My story might be a bit long. I'm 73, I was diagnosed around 7 years ago with nerve damage in my right inner ear caused by a possible virus. My GP calls it Meniere's, my ENT calls it Vestibular Neuritis, I call it constant vertigo. Some days worse than other's, but it's 24-7, along with moderate Tinnitus. I got my first Pfizer vaccine on 3-19-21. I felt a little "woozier" than my usual norm for about a week? But then I got my second vaccine on 4-9-21 and was told by the pharmacist that I might feel a little light-headed about 5-10 minutes after I received it. She was right. The problem is it has yet to go away. I find it very difficult to get around, mild nausea, very dizzy! In the meantime, my left ear started hurting pretty bad. That ear has been sensitive to cold air and things like earplugs for a few years now. Anyway, I was diagnosed with swimmers ear and had to use the antibiotic ear drops with no effect? I went to a stat-care and was examined and told I have an ear infection and was prescribed Bactrim for 10 days. On the 9th day, I had an appointment with my Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor and he said that the infection had cleared up and I can quit taking the antibiotic. We discussed my situation and he said it could be a delayed reaction to the vaccine and said it should gradually clear up and to see my dentist for possible ill-fitting dentures? Since then I had another visit with my GP and he basically said the same thing. In the meantime he suggested I take Meclizine, which I normally take only when needed, several times a day along with Mucinex to try to relieve the pressure I'm feeling, which seemed reasonable? My problem is my ear pain still comes and goes, along with the whole left side of my head hurting, my Tinnitus is in high gear, and just getting up and walking is a crapshoot at best!! If this doesn't start "clearing up" soon it's going to make me question if getting the vaccine was really worth it?? Having to walk with a cane is not my style. I'm an outdoor person living on a farm, light work, hunting, and so on. I've seen other people on this thread having similar problems and was wondering how long this will last???
I Had another appointment with my GP and he said there are a lot of reports of what he called "long haulers" in reference to the covid vaccine's side effects. He also said it could take up to a year to subside!! It's been 8 weeks now and some days I'm really miserable. Having vertigo on top of my existing vestibular problems is a lot to deal with.
Hello Gary, Thanks for giving the benefit of your experience and your doctor's input. Having crossed the 12 week mark, I've started to think if myself as a vaccine long hauler. I read that you've dealt with this category of issues for a long time, but now have a new intensity to cope with. It's been almost a week since you last shared, but what your doctor said keeps coming back to my mind. A year is a long time to be told you may be affected. I wonder how that estimate came about, since the vaccines haven't been around a long time? On one hand, I don't like hearing a year recovery time - but on the other, it beats not recovering. I wonder how you're managing? I just wanted you to know that I hope and pray you're finding ways to manage and that you may be experiencing some recovery.
I'm about a month from my first shot now and I don't trust myself to drive.
I dizzyness comes and goes. Lightheadedness like I might pass out. Great thing is that I'm probably dealing with anxiety now due to all this and it's hard to know what is what.
I'm pretty mad about this vaccine. I gave into the pressure. Not getting my second one.
Doctors not helpful as usual. They all admit not knowing the effects like they might a normal vaccine.
Can someone message me about their symptoms? It would be nice to talk to other people. I don't see replies in the forums and nobody in the real world can relate so well. Most are ok.
Hi, I can relate to a lot of your symptoms and feelings, like I'm sure most others here can also. I clicked on the quote button at the bottom of your post and you should have gotten a notice of my reply at your email address to alert you to come here to view it. (I could have clicked Reply and the same thing occur, without your post showing up above mine.)
I'm at 12 weeks of symptoms and have improved. My remaining symptoms are still annoying me, although I'm fortunate to be able to drive with them. My dizziness is intermittent also. Feeling kind of like when you're in an airplane and go through a sudden drop in altitude or sudden change in direction. It's like my brain suddenly starts paying attention to a nonfunctional part of my vestibular system, then says "Nope, disregard THAT, it seems to be offline, or damaged at best!" I also have sensory changes in my face and ear, with my ear going in and out of feeling painful. Not fun! I've been resisting giving a label to a really low level of white noise, hoping it's within the limits of "normalcy".
I have gotten a prescription for some vestibular testing to be done - now waiting out the last 10 days of a month's wait for it.
Yeah, this is where I talk about all this. If it hadn't happened to me, I wouldn't be able to empathize - but I sure can now! I'm glad to be here and I hope reading the posts here can prove helpful for you!
@thenystagmus It's touch and go. Some days are a little better than others. I can always count on the weather changes here in Ohio to ad extra problems to deal with. I was kinda surprised too when my doc said possibly a year recovery? I'm not sure where he gets his info, but being a doctor he probably has access to more info than the average "Joe". I just hope it's not permanent, given my age and all? I might not know when I actually am feeling better, since my vertigo is never going away from what I understand. Getting back to the old dizzy me would be better, but I'll never be 100% again. Just have to deal with it one day at a time.
@bigokalAre you still having the dizziness? I'm on fence about vaccine as I do have Benign positional vertigo to begin with but in remission. thanks.
@wendyj31 Are you still having problems from vaccine? I'm on fence right now but getting much pressure from everyone to get vaccinated. thanks, Patty
@gisellegoldenAre you still having problems from vaccine? I'm on fence right now but getting much pressure from everyone to get vaccinated. thanks, Patty PS I have migraines and have had occular migraines. They are debilitating.
@thenystagmus Hi Sassafras, What you describe happens to me too, it's like a sinking or dropping sensation, really weird. Had a good day today though, no headache or dizziness. Went shopping for my mother and did a bit of pottering around for her, it felt really good. I'm not driving yet though until I get a few good days in a row. I know how quickly things can change, i've had good days before, but surely one day there has to be a turning point🙏
@thenystagmus Hi Sassafras, What you describe happens to me too, it's like a sinking or dropping sensation, really weird. Had a good day today though, no headache or dizziness. Went shopping for my mother and did a bit of pottering around for her, it felt really good. I'm not driving yet though until I get a few good days in a row. I know how quickly things can change, i've had good days before, but surely one day there has to be a turning point🙏
Thanks for your note! I'm glad you're having some good moments!
Yeah, I've got this crazy questionnaire for my upcoming test ...it's hanging over me, because I've been at a loss to answer a number of the queries - does this, or that, make your symptoms worse? And then the part where I need to list symptoms - after 12 weeks I need to write a list that begins with my initial symptoms, then progresses through the ever morphing stages I've been through - but the most challenging thing is coming up with words to explain the perception I have of my vestibular injury, wherever that is - my ear, my nerves, my brain... I've just wanted to put a bunch of question marks beside the yes or no boxes and then write in, "I hope you'll have more answers for me than I have for you!! Yah!🥴🙏
I received a V-Safe Check for the first time in 2 months. I was asked if I felt worse since getting the vaccine in January. Then, I was asked if I thought that the vaccine was the cause. Hmmm...maybe they are actually researching this further. (I had completed a VAERS report a couple of months ago.) I am not holding my breath...just found it intriguing.
Has anyone on here with Tinnitus used a Sound Pillow before ?
Its a normal pillow but with a speaker built into it and the way its designed is supposed to turn the pillow into a sort of speaker, hoping it will help mask the Tinnitus at night time.
Ive just brought one from Amazon, like the idea of being able to lay on my effected ear/side and have a comfy cushion essentially acting like a speaker.
Once I get it next week ill update on here as to wether or not it helps me. Id say I have moderate Tinnitus ?? When im outside or watching TV or netflix I barely notice its there, but once Im in a quiet room it is almost impossible to ignore...not sure how that compares to others experience of it.
Hope everyone is managing to get some pleasant moments this weekend x
Hey,
An update from my side:
I got a few worse day again. My ears started to be under pressure again. I feel off balance.
And a few days ago I started experiencing that sometimes my heart act weirdly. It feels like it miss some hits, and I have a lack of breath or something like that. Like a panic attack but I don't have panic attack 😃 really weird. Have any of you have a feeling like that?
My neurologist said that hopefully the symptoms will disappear with time, but it is too heavy to wait patiently, who knows actually how long will it lasts and is permanent or not...
Ahh after having a few better days it is really disappointing to step back and feel shit again...😐
@rogeriskiride-com I am a 64 year old Male. Healthy, active and aware. Had my Pfizer shots April 17 and May 7th. After that I started experiencing small bouts of vertigo. In addition the Pfizer shots made me fatigued and overall malaise. This past May 25th I had a vertigo episode that took me to the ER and kept me there for four days. Home now, but still dizzy and unsteady. BP has been hard to control. Workup in the ER with head CT and MRI were negative for stroke or cardiac problems. This came out no where. Never has a problem with my balance before. Only after the vaccination did this emerge, and get progressively worse with each episode. Is this something seen with other vaccination participants? It has been a debilitating experience let alone the scare of thinking I was having a stroke, and now the costs of the treatment. What is happening out there that outlets other than this site publishing?
@dizzyfromvaccine Can you DM me your Doctors info? I will literally fly anywhere at this point to see a Dr that actually understands what's going on with these side effects. Thank you for all of the useful info!!
