Can i have my body back please?

[Abby Normal]

So almost two weeks ago, I had an allergic reaction to some medication.  Damn near put me in a coma.  Rash, swelling, hives, fever for nearly a week.  I'm recovering slowing this week.  But I'm so tired of looking like an oompa loompa.

Just wanted to whine...

[Deleted]

How scary! I am happy to hear you're on the mend.  

[wvugurl26]

I hope you get better soon! I know that stuff sucks.

[Abby Normal]

amoxicillin    turns out I have a severe allergy- go figure.  

[greeniis10]

Yikes!  That's scary!  So sorry that happened and it's taking so long to recover.  Hopefully you can rest up over the weekend and be good as new next week!

[Jaguar]

Heal soon hon,

[Deleted]

Jun 14, 2013 11:00:02 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

amoxicillin    turns out I have a severe allergy- go figure.  

Be sure that they put that in big letters on your medical records. Also you might want to make sure to bring it up to the doctor any time he gives you antibiotics. Don't forget if your allergic to Amoxicillin you could also be allergic to any drug derived from Amoxicillin (& that drug would have a different name).

[Abby Normal]

Jun 14, 2013 11:21:31 GMT -5 @oldtex said:

Jun 14, 2013 11:00:02 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

amoxicillin    turns out I have a severe allergy- go figure.  

Be sure that they put that in big letters on your medical records. Also you might want to make sure to bring it up to the doctor any time he gives you antibiotics. Don't forget if your allergic to Amoxicillin you could also be allergic to any drug derived from Amoxicillin (& that drug would have a different name).

Yep there are a whole host of them I can't take now.  I was already allergic to a different family- now I get to add the 'cillins to the DO NOT TAKE UPON PAIN OF DEATH list.

[steph08]

I hope you feel better soon!

Is this a new allergy? So strange! My DH is allergic to penicillin as well - discovered when he was just a baby.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I can relate.....

Last month, we went to Mexico and I broke out in a massive case of hives from the sun.  My legs, from my toes to my knee was one HUGE hive.  I was eating benedryl like it was candy, to keep the itch down.  

It took over a week AFTER we got back for the swelling to go away in my shin and ankles and the skin to return to normal.  I broke out the first day we were in the sun and we were there 9 days, so almost 3 weeks of hives.  UGH! 

[mmhmm]

Ouch, agilemom!  Sounds like you had a dilly of a reaction!  You sure don't want to take any more penicillin-related antibiotics.  Have your doctor record that you're allergic to penicillin, and always tell medical professionals about the allergy.  Some people choose to wear little bracelets or necklaces that identify the allergy in case of accident.  You will also want to avoid Zosyn and be aware you may have a similar reaction to cephalosporins.  It's always good to know this stuff so you can feel like you're in control of your care.  Hope you feel better soon!

[Peace Of Mind]

Jun 14, 2013 11:00:02 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

amoxicillin    turns out I have a severe allergy- go figure.  

I hope you feel better soon!  That really sucks when the meds make you sicker than what you originally had. 

That's the only thing that I don't have a reaction to.  Everything else makes me sick or puts me in the hospital.  I make one scary looking bloated tomato! 

Sorry you are going through this.  I have a sinus infection and should be leaving for the doctor in a bit and you just made me realize why I'm dragging my feet to get there.  I never know the outcome of the meds they will give me and the Amoxicillin dosage isn't strong enough pill form for the severe infections that I get so I'll be on it for over a month and probably still be sick the entire summer due to my allergies.  And I can't drink my wine.    Well, I can but shouldn't. 

[Abby Normal]

Jun 14, 2013 12:29:39 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Ouch, agilemom!  Sounds like you had a dilly of a reaction!  You sure don't want to take any more penicillin-related antibiotics.  Have your doctor record that you're allergic to penicillin, and always tell medical professionals about the allergy.  Some people choose to wear little bracelets or necklaces that identify the allergy in case of accident.  You will also want to avoid Zosyn and be aware you may have a similar reaction to cephalosporins.  It's always good to know this stuff so you can feel like you're in control of your care.  Hope you feel better soon!

cephalosporins is the other family I can't take. I reacted to that years ago, but the penicillins group has been ok- until now.


This reaction was way worse than the previous one. My skin felt like it was on fire constantly and peeling off every time I moved. Not to mention huge amounts of swelling and hives. 

Only up shot is that I lost so many layers of skin it's like an all over chemical peel.  My skin is so soft now and the freckles fell off. Crazy.

[wvugurl26]

Wow that is one crazy reaction! Chemical peels might have been easier.

[Abby Normal]

and likely less painfull.

[Peace Of Mind]

Jun 14, 2013 12:40:29 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

Jun 14, 2013 12:29:39 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Ouch, agilemom!  Sounds like you had a dilly of a reaction!  You sure don't want to take any more penicillin-related antibiotics.  Have your doctor record that you're allergic to penicillin, and always tell medical professionals about the allergy.  Some people choose to wear little bracelets or necklaces that identify the allergy in case of accident.  You will also want to avoid Zosyn and be aware you may have a similar reaction to cephalosporins.  It's always good to know this stuff so you can feel like you're in control of your care.  Hope you feel better soon!

cephalosporins is the other family I can't take. I reacted to that years ago, but the penicillins group has been ok- until now.


This reaction was way worse than the previous one. My skin felt like it was on fire constantly and peeling off every time I moved. Not to mention huge amounts of swelling and hives. 

Only up shot is that I lost so many layers of skin it's like an all over chemical peel.  My skin is so soft now and the freckles fell off. Crazy.

Is that what Ceftin is? That's what did me in and put me in the hospital.  I felt like I was burning inside and I swelled up and turned tomato red.    I had always taken it with no side effects or anything. And then BAM! I had a reaction to it the 3rd time? taking it. It was the only thing that worked on my infections too. The doctors don't get why I can take Amoxicillen but not Ceftin or Augmentan,  etc. I'm not sure I'm spelling those correctly but nobody could figure it out until a nurse told me the drugs have other components mixed in and changing just one ingredient could do that - change your reaction from good to bad. Nurses are way smarter than most doctors.  

[chiver78]

yikes!! good to hear you're on the mend, AND that you know for sure what did it. I'll echo mmhmm's comment that you should be wearing some sort of medical ID.

here's the company where I get mine - link
I don't work for them, I don't get a commission or anything. I just like the styles and that they are interchangeable. keeps it from getting boring.


gentle hopefully the rest of your recovery won't be so painful!

[mmhmm]

Yes, POM, Ceftin is a cephalosporin.  Often, the first exposure to an allergen produces only a mild reaction in a sensitive individual.  Subsequent exposures, however, will be more severe.  The system has "met the enemy" and it's ready to fight as soon as it realizes the enemy is onboard.  You may find, down the road, a reaction to Amoxicillin will occur.  That's why it's so important to be sure allergies are known to medical personnel and members of your family.

[wvugurl26]

The inactives can matter to certain people. Everyone's body chemistry is unique. The last sinus infection I had lasted for 3 months and I took Bactrim, Levaquin and some other antibiotic. I also ended up on steroids and Prilosec.

[Peace Of Mind]

Jun 14, 2013 12:54:39 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Yes, POM, Ceftin is a cephalosporin.  Often, the first exposure to an allergen produces only a mild reaction in a sensitive individual.  Subsequent exposures, however, will be more severe.  The system has "met the enemy" and it's ready to fight as soon as it realizes the enemy is onboard.  You may find, down the road, a reaction to Amoxicillin will occur.  That's why it's so important to be sure allergies are known to medical personnel and members of your family.

I didn't have ANY reaction the first few times I took Ceftin.  I had no side effects and it killed the infection.  Then all of a sudden I'm an ugly tomato cooking on the inside.  WTH?    If I can't take Amoxicillin any more I'll just let the sinus infections eat my brain I guess.  No more "Let's see if this will work" for me!   No Cortisone shots, no more Z-Pak (does nothing!) but I blame Omni for that.   No Levaquin or Bioxin, etc. etc.  They either don't work or make me very ill (puking for hours after 1 pill).

Now I really don't want to go to the doctor!

[mmhmm]

It's not unusual to have a few exposures before a really severe reaction takes place, POM.  Once it does, though, that's it for that drug and you.  There are other antibiotics that can be used, though, so you won't have to let the infection eat your brain!  Eeeeeww!

[wvugurl26]

Either it took you awhile to develop a reaction or the bad round came from a different manufacturer. Highly likely with generic medications.

The Levaquin knocked it down somewhat for me but it came back with a vengeance two weeks later. The ENT finally got me better. The general practice doctor was doing nothing for me. If I get that bad again I have orders to get my ass back there. It had settled in my lungs.

[chiver78]

Jun 14, 2013 13:05:06 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

It's not unusual to have a few exposures before a really severe reaction takes place, POM.  Once it does, though, that's it for that drug and you.  There are other antibiotics that can be used, though, so you won't have to let the infection eat your brain!  Eeeeeww!

this is what my dr tells me..... I'm allergic to something in Neosporin. it's happened with both the ointment and the "+pain relief" cream, so it's gotta be one of the active ingredients. now I just avoid all of 'em because I don't feel like dealing with the trial and error of figuring out which one it is.

[mmhmm]

I don't blame you, chiver.  Ferreting out the trouble-maker might just be pretty darned miserable if you had few misses trying to find it.

[Abby Normal]

I think I'm going to have to be REALLY sick (like call House sick) before I attempt another antibiotic. The infection can just eat my brain.

[wvugurl26]

Jun 14, 2013 13:19:04 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

I think I'm going to have to be REALLY sick (like call House sick) before I attempt another antibiotic. The infection can just eat my brain.

Infections taking up residence in your lungs when you have asthma is really bad hence my parade of antibiotics trying to find one. I'm allergic to a whole bunch of them too.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jun 14, 2013 13:27:23 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Jun 14, 2013 13:19:04 GMT -5 Abby Normal said:

I think I'm going to have to be REALLY sick (like call House sick) before I attempt another antibiotic. The infection can just eat my brain.

Infections taking up residence in your lungs when you have asthma is really bad hence my parade of antibiotics trying to find one. I'm allergic to a whole bunch of them too.

And honestly, it does not even matter if you have asthma either.  When I had my hip infection, despite the septicemia, my infectious disease doc was willing to send me home with IV meds until my orthopedic surgeon got back from London in 10 days.  However, once they found the infection in my lung, all bets were off and she wanted my joint out NOW.  I think she would have had a similar response if the infection had been found in either my heart or spine too (both were checked out and found clear).