TLDR: Pericarditis from Flu Shot; Worsened by Virus

About three weeks ago, after taking the flu shot required for his job, my dad began experiencing dull aches and radiating chest pain. Last week, the situation worsened, and he drove himself to the hospital due to chest pains, despite my mom’s concerns. Tests revealed an abnormal heartbeat.

What Happened Last Night (12/12): I was up late working on school applications when I noticed my dad’s light was still on, which was unusual. When I checked on him, he was sitting up, wincing in pain with the heater on. I asked if he was alright, but he insisted he was fine. Not convinced, I called my mom (who was at work) to speak with him and woke up my siblings.

As we stayed with him, his condition worsened—he started saying he couldn’t breathe. I called 911, and while waiting for paramedics, my siblings worked to keep him conscious.

When the paramedics arrived, his blood pressure was 80/50, and his heart rate had dropped to 44. They rushed him to the hospital, and we followed shortly after.

At the Hospital: He was admitted after hours of waiting and was given several rounds of morphine to manage his pain, which had him grunting constantly. Some more medicines to elevate his bpm and bp. Eventually, his vitals were stabilized. My sister and mom, who had rushed from work, stayed by his side as I left the hospital around 5 AM.

Diagnosis: This morning, doctors diagnosed him with pericarditis—inflammation and fluid buildup around the heart. They believe the likely cause was a respiratory infection from a cold he had weeks ago. However, we can’t ignore that these issues began after his flu shot, which raises concerns.

The doctors have an action plan:

He will take prescribed medication twice daily for the next three months.

Aspirin, three times a day for one week, will also help reduce the inflammation.

Surgery is being avoided for now, as they hope the fluid will drain with medication.

If everything goes well, he might be discharged in a day or two.

Reflection: I’m grateful to God for His timing—I wasn’t even supposed to be awake but happened to notice something was off. If I hadn’t been there, the situation could have ended much differently.

I’m angry that he took the shot in the first place, and even angrier that the medical industry once again beguiled someone into believing it was entirely safe and necessary.

My dad has always been cautious about his health, especially after my mom’s remission. Even before the pandemic, he was skeptical about medical interventions like COVID vaccines (even though he took them -_-). However, he took the flu vaccine only because his job required it, despite his reservations. Until that point, he had no significant health issues. Now, just three weeks later, he’s hospitalized. It’s infuriating to see yet another example of someone’s health being damaged because of what was supposed to “protect” them.

The medical industry, with all its promises, has left us to deal with the fallout. How can something that is meant to safeguard public health result in this kind of harm? My dad didn’t deserve this, and neither does anyone else who places their trust in these institutions, only to have their lives disrupted—or worse—because of it. This wasn’t just a coincidence; the timing is too exact. He was perfectly fine before, and now this happened.

It’s beyond frustrating to feel powerless in the face of an industry that seems to prioritize profit over individual well-being. My hope is that he recovers quickly, that we find accountability, and that others aren’t deceived the same way.

Please pray for my dad’s recovery, that the inflammation subsides, and that no further complications arise.

Thank you if you read all of this.