Age: 75.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: PNC13
Symptoms: Gait disturbance, Grip strength decreased, Headache, Myalgia, Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging abnormal
Clinical narrative: Attached is a brief scenario of the medical problems I have had since being treated for pneumonia in 2014, and the administering of the injection "PREVNAR 13" on December 3, 2015. Nov. 2014, I went to urgent care feeling very bad and I was told I had a virus and to get as much rest as I could and see my personal physician. When Dr. came back from vacation I went to his office and he sent me for an xray and it was determined that I had pneumonia and was put on 750 mg of LEVAQUIN. I got worse and was running high fevers and could barely take care of myself. Another chest xray was ordered and I was told there was no change, but there was a possibility that I was having a reaction to the side effects of the antibiotics. It caused sores on my scalp and in my mouth. I developed a severe tremor with Dr. thinking it could possibly be my thyroid and sent me for blood work. Thyroid was ok. I developed severe pains in my joints and muscles. I also developed headaches and my vision was affected. In the course of all of the above, Dr. sent me to a lung specialist, (now retired), at hospital. He told me that he and three other radiologists looked at the xray and I was told that I did not have pneumonia. The side affects from the antibiotic lasted until June of 2015. There were several trips to Dr. during that period and up until December 2015. It was decided on December 3, 2015 that I well enough to have the PREVNAR 13 pneumonia shot. After receiving the shot that day I left to go for Christmas vacation. The following day after I had the shot, my throat and ears felt like they were on fire. I immediately called Dr.'s office and was advised that I could come right in to see the physician's assistant. My friend took me back home. The physician's assistant examined me and told me if I didn't feel better in a few days to fill the prescription for a Z-PAK and start taking medicine per instructions. I waited a few days but the symptoms would not go away so I began taking the prescription. I finished the prescribed prescription but it did not help any of my initial symptoms. Since I have never had a reaction to Z-PAK before, I concluded that I was having a reaction to the pneumonia shot. Upon researching the side affects of PREVNAR 13 and the handout that was given to me at the doctor's office, I was inclined to believe that I was experiencing side affects from the shot. The following are the side affects I have been dealing with since the day of the injection. Severe headaches, my eyes were sore and sometimes double vision, my left ear was continually fluttering and my right ear was whistling. Every bone and muscle in my body ached, and all I did was lay in bed and cry. I had pain in my right arm (from my elbow to my wrist) that lasted for two weeks. I was barely able to pick up a cup or a glass and basically had to feed myself with my left hand. I had pain in my left hip and left leg that was so severe that I could hardly navigate. Upon the suggestion of one Dr., another Dr. sent me for an xray of my hips. Later, since the pain continued to be severe I was sent for an MRI on my lower back and hips. The MRI only showed that I had arthritis in both hips and lower back, Dr. decided I should continue therapy with Dr. for physical therapy. Needless to say, the continual pain has left me with the lack of sleep, leaving me tired all the time. The head sores returned and I had to contact my dermatologist and she prescribed a steroid solution as a treatment. About two weeks later I called Dr. and told him that I had a sensation in the upper right side of my head, over my right eye that felt like ice cold water running down my face. I went to his office and he said that it was probably nothing. It lasted for four weeks and I thought I was bleeding inside my head. Very scary. My leg and hip were getting worse and I was gong to chiropractor for physical therapy. I am still to this day having treatments. Since I am now residing elsewhere I went to Dr. on June 10th for a second option. Previously, Dr. had suggested that I may need to see an orthopedic doctor, but another Dr. after reviewing my MRI discs said he felt it was not necessary. The treatment with Dr. had helped tremendously and almost all of the hip and leg symptoms have subsided. Since all of this and the lack of activity, I have gained weight and have not been able to do any of the activities I have done for 40 years. I was a dance instructor and an exercise facilitator for many years. There have been many small things that have been associated with this (on and off pain in the sternum, pain in the neck and several other places). I have gone to the emergency room twice by ambulance to hospital due to the above side affects, have had many blood tests, and nothing ever showed up. I have contacted the Food and Drug Administration and they have sent me the forms for the doctors to contribute their information.