*Pic: Mayara Conceicao. Her symptoms began post vaccine in March 2021.
Mayara Conceicao (27) is a psychotherapist from north eastern Brazil living in Waterford. She is worried about her fertility. She was among the first to receive the Pfizer covid 19 vaccine in early January 2021. Her symptoms began two months after her first dose. One element of Mayara’s story in particular will resonate will many readers: the post vaccine effects on her periods. She went from a regular 29 day cycle to an irregular cycle and she is now using a pad every day of the month, due to ongoing discharge. She has received no explanation for what might be causing this. Her friend experienced similar changes to her cycle, and is due to undergo a procedure to remove the lining of her uterus.
“I am quite worried about my health. I currently manage my mental health with antidepressants and therapy. Because as a psychologist, I know the importance of keeping a healthy mind when your body is very weak. Most days I can handle it, but there are days when I just want to disappear and all I can do is cry. This situation is very painful,” she said.
Read Mayara’s story below:
My name is Mayara Conceicao. I am 27 years old. I'm Brazilian and I've been living in Ireland since 2018. I'm a very sociable person, I like meeting new people and places. I like to travel, study. I love talking, go for walk, cooking for my friends. In the last few years I started to love physical exercises and adhere to a very healthy diet. I love dancing. I always kept my body and mind busy, either with studies or leisure time.
Before being affected, I had a pretty hectic life. How I like it. I had just moved in with my partner. I was starting my master's degree here in Ireland and a postgraduate course in Portugal working as an Activities Coordinator in a Home for the Elderly. At the moment I am not working because of the long covid-19 diagnosis. My injury is from the vaccine.
Tell me your thoughts on covid and vaccines at the time of your taking the jab.
I had no problem getting the vaccine or the idea of vaccination. I was aware that it was fairly recent, but the idea was better than getting the virus and not knowing what could happen. I did a lot of research with scientific articles and I felt safe to take this (vaccine.) I was a frontline worker in a nursing home and we were around the first to get it. My first dose Pfizer was January 7 2021 and second dose on January 28. I had the Pfizer booster in November 2021.
First I had the vaccine then I had the injury and then in March 2022 I got covid and everything got worse. With the first vaccine, I had fatgiue and muscle spasms and after that I was okay. Around two months later the uveitis (inflammation inside the eye) started.
I took the booster, because I didn’t know at that time my symptoms could be from the vaccine. The doctors didn’t know where this eye inflammation was coming from. There were lots of tests and everything came back negative. I had no idea what was causing it, I thought maybe stress? I was doing my masters and many things had changed in my life.
My period was affected. I always had a normal period every 29 days (up to 2021). After the vaccine, my period started coming like a discharge. I have it totally irregular now. I need to use a pad every day. I am really worried about fertility.
My friend had the same experience. She went to her GP here in Ireland and the GP said it was normal and could be a DST (Differential Skin surface Temperature.) She did the DST exams and everything came back normal. My friend then went to Brazil and talked with her gynaecologist about her situation. Immediately the gynaecologist did an examination of her and said she needed to do a uterus cauterization and take three doses of the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. And she needs to have her cervical check every six months.
We have the same symptoms. I said this to my GP and she has referred me for a scan for my uterus and ovaries and a specific smear test. I am having a period every month, but then a discharge that never stops. Sometimes brown, sometimes a bright bleeding. I think this is from the vaccine because before the vaccine my periods were always right (regular). My GP didn’t say anything but my long covid doctor said it could be (the cause). And so he told me not to take more vaccines. (Mayara’s ‘long covid doctor’ is Dr Seamus Linnane, Consultant in Respiratory & General Medicine and Deputy Medical Director at Beacon Hospital in Dublin - whom she finds very helpful.)
Outline your medical diagnoses, conditions confirmed through tests and medical records.
At the beginning, uveitis (inflammation inside the eye) and strong chest discomfort (asthma) were not associated with covid-19. The person who made this link was the doctor at the Long Covid Clinic.
(Mayara’s symptoms began post vaccine and before she was diagnosed with covid.)
Describe how it affects your daily life.
My life has completely changed. I needed to go to the emergency department several times. I was quite sensitive to light. I had to stay away from my master's degree, post-graduation and work for a while, as I had uveitis from April to November 2021. For asthma, my GP asked me to use Ventolin and planned to send me for tests to be sure of the diagnosis. But I couldn't do these tests in time because I caught covid-19 and it was much worse than the effects of the vaccine. Intensifying the effects of the vaccine and showing more symptoms, it was much more limiting. After the diagnosis of uveitis, I started to have a lot of headaches from the steroids. I gained weight. I had a lot of sensitivity in the eye and I got cataracts in the affected eye.
Did you inform the HPRA of your injury?
No.
Talking about the vaccine, I was treated well by the eye department at Waterford University Hospital. They did a lot of research, testing and it didn't take long. As for asthma, so far I have not taken the necessary tests even though I chose to do it privately. Having an injury from the covid vaccine or covid-19 is something very lonely. I have people who support me, especially my partner, but most of them don't understand my situation and sometimes I need to explain that it's not like a headache that you take medicine and it goes away. Sometimes I need to say that everything is fine rather than to explain what is really happening. Regarding the doctors, it is quite difficult to explain what is happening. Because most of the time they don't believe what you are saying. It's totally frustrating.
Has your financial situation been affected?
As an immigrant Masters student I have been working and paying fees in Ireland since 2018. I pay PRSI and other taxes but I am not entitled to receive any government aid benefits even if it is according to my paid fees. My financial situation was totally affected, as I couldn't work many times and it was my partner who took over all my expenses. Otherwise, I would have to bury my master's degree and go back home. That’s after having paid a huge amount for the course.
Are you hopeful about recovery?
The future for me is something very uncertain. I'm still pretty weak. No improvement expected or a positive prognosis. I am having support from my pulmonary doctor in Brazil (a specialist in covid-19) to see if I have a significant improvement, as I was not satisfied with the medical care here in Ireland.
*I spoke to Mayara this week for an update on her situation and there have been positive developments. She is seeing a specialist in Dublin and her GP in Brazil has prescribed some medications that are working well for her.
At the Long Covid Clinic – that was the first doctor that completely heard me and said that it’s not in my head. He diagnosed me with PoTS. (Postural tachycardia syndrome - increased heart rate after getting up from sitting or lying down.)
I think long covid is a kind of chronic inflammation, a virus or bacteria and the body inflamed to fight that. I think the long covid, from everything I’ve read and doctors say, it’s like a chronic inflammation. Like cells in your body, can’t deal with it. It could also be some kind of micro-blood clot. So you do a specific test for the micro clotting. I am taking a supplement for that.
I am improving a lot. My fatigue is better, my chest is better. Before, I couldn’t walk for five minutes without being breathless. I am back working part time now, as a translator and a psychotherapist. I can only work part time because if I put myself under any bit of stress it has a bad effect. I need to use my levels of energy in a positive way.
My GP is an amazing doctor. I have a GP and gynaecologist in Brazil. I asked my GP here in Ireland if she would allow me to do a consultation with my GP in Brazil about my case.
Mayara’s GP in Brazil recommended a list of medications and supplements, the full list is provided below.
Would you take another covid vaccine?
No. I still think it is safe for most people. More tests need to be done, especially for people who had any side effects.
#LivesDestroyed #vaccineinjuries
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Mayara’s story the 5th and final article in this series - links below.
Any readers had problems with periods or fertility issues post vaccine? Get in touch. I plan to re-visit this topic.
Mayara’s GP in Brazil recommended this list of medications and supplements:
Medications:
Symbicort two puffs a day
Pulmicort as needed
Ventolin as needed
Naltrexone 3mg
Ivabradine 7.5 mg a day
Escitalopram
Solpadeine/ paracetamol as needed
Montelukast 10mg
Pneumonia vaccine
Levocetirizine 5 mg twice a day. I did not have any serious collateral effect. Only with the painkiller for constipation and when I need steroids tablets with a lot of neuropathic pains.
Supplements - The supplements helped me with fatigue, cognitive problems, PoTS symptoms, neuropathic pains, and asthma. After I started to take the supplements and the medication I can see a great improvement.
Nattokinase 4000 FU
Vitamin D3
Propolis
Histamine Block
Resveratrol
Magnesium Malate, 625 mg
Ultra Omega-3, 500 EPA / 250 DHA, 180
High Absorption Iron with Ferrochel, 27 mg
Alpha-Lipoic Acid, 600 mg, 10000FU
Turmeric Curcumin 800mg
COQ10 100mg
Probiotics 100 billion
Zinc 15 mg
What an amzing series of interviews this has been. In a rational and sensible world Louise would be commended by her peers for her excellent journalism. She might even get an award or two. But we don't live in such a world and sadly silence is probably the best she can hope for.
What comes across to me in these interviews is that these were smart and curious-minded people who often researched what they were about to do before getting the first jab. They retain faith in the medical establishment, and hope to find a kind doctor who will at least listen to them, if not believe their interpretation as to why they are ill. That is completely understandable. I was once like that myself.
It must be very difficult to accept that these jabs have had such a bad effect on their health when all they were trying to do was be good citizens by safeguarding their families and their communities. But their health has been damaged and I hope they can recover completely.
All of us who didn't take the vaccine never got sick. I had a positive test but it was milder than a cold and lasted less than 24 hours. She had a bad dose because of her vaccines. It's good her doctor recognises it but he is not speaking out publicly.
Interesting another vaccine is included in her protocol.