Age: 33.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: VARCEL
Symptoms: Pneumonia, Pyrexia
Clinical narrative: I received the vac on March 1, 2013, 2 hours after getting the vac I began to have burning at the injection site. By the next morning I had burning from the site across both shoulders and into my neck, as well as a headache. Later in the day I started to develop slight shortness of breath and occasional sharp chest pain. I am a nurse in the local ER where I live so I had our NP look at my arm. He felt like I was having an allergic reaction to the vaccination. He advise me to follow up with the on call MD if symptoms worsen. Later that night I had developed a fever, weakness, and dizziness. By Sunday all my symptoms were increasing and I became hoarse but did not have a sore throat. Monday I seen the on call MD he dx me with an allergic reaction, pharyngitis, laryngitis, the doctor said that I has swelling and blisters noted in my throat. He started me on Amoxicillin. Tuesday symptoms are still present with an increase in soa, weakness, dizziness and pain/ burning and I was becoming very nauseated with some abdominal pain and diarrhea. I was seen in the ER and was dx with allergic drug reaction, shingles, and acute sore throat (tho my throat has not been sore). I was given azithromycin, dexamethasone (tho I have a steroid allergy), gabapentin, and Valtrex. I was also instructed not to take amoxicillin. Wednesday symptoms are still present and still slightly increasing, MD office called to see if I was improving. When I informed them that I was not the nurse had me come in for a follow up. While there MD instructed me to stop the azithromycin, start the amoxicillin again, he also gave me Lortab 10mg and Phenergan. Thursday symptoms still present and weakness, and dizziness are increasing. And the burning and pain have moved down my back into my hips at this point. I was sent to yet another MD by my workers comp rep. This MD gave me a breathing treatment, done blood work, and a chest x-ray (which was clear). She instructed me to increase my Valtrex to 3 times a day, start the azithromycin back, started Symbicort inhaler, and continue all other meds as ordered. She also had concerns about Guillain Barre and told me to return to ER if symptoms became worse. If not worse then to follow up on Monday to insure I was improving. Friday dizziness, weakness, nausea, soa, and chest tightness increased, made a visit to the ER. while there labs where done, and an x-ray. I was dx with pneumonia and started on albuterol inhaler and Omnicef and to continue all other meds. I voiced my concerns about what MD had said Thursday night, this MD stated I would need to follow up with a neurologist. Saturday still having increase in symptoms, it is painful to walk even short distances, I am dizzy to the point I have almost fallen several times. I am extremely weak and have dropped items that I have had in my hands. My headache is still present but feels different the when it started I have what feels like numbness in areas of my head. Sunday symptoms are not improving at this time most are still increasing, I now have a very sore swollen area in the left side of my neck that radiates to my ear. Monday I followed up with Dr. who I have established primary care with. Dr done a chest x-ray and a CBC, pneumonia was conformed. All symptoms still present without improvement. Dr. is making follow up appointments with neuro and allergy specialists. Tuesday symptoms still present without improvement.