Age: 46.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: LYME
Symptoms: Dry eye, Fatigue, Hair disorder, Influenza like illness, Memory impairment
Clinical narrative: Pain in Fibromyalgic trigger sites, particularly near elbow (both arms); some burning in knees, elbows and ankles; chronic flu-like symptoms; fatigue (extreme) particularly mid-day (frequently need to take a nap); feeling muscles exploding from the inside out; foot pain/muscle tenderness; difficulties with walking, extreme sensitivity to changes in temperature, particularly when cold; experienced 2 tremors on 11/14/00 in the right hand and on 9/25/01 a full-body tremor starting with right hand, tremor rapidly worked up my arm to the rest of my body. Sudden and rapid loss of muscle mass/strength after receiving Lymerix vaccination on 5/13/00; e.g. after 5/13/00, I found it difficult to lift office water-cooler bottles because of pain in my arms near elbows and lower back. I previously lifted such bottles on a regular basis without any problem whatsoever. Prior to receiving the vaccination, I had an unusual amount of strength for a woman and built muscle very easily without even using much weights. I experienced swelling in hands upon awakening from 8/01 for the next several months; it became difficult to close hands and make a fist; (such swelling/numbness occurred every so often prior to 8/01 after the Lymerix injection, but not every day as it did from 8/01 and then for the next several months). After the Lymerix injection, I regularly had carpal tunnel symptoms. Consistency of symptoms; if one arm bothered me then other arm bothered me as well. Unusual and unexplained cognitive difficulties, particularly in areas of problem solving and recall.  Sudden loss of shine to hair; prior to vaccine my hair was extremely shiny. Hair became drier and texture and coloring changed. Mild incontinence (occasional). Sleep difficulties; inability to get a restful sleep; asthma worsened. I was stepped up on asthma medication and subsequently placed on a stronger steroid inhaler. Dry eye, typing upon awakening; coordination/balance problems; tendency to fall too frequently (at least 5 or 6 times a year, however, it seems more like every 6 weeks); tendency to lose muscle control and drop things on a regular basis; occasional lightheadedness and dizziness; chronic anxiety and racing heart symptoms; recent change in eye prescription. I have experienced occasional blurriness; neuropathy-like symptoms; chronic indigestion; no sexual interest. These symptoms became most severe from August through September, 2001. The symptoms became so severe, that I was pretty much bedridden for the entire 2 months. I had severe aches and pains and muscle tenderness throughout my body, muscle weakness and soreness, it was so painful I had difficulty pulling myself out of bed, chills, extreme flu-like symptoms, extreme fatigue, extreme short-term memory problems, headaches (particularly on the left side of the head), severe pain and tenderness in bottoms of feet making it difficult to walk, extreme anxiety and depression symptoms, racing heart problems, swelling in hands upon awakening, making it hard to close hands, muscle soreness in hands, carpal tunnel symptoms, bands of tightness in upper arms, pain in fibromyalgic trigger sites, feeling of muscles exploding from inside out, lightheadedness, dizziness and shakiness (extremely noticeable upon walking, frequently dropped things, coordination/balance problems, felt extremely unsafe driving a car when I did have to go out, sleep problems (sleep was extremely restless), mild incontinence problems (sometimes didn't make it to the bathroom), at times I felt I was burning up, I began sleeping in an air conditioned room with the temperature below 60 degrees. I experienced a full body tremor on 9/25/01. Asthma worsened. Also, dry eye problems, chronic indigestion, loss of appetite and sexual interest. Just about everything hurt. There are the symptoms that I can remember. I thought I was dying. 8/5/02 Review of medical records confirms diagnoses of major depression and fibromyalgia and in addition the diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)./AWB. The 60 day follow-up states cognitive/memory problems. Fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue problems. Foot pain-peripheral neuropathy related problems.  The Annual Follow up states: "Symptoms haven't changed, but tend to be more pronounced in terms of cognitive/memory problems and fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue problems and foot pain related problems.  I was recently determined to be permanently disabled by social security as of 04/26/2001.  As well as by treating physicians."