I think I was damaged by a vaccine

[karika]

I never put it together before. I got a pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination some years ago.

I began to have allergies. I had owned cats my entire life with no problem and I was suddenly allergic to them. I began to be bothered by allergens in the air like pollen and dust. Again, never once before. At my job I had to start taking allergy medicine because the corn meal began bothering me (I made pizzas)(this occurred over a 3 month period) I began to have bouts of vertigo which I still have to this day. The are so severe I can not tell which way is up. I had an MRI and ear tests run, no one could tell me why I was having vertigo. I also had a day when I could not move my neck at all. I blacked out while driving that same day. A friend in the car grabbed the wheel. That was within a month of receiving the shot. I went back to the same doctor and he gave me a shot of steroids which released my neck and the pain of it. I can't believe I didn't realize it at the time, but back then it never occurred to me that the vaccine wasn't safe. I just realized it and thought I should share in case others had this happen and just hadn't put it together yet. I would also like to heal myself however I can to stop the vertigo. I know there is a place to report adverse reactions, but this was back in '95 that I got the shot and I am sure the spin of "well anyone can develop allergies and vertigo at anytime" would be the answers... has anyone else realized they were damaged by a vaccine as an adult? Is there anything I can do to stop the vertigo? It is unpredictable and sporadic. I may have an episode 3 times a day or once in a month. I don't know if this belongs here or in health and healing...

[MyBoysBlue]

I've had totally out of the blue allergic reactions and vertigo as well. Though at different times in my life and no where near any vaccines. My vertigo was caused by low blood pressure and only happened while I was inactive for a while like in Class, when I got up after class I would almost fall on my face. I was 18 at the time. For me my allergen was aspirin and celery(which apparently has aspirin like qualities). It was about 6 months after giving birth when I was 25. I had hives and my face and tongue swelled. I spoke to an allergist and was told that if I could figure out what I was allergic to and then avoid it for 3 months it should reset me and I would be able to eat it again. Took about a year for me to figure out what I was reacting to. But I can now eat celery. I haven't tried aspirin as it cause the more drastic reactions of face and tongue swelling and I don't need to take it.

Your worse vertigo and neck problems and allergies all within a short time frame after receiving a vaccine would also cause me to question the possibility. I just wanted to throw out other possibilities. There are some detoxing things I have heard others talk about but I have no knowledge about it. It might be worth seeing a naturopath.

[karika]

wow I didn't think this posted.... my computer said it didn't, sent me to a problem page... but anyway, thanks for writing. I know what blacking out from standing up is like, and low blood sugar and low blood pressure, this is nothing like that. I can be standing there preparing food and whammy, I am grabbing for counter to keep from falling. I did find some information to say that vertigo following a flu vaccine is common, but that it is due to a treatable bacteria infection in the inner ear called Labyrinthitis. It would resolve soon after the shot however, or worsen greatly and usually includes nausea with vomiting. I did not experience that (vomiting) I don't think, and i definitely don't now.

As for the allergies, I know some people just suddenly seem to develop them as i did, but i wonder how many can be correlated back to some sort of invasion of the body like a vaccination (or steroid shot, etc)? I guess it is just because all the things happened at once- the blackout, the immovable neck with a pain level of 9, then the allergies and vertigo...

I have been living clean somewhat since '99, and am now eating a pretty pure nearly vegan CFGFSF diet, which is no doubt helping me, but I would like to stop having the extreme vertigo spells.

[stik]

I don't know about the influence of the vaccines here. I do know that vertigo can be a symptom of sinus and ear infections caused by poorly managed environmental allergies. So before looking to chelate or undergo yet another major lifestyle change to address the alleged vaccine damage, it might be a good idea to try to address whatever is going on in your ears canals and sinus cavities.

I imagine that getting abx is going to be next to impossible for you. Garlic might help you a lot though. Try some nice, steamy garlicky soup, and maybe some warm garlic oil in your ears, on a regular basis to knock out any possible underlying/recurring infections. Oregano is a good natural anti-viral, and works even in its dried form, so I'd throw some of that into your soup as well. While you're doing that, you also need to look into allergy management. A spoonful of local honey a day is a good prophylactic for pollen allergies if you start at the beginning of allergy season. It can be expensive and difficult to find, and it's no help with dust. For that, you need environmental management (a pretty intensive anti-dust cleaning regimen) and allergy medication. You need to stop the histamine reaction that's obstructing your sinuses. This can be happening even if you aren't feeling congested. A lot of allergy meds are available over-the-counter now.

It's common for environmental allergies to intensify with age. Mine appeared in my mid-twenties and have gotten steadily worse since then. There's medication for vertigo. It doesn't work all that well. Treating the underlying cause works much better.

[tessie]

Originally Posted by karika

I have been living clean somewhat since '99,

You don't have to answer this (and absolutely no judgment) but what do you mean by this? Because, as I'm sure you know, sometimes drug use can cause some of the symptoms you describe, such as nasal congestion, vertigo etc.

Although some people actually find marijuana helps the symptoms of vertigo.

[JessicaS]

My FIL gets sudden dizzy spells but he has Ménière's, allergies can make it worse

[savithny]

a few years ago, my very-occasional migraines suddenly changed their act and became vertigo attacks. It took me two of them to figure it out, but I'm pretty sure that's what they are, because I get the eye symptoms and the weird feeling, and then awful, awful vertigo. But just like my old migraines, if I hold my head very still and do not move my eyes side to side much or quickly, I can "hold it together."

[karika]

Originally Posted by stik

I don't know about the influence of the vaccines here. I do know that vertigo can be a symptom of sinus and ear infections caused by poorly managed environmental allergies. So before looking to chelate or undergo yet another major lifestyle change to address the alleged vaccine damage, it might be a good idea to try to address whatever is going on in your ears canals and sinus cavities.

I imagine that getting abx is going to be next to impossible for you. Garlic might help you a lot though. Try some nice, steamy garlicky soup, and maybe some warm garlic oil in your ears, on a regular basis to knock out any possible underlying/recurring infections. Oregano is a good natural anti-viral, and works even in its dried form, so I'd throw some of that into your soup as well. While you're doing that, you also need to look into allergy management. A spoonful of local honey a day is a good prophylactic for pollen allergies if you start at the beginning of allergy season. It can be expensive and difficult to find, and it's no help with dust. For that, you need environmental management (a pretty intensive anti-dust cleaning regimen) and allergy medication. You need to stop the histamine reaction that's obstructing your sinuses. This can be happening even if you aren't feeling congested. A lot of allergy meds are available over-the-counter now.

It's common for environmental allergies to intensify with age. Mine appeared in my mid-twenties and have gotten steadily worse since then. There's medication for vertigo. It doesn't work all that well. Treating the underlying cause works much better.

I was thoroughly checked out at the time by more than one ENT specialist. When they could not find anything, I was sent for an MRI. It also came back showing no reason for the vertigo. I could not afford any more copays to pursue it farther at the time. But I have had an ear incident since then where I saw a few doctors for my ear again, and I was treated for that. So I was tested extensively around the onset of the vertigo, and nothing was found. Then I had an ear issue that I was given lots of (as it turned out unnecessary) abx for and drops and such, although it was not even an infection. I also had a strong course of heavy duty abx due to a soft tissue infection in my cheek while pregnant with dd1, so I have had Cipro, Amox, IV antibiotics since the onset of this vertigo and nothing has changed it. I eat raw garlic often and use it in my cooking. I am knowledgeable about foods to treat issues. I now live in NW so allergies aren't the same problem they were in NC. Out here, I am only sensitive to the cat. I also am sensitive to all chemicals, but I believe that is quite normal and what happens after you stop using them in the day to day life. I would not take any allergy medicine unless it is herbal or homeopathic. I do have some homeopathic stuff from Hylands that I have used when suffering form the cat or cologne. I guess I was just wondering with this post if anyone else had vertigo (which is not dizziness, they are defined differently, at first I thought it was called dizziness until I had a checklist at ENT where i found what i experience is actually called vertigo) as a side effect of a vaccine.

[karika]

Originally Posted by tessie

You don't have to answer this (and absolutely no judgment) but what do you mean by this? Because, as I'm sure you know, sometimes drug use can cause some of the symptoms you describe, such as nasal congestion, vertigo etc.

Although some people actually find marijuana helps the symptoms of vertigo.

I mean I have been eating organic, non processed foods (mostly, but with serious pizza and fast food also) since '99... well I was still hooked on HFCS and food colorings too... and now I eat no chemicals like dyes or msg, etc... not even 'natural flavorings', because that is secret code for msg)... I am GFCFSF, and was corn free, heading back into that. I am also going vegan. I no longer eat mammals and have had only eggs in baking and a bit of salmon.

I am not sure what 'drug' you are referring to, but I gave up coke and all stimulants long ago. I do not even drink caffeine. I do not drink alcohol. Cannabis is another matter entirely, as I do not consider that a 'drug'. I would happily use it to abate my arthritis, migraines, insomnia, mood swings, etc... if I had a med card or it were legal to do so. I am sure I could get a med card, but that would require playing some game with an MD visit. I do not use MD for anything anymore, unless I had a broken bone or needed surgery (and even then, maybe not). So, no... it is not a side effect of a substance (unless it is from my unrefined cane sugar, cause I am def still addicted to that... that will be the last addiction to go prob). I know what a flashback is and its not that either. Those are vastly different. (yes, I saw some dead shows in college) oh, and I never did e... no desire for chemical anything....

[stik]

Vertigo can be a result of an otherwise subclinical ear or sinus infection. It wouldn't show up on an MRI. It sounds like your allergies basically are untreated. But your second post makes it sound like you're having incidents on an almost daily basis, which doesn't match allergy symptoms at all - if allergies were the issue, the vertigo would disappear for long periods. Unless you're much more allergic to your cat that you've realized or your symptoms have aggravated your sinuses so badly they've caused permanent damage. I don't know if that's even possible.

Vertigo can also be related to blood sugar. What's your daily calorie intake like? Are you getting enough fats and proteins? When you're vegan and eliminating a ton of stuff, it's easy to overload on carbs, which leaves you vulnerable to big blood-sugar crashes. Keeping a diary of your food intake and vertigo incidents might be revealing.