,  felt like I was going to pass out and lost all sensation in my body, electrical (Tremors) type feelings over my whole body...was put on oxygen & had to be lifted on gurney & was taken by ambulance to the Emergency room  started IV gave saline and medication for nausea, had unsteady gait, tremors in legs. I was dismissed from ER by wheelchair around 8:30 pm. Sent home with potassium supplement still very weak and ill feeling I laid around house for 3 days. On 10/13 I was seen by a Dr at the clinic with weakness, shakiness, paresthesia, dizziness & shortness of breath.  I would lose the ablilty to walk and support myself needing a wheelchair ... Dr. said was allergic reaction to the flu shot.  Dr ordered a shot of depomedrol in the clinic.  I was then admitted to the hospital with continuing symptoms shakiness, & inability to support myself in walking.  In addition I had palpitations, tremors, flushing, head & eye pressure.   I was transferred to another Hospital from 10/14/09-10/19/2009 to consult with Neurology. I had an echocardiogram, nerve conduction tests, and a Tilt table test.  I was sent home with diagnosis of POTS = Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome  and put on Florinef  0.1 mg  not able to return to work 7+ weeks now, continue to have terrible weakness (jelly like sensation in legs & arms)  with exertion of body, dizziness, blurred vision @ times, head & eye pressure, dyspnea, with vibration sensation felt in my legs.  Jerks sometimes happen with my body.  Order was given for Physical Therapy which I am attending now. Continue to have symptoms return with exertion or use of my body. Some days are worse than others with intermittent symptoms. 11/25 & 11/30/09:  Discharge summaries, ED and hospital records and outpatient consultations received for dates of service 11/6/09 to 11/24/09.  Dx:  Weakness, global but profoundly in the lower extremities, etiology unclear,  fibromyalgia, Possible UTI, recent hypokalemia, corrected.  Postural tachycardia syndrome.  Presented with  c/o feeling "weird,"  eyes had trouble focusing, blurred vision, lightheadedness, difficulty breathing, fatigue, tingling in neck, feeling faint, cold sensation, pressure sensation in lower abdomen, diarrhea, low back pain, visible tremors, and shakiness, difficulty concentrating, weakness and tingling in legs and arms, vibration sensation in legs,  having difficulty walking, feels like whole body is "wearing down."  Treated with IV Fluids for dehydration and steroids. Electrophysiology consultation for autonomic dysfunction and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Most likely cause of sx-hypersensitivity reaction with an extended inflammatory response resulting in fluid shifts that were misinterpreted as POTS.