A Welshampton woman is coming to terms with new challenges in her life after a swine flu vaccination has apparently left her with a rare condition.
Alison Dygnas, 47, a former NHS receptionist, was offered the jab last year, but in the following weeks began to feel pain in her legs and found that it was becoming difficult to grip items around the home.
A neurologist diagnosed her as having Myasthenia Gravis, an illness affecting the nervous system that can cause temporary paralysis, telling her that it had “almost certainly” been caused by the vaccine.
“It was about six weeks before I realised that things weren’t right, but at first we thought it might be Sciatica. Things began to get a lot worse though.
“I get a lot of aching in my legs and I am unable to walk normally or hold things, and my sight is also blurred,” said Mrs Dygnas.
“I often get bouts of shivering and shaking which I can’t control, and hot baths and cold temperatures can worsen its effects.
“I was diagnosed at the beginning of January and it is very hard. I used to be able to ride my horses and walk our three German Shepherd dogs, but now I am normally only able to shuffle round and it is difficult to get about as I can’t even drive at the moment,” she added.
Supporter
Formerly an avid member of the Whitchurch Dog Display Team, Mrs Dygnas sometimes takes up to 20 tablets a day, but bears no ill feeling to the NHS for having contracted the condition as a result of the vaccine, and admits that she is still a supporter of the vaccination despite the effect it has had on her life.
“I accepted the offer of the vaccine quite gratefully. I had my eyes wide open and I knew that there could be side effects, as there are with most things.
“But the chances of this were so remote, and you never think that it will happen to you.
“I am still advising people to have the vaccine though as swine flu can kill you, but the side effects don’t,” she said.
Although it can be a permanent condition, Mrs Dygnas is aware that with the right balance of medication, it can be improved to allow her to lead a completely normal life. At present, however, she is unable to keep her head up for long periods, and spends most afternoons curled up in the foetal position due to a loss of energy.
“I do get very tired even though I can’t really do anything. Just shuffling around for a short time can leave me feeling a bit worn out,” she said.
Mrs Dygnas has recently been in touch with the Myasthenia Gravis Association who she recognises as “an extremely helpful body”, and has been receiving both advice and support, as she tackles the condition head on.
“I would like to get more involved with the Association. Sufferers are few and far between so it’s nice to be able to speak to people who understand,” she added.
Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disease causing fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigue. It affects between 200 and 400 people per million.