Adelaide, South Australia. Male, 54 years old.
I had my first Pfizer dose on 8 September, 2021, my second dose on 30 September, 2021.
3 weeks apart.
The immediate symptom of my first dose, on day 1 post vaccination, I had a full head, brain fog, unable to function on 2 feet. Like being drunk. I've never felt like that before. I remember in the kitchen in the morning that day, telling my father that I was going back to bed. I could never drive a car or even ride a pushbike!
I remember feeling exhausted. I slept until dusk that same day. I remember waking at dusk to birds outside my window, like they always do. My brain was full. I remember listening to the birds, and then my ears turned up a tone. Like someone turning up a fader on a mixer. Mixing up an audio track with the background sounds. I remember thinking 'that's loud'. That will be something to do with my full head. Hope that goes away. Maybe it's normal. I've never had a flu shot so maybe this is what happens. My friends told me about a tinnitus reaction, but surely that's made up, or rare. I have to rest. The next morning I remember that the tone was still there. Still as loud.
One week later, my sister visited. I asked he if she had a Pfizer vax, and she said she did. I asked her how long did she have an effect for. She said there was nothing by the next day. I told her I don't feel right, I think I have a long COVID-19-vax symptom. I remember feeling a tight head. I don't remember describing a tone. I think the feeling of a full head was more prominent. More debilitating. I do remember thinking that I am a fit male, I can get through this and out the other side.
I don't know if the tone ever left me. I think not. The head tightness diminished, and that was most important. But I do remember that listening to a radio in my study was not the same. I couldn't focus on the radio. So didn't listen anymore. I think the tone in my head interfered with the radio. I wore earbuds, and listened to music from the computer.
Two weeks after my second dose (5 weeks after my first dose), I began working in a job where the ambient noise was 76-80 dB. I was working initially without ear protection. Then wore ear protection. I stopped working after 4 weeks because I noticed the tone I thought had left me, was back, and much louder. Maybe it was always there, but now much louder. I realised nature sounds (birds, leaves) were competing with a tone I was also hearing. I noticed that my head felt tight, and the noise of wind past my ears was painful.
I paid a bit more attention, put silencing earphones on my ears and realised I have a constant tone in one ear, and two intermittent flute notes in the other. The constant tone keeps me awake at night, the flute notes are not so prominent. If I listen to Pink Noise at 44 dB (head height), I can no longer hear my internal tone. That gives an idea of the volume of the tone I am hearing. My ears feel warm, like there is pressure from inside. when horizontal, I can hear blood pulse in my ears.
I thought my hearing was damaged from work or music. On 11 November, 2021, I had a hearing test done. I was hearing all tones and volumes, in acceptable range for my age. The audiologist said my hearing was good. The tinnitus is not due to hearing loss. I have reported a COVID-19 adverse reaction to SA Health COVID-19 Advisory Service. They are aware of a number of COVID-19 tinnitus reactions.