This is a personal account of Laura’s Vaccine-related Story. Laura completed the Autoimmune Sisters vaccine-related story form and submitted with permission to share.
Laura’s Vaccine-related Story: Laura is a student living in Portugal with her family. This is her story with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura and choosing to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
About Laura:
Name: Laura Pontes
Age: 19
Location: Portugal
Occupation: Student
Family/Children: Living with my parents and sisters.
IG Handle: @lauraponteess
Autoimmune Diseases: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Chronic Viruses: None known
Physical Activity/Dietary/Lifestyle Preferences: I’m vegetarian, sleep 9 hours a day and I walk and do yoga daily.
Do you have any of the following COVID “high risk” factors? Comorbidity (the presence of 2 or more diseases in the same person), Coagulation/Blood Clotting, Respiratory Issues/Lung Issues
Are you under the care of a medical doctor? Yes, I am under the care of three different doctors.
What kind of doctor(s)/provider(s) do you work with? Rheumatologist, Hematologist, Immune-allergologist
What data/evidence did your doctor provide to support you getting the vaccine?: I have been diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). So, I was afraid the Covid-10 vaccine would trigger my ITP again. These are two of the links that my doctors provided to me.FAQs; ITP and Covid 19 Vaccination (April 2020) and Covid-19 and ITP Frequently Asked Questions.
What information or resources did you use to come to this conclusion on your own? The information from my doctors and teachers (I’m currently studying medicine) made me understand the best option for me since I’m immune-compromised.
Health Related Questions:
Before receiving the vaccine, please describe your health along with any autoimmune, chronic or related illness symptoms. Petechiae, bruises, tiredness, very heavy menstrual flow, frequent bleeding in the gums
What kind of prescribed medications do you currently take?: Cortisone, allergy medication, platelet production stimulants
What kind of vitamins/supplements do you currently take?: Magnesium
Was your autoimmune and any co-viruses in remission at the time you received your vaccine? No
Vaccine Related Questions:
Prior to receiving the vaccine, did you already have Covid-19? No
Which vaccine did you receive?: Pfizer
How many doses and when did you receive them?: I received the first dose on the July 23, 2021 and the second dose on August 14, 2021.
Did you have any adverse reactions to the vaccine?: Yes
Describe your adverse reactions to the vaccine and reference which dose in your explanation. Arm pain, fever, tremor, malaise, tiredness, headache
Since having the vaccine, have you been tested for Covid-19 antibodies?: No, I have not been tested for Covid-19 and I am not planning to get my antibodies tested.
Interested in Sharing Your Autoimmune Sister Story?
Now that you’ve read Laura’s Vaccine-related story, if you are interested in sharing your autoimmune story keep reading. Sharing your story is the very core of what we believe in at Autoimmune Sisters. We believe in bio-individuality; that every woman is uniquely designed and therefore there is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
In addition to sharing your autoimmune story, we are now accepting submissions for those of you interested in sharing your story and how it relates to the Covid-19 vaccine. Keep reading to learn more!
Thank you all for sharing.
I am at the LONG beginning of trying to get a diagnosis. I hesitate on getting the vaccine as I do not know what’s happening in my body and do not want to add anything that may flare up whatever is going on or mask something else. It’s so frustrating.
I also agree that there are no long term studies as in we dont know what it may do 10, 15, 20 years from now. Thalidomide was once the latest greatest drug, too.
Yet, I am almost 50, I have asthma and am overweight. The last time I had the flu, it almost killed me. (2018)
That’s my dilemma.
So, thank you for sharing your stories. It helps.