"I’M 29. I have an underlying brain injury and I’m paralysed from the chest down. I use a powered wheelchair. Because of my condition it seemed sensible to have the vaccine. I had AstraZeneca due to allergies. When I went for the booster I explained why I’d had the AstraZeneca vaccine but was told Pfizer would be ok. I wish I’d trusted my instincts on October 9, 2021. I now have 34 symptoms affecting all of my body: 24/7 headache, tachycardia, photophobia, unable to eat much, tinnitus, chronic infections, mast cell issues and lung damage. I’m bed-bound, on a ventilator for most of the day and night – makes it tricky to talk and my voice was affected already. I have no quality of life. I have little vision in one eye which makes it hard to watch telly, which keeps me occupied, and access my only support, which is online. My cognitive and mental function has worsened which is difficult, can be risky when I forget things and is embarrassing. Before I was ill I was active. I exercised three times a week and played powerchair football. I was away weekly and multiple weekends. I was sociable, at college and my disability didn’t affect my life in too negative a way. This is far harder to deal with than anything related to my disability ..."
