Frank Wittendorfer, the former mayor of Oberriexingen, has been struggling with serious health problems since 2021, which he describes as a form of long Covid. He is receiving medical support from Dr. Martin Maunz.
A life in transition since November 2021
Wittendorfer and his treating physicians are describing this as post-vaccine illness with symptoms similar to those of long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome. However, the symptoms did not appear after a coronavirus infection, but immediately after his third COVID-19 vaccination. It is now medically recognized that symptoms similar to those of long COVID can also occur after vaccination. It is suspected that in some cases, autoantibodies are formed after vaccination due to a combination of certain factors. However, the clinical picture has not yet been fully researched.
According to his own statement, his professional, family, and social life came to an abrupt halt in November 2021 – since then, he has been "miles away from a normal life." He says that leaving the house alone is no longer possible without support.
From vaccination advocate to affected person
At the beginning of November 2021, Wittendorfer received his third COVID-19 vaccination. At the same time, as mayor, he actively advocated for the establishment of a vaccination center in Oberriexingen to facilitate access to vaccination, especially for older citizens. In retrospect, it seems tragic: the very person who was particularly committed to protecting the population is now suffering massively from the consequences of the vaccination himself.
"The vaccination itself was very painful. Afterward, I had severe chest pain, heart palpitations, and dizziness—and to this day, I still feel pain at the injection site in my arm," he recalls. In the following weeks, his condition deteriorated dramatically. He felt constantly exhausted and was barely able to work. In the spring of 2022, he suffered a complete physical collapse—and had to be admitted to an emergency room for the first time.
A long period of medical examinations, hospital stays, and changing diagnoses followed: many possible causes were suspected, from possible myocarditis and thrombosis to psychosomatic causes such as stress. At times, as he describes it, he was bedridden for days, unable to read, write, speak, or stand on his feet. Rehabilitation in the fall of 2022 did not bring the hoped-for improvement, but actually worsened his condition.
Desperate search for clarity
Wittendorfer noticed that his condition continued to worsen even after the slightest physical or mental exertion. Suspicion of long Covid was a reasonable possibility—but he had never been proven to have been infected with the coronavirus. This brought vaccination back into focus. But even then, a definitive diagnosis remained elusive.
"It was torture," Wittendorfer says today. "I felt like I wasn't being taken seriously, like someone who was just imagining things."
“It felt like I was dying at that moment”
Frank Wittendorfer left no stone unturned to find the cause of his symptoms. He sought help at the University Hospital of Ulm, from several specialists, and at the University Hospital of Tübingen. At the beginning of 2023, he switched to an internist in Leonberg. She diagnosed significantly elevated autoantibodies and chronic overactivation of his immune system—the first clear indication of an immunological dysregulation.
A cardiac MRI in spring 2023 finally brought clarity: It confirmed continued active inflammation of the pericardium and heart muscle – a possible consequence of the COVID-19 vaccination. At a specialized clinic in Bad Aibling, Bavaria, doctors also discovered severely reduced oxygen levels, significant damage to the inner walls of blood vessels (endothelium), and microclots in the blood – visualized using a special dark-field microscope.
In November 2023, Wittendorfer actually became infected with the coronavirus for the first time—a further setback that further exacerbated his already severe symptoms. A few months later, in October 2024, he suffered another dramatic collapse: He was admitted to the emergency room of Ludwigsburg Hospital with severe heart pain. "I felt like I was dying at that moment," he recalls.
Chief cardiologist Prof. Dr. Christian Wolpert referred him to Dr. Martin Maunz, a cardiologist at Bietigheim-Vaihingen Hospital, who specializes in long COVID, chronic fatigue, and mycoplasma-related diseases. Wittendorfer was transferred there. "The first time I saw Dr. Maunz, an enormous weight was lifted from me. He told me that my symptoms were real—not my imagination," Wittendorfer said.
Diagnosis: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Dr. Maunz performed spiroergometry, a stress test that precisely measures physical condition. The result: a severe form of chronic fatigue with features of an autoimmune disease. The results showed that Wittendorfer's physical performance was at the level of an 80-year-old. Only then was targeted therapeutic treatment possible.
Meanwhile, the combined therapy is slowly taking effect. His resilience has improved – today it's roughly equivalent to that of a 70-year-old. "I can play with my children a bit again and support my wife in her daily life. But I'm still a long way from being truly symptom-free," says Wittendorfer.
What is Long Covid and Post-Vac?
Long COVID refers to health problems that persist or develop after an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus – either temporarily or permanently. There is currently no uniform, internationally recognized definition. The clinical picture can vary greatly: It ranges from a worsening of pre-existing conditions to newly developed symptoms and organ damage to typical post-infectious symptoms.
Common symptoms include severe fatigue, a significant deterioration in general health after physical or mental exertion, cognitive impairment (“brain fog”), disorders of the autonomic nervous system, and breathing problems.
Similar symptoms can also occur after a coronavirus vaccination – in this case, it is referred to as post-vaccine syndrome.
