Hilda developed complaints after the booster vaccination

In January of this year, Hilda went to her GP with a high heart rate, ringing in her ears and muscle weakness in her legs. Her legs shook so much that she had to walk on her husband's arm and could hardly stand on her legs. She felt constantly high stress while there was no reason for it; she had a good job, a new house and a stable and happy family life. She was struck four times by attacks in which these complaints increased enormously, together with heavy arms, tingling in her face and difficulty focusing. The complaints were so severe that she went straight to the GP.

After several examinations by the family doctor, cardiologist, neurologist and internist, no causes for these complaints were found. She was as healthy as a fish. But she didn't feel that way. Called in sick from work, she spent her days on the couch. Her living environment shrank to her home. What was wrong with her?

“In this situation, you naturally think a lot about the causes. What could have happened that I experience these complaints so severely? At a certain point, when all possible causes had been ruled out, the booster vaccination that I received on January 1, 2022 was left. The osteopath was the first to come up with it. Other doctors who examined me also did not dismiss the vaccination as a possible trigger for these complaints. It is an assumption, because we do not know for sure.”

Erratic pattern of complaints

“I went to the osteopath in February. He had helped me with complaints before. I went there several times, each time for a different complaint. The GP referred me to occupational therapy at the end of March. That certainly helped me. In May I also went to acupuncture to become calmer. Due to all the different treatments, the calmness returned very slowly over the months. It was a capricious process of ups and downs. Physically, things improved step by step and I no longer had new attacks. However, in August the cognitive complaints became more prominent. It is possible that they were there earlier, but were more in the background due to the physical complaints. I had difficulty processing information. I could no longer tolerate light and sound, which meant that I really had to start dosing stimuli. Lying on the couch in the semi-darkness, so that the headache remained under control, was the best option for me.”

Hilda is visibly moved when she tells what has happened to her. From a healthy woman she has changed into a patient who could hardly participate in normal life for a long time. She is happy with where she is now. How far she has come. She is now working on the cognitive complaints, and she hopes to eventually reduce these to a level where she can largely get her life back.

“The conversations with the aftercare advisor from C-support are very helpful. It is nice to talk to someone who understands what is happening to you. Who speaks to more people with similar complaints. I now know that I am not alone. She recognizes and acknowledges my complaints. She describes my situation as someone in a rudderless boat at sea. You have no idea what you have and no idea where you are going or how to get there. You have to find your own way.”

Much understanding and support

“C-support, but also my doctors and the company doctor have taken my complaints seriously. That is very nice. I hear enough stories of people with these kinds of complaints who get completely different reactions from doctors. That it is a burn-out or that the menopause plays a role. I am worried about this arbitrariness; it depends on the doctor how your complaints are interpreted. My environment has also responded well. My family, relatives, friends and colleagues sympathize with me and are a huge support to me. I don't know what I would have done the past year without their help.”

Hilda is positive, accepts her situation and continues to have faith in her recovery. When she reads about possible treatments and comes across something that could possibly help her further, she talks about it with the GP, aftercare advisor and her environment.

“I read an article about the role of an antidepressant (SSRI) in better coping with cognitive complaints after Long COVID. The effect of this treatment has not yet been scientifically proven. After much deliberation, I decided to try it. I have recently started taking this drug to reduce stimuli. My first impression is that it reduces the sharpness somewhat. That I recover from stimuli somewhat faster. But it is still too early to draw conclusions. I trust that I will eventually recover fully.”

Hilda had corona in October 2020 with mild symptoms. In June 2021 she received one vaccination and on January 1, 2022 the booster vaccination. After the booster the symptoms started quite quickly. Because a cause for her symptoms was not found, the link was made with the vaccination. There is no scientific evidence that the vaccination is the cause. Much research is still needed.

The photos in this article are not by Hilda (stock photos pexels.com).