For info: I am a PhD in scientific computing, I am not an antivaxxer in any ways; also non native English speaker, so my writing might be a little 'meh'.
I am just writing my story here, I have no particular intention else than illustrate the topic.
I did 3 shots of COVID vaccine: 1st June 2021 Moderna, 2nd July 2021 Moderna, 3rd January 2022 Pfizer.
Before that:
* I have smoked cigarettes for a few years (less than 10 years), in 2021 I was a non smoker for already 5 years.
* I have depression, which had been treated with antidepressants and also with psychologists
* Lower back pain -> nerd problem
* I was overweight, for a 40yo I am 180cm high for 93kg
* I don't do drugs, I don't drink, I don't eat fast food (or extremely rarely)
Nothing else, no treatment, no long term disease, no specific pain, no family history of anything out of the ordinary.
1st Step:
In July and August 2021, it started with waking up all of a sudden in the middle of the night, with my heart racing. And my heart would be pounding for minutes after waking up, impossible to calm down. I did not think it was a consequence of the vaccine at that point.
2nd Step:
In September 2021, first back and forth to the ER. My blood pressure exploded up to 210-160 or 220-160. At that point, I'm starting to make the connection with the vaccine. Every blood tests, EKG, etc. comes back 'negative' -> nobody knows what's happening.
3rd Step:
From October 2021 to December 2021:
* Hardcore migraines appear -> never had that in my whole life
* Chest pain, intense after minimal effort, for instance walking 100 to 500m could put me to bed for 3 to 4 days
* Constant pain in joints particularly in the shoulder
* Weird 'nerve-like pain' in the body
* Blood pressure issues still here
At that point, believe it or not, because we found nothing in my analysis, I 'gaslit' myself, and told myself: "maybe this is all psychosomatic" so I decided to take a new job.
4th Step
January 2022
I found a job in Germany, to go there I still need to do the 3rd shot of vaccine, which I did!
February 2022 - July 2022
I arrive in Germany, start my job
But now the symptoms I have described earlier are EXPONENTIALLY and explosively multiplied in intensity.
* I am in constant pain
* Sensation of burning from the inside: I used to describe the sensation as "it's as if I'm wearing a croptop of pain"
* Sensation of dying -> my heart skip beats, if that happens, chest pain follows
* I go to the hospital in Germany, fortunately specialized in heart problems: we scan my heart under every aspects, blood tests, EKG, stress test -> nothing reveals any problem
* I go to the general practitioner, who's telling me that I'm not his only patient having that kind of issues, we try cortisone, and even probiotics (lol) -> nothing works
5th Step
From August 2022 to January 2023
I lose my job in Germany and come back to France
I live in constant pain
It DOES NOT go away
Every day is the same, it's survival.
I notice 'funny' stuff happening, like if something like a random stress or negative emotions arises -> it increases the pain I feel, which is CRAZY. I can literally, physically FEEL negative emotions, or even small stress.
Anyway, I go back and forth between by home and the ER a few times, I consult with my GP and other general practioners
I try meditation, yoga, hypnosis, keto diet, all the bullshit -> nothing works.
6th Step
In January 2023
I am at the ER again, with my blood pressure EXPLODING
A GP there, tells me: "ok nothing is wrong on the analysis, but let's try one thing, let's try anti-inflammatory medicine, intensively for one week"
So I go back home with a prescription of ketoprofene in a big big dose, for a week.
I start to do that AND...for the first time in a year and a half -> the pain GOES AWAY.
Of course, I stop the anti-inflammatory medicine after a week -> the pain comes back...but at a lower level than before; it's still a nightmare to live with, but it's better than before.
So, I decided (because I am too exhausted of going to the ER or consulting GPs) to take ketoprofene, one week per month at the same dosage the GP from the ER prescribed -> and every time I do this, the pain disappears COMPLETELY while I take the ketoprofene and it comes back but always in a decreased amount when I stop.
Another GP prescribed probiotics again -> honestly it does nothing, except that you go the toilets more easily :')
7th Step
Fast forward to now (2025)
I am left with:
* Pain in the upper body, particularly shoulder joints -> completely bearable
* Chest pain when I breathe -> nothing extreme, completely bearable, I can still exercise and all
* Blood pressure is under control -> but I have to take a medicine for the rest of my life
* I still get chest pain after some physical efforts (it's non systematic) -> I tried A LOT of things prescribed by GPs -> nothing works.
* I still 'feel' negative emotions in my body (radiating pain in joints | and chest pain) -> but it's MUCH MUCH lower than it used to be
Conclusion
I am a lucky one, because I can function again
Depression still hits hard
Pain still hits hard
BUT I can do sport, I can think and I'm planning to go back to work soon
Personal bullshit scientific conclusion:
The long term side effects of the vaccine, according to the science I've read are diverse, complex, and unsolved so far.
You can get lucky and get your life back
Some people did not
Those sources are already old, there's probably more stuff now, but I don't have the courage to look it up tbh.
Appendix:
###
* I have consulted 7 different GPs -> and I consulted most of them MULTIPLE TIMES
* I have to three hospitals in two different countries
* I have been to the ER 6 or 7 times (I lost count)
* I have done 15 blood tests, EKG, etc.
Thankfully I live in Europe, this cost me very little money.
###
I skipped over some stuff that I tried.
For instance in August 2022, a friend of mine, told me about this US company IncellDX, which offers treatment for a bunch of stuff: lyme disease, long covid, side effects of covid vaccine, etc.
I started to do the tests, I had to go to Spain for that, because it's not legal in France -> the whole thing cost me around 600€ (with travel cost included, etc.)
But anyway, I stopped that process -> this company's work and their treatments got debunked scientifically.
They clearly sell false hope and bullshit 'one solution solve it all' for an EXTREME amount of money.
I don't check publications super often now, but as far as I know:
* Long COVID and long term side effects of the vaccine are comparable
* There's a lot of studies on the matter -> the symptoms are so complex and diverse and the solutions are non existent for now.
###
I'm writing this because this is the Internet: in case you're tempted to invalidate what I wrote: I want to see your peer-reviewed publications on the matter.
###
In case you're tempted to advise me one of those 'whatever newage bullshit': reki, osteopathy, spiruline, etc -> please refrain to do so.
I tried it all already, or I should say I tried enough
You probably do not realize how much TIME, ENERGY, HOPE and MONEY this cost.
For info: I am a PhD in scientific computing, I am not an antivaxxer in any ways; also non native English speaker, so my writing might be a little 'meh'.
I am just writing my story here, I have no particular intention else than illustrate the topic.
I did 3 shots of COVID vaccine: 1st June 2021 Moderna, 2nd July 2021 Moderna, 3rd January 2022 Pfizer.
Before that: * I have smoked cigarettes for a few years (less than 10 years), in 2021 I was a non smoker for already 5 years. * I have depression, which had been treated with antidepressants and also with psychologists * Lower back pain -> nerd problem * I was overweight, for a 40yo I am 180cm high for 93kg * I don't do drugs, I don't drink, I don't eat fast food (or extremely rarely) Nothing else, no treatment, no long term disease, no specific pain, no family history of anything out of the ordinary.
1st Step:
In July and August 2021, it started with waking up all of a sudden in the middle of the night, with my heart racing. And my heart would be pounding for minutes after waking up, impossible to calm down. I did not think it was a consequence of the vaccine at that point.
2nd Step:
In September 2021, first back and forth to the ER. My blood pressure exploded up to 210-160 or 220-160. At that point, I'm starting to make the connection with the vaccine. Every blood tests, EKG, etc. comes back 'negative' -> nobody knows what's happening.
3rd Step:
From October 2021 to December 2021: * Hardcore migraines appear -> never had that in my whole life * Chest pain, intense after minimal effort, for instance walking 100 to 500m could put me to bed for 3 to 4 days * Constant pain in joints particularly in the shoulder * Weird 'nerve-like pain' in the body * Blood pressure issues still here
At that point, believe it or not, because we found nothing in my analysis, I 'gaslit' myself, and told myself: "maybe this is all psychosomatic" so I decided to take a new job.
4th Step
January 2022 I found a job in Germany, to go there I still need to do the 3rd shot of vaccine, which I did!
February 2022 - July 2022 I arrive in Germany, start my job But now the symptoms I have described earlier are EXPONENTIALLY and explosively multiplied in intensity. * I am in constant pain * Sensation of burning from the inside: I used to describe the sensation as "it's as if I'm wearing a croptop of pain" * Sensation of dying -> my heart skip beats, if that happens, chest pain follows * I go to the hospital in Germany, fortunately specialized in heart problems: we scan my heart under every aspects, blood tests, EKG, stress test -> nothing reveals any problem * I go to the general practitioner, who's telling me that I'm not his only patient having that kind of issues, we try cortisone, and even probiotics (lol) -> nothing works
5th Step
From August 2022 to January 2023 I lose my job in Germany and come back to France
I live in constant pain
It DOES NOT go away
Every day is the same, it's survival.
I notice 'funny' stuff happening, like if something like a random stress or negative emotions arises -> it increases the pain I feel, which is CRAZY. I can literally, physically FEEL negative emotions, or even small stress.
Anyway, I go back and forth between by home and the ER a few times, I consult with my GP and other general practioners I try meditation, yoga, hypnosis, keto diet, all the bullshit -> nothing works.
6th Step
In January 2023
I am at the ER again, with my blood pressure EXPLODING
A GP there, tells me: "ok nothing is wrong on the analysis, but let's try one thing, let's try anti-inflammatory medicine, intensively for one week"
So I go back home with a prescription of ketoprofene in a big big dose, for a week. I start to do that AND...for the first time in a year and a half -> the pain GOES AWAY. Of course, I stop the anti-inflammatory medicine after a week -> the pain comes back...but at a lower level than before; it's still a nightmare to live with, but it's better than before.
So, I decided (because I am too exhausted of going to the ER or consulting GPs) to take ketoprofene, one week per month at the same dosage the GP from the ER prescribed -> and every time I do this, the pain disappears COMPLETELY while I take the ketoprofene and it comes back but always in a decreased amount when I stop.
Another GP prescribed probiotics again -> honestly it does nothing, except that you go the toilets more easily :')
7th Step
Fast forward to now (2025)
I am left with: * Pain in the upper body, particularly shoulder joints -> completely bearable * Chest pain when I breathe -> nothing extreme, completely bearable, I can still exercise and all * Blood pressure is under control -> but I have to take a medicine for the rest of my life * I still get chest pain after some physical efforts (it's non systematic) -> I tried A LOT of things prescribed by GPs -> nothing works. * I still 'feel' negative emotions in my body (radiating pain in joints | and chest pain) -> but it's MUCH MUCH lower than it used to be
Conclusion I am a lucky one, because I can function again Depression still hits hard Pain still hits hard BUT I can do sport, I can think and I'm planning to go back to work soon
Personal bullshit scientific conclusion: The long term side effects of the vaccine, according to the science I've read are diverse, complex, and unsolved so far. You can get lucky and get your life back Some people did not
The antivaxxers completely polluted the mediatic and scientific space -> addressing side effects of COVID vaccine must be really difficult for scientists and rightfully so -> so many random stuff has been claimed by people who knew nothing. It's very hard not to hate on those "worried moms on Facebook and their groups". Some links on the matter https://www.science.org/content/article/rare-cases-coronavir... https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6...
Those sources are already old, there's probably more stuff now, but I don't have the courage to look it up tbh.
Appendix:
### * I have consulted 7 different GPs -> and I consulted most of them MULTIPLE TIMES * I have to three hospitals in two different countries * I have been to the ER 6 or 7 times (I lost count) * I have done 15 blood tests, EKG, etc. Thankfully I live in Europe, this cost me very little money.
### I skipped over some stuff that I tried. For instance in August 2022, a friend of mine, told me about this US company IncellDX, which offers treatment for a bunch of stuff: lyme disease, long covid, side effects of covid vaccine, etc.
I started to do the tests, I had to go to Spain for that, because it's not legal in France -> the whole thing cost me around 600€ (with travel cost included, etc.)
But anyway, I stopped that process -> this company's work and their treatments got debunked scientifically. They clearly sell false hope and bullshit 'one solution solve it all' for an EXTREME amount of money.
### I did declare my symptoms and analysis results to authorities in France (déclaration de pharmacovigilance) -> but it led to nothing.
I don't check publications super often now, but as far as I know: * Long COVID and long term side effects of the vaccine are comparable * There's a lot of studies on the matter -> the symptoms are so complex and diverse and the solutions are non existent for now.
### I'm writing this because this is the Internet: in case you're tempted to invalidate what I wrote: I want to see your peer-reviewed publications on the matter.
### In case you're tempted to advise me one of those 'whatever newage bullshit': reki, osteopathy, spiruline, etc -> please refrain to do so. I tried it all already, or I should say I tried enough You probably do not realize how much TIME, ENERGY, HOPE and MONEY this cost.