Age: 54.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: COVID19
Symptoms: Acupuncture, Antinuclear antibody, Antinuclear antibody negative, Anxiety, Arthralgia
Clinical narrative: In few minutes after the injection, I started to experience extreme pain on the left arm (site of the injection). The pain was much worse than when I had received Dose 1 and Dose 2. The pain extended to the whole hand (not just the arm) and I had difficulty holding my purse as I was leaving the hospital.  In the following 30 min, my right arm started to hurt as well, with the pain getting progressively worse. I drove home after the injection, about 30 min drive, and during the drive my body started to hurt all over and I had difficulty staying still on the seat. I also had difficulty breathing and I open my sun roof despite the cold to find some relief. By the time I reach home I was in head-to-toe pain. I also felt very tired and could not stand up. As I entered my home, I lay down on my couch and could not move for hours afterwards.  I fell asleep with the TV on and continued to sleep for the rest of the day and following night, despite the noise of the TV and my neighbor upstairs having a party (I am usually a very light sleeper). I was also very hot and I was sweating profusely. I had removed my clothes and I still felt like my body was burning. My heater was off and the temperature in the thermostat appears to be around 65 degrees. I was in extreme body pain but I had no energy to get up. After sleeping for several hours, I manage to go to the bathroom, got some water and took two Motrin pills. The Motrin seemed to help overall.  However, the pain to my arms and hand persisted for several weeks after the shot.  I also had weakness in the hands and arms and I was unable to lift any weight, unfasten the water bottle cap, hold the hair dryer, type at the computer, draw with a pen or pencil -which I need to do daily and extensively for work, turn the key in the lock of my entry door and car. I expected it go away after few days/weeks during the Christmas Holiday, but it did not. It was very bad and also prevented me from sleeping for several weeks. I was force to take constant Motrin for the pain, which resulted in stomach pain for which I was given a gastroscopy in February 2022.  Eventually, I went to see my GP regarding the hand/arm pain which consisted mostly of joint pain in left and right, but also nerve pain on the right arm and hand.  This was an extreme concern since I am right-handed and, as architect, I use my right hand constantly to sketch and draw examples for my clients and students. I also experienced anxiety, palpitation, continuous and random sweating at all time of the day a multiple times per day and difficulty breathing and difficulty falling asleep and stay asleep.  I was referred to a cardiologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, orthopedic and rheumatologist (in addition to my GP). All tests prescribed by all physician above were negative. Dr., MD ? the rheumatologist ? venture a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. She recommended Gabapentin for the nerve pain and sleep, which I am taking daily. This prescription is also not ideal for my work as it makes me slow and lowers my productivity. I have also been using acupuncture weekly (and bi-weekly) for the past 10 months just to be able to move my arms and my hand like before. After reviewing my vaccination record, I realized that the booster shot I was given (3rd dose) at the Hospital consist of 30 mcg/0.3mL, which is the same as previous dose 1 and dose 2 that I was given at the Mass Vaccination Site. I remember reading in the news that the quantity of vaccine in the booster shot (3rd dose) was supposed to be ½ the amount of a previous shots. I wonder if I was mistakenly given the wrong dose for this 3rd shot and hence, I have been experiencing this ?extended side effect? which after nearly a year have not gone away. I waited to fill out this report online for all rounds of referral, tests, and treatments to go thru. But I am just so demoralized from the long-lasting pain that I finally decided to send it in. I can only function by taking this prescription. Without Gabapentin the pain is too much and I cannot sleep or to have a normal life as before.