Age: 47.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: FLU3
Symptoms: Pain, Pruritus, Red blood cell sedimentation rate normal, Rheumatoid factor negative
Clinical narrative: Reaction to H1N1 flu shot taken on 11/18/2010. Manufacturer: Novartis Lot#: 11171P1 exp: 3/31/2011 Prior to H1N1 flu shot, I was a VERY healthy, active 47 y/o. With no prior history or family history of arthritis. Night of injection, I was awakened from sleep with severely burning and itching palms of both hands. Soon after, the bottoms of both feet began burning and itching as well. I am a Registered Nurse so this systemic reaction concerned me so I got out of bed to check for rash or any other symptom. No rash seen. I took 50mg BENADRYL and within next 1.5 hrs symptoms subsided so I went back to bed. The next morning I awoke to the worst arthritis symptoms in both my hands that I cold imagine. I could not closed or move my fingers without tremendous pain. The arthritis symptoms were in every joint of each finger on both hands to include my wrists. All joints in my toes on both feet also were symptomatic and were painful with movement but not as bad as my hands. Through the course of the day with messaging the symptoms improved and by that night had gotten much better only for the cycle to repeat itself the next morning and EVERY day since then. After a week or so of these symptoms not passing, I knew I had some sort of reaction to the H1N1 shot and needed to be evaluated by my MD. I also, went back to "The Clinic" which is a Health System clinic and reported my adverse reaction to the nurse practitioner, who had administered the vaccine to me. To make a 14 month nightmare short. I have undergone many tests to include seeing a Rheumatologist who has ruled cut RA because my tests/MRI were negative yet, over time my symptoms have worsened and expanded to include pain in shoulders, elbows, both hips, insomnia and neurological symptoms of forgetfulness. Again, prior to the DAY of the H1N1 vaccine, I was in extremely good health having ridden a road bike -about 3500 miles in 2010- and did my first 100 mile bike ride June of that year! Now, instead of feeling athletic and healthy and more like a 30 year old, I have many days I feel like a 60 y/o unhealthy person. What is my diagnosis? What treatment should I have? Steroids, Methyltrexate as suggested by my Rheumatologist????? WRONG! I am angry and scared at what is happening to my body and no one seems to know what to do with me other than, OF COURSE -saying this with sarcasm- take lots and lots of drugs to treat all my symptoms. The pharmaceutical companies are smiling I know. I want my case reported and documented to the CDC. I have been documented my case along the way and will continue to research and investigate into this "not-so-uncommon" occurrences which is NOT and WAS NOT communicated to me prior to injecting this vaccine into my body. If only I could take it back. If only I knew about the multitude of potential and not uncommon side effects and long term, chronic illnesses which have and continue to occur with this fast-tracked, untested vaccine. But I cannot take that day back and do it over. It will be my life mission to educate others about this so that people with make the decision to vaccinate with informed decision. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT MANDATE flu vaccination. The choice to vaccinate should continue and the government should not take this choice away. I don't know what lies ahead for me and my health but I will find a treatment that will address the "cause" and not the "symptoms". Sincerely.