I had the GARDASIL vaccine in April 2007, one week before my 26th birthday. 

My doctor assured me that there were no reported autoimmune reactions when I expressed concern about any possible interaction with my existing autoimmune disorder (Crohn's disease).  The doctor also said it did not matter that I was allergic to metal.  I took the vaccine- trusting my doctors information rather than investigating the vaccine myself.  Had I investigated, I would have discovered that the vaccine contains aluminium and has caused autoimmune reactions of all descriptions, often in woman with a personal or family history of autoimmune problems. 

My reaction began within 24 hours of receiving the first vaccine on my left side.  I initially had severe muscle pain which gradually spread from my left shoulder to my chest.  I went to work but became dizzy and every breath became difficult and painful.  My vision blurred and I was very weak and cramping up on my left side.  I immediately made an appointment with a different doctor at the same surgery I had had the vaccine.  I nearly fainted in the waiting room due to difficulty in breathing. 

The doctor believed I was having a panic attack.  I was told to go home and have to panadol.  I felt that my symptoms were not taken seriously and I wonder how many other reactions have been dismissed by doctors as the 'emotions' of young women.

For two weeks I was unable to leave the house and was in constant pain on my left side and with each breath.  After two weeks of partial paralysis and painful breathing, I went to the emergency room as breathing was so difficult I believed I might die.  The Mater Hospital confirmed that I had an inflamed left lung lining- 'pleurisy'.  It was rubbing against my chest wall with each breath.  I was told that the cramping and numbness in my hand was referred pain from the pleurisy.  It didn't make sense to me that my left foot would be numb from pain in my lung, but despite my objections the neurological symptoms where not investigated.  No virus was found in my blood tests. No reason for my illness was given to me.  I was not treated other than being given strong neurophen.  For two months I was unable to work. 

I continued to feel nothing on my left side, it was weak, uncoordinated and cold from my face to my toes.   I had to wait until September to see a neurologist who confirmed I had a neurological condition which was confined to my left side- and this was probably due to a inflammatory reaction.  My immune system had gone into overdrive and had 'eaten' into my nerve linings on my left side.  Gardasil could not be ruled as the cause, nor linked conclusively to the reaction.  As the vaccine is designed to 'stimulate' the immune system, and my reaction began within 24 hours, I have no doubt in my mind that the vaccine was the cause my neurological condition. 

Since I first had the vaccine I had difficulty with memory and organisation.  When I suffered a serious relapse in February of 2009 I became even more concerned about the cognitive effects I believed the neurological condition had caused.  I felt as if I had alziemers at the age of 27.  I had difficulty remembering what day it was, could not remember my own phone number, and had difficulty remembering peoples names or what I had done yesterday.  This has improved, but I continue to have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering information, planning, and conceiving linear time .

This has had a catastrophic effect on my job as a Family Law Solicitor.  From May 2009 I began six months of unpaid leave.  This leave was necessary as I no longer had the cognitive ability to do my job.  I could not remember what I had done the day before.  I am now working three days a week on 'light' duties.  I have seen a cognitive psychologist at the University of Queensland and she has confirmed that I am having clinically significant difficulties with memory, attention and some executive functioning.  However, the psychologist stated that  'While it is possible that Shannon had an immune response to her GARDASIL injection, it is unclear if this response caused organic brain dysfunction... her injection could have triggered a psychological response, which impaired her cognitive functioning.'.  I found this report particularly frustrating as I once again found that the medical profession- despite objective evidence of symptoms- preferred to blame emotions for neurological conditions rather than properly investigating.  I do not have and have never been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, nor with depression, and I find this conclusion condescending and not at all helpful in improving my cognitive functioning.  I feel as if my 'emotions' have been used as an excuse not to look into the pysical causes of my symptoms.

Currently I do not know whether the continuing cognitive problems, exhaustion and numbness on my left side will heal by themselves, or deteriorate further.  I do not know whether I will eventually be able to return to my previous position, or if I will need to change professions to one which requires less cognitive skills.  I never knew that a vaccine could cause paralysis or brain damage, yet this is what I have had to face in the past two years.  Please consider the risks before taking this vaccine, and if you have a family history of autoimmune disorders I don't believe its worth the risk.  Personally I wish I had gone for the safer option and simply had regular paps smears!