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Comment by newaccount7 | Hacker News Reader

I got a little out of breath doing simple tasks like walking briskly or picking up my kids, and I had a pain in my back (actually lung) that gradually got worse over a few days.

Eventually the pain was severe enough that I went to the ER.

Looking back, the shortness of breath was a key indicator. It wasn't that I was struggling to breathe or anything, but I felt like I couldn't take a big deep breath easily and that's not normal.

The pain would also get worse at night when I tried to lie down to go to sleep. I thought I had pulled a muscle in my back at first, but it was quite painful.

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ok now I'm worried. I got the JJ vaccine 4 weeks ago. Suffered semi bad flu for few hours that night then after felt great. Now some who now me may consider me a hypochondriac but I've felt a tad "off" since the vaccine but kept it to myself. Maybe only 2-3 tiny lightheadedness episodes while walking the dog (nothing major just more of "what was that"), or some very minor chest tightness and stomach bloating feel.

But last week (would have been 3 weeks after shot) I awoke in the middle of the night with pretty a bad chest pain like you describe. Felt like it was in middle of my chest and was quite painful. I had to physically sit up in my bed for about 5 minutes hoping it would subside. I got up and got some water and hoped it didn't get worse as I started contemplating what I should do if it does.

I was so tired though I just propped myself up with pillows and slept sitting up against the headboard because laying down seemed to make it come back worse. I eventually fell asleep and when I woke for the day I still felt a small amount of pain still. Went about my day normally and it seemed to go away later in the day.

I would think I am out of the window by now after 4 weeks to which I am in any danger from what I'm reading on news sites? I've been the gym since that episode and have done cardio fine. My wife suggests I take some low-dose aspirin for next few days.

If you’re having chest pain that’s severe enough to wake you up at night, I would talk to a doctor. It doesn’t have to have anything to do with the vaccine.

I would also not dismiss the nagging feeling in the back of your head that something doesn’t feel right. You know your body more than anyone.

Not to scare you, but I advise following up with a doctor as soon as possible. My 21 year old brother who was otherwise completely healthy suffered a similar short pattern of pain due to blood clots (not related to vaccine) but with severe neck pain for a short time one night.

It went away after that night, he was fine for 3 weeks with no pain or issues, was working out fine, etc. and thought nothing of it.

Suddenly one night went from perfectly fine sleeping to suffering a major stroke due to a blood clot in his brain within a 10 minute period, unable to do anything himself to get help as he lost all motor skills.

He said in retrospect he wishes he had followed up with a doctor on the thing he thought was no longer an issue 3 weeks before.

There are genetic tests they can run, as well, such as to see if you might have factor V Leiden.

Thanks. I’m hoping you’re well now and the clot was treated.

How were you treated for this, and how has recovery been?

They put me on blood thinners right away to prevent future clots and prevent the clots from getting bigger. I’ll be on them for at least a few months.

They then put me on pain meds and supplemental oxygen for a few days and watched me. The pain went away after a few days (I assume when the inflammation went down).

They didn’t actually treat the clots themselves. The body apparently does that itself over the course of a few weeks and months. There are invasive surgical ways to try to break them up but they felt I wasn’t bad enough to risk it since I could sit up and breathe on my own.

They checked my heart for tissue damage and thankfully didn’t find any. So now they’re doing a slew of tests to find the cause (genetics? Cancer? So far tests show cancer is unlikely).

Recovery has been good to be honest. I’m not really in pain. I do get out of breathe very easily but they say that’s normal and should go away in a few weeks as the clots dissipate. The lung damage should heal, I think.

The real danger from more clots to the brain or damaging the heart are prevented by the blood thinners, which are apparently highly effective. So I think I got lucky and I’m glad I went to the ER when I did.

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