Good morning,
Just came across your site and forum. I would like to report the following:
Caucasian male, 72 years old
21 October 2021 2nd Pfizer dose
2 November 2021 walking up a fairly steep hill I suddenly got dizzy/vertigo and almost fell down due to imbalance. Now 2 months later these symptoms persist. The first hospital I visited on 4 November gave me an MRI and ruled out central vertigo (oof) and diagnosed me with BPPV. They prescribed Serc 24 mg 3 per day. Two months later there were no improvements and I visited a second hospital where they did far more extensive testing. First a vascular specialist gave me a ABI which was normal. Then an ENT specialist examined my ears which were normal, followed by a hearing test, also normal for my age. Lastly a neurologist examined me and gave me an MRI of the brain, MRI of the arteries leading to the brain and an MRI of the whole vertebral column. All normal. Lastly he gave me an echo doppler of the carotid arteries. Normal.
So could anyone please point me in the right direction because after all these "normal" results, after 2 months I am certainly NOT normal.
Any help or advice would be highly appreciated.
P.S. Whenever I asked a specialist if it could be a side effect from the 2nd Pfizer vaccination they all scoffed at this suggestion
Hello. I'm new here, name is Joan. I had my 2nd Pfizer shot on May 22, slight headache followed. The next morning I could not get out of bed, Profound fatigue for 6 weeks. This was followed by complete hearing loss in right ear and various strange symptoms including balance issues, tinnitus, etc. It's been 7 months and my hearing has come back a little. My doctors do not address the vaccine connection and I'm not improving. Worried I may be a long haul vaxxer.
Just want to introduce myself and learn more about the vaccine connection and about people's stories. And I left a reply because I couldn't figure out how to post a new thread.
I had my first Pfizer vaccine on January 26 and one week later had an attack of vertigo while out shoveling snow. About a week after my second vaccine on February 23, I had a second attack of vertigo while at home making soup, going back and forth several times from prep area to stove. This episode was more severe. I have had intermittent and unpredictable dizziness and unsteadiness ever since. In early September I stood up during a chiropractic exam and felt very weak and dizzy, sat down and then lay down and felt worse. I was unable to walk out of the office and ended up in the hospital emergency room waiting room where I sat for about six hours getting no attention whatsoever. After a brief exam, my husband brought me home around 11:30p.m. Intermittent dizziness continued. I did get the booster September 30 (had not made a connection to the vaccine at that point). No events after that. I started going to an Atlas orthogonal chiropractor who determined that my cervical spine is misaligned and have been going for adjustments for that. My spine has been staying in alignment, but the dizziness is not going away. I'm also doing vestibular exercises and balance exercises which have not made me experience significant progress. I had one more horrible vertigo episode on Thanksgiving which left me weak, limp, and dizzy for several days. I'm going to an ENT sinus specialist in February .
I recently found this forum and was surprised to find so many others have experienced vertigo and dizziness after the vaccines. I'm not sure what the solution is though. I would love to hear positive resolutions.
@tonys Ask your doctor about Vestibular Neuritis. It's a differential diagnosis, and when they do all those tests, it wouldn't show up on any of them. If you have persistent dizziness, unsteadiness, and imbalance issues, and NO hearing loss, it could be V.N. If you have some hearing loss and tinnitus, you might have V.N.'s cousin, Labyrinthitis.
My V.N started after the second Pfizer shot, and every time I mention it to any of the doctors I've dealt with, they've all scoffed, too. However, my E.N.T. is not so sure there isn't a connection, and neither is my rehab physiotherapist, nor my Naturopathic Doctor. I suspect that somewhere down the road, Vestibular Neuritis will be among the known side effects of the vaccine.
The CDC has 534 reports of Vestibular Neuritis, as of last Friday, as adverse events following the COVID 19 vaccines. 407 of them were Pfizer. It's not common, but it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility, the way these doctors think it is.
You really have to advocate for yourself and get them to listen to you.
Good luck!
@hspcanadiangirl I agree wholeheartedly. V.N. is an elusive diagnosis. I experienced serious issues with balance following 2nd Moderna shot in March 2020, which resulted in my first visit to ER of life at age 78. Post ER admission and overnight hospital stay resulted in all tests essentially normal. Consulting ER neurologist physician appeared perplexed at concluding definitive diagnosis, though balance issues evident. I finally connected with ENT doctor and professor at regional medical college connected to the medical center. He diagnosed V.N. and referred me for therapy. Participating in several sessions with physical therapist trained in balance rehabilitation, I made noticeable progress towards re-establishment of balance. Originally I could not stand in place for more than 5 seconds with eyes closed. I experienced difficulty walking a straight line if turning head. Anxiety about fear of falling compounded my situation. Much more I could say. Overall milder symptoms of imbalance linger today, and I am compelled to regularly practice taught balance exercises. Input from a highly trained and qualified physical therapist or rehab specialist with experience in this area is important. Thankfully I have not contracted and possibly died from COVID.
@hspcanadiangirl I am going to follow up on the vasc neuritis diagnosis. I saw several doctors, all but one would not address the vaccine connection. I had my 2nd Pfizer in May. Slept for 6 weeks, then dizzy, hearing loss in right ear. Walking unsteady, intermittent dizziness, along with many other symptoms. Finally my pulmonologist said he saw several of these cases and put me on prednisone. It helped a little but symptoms returned when I ended the course of treatment. I also had a previously made appt with a neurologist. MRI was normal. He would not acknowledge my connection to the vaccine. He asked about headaches and I said I had mild one for a few hours. He then diagnosed vestibular migraine with very,very expensive new drugs. I declined the treatment. After reading your post I plan to see an ENT. After 9 months and many doctor consultations, I'm very discouraged. The prednisone helped somewhat, but that takes its toll on the body after a while. Good luck with your physical therapy.
I have had every test known to man after experiencing a severe 3 month-long bout of vertigo last year after my second Pfizer vaccine. No one is going to acknowledge that your vertigo is somehow related to the vaccine. I believe my vertigo was related to my second dose but all the medical experts I consulted would not even consider that my vertigo could be related to the vaccine. It was immediately dismissed as a coincidence. I had all sorts of treatments and physical therapy. Nothing seemed to work and then it just gradually faded.
@lookingforanswers Here is my story----
I became ill in November of 2018. I felt dizzy, nauseous, foggy and my vision was slightly blurry. I went to my family doctor for a sinus infection who said I had an ear infection & sinus infection in my left ear (had no pain or discomfort at all in that ear). Went on antibiotics and after a few weeks back to the doctor. Felt like I was on the verge of vertigo but it never came on. Family doctor said I had a virus, go home and rest and drink plenty of water. A few weeks later I was sick feeling very ill (severe motion sickness) so I went to my ENT who cleaned out my sinuses with a suction tube and camera and my sinuses felt better but I still felt extremely ill. So a few weeks later I went back to my ENT who promptly sent me to the Emergency Room. Spent 10 hours there being 'tortured' with tests and was feeling 1,000 times worse. They admitted me where I signed myself out at 2:00 in the morning. The very next day, March 1st, I saw my vestibular and balance specialist. I have had vertigo twice in the past so I know what that feels like and this wasn't vertigo but I felt dizzy so thought he might help. He did. He said I had gotten a virus that I never knew I had and it attacked my left inner ear. He diagnosed me as having a left inner ear dysfunction/weakness. I started exercises at home immediately3 times per day without fail even though they made me feel so sick and went to PT once per week for balance exercises. 9 weeks later I woke up and felt normal. I spent the next 2 weeks doing my exercises and then was 100% recovered. The thought of walking around sick to my stomach and still having to work, drive and function like a well person was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I have other issues that my vestibular & balance specialist tells me has nothing to do with my inner ear. I have really bad tinnitus and a fullness feeling in my ears. I also have suffered from chronic migraine for the past 23 years. Fullness in my ears is gone. Ringing in my ears, GONE.
I try to help, always. I know that most people think to themselves, ‘I feel so awful, something really bad must be wrong with me...how will I ever get better?’ And because I usually say, 'please see a vestibular and balance specialist' 'I can help you find one'...people think that because these specialists aren't DOCTORS that they can't help. But they can, and they DO cure. Feeling so badly that you can't get out of bed, well...I have been there but I fought hard to keep moving and to find the right SPECIALIST to help me ON MY OWN. I share my story so I can help others. Here is to believing in one another. I am always here to help and can find you a balance and vestibular specialist in your area.
@drjoan I feel for you. I keep seeking posts where people have recovered but they are hard to find.
A quick background. After my second shot last spring (Pfizer) I had sudden horrific vertigo for the first time in my life, but it didn't show up until weeks later. I also had a foggy head and a lot of head pressure with slight ear pain.
I have other very serious health issues now, but last year I was active and healthy, as far as I knew.
Now I can barely take care of myself and still have vertigo along with my other issues that came on without warning last year ( gastritis, gerd, bladder cancer).
I'm not blaming the cancer on the shots but let's just say they seemed to have created a disaster in my body and I am now wrecked.
I'm seeking an alternative doctor who will cost a fortune but I am desperate to have my life back!!
My belief in God is the only thing sustaining me.
I'm very sorry you're suffering, too. I suspect we are the collateral damage of the vaccine. 😣
Please keep us posted and I wish speedy recovery for you.
@carolj. You've given me hope! Thank you! I am now on 7 months with vertigo, and I also never had it until after my second Pfizer shot.
Have been to VT, and ENT and no relief.
Thank you for sharing your story!
I became ill in November of 2018. I felt dizzy, nauseous, foggy and my vision was slightly blurry. I went to my family doctor for a sinus infection who said I had an ear infection & sinus infection in my left ear (had no pain or discomfort at all in that ear). Went on antibiotics and after a few weeks back to the doctor. Felt like I was on the verge of vertigo but it never came on. Family doctor said I had a virus, go home and rest and drink plenty of water. A few weeks later I was sick feeling very ill (severe motion sickness) so I went to my ENT who cleaned out my sinuses with a suction tube and camera and my sinuses felt better but I still felt extremely ill. So a few weeks later I went back to my ENT who promptly sent me to the Emergency Room. Spent 10 hours there being tortured with tests and was feeling 1,000 times worse. They admitted me where I signed myself out at 2:00 in the morning. The very next day, March 1st, I saw my vestibular and balance specialist. I have had vertigo twice in the past so I know what that feels like and this wasn't vertigo but I felt dizzy so thought he might help. He did. He said I had gotten a virus that I never knew I had and it attacked my left inner ear. He diagnosed me as having a left inner ear dysfunction/weakness. I started exercises at home immediately3 times per day without fail even though they made me feel so sick and went to PT once per week for balance exercises. 9 weeks later I woke up and felt normal. I spent the next 2 weeks doing my exercises and then was 100% recovered. The thought of walking around sick to my stomach and still having to work, drive and function like a well person was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I have other issues that my vestibular & balance specialist tells me has nothing to do with my inner ear. I have really bad tinnitus and a fullness feeling in my ears. I also have suffered from chronic migraine for the past 23 years. Fullness in my ears is gone. Ringing in my ears, GONE.
I try to help, always. I know that most people think to themselves, ‘I feel so awful, something really bad must be wrong with me...how will I ever get better?’ And because I usually say, 'please see a vestibular and balance specialist' 'I can help you find one'...people think that because these specialists aren't DOCTORS that they can't help. But they can, and they DO cure. Feeling so badly that you can't get out of bed, well...I have been there but I fought hard to keep moving and to find the right SPECIALIST to help me ON MY OWN. I share my story so I can help others. Here is to believing in one another. I am always here to help and can find you a balance and vestibular specialist in your area.
@drjoan. Had the second Moderna shot 8 months of the same sh-t been threw everything. Two ENT'S, Therapy, MRI'S, Audiology test, Neurologist's . And the same answer EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. So for people looking for the answer save your money and going threw the testing the doctors look at us like cattle they don't give a sh-t . The best answer would be hopefully all the symptom's will all wear off in time .