Disclaimer: This information has been compiled following discussion with a doctor. But if you have specific health problems, you may need to do these tests even earlier - and maybe you need to do additional tests. Speak to a doctor and follow their advice. If caught early, problems can be reversed - don't wait for symptoms.
Vaccines are important - increasing our risk of catching Covid is not wise. And long Covid can seriously affect your life. We just need to make sure we follow the right protocols after we take vaccines. Only very few people develop issues, most people will be fine.
To detect potential Covid vaccine-induced sub-clinical/delayed myocarditis early on, it is advisable to do the following tests 45 days after your second vaccine. Or earlier if you have existing conditions, see Disclaimer above.
It is advisable to do these tests even if you have NO SYMPTOMS and are feeling fine. Applies to people who have NOT had Covid also.
It may be good to AVOID any strenuous exercise until these tests are done.
Some people have heart attacks following vaccine-induced inflammation in the heart, which does not show any symptoms. These tests will catch the inflammation if it exists.
A few basic blood tests are usually prescribed to check impact to your health parameters. These are some of the tests doctors prescribe usually to check your risk of heart disease or diabetes post Covid. Please check with your doctor - they will prescribe tests based on your existing health condition, predisposition to certain illnesses etc.
- CBC + ESR
- High Sensitivity CRP
- Troponin
- D Dimer
If any issues in reports, doctor may advice further tests like ECG and 2 D Echo.
Ask the doctor also when you should repeat these tests. That will depend on the reports, age and co morbidities. Do not try to read the results yourself - show them to a doctor.
High Sensitivity CRP: High-sensitivity CRP is one of a growing number of cardiac risk markers that are used to help determine a person’s risk. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein that increases in the blood with inflammation and infection as well as following a heart attack, surgery, or trauma.
ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate) is a test that indirectly measures the degree of inflammation present in the body.
Troponin: Troponins are a group of proteins found in skeletal and heart (cardiac) muscle fibers that regulate muscular contraction. Troponin tests measure the level of cardiac-specific troponin in the blood to help detect heart injury.
D Dimer: Is used to find out if you are at risk of getting blood clots. This is a known side effect of Covid, so Covid-recovered patients are advised to take this a couple of times following recovery. And are usually prescribed Aspirin for a month to prevent blood clots. To eliminate the possibility of the same situation being caused by the vaccine, it is advisable to get this test done.
Reference
Note that research is still going on because it is a new situation. No one has all the answers - so the only thing we can do is do tests and keep a check. If you find any more recent research on vaccine-induced myocarditis, please let me know.
Cureus: A Late Presentation of COVID-19 Vaccine-Induced Myocarditis
The Lancet: Delayed-onset Myocarditis
