I had my first Pfizer vaccine shot Tuesday April 6th. The following Thursday (April 15) I woke up with the worst feeling of dizziness I’ve ever had. I felt drunk and extremely nauseous.
The feeling subsided a couple days later, though I’ve still had a lingering dizzy feeling in the back of my head. I got a COVID test to make sure it wasn’t that, which thankfully came back negative.
Today, during a dental checkup, they did a blood pressure test. My blood pressure is usually mid 120/75, but today was 96/70.
I can’t link anything else to a blood pressure drop, but am now wondering if that is what is making me feel so lightheaded?
Any similar experiences or insight would be greatly appreciated! I have my second dose of the vaccine next Thursday.
Hi everyone! I unfortunately have been suffering long-term side effects since receiving my first Pfizer vaccine on March 25th. I thought it would be helpful if we could have a more organized way to look at symptoms, similarities, and differences. I am not sure if this is allowed but I think a shared google spreadsheet could be beneficial.
- First dose March 25th
- On and off dizziness/lightheadedness and tinnitus in the right ear (got jab in left arm) began 4 days later until it became persistent on April 5th with eye shakiness (nystagmus?).
- Began taking 600mg ibuprofen, zyrtec in the morning and vitamin D that seems to be helping slightly.
- Started acupuncture on April 19th. Going again today, April 21st.
- Insanely vivid dreams the last 2 weeks.
- I can no longer drive and things around me seem to be moving too fast. PCP was no help and said to take meclizine.
My gut is telling me that there have to be some similarities we all share! I am 29 years old, have extremely low body fat and high metabolism. I wear glasses and am sensitive to caffeine. No previous ocular issues but did have very mild tinnitus beforehand. I pushed my second appointment back and will likely not be getting it until there is more information for the symptoms we are suffering.
@three4rd I don't have any sensation of ear blockage but a friend going through the same thing mentioned he felt like he was "underwater". I didn't know what to expect from the VNG but the physician administering the test was really good and it wasn't as bad as I had feared. The cold air in the ear did make me a bit dizzy but I guess that was to be expected. Yeah, I guess once I passed the hearing, balance and VNG tests, the ENT didn't know what to do with me and punted me off to a neurologist. Hopefully, he might have some more insights but I'm not confident.
@mm824 I’m in the same boat except after shot one from Pfizer. I received this on 3/19/21 and about a week after the dizziness has increased or stayed the same. Has this let up for you at all? I’m so sorry, I know how debilitating it is.
@sandram has your dizziness let up more? I’m on week 3 of debilitating dizziness. It was at least sporadic/manageable before and now it’s the worst it’s ever been post Pfizer. I’m so scared that it will never go away.
What's really bizarre is how so many of the symptoms people are describing mimic the symptoms of Meniere's Disease--the feeling of the ear being blocked, tinnitus, dizziness, even the cyclic nature of the symptoms. Feeling like it is finally over and then it comes back with a vengeance. I don't remember if anyone mentioned having hearing loss as well. I did not have the vaccine but I do have Meniere's Disease so am more than familiar with the symptoms.
I just hope that everyone gets back to normal and that these horrible side effects people are having will finally be acknowledged and looked into.
One of the theories as to a possible cause of Meniere's is a herpes virus flare in the ear. The vaccine has now been shown to reactivate the chickenpox virus that is a herpes virus. Possible connection.
One of the theories as to a possible cause of Meniere's is a herpes virus flare in the ear. The vaccine has now been shown to reactivate the chickenpox virus that is a herpes virus. Possible connection.
I'm aware of the possible connection of herpes/Meniere's. What you are saying makes sense. Some doctors are open to that theory; some are not. Some doctors treat Meniere's with antivirals, with varying degrees of success.
Also someone mentioned that some people have developed shingles after getting the vaccine for possibly the same reason. It's known that shingles is the result of a reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
i have the same thing going on, my right ear is ring so loud people around me should be able to hear it. Dizzy light headed hard to drive at time. I just got my 2nd today. And it seems to be worse.
The 2nd week after my first one I was not sure what was going on and went to the ER thinking I was having a hart attack, stayed over night and doctors told me my hart was good don’t know what is going on.
Hi KS - I just had the VNG test last Weds and waiting on results. Not really expecting too much but went ahead and did it anyway. I was pretty good with it, did not make me very dizzy - except when they blew the cold ear in my right ear - and it is my left ear that is giving me all the trouble. The hot air was the worst part!! It really gets hot and was pretty uncomfortable.
I am going on week 12 now - but, I must say, the dizziness has gotten much better with just a few waves throughout the day and not so strong as they were. I can actually function now! The ear though is another story! It comes and goes in varying degrees of loud tinnitus and pressure. I go from pretty much no hearing in my left ear to about maybe half but garbled. The tinnitus is constant with just varying degrees of loudness and pressure. When it gets really bad it just makes me feel horrible all around.
I was doing everything from all the vitamins, lipo flavanoid, eating anti inflammatory foods, Flonase nose spray, and using what I called my cocktail when I had bad episodes of Meclizine, Zofran and Vallium. I even found the reflex points that correspond to the ears and regularly massage those areas. I tried PT and exercises and that just seemed to make it worse.
Not sure if anything is really working. Just hoping it is time thing now. It has been quite a roller coaster ride...and I am ready to get off!!
Thank you for sharing your story. I feel desperate as well. I am a subject in a clinical trial for NOVAVAX vaccine. I revived my shots back in February but fell ill on March 28. The dizziness was so bad and new to me that I went to the ER. I was diagnosed with vestibular neuritis, which was causing my vertigo. I was prescribed meclizine, but I feel like it is not helping at all. It has been 3 weeks already, and I still do not feel like my old self at all. I still feel dizzy and tired, have problems concentrating and trying to walk straight. I feel like a wire is malfunctioning in my brain. I am afraid now that it will never of away. The doctor just told me to keep taking my meds and it will go away eventually, but I can't take this anymore.
I am supposed to go for another shot of the vaccine tomorrow since this is a double-blind study, and they want to give people two more shots in case the first two were placebo, or the people who received the placebo first will receive the experimental vaccine this time. I am going to raise my concerns tomorrow and demand an explanation or special testing to determine what is wrong with me and if this condition was caused by the vaccine. I will ask them to tell me if I was part of the placebo group or the experimental group. I just need answers because it feels awful to be living like this.
I am 35 and pretty much a healthy person with no pre-existing conditions and not taking any meds until now. I am just super anxious now reading all these comments. I won't get any other shot until they do further testing on me.
Hi Dragonlover - I have had the loss of hearing in my left ear. Beside the dizziness (which is definitely better than it was) I basically have no hearing in my left ear.. except of course the loud, constant tinnitus. The deafness, pressure and ringing come and go in varying degrees - good days and bad days - but I never have my hearing back full. It might come up to about less than half hearing but everything is very garbled.
ENT did a hearing test on one of my good days - said it has gotten worse since my first test weeks before. Haha - I did not need a test to tell me that! She also said that generally Meniere's Disease would affect younger people and generally goes away with age. Not sure if that is the case but I am 65 and have never had any issues before (although I do get migraines here and there and that seems to be a common thread here too).
@savoyil The alleged herpes connection has interested me for years. Many people - on the meniere's forums - report success with taking a regimen of antivirals.
Hi Dragonlover - I have had the loss of hearing in my left ear.
What's weird is that I apparently don't. Had a hearing test soon after these symptoms started and I was told there is no measurable loss compared to my last test 5 years ago. Somehow didn't expect that. Despite what they're seeing on the test, I KNOW what I'm hearing - and it's not llike what it should be in that left ear.
I am 4 days past the 2nd Moderna vaccine and couldn't get out of bed for the room flying around my head. This time arm soreness and tiredness lasted only 24 hrs. With the first vax it went on and on but not this dizziness/vertigo.
I am 68 with next birthday in less than a week, so I understand things can affect me differently at this point in my life. But this is awful. I'm up out of bed, but still not right.