Neurological/Cognitive (Speech) problems after Pfizer Booster

[WeeTorag]

Hi all. I know this is a very tricky subject to discuss, emotions run high about it, but I'm absolutely convinced now that my speech issues are down to the Pfizer Booster I had in December. I've picked it back and even though I've been distracted and obsessed about other possible reasons for months, it's the only plausible explanation. I've basically got slurred speech and I struggle to form sounds and some words, in fact, it feels like I've had a mini-stroke. I'm still functioning as normal, I'm not ill in any other way that I know of, just the slurred/delayed speech.

I work professionally with my Voice and the tolerances I work to are far greater than someone who doesn't (therefore others might not even notice this issue) so it's causing me a huge amount of stress trying to sound normal, plus I don't know whether it will ever improve and I run the risk of losing work and possibly my career. I've had blood tests come back normal (knew they would) and have another Doc appointment next week but just wondering if anyone else has had similar issues after any of their jabs and how it was dealt with. I'm not holding out much hope for an admission from the NHS that it's vaccine related though.

Your thoughts and own experiences would be great to hear. Feel free to DM if you'd rather. x

It sounds like aphasia. Don't get fobbed off ask for referral to a specialist if possible.

You need a referral to Eat Nose and Throat and Speech Therapy as well.
Don't let the GP fob you off. Write down in bullet points exactly what the changes are, how they impact you on a daily basis and when the symptoms started.

Thank you @Ridingthegravytrain . That's really interesting and sounds like a possibility. Meant to mention in my post that I thought it might be this:

"dysarthria – difficulty speaking caused by brain damage, which results in an inability to control the muscles used in speech. dysphagia – difficulty swallowing, which can be a symptom of dysarthria"

I've completed a Yellow Card report using Dysarthria as my problem but Aphasia matches my sypmptons too. I'll suggest both of these to the Doc when I see them.

@WeeTorag

You're having sudden onset neurological symptoms which need investigating.

If you hadn't been vaccinated, say this was 3 years ago, this would still be the case.

it's the only plausible explanation.
I disagree - there's lots of reasons someone could experience these symptoms, and the risk you're running by trying to pin it on a coronavirus vaccine is that another underlying cause might be missed.

Push for a neurology referal - I do hope you get some answers.

So sorry to hear you're having these troubles, OP.

As others say, do not be fobbed off. It's rare, but these kinds of problems have certainly been reported after the mRNA jabs. You know you better than any doctor, so if this is the obvious trigger for you, they should be listening, investigating, and trying to support as best possible. Also might be worth seeking out a vaccine injury support group online, as there are others out there reporting some similar things.

Two papers (there are others, too, but this is start) it might be worth pointing your doctors to, if they don't seem to be listening about the jab being a possible trigger:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8818972/

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8223021/

Thanks @IdiotCreatures . I've now got an in-person appointment at the GP on Tuesday and I'll be going armed with information. They make you speak so quickly because they only give patients about 10 mins these days, so I'll need to be prepared.

Yep @bronzepig it could well be something else and I've spent months trying to figure it out. I'll make sure they investigate!

Thanks so much for the links @DONTTurnOnTheHeating . It's been really difficult to find articles/reports that a Layperson can understand but that 2nd one in particular is really striking a chord with me. I'll keep it handy. Thanks so much.

It sounds like it could be a combination of "bits" going slightly off in the speech system. Could be dysarthria in terms of the slurring, but the delay and slight inprecision could also be apraxia as well... if the delay is you not being able to find the word it could be aphasia (I've had it described to me as feeling like you're fishing on a boat for the words but they keep wriggling away) - but I think you'd have mentioned if you were struggling to find words so it sounds more motor-speech system related to me in terms of dysarthria/apraxia.

You need to get referred on by your GP - neurology and probably adult SLT. Could be you've had some form of a stroke and only have speech as your symptom. Quite common to have some form of overlap between aphasia/apraxia/dysarthria - human brains tend to be buggers for not slotting into neat diagnostic boxes!

Do you have any other medical conditions? Any history of migraine?

Any other medication you take including supplements or treatments you've had? Any botox, fillers, dental treatments etc?

I am experiencing the same symptoms as reported by others. I have seen numerous specialists about my Apraxia of speech and nobody can tell me yet why I have this and how to treat it. I have had neurological tests, blood tests.brain scans etc and everything comes back normal but I can’t speak. I have had 2 cancer operations and after my 2nd cancer operation I had the covid jab. Shortly after this my speech started to deteriorate and it has worsened as time passes. Whenever I inform a specialist it seemed to start after the covid jab. none of them seem to take this as a logical reason for my worsening speech symptoms.

This happened to a friend of a friend. It appeared to get better if its own accord. I don’t know if this cheers you up a bit

there are a number of covid vaccine side effects support groups online. You might get more support there?