Pfizer vaccine side effects (Raynaud’s, EM, diabetes, asthma)

written by Nina Shantel, RealDietHelp.com, published August 10, 2021

I’ve been fully vaccinated about 3 weeks now, but I put off getting the COVID-19 vaccine a few weeks because I was worried about side effects due to the fact that I have multiple comorbidities. I have severe food allergies, diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, erythromelalgia, Raynaud’s, scoliosis, and chronic asthma. (If you’d rather watch the video I created on this topic, scroll to the bottom of this post).

I was diagnosed with Type 1.5 diabetes about 14 years ago, so I was worried about high blood sugars. Other diabetics reported erratic blood sugar levels and said their blood sugar levels were “all over the place.” From the time I got the 1st and 2nd shots, and two weeks afterwards, my blood sugars never got low or crazy high.

I don’t know if the vaccine affected my blood sugars at all, because I started eating more carbs, like potatoes. I have been checking my blood sugars in the morning, and it only went up about 30 points so it could have been due to the vaccine, or due to the additional carbohydrate intake. So, I’d say that the two Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shots did not affect my blood sugars even though I’m a diabetic.

I have peripheral diabetic neuropathy, but didn’t get any pain in my fingers or toes. Some people report numbness from neuropathy, but I’ve never had that sensation. The two Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shots did not make my neuropathy any worse.

I also have been diagnosed with EM, erythromelalgia, and Raynaud’s, so I was concerned about burning and swelling in my fingers and does, but I didn’t get any flare-ups after getting the two shots of the Pfizer vaccine.

I also have asthma so I was worried about triggering asthma attacks from the COVID-19 vaccine, but I did not have any breathing problems with either of the Pfizer shots.

My side effects from Pfizer

While I did not get any of the side effects I was concerned about, I did have some side effects. The day after I got the Pfizer vaccine, my arm hurt where I had the shot. It didn’t hurt too bad. My arm hurt for two days, yet I was still able to do arm exercises and my typical workouts.

The day after I received my second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, my arm hurt more and it hurt for three days instead of two. I also had upper and lower back pain, which could be classified as muscle pain. I didn’t have much energy, yet I did complete three separate 30-minute workouts, just not as hard as I usually go.

I felt fatigued, like I had a mild flu the day after the second shot. I was also cranky (LOL). The next day, I was back to my energetic self, so my fears that I would have worse side effects because I have diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, EM, Raynaud’s, were unfounded.

If you’re concerned about the side effects from any of the COVID-19 vaccines, you should be more concerned about the side effects from getting COVID-19. Go online, you will find blogs, Facebook groups, and videos from people who got infected with the COVID-19 virus, who had mild reactions or none, but now have serious side effects, months after they were infected. These people identify themselves long-haulers, age is irrelevant, young people are affected too. Side effects range from person-to-person and can be anything one considers unpleasant.

A woman I know who had tons of energy, and had a full-time job that involved lots of walking to inspect the factory, got infected with COVID-19, and now she’s on disability and using a cane to walk, she’s in her 30’s.

A young man I was chatting on the phone with at work has been an athlete his whole life, he’s lean and muscular, but he contracted COVID-19. Now he can’t play sports, and gets winded getting up from his chair at work to go to the restroom, he’s in his 20’s. We don’t know if long-haulers’ side effects will get better, will get worse, or how long their side effects will last. These people either didn’t get the vaccine, or didn’t have the opportunity to get the vaccine because it wasn’t available when they got infected. We’re lucky we have vaccines now that work, any many of us can choose which one we want to get.

How to protect yourself from COVID-19

The best protection against short and long term side effects from the current novel SARS viruses that keep evolving, is to get a COVID-19 vaccine. I know you’re scared to get the shots, I was scared too, but I was more scared to get COVID-19 and end up hospitalized, on a ventilator, or end up with more medical problems than I already have.

Another way to protect yourself is to get your body stronger, if and when it needs to fight against a virus, flu, injury or infection, by sleeping seven to nine hours a night, exercising at least 30 minutes every day (90 minutes is ideal), drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration, and eating lots of fruits, vegetables and greens.

What and how much you eat affects your health. Keep your fats low, but make sure to consume some healthy fats like nuts, seeds and avocado. You also want to stay away from alcohol, cigarette smoke, sugar, dairy, oils, and animal products.

Stress takes a toll on our immune system, so do what you can to calm down when anger or fear strikes. The last 15 months have been really stressful on all of us. Some extra kindness and forgiveness towards others will make you feel better too.

Let’s get rid of this virus for once and for all. The more people who get vaccinated, the less it will grow and replicate.