Age: 76.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: FLU3
Symptoms: Coronary artery bypass, Discomfort, Drug administered at inappropriate site, Dyspepsia, Fluid retention
Clinical narrative: Usual discomfort of 2 days, changed to strong pain and inability to move my left arm behind my back. After 8 days of pain contacted my G.P. He said see orthopedist, who in turn after exam sent me to P.T. Each P.T. visit game me more pain. After 4 visits the pain was too strong, so P.T. said see ortho. again. When I went back to orthopedist, he ordered an MRI which showed a tear in my rotator cuff. (This part-time pharmacist had administered my flu shot very high in my shoulder instead of lower fleshier area). Dr. said I would be a candidate for surgery, but he said I might be able to live with it too. The decision was up to me. I've managed with it as I improved mobility by going to aqua-fit classes, and trying to gently work it and babying it. It has started giving me some more pain with certain exercises in cardiac rehab. (Started July 1 for 36 sessions due to triple bypass open heart surg. April 26, 2016. Have 6 more sessions to go.) I am so long in filling all this out due to probably the nine most problem-filled months in my life. Left arm pain and P.T. middle of Jan. (flu shot) Couldn't reach behind my back. Colonoscopy prior to mid-Jan. Trips to hosp w. my "significant other" of 18 1/2 yrs. for his pituitary tumor surgery and follow-up visits due to the necessity for radiation. Female infection really problematic as I can't take antibiotics but Z-PAK and Clindamycin cream. Squeezed in a one wk trip to visit son, instead of 2 planned ones. Visited with them and then 2 funerals of 2 brother-in-laws. Went to walk in clinic w. indigestion that didn't respond to usual antacids and neck pain. Sent to ER. Stress test and angioplasty at hosp (3 days). Sent to another hospital for the open heart surgery (triple bypass) - complications so there 2 wks., then to a rehab center for another 2 wks. On oxygen, very anemic, 20 lbs. of fluid retention, the hosp. for 2 days. Away 4 wks and 2 days for my heart problems. Then home care and trying to take it easy and catch up with 4+ wks of mail, email and phone calls and "thank you's" for food and gifts. Chipmunks nest under my house (Big prob.). Skunks tore up my new sod. Someone backed into my car. Had to have 2 squamous cell carcinomas cut out of my leg. 2 frozen. Resulted in hosp. wound care unit. Sent to wound care as my 13" incision in my leg (vein removed for heart surg.) kept oozing at the bottom. Took 10 wks to heal. Wound care kept me 3 more wks. as they said my carcinomas weren't healing right and they worked on them. In charge of my family reunion. (Took planning time). Became a "victim of identity theft" with someone withdrawing almost $6,000.00 from my credit card to pay off their credit card. They knew my no., my birth date and of course my credit card no. Scary! I've spent wks. of filling out forms, phoning IRS, banks, government agency, retirement, police, etc. Someone swiped my R. side of my car while parked.??? As of 2 wks. ago, I'm told I need a hip replacement. 10 chiro. visits. Mammogram and an ultrasound. 7 follow-up visits to (surgeon, cardio, and GP). Lost 3 friends since the end of Dec. (visits, memorial service). Last wk. found out one of my best friends has advanced cancer and have been trying to visit/help her. I'm taking my time to write all this as I want you to see I just haven't put off writing this, I had to set priorities. Also, I want to help people and I thought this might help others in the future. I'm thinking the administration of the shot was the reason behind my pain, loss of mobility and now, 9 mon. later, still discomfort/pain with certain movements. Would love to hear your thoughts on whether it was the FLUZONE HD PF, the way it was administered or both. It's time to get a flu shot again and I am skeptical. Never had such a reaction before. In 1992 (?) when I got my first flu shot I did get like a mild flu with it for a couple days, but usually just get a tender spot for a couple days and headache. I'm taking my time to write all this when I really have too many problems to deal with now as I like to help people as stated before. If all the pain and wasted time for Dr. visits and P.T. can be prevented for someone else, it's worth it. Could a warning perhaps be included for the pharmacist or Dr. to administer it lower in the fleshier part of the arm, not the top of the shoulder?